I've seen it mentioned in a couple different places DMs having access to, or a copy of, Player Character Sheets. I was wondering how many DMs do this and why? And, if so, what is the favored format: digital, physical.
Kind of answering my own question, I can see a case where having access to the character sheets would be handy: encounter building. What are the PCs' strengths? weaknesses?
Right now I have not asked my players for a copy of their character sheets, mostly because I don't want another thing to manage.
What are your thoughts?
In my game, the players have folders with their character sheets, magic item cards, spell cards, etc. I manage all that stuff, and provide it to the players on game nights. Each character has a colored folder, and they've got a miniature with a base which matches the color of the folder. It helps me keep things organized.
I've got their characters in form-fillable PDFs and the spell cards are mine, and so on. If any of my players expressed an interest in taking home their character sheets, they'd certainly be welcome to, but I tend to be the one who cares about that kinda stuff. None of the players in this game are dedicated D&D enthusiasts who own books, they're casual players who show up on game nights to play.
when I played in person as a PC, my friend held everything between sessions. I'm not sure if he looked at them or not, but after the initial setup I don't think he ever bothered, it was more so that when playing there was no "crap I forgot my sheet" happening. As the DM we weren't playing without him, so it made sense for him to hold them, though for myself it did kind of bother me at times when I would want to look stuff up between our sessions and didn't have my sheet for reference.
As a DM myself now, I look at the sheets before the first session/right after creation, just to verify they are within the rules I have set. I will however note the ability scores and proficiency for passive checks (passive perception and the like). After that though, I trust the players to keep them up to date. I'll mentally note the spells used during a session if it seems that someone is coming close to the limit, and at that point I'd ask them to verify how many slots they had available, just as a reminder to keep track of such things. I don't think my players take advantage, though I'm sure mistakes happen, but mistakes are not going to break the game. I don't play a game in person, I use roll20, so the sheets are always available to me if I needed them but as I said, I haven't looked at them since we started playing. Also I don't have the "bookkeeping" worry about someone forgetting a sheet with playing online.
I think the point of noting the flaws/ideals/background is great too to work into the story, and I may take a look at those for my PC's when I get a chance. I know their backgrounds but not necessarily their specific flaws/ideals (other than what they have acted out/portrayed).
Like others, I only need to know AC, max HP, and passive perception and I like to have those ready at hand so that i can ask for certain people to make perception checks if their passive one would alert them to something in the area. Other than that, it's up to the players to track everything (though I do keep very detailed notes over what's gone on in the session).
I don't keep a copy either. The only things as far as tracking PCs is concerned, their names, passive perception, and if they are in possession of some important item.
The only reason I would keep a copy of a character sheet would be to have it on hand if a player somehow lost their copy, which hasn't happened yet... knock on wood... because I don't have copies lol.
Edit: Character background stories go into my DM binder. I don't really consider that as keeping track of anything as much as possible adventure hooks later.
Generally when DM's do this it is because they want to take the players out of the moment as little as possible. Let's say the players are walking down a dark alleyway, instead of the DM rolling random dice and asking the players "what's your passive perception" or "what's your armor class again" instead he can go "a goblin appears out of nowhere! And the arrow barely skims past your ear. You're lucky to be living" it also allows people who build and edit their campaigns to see spells and abilities, and build the campaign. If your players have the only copy of their sheet it's hard to calculate TDO (total damage output) and scale campaigns correctly.
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I take a copy of the Char sheet for every player at the start not only to ensure they have created it in a way that is correct but doing so also allows me to know what they are capable of and what things I could reward them with that would add to the PC's abilities. I do not do random magic items in treasure hoards. I know what magic items are in play.
Having the numbers also allows me to answer the questions when they come up as to what they need to roll to pass a check or what they need to hit or what is there AC.
The last reason and one of the best is after some time I have managed to collect a lot of them. I now have a stack of well detailed NPC's to pull out in those times when I need one fast.
IMO, it's absolutely a nice-to-have for planning. You can get a lot of sense of you things play out over time in terms of damage output and absorption, but I know I certainly don't memorize a lot of details about everyone, so if I'm planning something involving languages or tools, I definitely want to be able to look that up.
From a realistic standpoint, though, I'm primarily dming in an open-shop environment. (Think Adventurer's League but a lot more freeform). As a result, I don't actually have any guarantee that I'm going to have the same players week-to-week, and if I plan something assuming nobody knows Elven, I can pretty much lay down solid money I get a new player who's built an elf. It's even more so at the moment because since my last campaign wrapped I've been a player/backup DM, so if I'm actually running something it's a bunch of complete randoms or one of the regular DMs has the flu.
