Hey everyone :) Is there a way to hide someones race in a campaign page, to keep their backstories private until the game comes to a reveal? Thanks for the answers beforehand!
Not sure if it will work, but they could go to the first page in the character editor (Character Preferences) and set Character Privacy to Private. That way only they can see there character. Maybe DM as well?
Not sure if it will work, but they could go to the first page in the character editor (Character Preferences) and set Character Privacy to Private. That way only they can see there character. Maybe DM as well?
I have no way to test it right now.
I was just reading the thread about feature requests, and this does seem to be the way to do it. When you share a character, it switches the default to public/shared. You need to go back in after sharing and set it to private. It'll still be shared, but the content will (the theory goes) be hidden.
Not sure if it will work, but they could go to the first page in the character editor (Character Preferences) and set Character Privacy to Private. That way only they can see there character. Maybe DM as well?
I have no way to test it right now.
I was just reading the thread about feature requests, and this does seem to be the way to do it. When you share a character, it switches the default to public/shared. You need to go back in after sharing and set it to private. It'll still be shared, but the content will (the theory goes) be hidden.
I think other members of the campaign can still see name, race, and class when set to private, but they wont be able to see inventory or spells like they could in public.
DDB isn't set up to hide information from other members of party, as PvP campaigns are atypical.
I can confirm that DxJxC is correct from trying it in a campaign. (A player was trying to hide changeling race, private setting didn't hide it)
Huh. Well, that's unfortunate. Campaign doesn't have to be PvP for people to want to keep some secrets like that. :/
PvP is the main reason I can think to want to keep secrets from other players. Otherwise the players can know even if their characters don't. I've played 3 campaigns where another player was a changeling and our characters didn't know.
It's just easier to fight metagaming if the players are as clueless as the characters, really. Plus, that moment of realization on your players faces really make it worth the secrecy.
I can confirm that DxJxC is correct from trying it in a campaign. (A player was trying to hide changeling race, private setting didn't hide it)
Huh. Well, that's unfortunate. Campaign doesn't have to be PvP for people to want to keep some secrets like that. :/
PvP is the main reason I can think to want to keep secrets from other players. Otherwise the players can know even if their characters don't. I've played 3 campaigns where another player was a changeling and our characters didn't know.
It's not the main reason I can think of. The main reason for me is just that it's often hard to roleplay something as if you don't know it. If my character is on the run because he murdered someone, and the other players know that, it's very likely that the other players in character will treat my character very differently than if they didn't know that information.
I'm playing a changeling right now in a campaign, other players had no idea. Changelings are very rare and very mistrusted in this world, and in fact hunted by several collections of bad guys. The rest of the party found out (in character and as players) only recently, and it was a really cool moment. And there's nothing PvP about it.
To me, if you like RP-heavy campaigns, then keeping secrets is part and parcel of the game. There's no reason for another player to look at my character sheet at all, imo.
Although not part of the original question, I would like to add 2 things. First is that even on public, the notes, backstory, flaws, etc are not viewable to another player even on public. But, features and traits are. On private the only thing that can be seen is the information in the character banner. Second, is that even if a changeling could hide what they are initially, at some point enough time passes that cumulative passive insights from the party will start to notice something is amiss and will become more and more likely to notice that the changeling is not the race they are pretending to be. Mechanically, the changeling will have advantage on deception rolls, but over time in a party the odds are they will be found out. Side note: this comes from the 5e and 3.5 rules/books from Eberron. (The campaign I was referencing earlier with the changeling player.) Obviously it can be ruled however, but changelings in 3.5 and even in 5 do have a possibility of being figured out. Like Brotherbock's example, the reveal in my campaign was a cool moment also.
Although not part of the original question, I would like to add 2 things. First is that even on public, the notes, backstory, flaws, etc are not viewable to another player even on public. But, features and traits are. On private the only thing that can be seen is the information in the character banner. Second, is that even if a changeling could hide what they are initially, at some point enough time passes that cumulative passive insights from the party will start to notice something is amiss and will become more and more likely to notice that the changeling is not the race they are pretending to be. Mechanically, the changeling will have advantage on deception rolls, but over time in a party the odds are they will be found out. Side note: this comes from the 5e and 3.5 rules/books from Eberron. (The campaign I was referencing earlier with the changeling player.) Obviously it can be ruled however, but changelings in 3.5 and even in 5 do have a possibility of being figured out. Like Brotherbock's example, the reveal in my campaign was a cool moment also.
I'm definitely not disagreeing with you on those points :) But it depends on the actions of the changeling. In theory, you could play a changeling who never changes, and who has a very tight persona and backstory. In the world my character is in, he's got every reason to not change a whole lot. I have played him as changing between only two personas to this point because of the factors I mentioned, and I have passed it off as 'alter self'. And the other players are new, so I got away with no one questioning my spell selections or access (was a single-classed warlock to start with). One player had a wizard who also had alter self, and I thought for sure she as a player and character might figure it out...there were clues.
