Why is it that the DM can modify/edit all of my my sheet? I can understand the need to view it, though the part of my notes is questionable. Even when I am Signed Out, this is possible. Is that correct? Why are editing rights not blocked? I feel I should be the only one capable of full editing my character sheet.
The DM should have total access and editing rights. At the physical table the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character. So why not here?
GMs should have full access to character sheets - all of it. They should also be allowed the make edits. This is with the understanding that the GM is following the social contract just like they are expecting the same from their players.
I've done edits on exp, hp (during combat), class and level upon resurrection, being the host for slaad or xenomorph, keeping track of backstory so I can incorporate it into the campaign, all manner of things because the players are new to DDB and don't know how to do it.
The big one for me is cursed items or items that level up with the character.
First, give a man to fish they eat for a day. Teach a man to fish they eat for a lifetime. Why not use the opportunity to teach the new players how to actually do things.
And second, I completely disagree. If you need something edited on a character sheet you talk to the player and have them make the changes. Isn’t that part of the social contract? Working together?
To each their own. I can stop the game and give a lesson on how to edit a character or I can continue the game and work it out later. For those of us that have been using DDB for a while things seem intuitive or we know how to make it work. For new players it can be a steep learning curve.
Oh yes I will absolutely tell my player, "Oh hey, that cool sword you got is cursed! Make sure you add that in."
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
GMs should have full access to character sheets - all of it. They should also be allowed the make edits. This is with the understanding that the GM is following the social contract just like they are expecting the same from their players.
I've done edits on exp, hp (during combat), class and level upon resurrection, being the host for slaad or xenomorph, keeping track of backstory so I can incorporate it into the campaign, all manner of things because the players are new to DDB and don't know how to do it.
The big one for me is cursed items or items that level up with the character.
First, give a man to fish they eat for a day. Teach a man to fish they eat for a lifetime. Why not use the opportunity to teach the new players how to actually do things.
And second, I completely disagree. If you need something edited on a character sheet you talk to the player and have them make the changes. Isn’t that part of the social contract? Working together?
To each their own. I can stop the game and give a lesson on how to edit a character or I can continue the game and work it out later. For those of us that have been using DDB for a while things seem intuitive or we know how to make it work. For new players it can be a steep learning curve.
Oh yes I will absolutely tell my player, "Oh hey, that cool sword you got is cursed! Make sure you add that in."
Making changes to a character sheet in conjunction with the player because they are not familiar with DDB I can understand. And have no problem with. A DM making changes without talking to the player at all, I don’t agree with in many cases. It is a cooperative game after all.
If a character does something and the DM thinks their alignment should change? No problem tell the player to change it.
A paladin heinously violates their oath (possibly multiple times) and the DM tells them because of their actions they are now a fighter and to have the revised character sheet ready for next session. No problem.
Showing up to the table and the DM says “Bob, I really didn’t care for your Druid so I changed them to an Assassin Rogue. I think I would like that better” A bit of an extreme example, but a big problem.
The DM always has final say. But look at how many threads we see where a player will come here and say “my DM did X, Y, or Z, and it’s making the game not fun”. And the common response is “talk to your DM and let them know how you feel. See if you can work something out. If that doesn’t work you might have to find another table to play at”. But judging from this thread the answer should always be, “suck it up, buttercup. You’re just a pawn and what you want doesn’t matter.”
Why is it that the DM can modify/edit all of my my sheet? I can understand the need to view it, though the part of my notes is questionable. Even when I am Signed Out, this is possible. Is that correct? Why are editing rights not blocked? I feel I should be the only one capable of full editing my character sheet.
The DM should have total access and editing rights. At the physical table the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character. So why not here?
Why not just ask the player to make the change to the character sheet themselves?
If there is a good reason for a PC to become an NPC and the player is onboard. Fine. But out of the blue “Hi Susan. I know you spent a lot of time writing up an interesting backstory and have been RPing the hell out of your character the last 20 sessions and are excited to reach next level for X class feature, but that’s going to be a big NOPE. You’re done. Roll up something else” That seems a bit extreme.
The issue with removing a player's items that were pickpocketed without them knowing is that either the player forgets because it's not in their inventory or they realise it's gone, assume that it's a mistake or a bug and puts it back in. I would do that.
DMs should have edit access to help players, but players should have the first responsibility in editing them. I think it's fine to tell them upon saying they're pulling out their item that it's been pickpocketed and deal with the accounting then.
