Character Sheet Format

Over the course of campaigns nearly every player seems to like to format their character sheets in a manner that suits them. I encourage this, as it demonstrates involvement, but I do require all sheets submitted to contain the same information and to be formatted in roughly the same way. This document details the exact specifications to which character sheets should be formatted. Most of these guidelines are in place to make the way your character is constructed as transparent as possible. When done routinely these methods can save all involved hours of math, confusion, and searching. This might look quite intimidating to start off with but each individual character update requires minimal revision and your DM (who has made hundreds of characters over the course of his D&D career) is more than happy to help you in formatting.
Characters should be listed on as few sheets as possible to conserve paper but should be listed as comprehensively as possible this includes any complex transformations your character may often make use of (wildshape, polymorph alternate form etc.). All character sheets attached to the wiki should be saved in .doc, .rtf, .pcp, or .txt format with a preference toward .doc format.

Pages formatted for the wiki may be formatted using this Statblock
Class chosen at each particular character level, rolled HP for each of these levels, and skill points for every level will be tracked in a separate document by the DM called the level advancement record. These records help to correct some of the most common sources of errors in character updates which can otherwise remain invisible. The cumulative effects of these items will be reflected on the character sheet.
Experience will similarly be tracked by the DM in the experience record.
If you have developed a written character history for your character this should be saved separately and submitted to your DM for bonus experience.

Character listings should include the following:
Profile Stats:

  • Name (Full name of the character as well as nicknames or abbreviations)
  • Player (Your name)
  • Status (eg, Alive PC, dead NPC, petrified cohort) etc.
  • Race and Class (as one entry), thus elf fighter 3 or treant 12 fighter 3 (some races require class levels in and of themselves and are thus listed as having class levels).
  • Weight, height, gender (usually within racial norms, check with the DM otherwise)
  • Physical description (short or long at player’s discretion)
  • Age (All ages are updated at the same time on new years in the campaign world, thus your character’s birthday will vary from this but statistically penalties and bonuses from aging occur on new years. Tracking individual birthdays has proved practically impossible in the past.)
  • Alignment (just put a guesstimate; your alignment may be revised by the DM if your actions warrant the change)
  • Size and Type: Medium or small humanoid are the standard, others examples include large giant or tiny fey.
  • Deity/Deities: Which higher power or powers does your character pay the most attention to? (This doesn’t mean that you are friendly with said deity though, most evil clerics are terrified by their gods and an agnostic character may struggle with faith, primarily with the listed deities.)

Combat Stats:

  • All ability scores, saves, and skills are to be listed in both total and equation format. Total format is just the number (with its modifier as given by Table 1-1, PHB p.8). Equation format demonstrates how the ability score was arrived at with all modifiers from items, race, class, levels, etc., e.g.: Str 18 +4, (base 14, +2 racial, +2 inherent).
  • Base Attack Bonus (BAB) (listed with reiterative attacks included; for the purposes of this entry, ignore any magical or supernatural effect which adjusts BAB)
  • CMB or Combat maneuver bonus (If modifiers beyond size, strength and BAB apply please write in equation format)
  • CMD or Combat maneuver defense (If modifiers beyond size, strength, dex, and BAB apply please write in equation format)
  • Hit Point (HP): listed as ___/84 or the like.
  • Hit Dice (HD): The total number of dice rolled for your character plus any applicable bonuses in equation format. Unless you have a racial level adjustment, this will be equal to your character level. (eg. 4d8 +4 con +2 favored class)
  • AC: Total and equation formats of armor class are required with the additional condition of listing touch and flatfooted armor classes.
  • Attacks can be written with equations as well but typically this is overkill. Total numbers are usually sufficient. Damage should be recorded after each attack (or set of attacks where multiple attacks of the same kind deal the same damage). If the attack has special abilities such as reach, range, poison, or the like please record these as well with any appropriate simple numerical values such as reach or range.
  • Saves can be written in either format; total equation is preferred.
  • Initiative (total format is usually sufficient)
  • Movement: (both regular movement and full movement unmodified by armor)

