I've found a 5e Automated Character Spreadsheet which has some limited helps. It has an advantage in that it can be directly opened and edited with google drive.
A 5E_CharacterSheet_Fillable.pdf does something similar but without automation and, if used in google drive for reasons such as shareability, would require use of something like the Lumin PDF editor. Follow the links.
Both options use devalued properties like alignment and present class and level in separate short cells which isn't really useful with multiclassing. The PDF also has areas that had been intended for things like character images but seemingly without a facility (should someone want to) to actually add an image. Maybe someone with the relevant computer skills could make various developments.
It doesn't give a result that can be shared online but Roll20 provides a reasonably flexible character generation facility. Without subscription, they may offer limited options for race and class but allow custom options to be chosen for race and, at levels where feats can be chosen, an asi option taken can be countered by reducing the raised stat via the character's "Atributes and Abilities" tab, and the FEATURES & TRAITS for a feat can be directly written onto the character sheet.
There are scores of PDF sheets out there, and it likely wouldn't be to hard to find an Excel sheet or make your own.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
I use Aurora to make my character sheets now. It's not as intuitive as DDB, but it is far more customizable.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Leaving OGL 1.0(a) untouched and making SRD 5.1 CC-BY-4.0 is a great first step. The next is a promise to do the same for future editions. Here's a discussion thread on that.
There are tons of free sheets out there, including ones that autocalculate various statistics like your encumbrance. Prior to D&D Beyond, my go-to was Myth-Weavers,
I use Microsoft Word. I like the multicolumn layout, the tables make things like weapon attacks easy to read, and it has enough maths in its field feature to automate things like hit points and attack bonuses.
There are tons of free sheets out there, including ones that autocalculate various statistics like your encumbrance. Prior to D&D Beyond, my go-to was Myth-Weavers,
The thing is that all of the digital assistants use copy written rules thus they fall under the new agreement. And thus WotC can force any charge they want. Unless you go the illegal route, And the illegal ones will not be updated or include as much as fast as the official digital content will.
WotC is counting on people being willing to pay a very very small fee for the privilege of using the official content. 10 or 20 a year.
At present, there's dicecloud and other similar tools for standalone sheets and if you're using Roll20 / Foundry they have their own sheet generators, but given recent revelations I think it's safest to "re-learn" how to track your own stats.
Excel and Google Sheets are both good, and I'd prefer either over Word or Google Docs. There are some folks who have made 5e specific excel sheets (google Static Interest for a lightweight 5e excel sheet). You'll still need your own sourcebooks - having digital versions, or at least PDFs - are useful so you can copy paste item / spell / feature descriptions.
In general I've found using "fillable PDF" type sheets a huge chore and a pain to fill up. The DDB PDF export is a case in point where text sizes magically go to microscopic or text that extends beyond the text box just isn't filled up - just horrible, all around.
There are tons of free sheets out there, including ones that autocalculate various statistics like your encumbrance. Prior to D&D Beyond, my go-to was Myth-Weavers,
The thing is that all of the digital assistants use copy written rules thus they fall under the new agreement. And thus WotC can force any charge they want. Unless you go the illegal route, And the illegal ones will not be updated or include as much as fast as the official digital content will.
WotC is counting on people being willing to pay a very very small fee for the privilege of using the official content. 10 or 20 a year.
There is no new agreement yet, just a leak. A plausible leak, sure, but still a leak.
It sure would be nice if we could stick to answering OP's actual question instead of arguing over OGL (since there are multiple other threads expressly for that purpose)
It sure would be nice if we could stick to answering OP's actual question instead of arguing over OGL (since there are multiple other threads expressly for that purpose)
Agreed. A couple of hours after that Clockwork Soul guide went up, there were several comments trying to start a debate about the OGL. It's rather irritating.
I used to use Roll 20 and believe there are ways to write in (cut and paste) content that isn't included in a subscription.