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Might be some misunderstanding on a lot of what people are saying is OK for the DM to edit on the sheet. I am seeing several "examples" of simply shitty DM moves, like the above, where the player is simply told they were losing the character they had built. If a DM does that, editing sheets is the absolute LEAST of your worries and you need to run far, far away from that table. Now if the game/story has progressed in a fashion where the PC is "taken over" or something, that fits with the player needing to roll a new character, that would have played out in game, with a reason.
I am pretty sure everyone who supports a DM having ability to edit the sheets will agree that it is done as part of the ongoing story, as a result of player choices. Any changes need to be explained and have a reason that, in context, makes sense. Anything in the game SHOULD be up for discussion at the very least, so all parties have an understanding of WHY a decision was made and why something on the sheet has been changed. These discussions also need to be held with the mindset that the DM has final say as "god" on what plays out and how, but again, unless you end up with a truly shitty DM, issues should be few and far between.
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Talk to your Players.Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
Might be some misunderstanding on a lot of what people are saying is OK for the DM to edit on the sheet. I am seeing several "examples" of simply shitty DM moves, like the above, where the player is simply told they were losing the character they had built. If a DM does that, editing sheets is the absolute LEAST of your worries and you need to run far, far away from that table. Now if the game/story has progressed in a fashion where the PC is "taken over" or something, that fits with the player needing to roll a new character, that would have played out in game, with a reason.
I am pretty sure everyone who supports a DM having ability to edit the sheets will agree that it is done as part of the ongoing story, as a result of player choices. Any changes need to be explained and have a reason that, in context, makes sense. Anything in the game SHOULD be up for discussion at the very least, so all parties have an understanding of WHY a decision was made and why something on the sheet has been changed. These discussions also need to be held with the mindset that the DM has final say as "god" on what plays out and how, but again, unless you end up with a truly shitty DM, issues should be few and far between.
I agree with this. If something needs to be changed as part of the ongoing story then the player was involved in that process. I don’t think it is necessary for the DM to make those changes to the sheet themselves but the DM decides what needs changed and the player then makes those changes. If they need assistance, fine.
But that wasn’t the impression I was getting from some posts
A player uses a healing potion in a combat. After the session the DM notices that the player forgot to remove it from their inventory. Could the DM go and remove it? Sure. Should they? No. They should remind the player they used that potion and ask the player to remove it.
Persoanlly, I don’t think the DM should be able to edit a PC sheet at all. And I don’t think many DM’s would.
The DM always has final say. But look at how many threads we see where a player will come here and say “my DM did X, Y, or Z, and it’s making the game not fun”. And the common response is “talk to your DM and let them know how you feel. See if you can work something out. If that doesn’t work you might have to find another table to play at”. But judging from this thread the answer should always be, “suck it up, buttercup. You’re just a pawn and what you want doesn’t matter.”
I didn't say that. I said in order to keep the game running smoothly a GM should have full access and edit to character sheets,
No part should be hidden, what would be the point? Why would a player want to keep secrets from the GM?
I did not say it was ok to make malicious changes to a character sheet. But if the player insists they have an antimatter rifle, we should be able to remove it.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
The DM always has final say. But look at how many threads we see where a player will come here and say “my DM did X, Y, or Z, and it’s making the game not fun”. And the common response is “talk to your DM and let them know how you feel. See if you can work something out. If that doesn’t work you might have to find another table to play at”. But judging from this thread the answer should always be, “suck it up, buttercup. You’re just a pawn and what you want doesn’t matter.”
I didn't say that. I said in order to keep the game running smoothly a GM should have full access and edit to character sheets,
No part should be hidden, what would be the point? Why would a player want to keep secrets from the GM?
I did not say it was ok to make malicious changes to a character sheet. But if the player insists they have an antimatter rifle, we should be able to remove it.
I don’t think anything should be hidden. AnDM should be able to see everything that is on a character sheet. I agree with that much. I don’t agree that the DM should edit a character sheet unless the player asks or is working in conjunction with the DM.
If your player insists they have and antimatter rifle you shouldn’t be able to remove it. You ask the player to remove it. And if they refuse, you remove them from the game. DM’s have enough going on without having to deal with this type of player.
