|
Anyone else notice how terrible the character sheet is? There's no room to record information like your tohit and damage for the powers. And you basically have no room after level 2 or 3 to add more powers.
It's like, YOU MUST by the deluxe character sheets.. and even with those I'm worried about how they'll be laid out.
On the right hand side there is an Attack Workspace section, with two different lines for attack bonuses keyed to two different ability scores. Most of your meaningful attacks will generally be geared off of one score, perhaps two. I dont think warlocks are going to be concerned about calculating their entire Strength-based attack, since none of the warlock powers that I saw relied on Strength.
Anyway, there is also a damage workspace that is likewise keyed to two different ability scores. That basically sums up all you need to know, and there are even four slots for basic attacks beneath that (typically for your melee and/or ranged attack).
Powers are very short, and you actually dont end up getting that many. For example, you get two at-wills unless you are a human (then you get three). They are typically something like, +X vs. AC; [damage] plus something extra. I can easily fit that in the space provided on the back in cas eI forget that Reaping Strike deals Strength-modifier damage on a miss.
Even a higher level power like Come and Get It is pretty easy: all enemies within 3 squares shift twice towards me, and I get to make an attack against them all. Storm of Blows? I get to make three basic attacks against three separate foes, shifting 1 square between each (great for tackling minions).
The main thing I think people will need to keep in mind is what actions are required for each action, as some might not be too clear at first (such as a Healing Word for the cleric: its just a minor action).
To me, the layout seems pretty good. Its certainly not any worse than 3rd Edition sheets were for poor, poor spellcasters. Heck, I think I could even do a wizard without having to consult the PH now and not be worse off for it.
It's like, YOU MUST by the deluxe character sheets.. and even with those I'm worried about how they'll be laid out.
Strong-arm marketing tactics from WotC? Say it ain't so! :P
Its certainly not any worse than 3rd Edition sheets were for poor, poor spellcasters.
Touché! For what it's worth, I recall that every iteration of D&D has been slow to develop a good character sheet.
Just apply Hanlon's Razor, would you? It's not like the 3.5 sheet was really great.
I actually think I could put several powers on ONE card, depending on what they were.
Reaping Strike (at-will)
1d10+10 dmg. Miss: Target takes 6 dmg.
Precision Cut (encounter)
vs. Ref; 3d10+10 dmg. Can be used as opportunity attack.
Comeback Strike (daily)
2d10+10 dmg and you can spend healing surge.
This is where that flat attack value comes in: they are all +20 vs. Something (usually AC, but in the case of this 14th-level fighter, sometimes Reflex defense). I dont NEED to note under every power the attack bonus, just what its targeting. Since most of these are going to be against AC, I only note when its something besides AC.
Director of Brand Strategy
|
Yes, cards are the way to go. That way you can set aside the cards for powers you've used up. I haven't looked through the final documents, but did they not include a page of cards along with the character sheet? That was present in earlier versions. They had color coding along the top to coincide with the red/green/black of the powers in the book.
I thought I read somewhere in one of the previews that Wizards suggested using cards for powers and maneuvers anyway, so there is no need to put all that info on the Character sheet.
Clever idea, but hardly original, and such cards haven't caught on well -- no matter how many companies have tried to market them however many times.
IMO most players decide that stacks of paper (even small papers) are a clumsy way to manage your character.
Not to say it's a bad idea, or that many don't use it -- but most don't, and I think most won't.
Regards :)
Where can you see this character sheet?
Evidently only in the 4e rules. I'd think this would've been a good teaser to release long ago.
Anyone else notice how terrible the character sheet is?
And purely as a bit of conspiracy-theory speculation, deliberately-bad character sheets would be one more reason (OK, maybe the only reason) to subscribe to DDI :P
Did anyone catch the level 15 Paladin sheet that was floating around this weekend? I'm pretty sure that's the official sheet from the back of the PHB. I'm not saying it's awesome, but then I agree with some others here that WotC sheets generally aren't organized to my taste either.
I'm sure there will be plenty of fan-made sheets to choose from though, and one will (as they invariably do) appeal to me.
Cheers! :)
I thought I read somewhere in one of the previews that Wizards suggested using cards for powers and maneuvers anyway, so there is no need to put all that info on the Character sheet.
I saw this too. It was almost like a CCG, in that you have your powers on cards and turn them a certain way when you've used them up. I think that's almost expected.
The use of cards isnt anything new, really. I jotted all my wizard spells on cards in 3rd Edition, and kept a stack handy to easily remind myself which I had cast, or which I had prepared. The problem arose when I wanted to prep more than one of the same spell, so I used a die to note "fireball x2".
I also did the same thing for Book of Nine Swords, but then gradually didnt need them since like 4E powers, they were easy enough to remember at a certain point without them. For example, Elder Mountain Hammer: melee atk, +6d6 damage; ignore resistance/hardness.
|
|
On the right hand side there is an Attack Workspace section, with two different lines for attack bonuses keyed to two different ability scores. Most of your meaningful attacks will generally be geared off of one score, perhaps two.
I see what you're saying but then looking at abilities in the book because there's no place to put them on the sheet.
*chop snip chop*
The main thing I think people will need to keep in mind is what actions are required for each action, as some might not be too clear at first (such as a Healing Word for the cleric: its just a minor action).
That's what I mean, there's a lot of stuff that's not going to be on the sheet.
*chop snip chop*
To me, the layout seems pretty good. Its certainly not any worse than 3rd Edition sheets were for poor, poor spellcasters. Heck, I think I could even do a wizard without having to consult the PH now and not be worse off for it.
Maybe just like the pregens from Game Day and H1 too much with the abilities on the sheet.
Perhaps the answer to these problems is Deluxe Character sheets. Perhaps the answer is actually D&D Insider. I hope the DDI Character Generator will allow you to print out full descriptions of the character's powers just like the pregenerated characters.