And I'm definitely fine with people finding out like that. But that's part of what I like about playing. If you want your character to be an open book to the rest of the party, that's cool. But I don't mind mysterious backgrounds...that I can quietly work to uncover :)
It's good to know that backgrounds and such can still be hidden. I don't use this site for characters, so I wasn't aware of that. And I suspect the changeling might be the only race really affected by their race being public like this. I suppose you might have a tiefling who looks mostly human and tries to hide their origin. But I've never run across a dwarf who was trying to hide it...or able to :)
Yeah, changelings that never changed were one of the three main types of changelings and got better DCs for deception. They also had feats like perfect imitation or something like that. (The other two were natural state only and changed all the time types) Again, we started 3.5 rules and then switched to 5 and we had to convert because there wasn't that much in 5 yet. If you're not going with the source Eberron material it's up to the DM on their mechanics.
Hi, relatively new here, and have come up against the same issue, relating to want to make a character reveal in the very early part of a “magnificent seven” style character recruitment opening to a campaign... It might be interesting to have some kind of “undeclared” / “as yet undeclared” / “A.Y.U.” Setting for both race and Gender, and perhaps a flippable pseudonym insert below the name drop down. As someone above said, really to just aid with meta/role playing, and add to the surprise.
In the meantime, my DM and I are toying with simply setting up a holding character for this first section.
Sorry for necroing the thread, but I found a fantastic solution to this issue and needed to share! This was the first hit when I looked this question up so here seemed the best place to put it.
I also encountered this issue myself recently, wanting to make a changeling for some subterfuge before coming clean to the party later, (after the character leans to trust them) since changelings are ostracized in our campaign.
The surprisingly easy solution was homebrew. You can create a custom race, and when doing so, you are given the option to "copy an existing race". Simply choose changeling, and then change the homebrew race name to whichever race you want your friends to think you are!
This way, you get the online character sheet, with properly calculated racial bonuses for being a changeling, and everything else that comes with that, but you also get to hide your changeling status.
(The best part, since you copied the changeling race, the description of the race/abilities and such are also cloned. Just to remind you what's going on)
Yeah, I've suggested that in one or 2 of the other times this has come up over the years.
[Edit]After some digging, this is the only time I suggested it that I could find, but there are probably more with different search terms. It is over a year old.
People occasionally complain about this. I guess it would be a good idea to at least hide race, class, and level. Name would be important for distinguishing the character (if there are 6 private characters, you need to be able to tell them apart). And image is what people see.
Currently, what I've been recommending to players is to homebrew a copy of race and rename it, so people don't know.
In a upcoming campaign I wanted to play a Hollow One (with the DM permission), and I wanted to keep my race secret to start with. The custom race idea would have been great for me, but homebrew races dont show up when doing a custom race.Any other ideas that would help? I dont know why there isn't an option in DND Beyond . I would be so much better for backstory reveal.
If the GM is onboard, just pick the race you're pretending to be. Everybody will look at it and see what you and the GM want them to see. When/if it comes time for a reveal, then change 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."
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"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
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Hey everyone :) Is there a way to hide someones race in a campaign page, to keep their backstories private until the game comes to a reveal? Thanks for the answers beforehand!
Not sure if it will work, but they could go to the first page in the character editor (Character Preferences) and set Character Privacy to Private. That way only they can see there character. Maybe DM as well?
I have no way to test it right now.
I was just reading the thread about feature requests, and this does seem to be the way to do it. When you share a character, it switches the default to public/shared. You need to go back in after sharing and set it to private. It'll still be shared, but the content will (the theory goes) be hidden.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Oh! Thank you for the answers!! This helps a lot.
I think other members of the campaign can still see name, race, and class when set to private, but they wont be able to see inventory or spells like they could in public.
DDB isn't set up to hide information from other members of party, as PvP campaigns are atypical.
I can confirm that DxJxC is correct from trying it in a campaign. (A player was trying to hide changeling race, private setting didn't hide it)
Huh. Well, that's unfortunate. Campaign doesn't have to be PvP for people to want to keep some secrets like that. :/
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Oh... That's unfortunate. Thanks for letting me know
PvP is the main reason I can think to want to keep secrets from other players. Otherwise the players can know even if their characters don't. I've played 3 campaigns where another player was a changeling and our characters didn't know.
It's just easier to fight metagaming if the players are as clueless as the characters, really. Plus, that moment of realization on your players faces really make it worth the secrecy.
It's not the main reason I can think of. The main reason for me is just that it's often hard to roleplay something as if you don't know it. If my character is on the run because he murdered someone, and the other players know that, it's very likely that the other players in character will treat my character very differently than if they didn't know that information.