Why is it that the DM can modify/edit all of my my sheet? I can understand the need to view it, though the part of my notes is questionable. Even when I am Signed Out, this is possible. Is that correct? Why are editing rights not blocked? I feel I should be the only one capable of full editing my character sheet.
The DM should have total access and editing rights. At the physical table the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character. So why not here?
Why not just ask the player to make the change to the character sheet themselves?
If there is a good reason for a PC to become an NPC and the player is onboard. Fine. But out of the blue “Hi Susan. I know you spent a lot of time writing up an interesting backstory and have been RPing the hell out of your character the last 20 sessions and are excited to reach next level for X class feature, but that’s going to be a big NOPE. You’re done. Roll up something else” That seems a bit extreme.
If the DM only wants that player to know what changed and not everyone. Or if they want it to be explicitly clear and just doing it is faster than explaining it. Or to be dramatic about it. Or….
Who said anything about “out of the blue” besides you?!? I know I share as 💩 didn’t say anything about it happening out of the blue. 🤔 If a PC becomes a vampire 🧛 or something, it’s perfectly within the DM’s rights to appropriate that PC and add an “N” to the beginning of the acronym. 💁♂️
The DM always has final say. But look at how many threads we see where a player will come here and say “my DM did X, Y, or Z, and it’s making the game not fun”. And the common response is “talk to your DM and let them know how you feel. See if you can work something out. If that doesn’t work you might have to find another table to play at”. But judging from this thread the answer should always be, “suck it up, buttercup. You’re just a pawn and what you want doesn’t matter.”
I didn't say that. I said in order to keep the game running smoothly a GM should have full access and edit to character sheets,
No part should be hidden, what would be the point? Why would a player want to keep secrets from the GM?
I did not say it was ok to make malicious changes to a character sheet. But if the player insists they have an antimatter rifle, we should be able to remove it.
I don’t think anything should be hidden. AnDM should be able to see everything that is on a character sheet. I agree with that much. I don’t agree that the DM should edit a character sheet unless the player asks or is working in conjunction with the DM.
If your player insists they have and antimatter rifle you shouldn’t be able to remove it. You ask the player to remove it. And if they refuse, you remove them from the game. DM’s have enough going on without having to deal with this type of player.
I pop onto my players’ sheets from time to time to drop a private note, or to add/adjust something to their inventory if they get reverse pickpocketed or a magic item changes or something, or to add a feat that does something special like one time one PC became haunted by the ghost of a little girl he had accidentally murdered with a shovel and I added a feat to explain it all and let him know what he had to deal with. What’s wrong with that?!?
Why is it that the DM can modify/edit all of my my sheet? I can understand the need to view it, though the part of my notes is questionable. Even when I am Signed Out, this is possible. Is that correct? Why are editing rights not blocked? I feel I should be the only one capable of full editing my character sheet.
The DM should have total access and editing rights. At the physical table the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character. So why not here?
Why not just ask the player to make the change to the character sheet themselves?
If there is a good reason for a PC to become an NPC and the player is onboard. Fine. But out of the blue “Hi Susan. I know you spent a lot of time writing up an interesting backstory and have been RPing the hell out of your character the last 20 sessions and are excited to reach next level for X class feature, but that’s going to be a big NOPE. You’re done. Roll up something else” That seems a bit extreme.
If the DM only wants that player to know what changed and not everyone. Or if they want it to be explicitly clear and just doing it is faster than explaining it. Or to be dramatic about it. Or….
Who said anything about “out of the blue” besides you?!? I know I share as 💩 didn’t say anything about it happening out of the blue. 🤔 If a PC becomes a vampire 🧛 or something, it’s perfectly within the DM’s rights to appropriate that PC and add an “N” to the beginning of the acronym. 💁♂️
To the first part there are ways of communicating to players other than their sheet. But what you mention seems like it is also has the player involved so I don’t have as much a problem with that. Would prefer DM communicating with player and player making changes. But I get it, if it’s on the fly during a session.
To the second part you only said “the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character.”
That seemed “out of the blue” to me as no mention was made of something in game happening like becoming a vampire. I would assume if the character became a vampire they would know what happened through gameplay and this would be made with both DM and player working together. If one day the DM just said “you’re a vampire. Give me your sheet” when the only thing the party had done was fight kobolds, that would be different.