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when I played in person as a PC, my friend held everything between sessions. I'm not sure if he looked at them or not, but after the initial setup I don't think he ever bothered, it was more so that when playing there was no "crap I forgot my sheet" happening. As the DM we weren't playing without him, so it made sense for him to hold them, though for myself it did kind of bother me at times when I would want to look stuff up between our sessions and didn't have my sheet for reference.
As a DM myself now, I look at the sheets before the first session/right after creation, just to verify they are within the rules I have set. I will however note the ability scores and proficiency for passive checks (passive perception and the like). After that though, I trust the players to keep them up to date. I'll mentally note the spells used during a session if it seems that someone is coming close to the limit, and at that point I'd ask them to verify how many slots they had available, just as a reminder to keep track of such things. I don't think my players take advantage, though I'm sure mistakes happen, but mistakes are not going to break the game. I don't play a game in person, I use roll20, so the sheets are always available to me if I needed them but as I said, I haven't looked at them since we started playing. Also I don't have the "bookkeeping" worry about someone forgetting a sheet with playing online.
I think the point of noting the flaws/ideals/background is great too to work into the story, and I may take a look at those for my PC's when I get a chance. I know their backgrounds but not necessarily their specific flaws/ideals (other than what they have acted out/portrayed).
How do you get a one-armed goblin out of a tree?
Wave!
Like others, I only need to know AC, max HP, and passive perception and I like to have those ready at hand so that i can ask for certain people to make perception checks if their passive one would alert them to something in the area. Other than that, it's up to the players to track everything (though I do keep very detailed notes over what's gone on in the session).
I don't keep a copy either. The only things as far as tracking PCs is concerned, their names, passive perception, and if they are in possession of some important item.
The only reason I would keep a copy of a character sheet would be to have it on hand if a player somehow lost their copy, which hasn't happened yet... knock on wood... because I don't have copies lol.
Edit: Character background stories go into my DM binder. I don't really consider that as keeping track of anything as much as possible adventure hooks later.
Welcome to the Grand Illusion, come on in and see what's happening, pay the price, get your ticket for the show....
Generally when DM's do this it is because they want to take the players out of the moment as little as possible. Let's say the players are walking down a dark alleyway, instead of the DM rolling random dice and asking the players "what's your passive perception" or "what's your armor class again" instead he can go "a goblin appears out of nowhere! And the arrow barely skims past your ear. You're lucky to be living" it also allows people who build and edit their campaigns to see spells and abilities, and build the campaign. If your players have the only copy of their sheet it's hard to calculate TDO (total damage output) and scale campaigns correctly.
*channels divinity in an attempt to turn this undead zombie thread!!!*
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
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Quote from Vedexent >>
It worked, Vedexent. You've done it. Now watch the evil necromancer of Time revert it back to its original state.
it's been a long time...
I take a copy of the Char sheet for every player at the start not only to ensure they have created it in a way that is correct but doing so also allows me to know what they are capable of and what things I could reward them with that would add to the PC's abilities. I do not do random magic items in treasure hoards. I know what magic items are in play.
Having the numbers also allows me to answer the questions when they come up as to what they need to roll to pass a check or what they need to hit or what is there AC.
The last reason and one of the best is after some time I have managed to collect a lot of them. I now have a stack of well detailed NPC's to pull out in those times when I need one fast.
IMO, it's absolutely a nice-to-have for planning. You can get a lot of sense of you things play out over time in terms of damage output and absorption, but I know I certainly don't memorize a lot of details about everyone, so if I'm planning something involving languages or tools, I definitely want to be able to look that up.
From a realistic standpoint, though, I'm primarily dming in an open-shop environment. (Think Adventurer's League but a lot more freeform). As a result, I don't actually have any guarantee that I'm going to have the same players week-to-week, and if I plan something assuming nobody knows Elven, I can pretty much lay down solid money I get a new player who's built an elf. It's even more so at the moment because since my last campaign wrapped I've been a player/backup DM, so if I'm actually running something it's a bunch of complete randoms or one of the regular DMs has the flu.
I have copies of all the character sheets, because all my Players keep their characters on DnD Beyond, in one of my Campaign slots.
That said, I also have a self-made "Party sheet" which lists all their stats and abilities in a compact form.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.