Why create the blank character sheet sideways?

[nosig]

ok, I realize this is a silly grip - but why the heck did they create the new blank PC sheets published to be 11 x 8.5 instead of the standard 8.5 x 11?!!!

so if we are using normal binders we have to turn them sideways to use the sheets - or pull them out of the binder or ... something?

Was it really just to be "different"?

delete sarcastic remarks

Has anyone re-formatted one of these to be a "standard" orientation yet? Can you share it?

[TwilightKnight]

Personally I prefer landscape character sheets and I hope when they get around to releasing a 2E GM screen, it is also in landscape format.

[Gary Bush]

I agree with Bob. I think it is a good idea. Will just take time to get use to it.

[Silbeg]

I just wish the pregens would follow the same format

[nosig]

Huh... I am going to have to disagree.

I would like to have the bindings for a group of pages on the left of the page, not on the top or bottom.

And i would sort of like to have the sheets match the rule book bindings - so that I do not have to remove them from their binder in order to use them during a game.

If the rule book/s were printed wider then tall? I’m not sure. Perhaps I would get 3 ring binders to store my characters in that were wider than they are deep - But I know that in the current edition where the Generic PCs are printed this way it is an issue. When i hand someone my “Generic PC” binder to select a PC to run, the first thing they do after picking one is to remove it from the binder.

But to each their own I guess. I’ll just cut up the new “Standard” PC sheet and create me a new one (8 1/2” x 11”) one.

Mean time, if anyone has already done this, would you please share it?

[Ascalaphus]

nosig wrote:

Mean time, if anyone has already done this, would you please share it?

There's a lot of alternative sheet designs floating around in the files section of this Facebook group:

LINK

[nosig]

Ok, started to use them - doing some playtest...

I'd like a box near HP to track "Die-ing Condition" - maybe with 4 boxes to check off/erase as the PC recovers or dies...

But I must say, the sideways configuration is even worse than I at first thought it would be.

[TwilightKnight]

I prefer the landscape format. IMO, the easiest thing to do is simply develop both versions and include them in the 2E Rulebook. It’s really not all that much more work relatively speaking and then everyone can have an “official” character sheet in the format of their choice.

As an aside, I’ve been asking for a landscape GM screen for nearly ten years. It really irritated me when they decided to reprint the screens with new artwork/color scheme not once but twice and never offered a landscape version. There was absolutely no reason, other than collector/completionist, for those of us with an existing screen to buy one of the new ones, but if they would have released a landscape version, I’d bet dollars to donuts a lot of existing owners would have bought the alternate format screen. I believe it was a missed opportunity.

[GreggH]

Bob Jonquet wrote:

... if they would have released a landscape version, I’d bet dollars to donuts a lot of existing owners would have bought the alternate format screen. I believe it was a missed opportunity.

I'm ambivalent about the character sheets, but I agree with Bob about the GM screen. When I use the current screen I have to take it down about half the time in order to better interact with the players and run the table. Landscape format allows me to maintain eye contact and see the tabletop while sitting, which becomes more important as I get older. Some folks wonder why I occasionally GM from behind an old Call of Cthulhu screen, and while I sometimes like to frighten my players, the real reason is the landscape format it offers. I'd prefer to promote Pathfinder with my screen, but running a better game takes precedence.