I trust my DM with my characters' lives, why wouldn't I trust them with my character sheet? :)
Always good to communicate, typically the player makes adjustments, but there have been times when the DM was the one to fix something broken. They've also done things like added my pet or a cool magic item. Or figured out, in Roll20, that day when my attack was suddenly always doing the exact same amount of damage every time, oops.
Also never wrong to take a PDF copy of your character sheet to have a backup offline because honestly you never know when your VTT is going to Have A Moment too. I make a fresh PDF after every levelup.
Most of the time I don't think the DM should be editing player's character sheets (the main time it has come up for me is when a player was unavailable for a session but it wasn't convenient to write the character out for the session, so they're running around being an NPC and I need to track things like "cast a spell to assist the party") but there are occasional advantages to having that access and no real downside, so best to give it to the DM.
As for notes... why is it on the character sheet if it's not something the DM should have access to?
Most of the time I don't think the DM should be editing player's character sheets (the main time it has come up for me is when a player was unavailable for a session but it wasn't convenient to write the character out for the session, so they're running around being an NPC and I need to track things like "cast a spell to assist the party") but there are occasional advantages to having that access and no real downside, so best to give it to the DM.
As for notes... why is it on the character sheet if it's not something the DM should have access to?
About the Notes tab, I agree entirely. I use my notes to put my character’s thoughts on party members, the situations we find ourselves in, additional backstory info that the DM can use, and even some player wish list things that the DM can think over.
That is free content for the DM to use as they wish. They can put the party in situations that use any of that information above, or avoid it to focus on other party members. It’s a treasure trove of info.
I have potential feat options there and when I get around to it, I might also put spells I am planning to take at next level so if the DM wants to drop a spellbook on my wizard, they can without too much worry about overlap.
Frankly, I want my DM to read that stuff and I don’t really understand why players want to remove visibility from the DMs. To me, that might speak to a trust issue at the table.
The notes tab can also be a place to state real life triggers. If there is something you really don't want to see in-game but also don't want other players to see, drop a note to the GM so they can be aware.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
I don't mind if my GM has access to my character sheet, helps me in understanding things. But I would hope they don't change anything before consulting with me. So it's a matter of trust I think.
Why is it that the DM can modify/edit all of my my sheet? I can understand the need to view it, though the part of my notes is questionable. Even when I am Signed Out, this is possible. Is that correct? Why are editing rights not blocked? I feel I should be the only one capable of full editing my character sheet.
The DM should have total access and editing rights. At the physical table the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character. So why not here?
Why not just ask the player to make the change to the character sheet themselves?
If there is a good reason for a PC to become an NPC and the player is onboard. Fine. But out of the blue “Hi Susan. I know you spent a lot of time writing up an interesting backstory and have been RPing the hell out of your character the last 20 sessions and are excited to reach next level for X class feature, but that’s going to be a big NOPE. You’re done. Roll up something else” That seems a bit extreme.
If the DM only wants that player to know what changed and not everyone. Or if they want it to be explicitly clear and just doing it is faster than explaining it. Or to be dramatic about it. Or….
Who said anything about “out of the blue” besides you?!? I know I share as 💩 didn’t say anything about it happening out of the blue. 🤔 If a PC becomes a vampire 🧛 or something, it’s perfectly within the DM’s rights to appropriate that PC and add an “N” to the beginning of the acronym. 💁♂️
To the first part there are ways of communicating to players other than their sheet. But what you mention seems like it is also has the player involved so I don’t have as much a problem with that. Would prefer DM communicating with player and player making changes. But I get it, if it’s on the fly during a session.
To the second part you only said “the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character.”
That seemed “out of the blue” to me as no mention was made of something in game happening like becoming a vampire. I would assume if the character became a vampire they would know what happened through gameplay and this would be made with both DM and player working together. If one day the DM just said “you’re a vampire. Give me your sheet” when the only thing the party had done was fight kobolds, that would be different.
I always approach these theoretical scenarios from a position of people acting reasonably and rationally within the context. As a DM I would never just appropriate someone’s character without a reason like that, and wouldn’t expect anyone else to do it either. That type of behavior is simply unacceptable at any table, and therefore I don’t even consider it as worth discussing.
I don't think I've ever done something detrimental to a player, but I have added boons in the way of items and feats to someone's character sheet. I find it really rewarding when they discover something like that during play. Usually they've been working towards a goal and I let those be mini rewards that go along with where they are taking their character.