Equipment

  • All equipment must be listed with a total weight and these weights must be added together to yield a total encumbrance value (and the encumbrance category this weight places the character in). The character’s carrying capacity (based on size and strength) should be listed directly afterward for all encumbrance categories (Light, Medium, Heavy).
  • Some characters find it beneficial to list which items they are actively employing on a regular basis, either through a color-code or the use of asterisks. This is only required, however, if multiple items worn in the same place are in the character’s possession (two or more necklaces, more than two rings, more than one shield etc.).
  • Any permanent statistical bonuses conferred by equipment should be included in the statistics earlier in the character sheet, in addition to the listing in the equipment section.
  • For any item that has been expended but from which there remain permanent bonuses (eg. tomes, decks of many things) an entry should be placed in the equipment section to reflect these changes with the term (Used) included. In the case of a deck of many things, cards can be listed individually along with their effects.
  • Any complicated magic items should have their capabilities described on the character sheet, thus a ring of elemental command should have all its powers listed.
  • All major artifacts garnered by a character must be listed in full on the character sheet. These unique items often don’t have a book reference to look up.

Feats:

  • It is helpful in recording feats to list the level at which they were acquired, and to place a (B) beside any feat that is garnered by a race or class bonus.
  • If you have trouble keeping track of what your feats do please either make a shorthand note of their effect or record a page reference for the book where they are related (see references below).

Skills:

  • Must be listed in total and equation format, with ranks listed as the first item. Cross-class skills are listed with cc after the number, e.g.: Tumble +15 (2cc ranks, +8 ranks, +3 dex +2 synergy)

Spells & Magic

  • Record the total number of spells for each spellcasting class you have access to, e.g.: Wizard 4/3/1 means four 0-level spells, three 1st-level spells, and one 2nd-level spell.
  • Record the saving throw DCs to resist spells of each level in a simple chart.
  • Record any special benefits or restrictions your character enjoys due to domains, school specialization, etc.
  • For spontaneous casters (sorcerers, bards, favoured souls, etc.) your spells known should be recorded separately from your spells per day. Spells per day should be formatted as a checklist or tally sheet.
  • For preparatory casters (wizards, clerics, paladins, etc) the spells you would prepare on a typical day of adventuring should be recorded as a standard memorization.
  • The most convenient way to lay out this table we have found is to make a list consisting of black lines (two-inch tab spacing with the underline style works admirably) with spell levels recorded in black and actual spells written in a light color, like pale blue. This way, once the sheet is printed on paper for play, individual spells can be written over in pencil to reflect temporary changes to the standard memorization without needing to rewrite the entire list.
  • Any characters with the spell focus feat or with similar special effects dependant on schools of magic (e.g., specialist wizards) are asked to record the spell school of each spell along with its name, e.g.: Fireball (evk).
  • Domain spells should be listed either uniformly first or last on their level (I prefer first), and denoted with a different color or a D marking (superscript D is preferable)
  • If your character has spells you would like to cast as a matter of habit, please record these spells, their durations, and the time they are cast. If such spells last for the majority of the day and modify your statistics or equipment, please treat them as magic items for purposes of statistical considerations.

Mounts, Animal Companions, and Familiars

  • Must be recorded using the same methods detailed above. For familiars it is acceptable to use stat block format:

Name: ……, Race & Class: ……, CR: .., HD: .., Hp: .., Init: .., Spd: .., AC: .., (Touch ..) (Flatfooted ..) Base Atk:.., Grp: .., Atk: .., Full Atk: .., Space/Reach: ../.., SA:.., SQ: .., AL: .., SV: Fort: .., Ref: .., Will: .., Ability Scores: Str .., Dex .., Con .., Int .., Wis .., Chr .., Skills & Feats: ………………….
(Details): …………………………………………………………

Note: Close content rules language may not be posted to the wiki, see legal. If your interested if a permanent character features such as a feats, classes, races, or spells from a close content source your DM can work with you to develop an open content alternative which are available for all.

File Names and Posting:

  • Please, before updating a sheet to a new version or level save it under the new name. This reduces the instance of accidentally wiping out your previous character sheet, which is often used for reference purposes.
  • The file name should indicate the character’s name and the character’s level, e.g.: Erbocto(19).doc.
  • If a character was updated without gaining a level, the sheet should be distinguished from the earlier sheet of the same level by a version marking, e.g.: Erbocto(19)v2.doc.
  • If a character has been updated from a previous edition of the D20 rule set then the current rule set (3.p) should be added to the file name, e.g.: Norbit(22)v2(3.5).doc.
  • All sheets, once completed, should be either posted to the wiki (where you will have master page for your sheets) sheets as their own wiki pages, or as file attachments are both acceptable.
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