What are the best free ways for character sheet record keeping?
Just get a form fillable PDF character sheet and you are good?
I've found a 5e Automated Character Spreadsheet which has some limited helps. It has an advantage in that it can be directly opened and edited with google drive.
A 5E_CharacterSheet_Fillable.pdf does something similar but without automation and, if used in google drive for reasons such as shareability, would require use of something like the Lumin PDF editor. Follow the links.
Both options use devalued properties like alignment and present class and level in separate short cells which isn't really useful with multiclassing. The PDF also has areas that had been intended for things like character images but seemingly without a facility (should someone want to) to actually add an image. Maybe someone with the relevant computer skills could make various developments.
It doesn't give a result that can be shared online but Roll20 provides a reasonably flexible character generation facility. Without subscription, they may offer limited options for race and class but allow custom options to be chosen for race and, at levels where feats can be chosen, an asi option taken can be countered by reducing the raised stat via the character's "Atributes and Abilities" tab, and the FEATURES & TRAITS for a feat can be directly written onto the character sheet.
A free account here at DND Beyond?
go to WOTC web site and print them out.
The best way is to use a pencil and paper.
There are scores of PDF sheets out there, and it likely wouldn't be to hard to find an Excel sheet or make your own.
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
I use Aurora to make my character sheets now. It's not as intuitive as DDB, but it is far more customizable.
Leaving OGL 1.0(a) untouched and making SRD 5.1 CC-BY-4.0 is a great first step. The next is a promise to do the same for future editions. Here's a discussion thread on that.
#OpenDnD
DDB is great, but it could be better. Here are some things I think could improve DDB
I wonder if ALL of those online or downloadable digital character sheets that auto fill will be OGL'd into charging you a fee?
They do have to directly use content straight out of the published books.
I use Google Sheets for similar type things because I can share it among the group with read-only, or even write access depending what it is.
Info, Inflow, Overload. Knowledge Black Hole Imminent!
Yup.
I spent decades using notebook paper and a pencil.
There are tons of free sheets out there, including ones that autocalculate various statistics like your encumbrance. Prior to D&D Beyond, my go-to was Myth-Weavers,
I use Microsoft Word. I like the multicolumn layout, the tables make things like weapon attacks easy to read, and it has enough maths in its field feature to automate things like hit points and attack bonuses.
Just use Excel.
The thing is that all of the digital assistants use copy written rules thus they fall under the new agreement. And thus WotC can force any charge they want.
Unless you go the illegal route, And the illegal ones will not be updated or include as much as fast as the official digital content will.
WotC is counting on people being willing to pay a very very small fee for the privilege of using the official content. 10 or 20 a year.
At present, there's dicecloud and other similar tools for standalone sheets and if you're using Roll20 / Foundry they have their own sheet generators, but given recent revelations I think it's safest to "re-learn" how to track your own stats.
Excel and Google Sheets are both good, and I'd prefer either over Word or Google Docs. There are some folks who have made 5e specific excel sheets (google Static Interest for a lightweight 5e excel sheet). You'll still need your own sourcebooks - having digital versions, or at least PDFs - are useful so you can copy paste item / spell / feature descriptions.
In general I've found using "fillable PDF" type sheets a huge chore and a pain to fill up. The DDB PDF export is a case in point where text sizes magically go to microscopic or text that extends beyond the text box just isn't filled up - just horrible, all around.
>> #OpenDND
There is no new agreement yet, just a leak. A plausible leak, sure, but still a leak.
It sure would be nice if we could stick to answering OP's actual question instead of arguing over OGL (since there are multiple other threads expressly for that purpose)
>> #OpenDND
Agreed. A couple of hours after that Clockwork Soul guide went up, there were several comments trying to start a debate about the OGL. It's rather irritating.
[REDACTED]
Use Hero Lab desktop (classic?) version.
Make a template in MS word. It's not hard, I was doing it back in the 90s for rifts afterall.