I don't think I've ever done something detrimental to a player, but I have added boons in the way of items and feats to someone's character sheet. I find it really rewarding when they discover something like that during play. Usually they've been working towards a goal and I let those be mini rewards that go along with where they are taking their character.
While I certainly wouldn't complain as a player about that, my most likely reaction would be to assume it was a mistake and just quietly delete it...so I'd definitely let the player know.
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The DM should have total access and editing rights. At the physical table the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character. So why not here?
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To each their own. I can stop the game and give a lesson on how to edit a character or I can continue the game and work it out later. For those of us that have been using DDB for a while things seem intuitive or we know how to make it work. For new players it can be a steep learning curve.
Oh yes I will absolutely tell my player, "Oh hey, that cool sword you got is cursed! Make sure you add that in."
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Making changes to a character sheet in conjunction with the player because they are not familiar with DDB I can understand. And have no problem with. A DM making changes without talking to the player at all, I don’t agree with in many cases. It is a cooperative game after all.
If a character does something and the DM thinks their alignment should change? No problem tell the player to change it.
A paladin heinously violates their oath (possibly multiple times) and the DM tells them because of their actions they are now a fighter and to have the revised character sheet ready for next session. No problem.
Showing up to the table and the DM says “Bob, I really didn’t care for your Druid so I changed them to an Assassin Rogue. I think I would like that better” A bit of an extreme example, but a big problem.
The DM always has final say. But look at how many threads we see where a player will come here and say “my DM did X, Y, or Z, and it’s making the game not fun”. And the common response is “talk to your DM and let them know how you feel. See if you can work something out. If that doesn’t work you might have to find another table to play at”. But judging from this thread the answer should always be, “suck it up, buttercup. You’re just a pawn and what you want doesn’t matter.”
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Why not just ask the player to make the change to the character sheet themselves?
If there is a good reason for a PC to become an NPC and the player is onboard. Fine. But out of the blue “Hi Susan. I know you spent a lot of time writing up an interesting backstory and have been RPing the hell out of your character the last 20 sessions and are excited to reach next level for X class feature, but that’s going to be a big NOPE. You’re done. Roll up something else” That seems a bit extreme.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
The issue with removing a player's items that were pickpocketed without them knowing is that either the player forgets because it's not in their inventory or they realise it's gone, assume that it's a mistake or a bug and puts it back in. I would do that.
DMs should have edit access to help players, but players should have the first responsibility in editing them. I think it's fine to tell them upon saying they're pulling out their item that it's been pickpocketed and deal with the accounting then.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Might be some misunderstanding on a lot of what people are saying is OK for the DM to edit on the sheet. I am seeing several "examples" of simply shitty DM moves, like the above, where the player is simply told they were losing the character they had built. If a DM does that, editing sheets is the absolute LEAST of your worries and you need to run far, far away from that table. Now if the game/story has progressed in a fashion where the PC is "taken over" or something, that fits with the player needing to roll a new character, that would have played out in game, with a reason.
I am pretty sure everyone who supports a DM having ability to edit the sheets will agree that it is done as part of the ongoing story, as a result of player choices. Any changes need to be explained and have a reason that, in context, makes sense. Anything in the game SHOULD be up for discussion at the very least, so all parties have an understanding of WHY a decision was made and why something on the sheet has been changed. These discussions also need to be held with the mindset that the DM has final say as "god" on what plays out and how, but again, unless you end up with a truly shitty DM, issues should be few and far between.
Talk to your Players. Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
I agree with this. If something needs to be changed as part of the ongoing story then the player was involved in that process. I don’t think it is necessary for the DM to make those changes to the sheet themselves but the DM decides what needs changed and the player then makes those changes. If they need assistance, fine.
But that wasn’t the impression I was getting from some posts
A player uses a healing potion in a combat. After the session the DM notices that the player forgot to remove it from their inventory. Could the DM go and remove it? Sure. Should they? No. They should remind the player they used that potion and ask the player to remove it.
Persoanlly, I don’t think the DM should be able to edit a PC sheet at all. And I don’t think many DM’s would.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I didn't say that. I said in order to keep the game running smoothly a GM should have full access and edit to character sheets,
No part should be hidden, what would be the point? Why would a player want to keep secrets from the GM?
