Replying to the original post -- I can only speak for myself and those I play with, but as a player, I wouldn't have any fun playing Blarf. I'd rather be told I can't play then have to use the humiliating "dunce cap" character. Imagine showing up for a game of hockey with your mates and one guy forgot his stick and skates--so everyone makes him play barefoot and with a toilet plunger. Sure, that'll get some laughs, but speaking for myself I'd just sit out and watch or go home.
I think the question OP would have for you is whether the experience--whether you stayed or not--would make you more likely to bring your character sheet the next time. :)
I mean that would depend on the truth as to why I'm forgetting my character sheet in the first place; which is a variable we can't really know and reasons to why most people posting here have suggested an alternative to using the Blarf character as a punishment. Again, I'm speaking for myself here, maybe this idea would work in the OP's group, no problem. But I'd never ask my friends play a character like Blarf, and I hope they wouldn't ask me to do so either.
It's weird to me that responders are calling out keeping players character sheets as more work, when OP took the time to create a placeholder character. From my perspective, doing a brand new thing is always more work than copying an existing thing.
I used to be a very forgetful person, and I understand the effect forgetfulness can have on others. However, you're not trying to address forgetfulness or its negative effects. Instead, you've built a home in forgetfulness and moved in with them.
By creating this placeholder character, you are very much sending the message that the characters ARE replaceable. In some cases that's fine, but most people here will encourage you to aspire to something greater.
Replying to the original post -- I can only speak for myself and those I play with, but as a player, I wouldn't have any fun playing Blarf. I'd rather be told I can't play then have to use the humiliating "dunce cap" character. Imagine showing up for a game of hockey with your mates and one guy forgot his stick and skates--so everyone makes him play barefoot and with a toilet plunger. Sure, that'll get some laughs, but speaking for myself I'd just sit out and watch or go home.
I think the question OP would have for you is whether the experience--whether you stayed or not--would make you more likely to bring your character sheet the next time. :)
I mean that would depend on the truth as to why I'm forgetting my character sheet in the first place; which is a variable we can't really know and reasons to why most people posting here have suggested an alternative to using the Blarf character as a punishment. Again, I'm speaking for myself here, maybe this idea would work in the OP's group, no problem. But I'd never ask my friends play a character like Blarf, and I hope they wouldn't ask me to do so either.
From how OP described the situation, it seems like an ongoing issue, right? If someone who's committed to the game forgets their sheet once, not a big deal. But one time isn't going to be enough for OP to generate this Blarf. It read to me like there are some players who just aren't giving a poop. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't use Blarf either. I'd just un-invite them to the group if they can't respect everyone else enough to keep bringing their character sheets. But my point is just that OP's intended result was that the habitual forgetter would think to himself "Oh...I'm the a-hole here..." and learn from it :) In short, I don't think a player like you, who respects other people and isn't blowing the whole thing off, is the target of this attempt.
But yeah, if it's friends and it's an honest mistake, you're clearly right. Blarf would have no room in that group.
I would just let em play their character with what they remember they have, make them annotate the damage recieved and anything that should change and make them adjust those values when they got home, if something is off you should notice it, like a strange ammount of health, money or damage, you should help them create the backstory of the character so they can feel aligned with it and prevent them geting bored of their character, try use the Knife Theory and give them interesting encounters based on that, make them feel they are playing a story of their characters not the story of the campaign.
Or if they simply want to try new characters you can set up an in game guild that sends different adventurers to the missions, and they can only change between a set of missions or adventures, but let me tell you giving that option will make your players feel no progression for their characters, their character decitions become less and less important since they can create another character next time.
So I'm having the same problem, and to give some credit where credits due, as DM I use Figh Club 5 to keep track of all my characters. Its a great app, worth the $2. I use it on my tablet in conjunction with Game Master 5 and it's been awesome. I can keep track of the characters I have registered on the app then at the end of the session I update the groups characters file via Google drive so they can have it on their phones as well.
We're only on our third session and the group has had about a month and a half to set up their characters and send me their character xml. I have two guys specifically laughing at the fact that I continue to ask for these files while threatening to have consequences for players who dont send them to me. Once I have them it's no big deal, if they don't show, I'll figure it out, but I don't Want them playing untill I do.
For this session tomorrow I have very little faith they will bring their sheets or send me the file, so I want to have consequences. I actually really like the Ops idea, are there any more recommendations??
So I'm having the same problem, and to give some credit where credits due, as DM I use Figh Club 5 to keep track of all my characters. Its a great app, worth the $2. I use it on my tablet in conjunction with Game Master 5 and it's been awesome. I can keep track of the characters I have registered on the app then at the end of the session I update the groups characters file via Google drive so they can have it on their phones as well.
We're only on our third session and the group has had about a month and a half to set up their characters and send me their character xml. I have two guys specifically laughing at the fact that I continue to ask for these files while threatening to have consequences for players who dont send them to me. Once I have them it's no big deal, if they don't show, I'll figure it out, but I don't Want them playing untill I do.
For this session tomorrow I have very little faith they will bring their sheets or send me the file, so I want to have consequences. I actually really like the Ops idea, are there any more recommendations??
My first reaction is it's disrespectful to ignore your request like that and that I would just not allow them to play that session and they can observe. Then, maybe next week they'll bring their sheets, and you can keep them to enter them yourself.