I'm playing a changeling right now in a campaign, other players had no idea. Changelings are very rare and very mistrusted in this world, and in fact hunted by several collections of bad guys. The rest of the party found out (in character and as players) only recently, and it was a really cool moment. And there's nothing PvP about it.
To me, if you like RP-heavy campaigns, then keeping secrets is part and parcel of the game. There's no reason for another player to look at my character sheet at all, imo.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Although not part of the original question, I would like to add 2 things. First is that even on public, the notes, backstory, flaws, etc are not viewable to another player even on public. But, features and traits are. On private the only thing that can be seen is the information in the character banner. Second, is that even if a changeling could hide what they are initially, at some point enough time passes that cumulative passive insights from the party will start to notice something is amiss and will become more and more likely to notice that the changeling is not the race they are pretending to be. Mechanically, the changeling will have advantage on deception rolls, but over time in a party the odds are they will be found out. Side note: this comes from the 5e and 3.5 rules/books from Eberron. (The campaign I was referencing earlier with the changeling player.) Obviously it can be ruled however, but changelings in 3.5 and even in 5 do have a possibility of being figured out. Like Brotherbock's example, the reveal in my campaign was a cool moment also.
I'm definitely not disagreeing with you on those points :) But it depends on the actions of the changeling. In theory, you could play a changeling who never changes, and who has a very tight persona and backstory. In the world my character is in, he's got every reason to not change a whole lot. I have played him as changing between only two personas to this point because of the factors I mentioned, and I have passed it off as 'alter self'. And the other players are new, so I got away with no one questioning my spell selections or access (was a single-classed warlock to start with). One player had a wizard who also had alter self, and I thought for sure she as a player and character might figure it out...there were clues.
And I'm definitely fine with people finding out like that. But that's part of what I like about playing. If you want your character to be an open book to the rest of the party, that's cool. But I don't mind mysterious backgrounds...that I can quietly work to uncover :)
It's good to know that backgrounds and such can still be hidden. I don't use this site for characters, so I wasn't aware of that. And I suspect the changeling might be the only race really affected by their race being public like this. I suppose you might have a tiefling who looks mostly human and tries to hide their origin. But I've never run across a dwarf who was trying to hide it...or able to :)
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Yeah, changelings that never changed were one of the three main types of changelings and got better DCs for deception. They also had feats like perfect imitation or something like that. (The other two were natural state only and changed all the time types) Again, we started 3.5 rules and then switched to 5 and we had to convert because there wasn't that much in 5 yet. If you're not going with the source Eberron material it's up to the DM on their mechanics.
I would like that to, to hide race and class from rest of the party.
I have players that can't understand off and ingame apparently.
My only option right now is to have 2 separate campaigns, one for the type mentioned above and one for the rest.
This is a big issue since i have to lookup to groups every time we play.
Is there a way for this to be requested as a change maybe a option on the campaign page?
Hi, relatively new here, and have come up against the same issue, relating to want to make a character reveal in the very early part of a “magnificent seven” style character recruitment opening to a campaign... It might be interesting to have some kind of “undeclared” / “as yet undeclared” / “A.Y.U.” Setting for both race and Gender, and perhaps a flippable pseudonym insert below the name drop down. As someone above said, really to just aid with meta/role playing, and add to the surprise.
In the meantime, my DM and I are toying with simply setting up a holding character for this first section.
hesir
DMsGuild Creator/Illustrator/Writer
artstation.com/hesir / @hesir - Twitter / @AKAhesir - instagram
Sorry for necroing the thread, but I found a fantastic solution to this issue and needed to share! This was the first hit when I looked this question up so here seemed the best place to put it.
I also encountered this issue myself recently, wanting to make a changeling for some subterfuge before coming clean to the party later, (after the character leans to trust them) since changelings are ostracized in our campaign.
The surprisingly easy solution was homebrew. You can create a custom race, and when doing so, you are given the option to "copy an existing race". Simply choose changeling, and then change the homebrew race name to whichever race you want your friends to think you are!
This way, you get the online character sheet, with properly calculated racial bonuses for being a changeling, and everything else that comes with that, but you also get to hide your changeling status.
(The best part, since you copied the changeling race, the description of the race/abilities and such are also cloned. Just to remind you what's going on)
Yeah, I've suggested that in one or 2 of the other times this has come up over the years.
[Edit]After some digging, this is the only time I suggested it that I could find, but there are probably more with different search terms. It is over a year old.
In a upcoming campaign I wanted to play a Hollow One (with the DM permission), and I wanted to keep my race secret to start with. The custom race idea would have been great for me, but homebrew races dont show up when doing a custom race.Any other ideas that would help? I dont know why there isn't an option in DND Beyond . I would be so much better for backstory reveal.
If the GM is onboard, just pick the race you're pretending to be. Everybody will look at it and see what you and the GM want them to see. When/if it comes time for a reveal, then change 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