I did not say it was ok to make malicious changes to a character sheet. But if the player insists they have an antimatter rifle, we should be able to remove it.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
I don’t think anything should be hidden. AnDM should be able to see everything that is on a character sheet. I agree with that much. I don’t agree that the DM should edit a character sheet unless the player asks or is working in conjunction with the DM.
If your player insists they have and antimatter rifle you shouldn’t be able to remove it. You ask the player to remove it. And if they refuse, you remove them from the game. DM’s have enough going on without having to deal with this type of player.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
If the DM only wants that player to know what changed and not everyone. Or if they want it to be explicitly clear and just doing it is faster than explaining it. Or to be dramatic about it. Or….
Who said anything about “out of the blue” besides you?!? I know I share as 💩 didn’t say anything about it happening out of the blue. 🤔 If a PC becomes a vampire 🧛 or something, it’s perfectly within the DM’s rights to appropriate that PC and add an “N” to the beginning of the acronym. 💁♂️
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I pop onto my players’ sheets from time to time to drop a private note, or to add/adjust something to their inventory if they get reverse pickpocketed or a magic item changes or something, or to add a feat that does something special like one time one PC became haunted by the ghost of a little girl he had accidentally murdered with a shovel and I added a feat to explain it all and let him know what he had to deal with. What’s wrong with that?!?
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To the first part there are ways of communicating to players other than their sheet. But what you mention seems like it is also has the player involved so I don’t have as much a problem with that. Would prefer DM communicating with player and player making changes. But I get it, if it’s on the fly during a session.
To the second part you only said “the DM has the right to ask for your character sheet, make a change and hand it back to you, or keep it and tell you it’s an NPC now and that you need to go write up a new character.”
That seemed “out of the blue” to me as no mention was made of something in game happening like becoming a vampire. I would assume if the character became a vampire they would know what happened through gameplay and this would be made with both DM and player working together. If one day the DM just said “you’re a vampire. Give me your sheet” when the only thing the party had done was fight kobolds, that would be different.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I trust my DM with my characters' lives, why wouldn't I trust them with my character sheet? :)
Always good to communicate, typically the player makes adjustments, but there have been times when the DM was the one to fix something broken. They've also done things like added my pet or a cool magic item. Or figured out, in Roll20, that day when my attack was suddenly always doing the exact same amount of damage every time, oops.
Also never wrong to take a PDF copy of your character sheet to have a backup offline because honestly you never know when your VTT is going to Have A Moment too. I make a fresh PDF after every levelup.
Most of the time I don't think the DM should be editing player's character sheets (the main time it has come up for me is when a player was unavailable for a session but it wasn't convenient to write the character out for the session, so they're running around being an NPC and I need to track things like "cast a spell to assist the party") but there are occasional advantages to having that access and no real downside, so best to give it to the DM.
As for notes... why is it on the character sheet if it's not something the DM should have access to?
About the Notes tab, I agree entirely. I use my notes to put my character’s thoughts on party members, the situations we find ourselves in, additional backstory info that the DM can use, and even some player wish list things that the DM can think over.
That is free content for the DM to use as they wish. They can put the party in situations that use any of that information above, or avoid it to focus on other party members. It’s a treasure trove of info.
I have potential feat options there and when I get around to it, I might also put spells I am planning to take at next level so if the DM wants to drop a spellbook on my wizard, they can without too much worry about overlap.
Frankly, I want my DM to read that stuff and I don’t really understand why players want to remove visibility from the DMs. To me, that might speak to a trust issue at the table.
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The notes tab can also be a place to state real life triggers. If there is something you really don't want to see in-game but also don't want other players to see, drop a note to the GM so they can be aware.
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I don't mind if my GM has access to my character sheet, helps me in understanding things. But I would hope they don't change anything before consulting with me. So it's a matter of trust I think.
I always approach these theoretical scenarios from a position of people acting reasonably and rationally within the context. As a DM I would never just appropriate someone’s character without a reason like that, and wouldn’t expect anyone else to do it either. That type of behavior is simply unacceptable at any table, and therefore I don’t even consider it as worth discussing.
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I don't think I've ever done something detrimental to a player, but I have added boons in the way of items and feats to someone's character sheet. I find it really rewarding when they discover something like that during play. Usually they've been working towards a goal and I let those be mini rewards that go along with where they are taking their character.
While I certainly wouldn't complain as a player about that, my most likely reaction would be to assume it was a mistake and just quietly delete it...so I'd definitely let the player know.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.