Honestly, I would probably just tell them not to show up if they can't come prepared - I'm not the sort of DM that would hand hold through something like this. It's not my fault that you can't remember, and it's already my problem to try and adjust the session for missing two characters, so I'm not going to tack more on myself to figure out something for the players to do during the session otherwise.
A player forgetting his/her character sheet happens but should not happen often. If this is a problem then have them leave the sheet at the table when they leave. Im not sure I would punish them in game but I would have a talk with them to try and resolve the issue. If they really want to play then they would not just forget their character sheet so often. I get it, it happens but for a player that is the most important thing they need to have at the table and forgetting to bring it being an issue should not be an issue.
In response to the OP: Playing a game requires mutual commitment, for D&D that involves keeping your character sheet. If they don't they're not committed to playing the game.
Ask them why this is happening and help them resolve their issues. If they are just being lazy find other people to play with as this will drag along and only cause negative energy.
The same goes for all forms of punishments, it's all just trying to solve something negative, with more negativity. Rewarding good behavior might work, but if they don't care about the game, rewarding the ones who do good work on their character sheets probably won't bother them as well. Which brings me back to the previous statement, find players who want to play the game.
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I mean that would depend on the truth as to why I'm forgetting my character sheet in the first place; which is a variable we can't really know and reasons to why most people posting here have suggested an alternative to using the Blarf character as a punishment. Again, I'm speaking for myself here, maybe this idea would work in the OP's group, no problem. But I'd never ask my friends play a character like Blarf, and I hope they wouldn't ask me to do so either.
It's weird to me that responders are calling out keeping players character sheets as more work, when OP took the time to create a placeholder character. From my perspective, doing a brand new thing is always more work than copying an existing thing.
I used to be a very forgetful person, and I understand the effect forgetfulness can have on others. However, you're not trying to address forgetfulness or its negative effects. Instead, you've built a home in forgetfulness and moved in with them.
By creating this placeholder character, you are very much sending the message that the characters ARE replaceable. In some cases that's fine, but most people here will encourage you to aspire to something greater.
From how OP described the situation, it seems like an ongoing issue, right? If someone who's committed to the game forgets their sheet once, not a big deal. But one time isn't going to be enough for OP to generate this Blarf. It read to me like there are some players who just aren't giving a poop. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't use Blarf either. I'd just un-invite them to the group if they can't respect everyone else enough to keep bringing their character sheets. But my point is just that OP's intended result was that the habitual forgetter would think to himself "Oh...I'm the a-hole here..." and learn from it :) In short, I don't think a player like you, who respects other people and isn't blowing the whole thing off, is the target of this attempt.
But yeah, if it's friends and it's an honest mistake, you're clearly right. Blarf would have no room in that group.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
I would just let em play their character with what they remember they have, make them annotate the damage recieved and anything that should change and make them adjust those values when they got home, if something is off you should notice it, like a strange ammount of health, money or damage, you should help them create the backstory of the character so they can feel aligned with it and prevent them geting bored of their character, try use the Knife Theory and give them interesting encounters based on that, make them feel they are playing a story of their characters not the story of the campaign.
Or if they simply want to try new characters you can set up an in game guild that sends different adventurers to the missions, and they can only change between a set of missions or adventures, but let me tell you giving that option will make your players feel no progression for their characters, their character decitions become less and less important since they can create another character next time.
So I'm having the same problem, and to give some credit where credits due, as DM I use Figh Club 5 to keep track of all my characters. Its a great app, worth the $2. I use it on my tablet in conjunction with Game Master 5 and it's been awesome. I can keep track of the characters I have registered on the app then at the end of the session I update the groups characters file via Google drive so they can have it on their phones as well.
We're only on our third session and the group has had about a month and a half to set up their characters and send me their character xml. I have two guys specifically laughing at the fact that I continue to ask for these files while threatening to have consequences for players who dont send them to me. Once I have them it's no big deal, if they don't show, I'll figure it out, but I don't Want them playing untill I do.
For this session tomorrow I have very little faith they will bring their sheets or send me the file, so I want to have consequences. I actually really like the Ops idea, are there any more recommendations??
My first reaction is it's disrespectful to ignore your request like that and that I would just not allow them to play that session and they can observe. Then, maybe next week they'll bring their sheets, and you can keep them to enter them yourself.
Honestly, I would probably just tell them not to show up if they can't come prepared - I'm not the sort of DM that would hand hold through something like this. It's not my fault that you can't remember, and it's already my problem to try and adjust the session for missing two characters, so I'm not going to tack more on myself to figure out something for the players to do during the session otherwise.
A player forgetting his/her character sheet happens but should not happen often. If this is a problem then have them leave the sheet at the table when they leave. Im not sure I would punish them in game but I would have a talk with them to try and resolve the issue. If they really want to play then they would not just forget their character sheet so often. I get it, it happens but for a player that is the most important thing they need to have at the table and forgetting to bring it being an issue should not be an issue.
In response to the OP: Playing a game requires mutual commitment, for D&D that involves keeping your character sheet. If they don't they're not committed to playing the game.
Ask them why this is happening and help them resolve their issues. If they are just being lazy find other people to play with as this will drag along and only cause negative energy.
The same goes for all forms of punishments, it's all just trying to solve something negative, with more negativity. Rewarding good behavior might work, but if they don't care about the game, rewarding the ones who do good work on their character sheets probably won't bother them as well. Which brings me back to the previous statement, find players who want to play the game.