I think the character sheets are overly complicated and hard to read, and that's just the crisply formatted one in the back of the PHB.  The forum translation is even worse IMO.  I simplified it for last thursday's game and the new format worked amazingly well.  My turns took about 10 seconds.

"Dual strike against guard drake 2"
*Rolls dice* d20=8 d6=2, d20=12 d6=3
"Kitau plunges both blades into the neck of the guard drake.  My lowest attack roll is 18 thanks to Callie's lance of faith, so both should hit.  11 damage total."

So here's the new simplified version.  I do not expect those who have already posted their characters in the text only version to convert their existing characters to the new format.  Once it's finalized, any new character must be on the new format. (Suggestions welcome)



Racial attributes: Gnome (Monster manual, page 277). +2 Int, Cha, arcana, stealth.  5 square speed.  Low light vision.  2nd language Elven.  Reactive Stealth.  Fade Away.

Class attributes: fighter's weapon specialization, +1 to 1 hand weapon attack rolls.  Tempest fighter: When dual wielding off-hand light weapons in chain or light armor, Kitau gains +1 to attack rolls, AC and Reflex; and a +2 to damage rolls.  (Source: http://www.wizards.com/default...x=dnd/dramp/20080905)

Feats: Two weapon attack +1 to damage rolls when dual wielding.

Character description/personality:
Cute female gnome with a dwarf's personality.  Nervous around magic.  Height, weight, diety, eye color, etc., etc.

Character background:
Parents murdered in her childhood by bad-guys.  Out for vengeance.  How original.

---

the [M] stands for "melee,"
[R] would represent ranged single target,
[C] would represent close,
[A] would represent ranged area attack.

This isn't grade school, so it's silly to have to show your work.  Feats, armor bonuses and penalties, racial stat bonuses, etc, shouldn't clutter up how you arrived at your oh-so-simple "+4 vs reflex; 1d6+4 damage," but I included the ones that aren't obvious at the bottom to specify which of the optional lvl 1 class traits I took.  I didn't spell out fighter's mark or fighter's fortitude or any of the mundane stuff that comes automatically with Kitau's class.  You should site your sources if you're doing something particularly out of the ordinary like I did with "gnomish tempest fighter."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:14, Mon 06 Oct 2008.

I agree that the character sheets are rather large and bulky.

  I’ll get on reworking my sheet because it will save my own eyeballs a hassle as I look my stuff up too.

  As for the house rules, Yay!  Sane sensible rules as opposed to things like ‘players aren’t allowed to use this power combo’ followed up with enemies  constantly using said combo to maim players’

^.^!  I aim to please.  Feel free to offer additions / alterations to anything.  Only rule I won't budge on is the "no profanity" one, but current company is such that I don't think I even need to post it.

  No prob about the delay, it happens.  On top of the distractions that are still finishing building the place, such as it were.

  I'm assuming for the new sheet style, while race and class skills of the simple stat +'s end up on the bottom text pile,  the lack of Class traits and skills on the example would be filled in by more combat noteworthy things like Sneak attack and 'by the way, I have Hunters quarry' on the Joe sheet in place of Joe's lack of table worthy racial bits.

  As for the big pile o equipment, I'm gonna list the main things 'like preferred stabber and ranged + armor' in the table, while leaving the rest of the pile in the Bottom Pile.

  You may also want to link to the RPOL infobits on HOW to make the tables in case we people forget where thost wacky details are listed.
  /help/content.cgi?t=faqs&page=rubbcode  The 'Tables' section.  I had some time starin blankly, and it seems you may have to make sure the TR bit is always on the most outer part of a line?

  And just cause ive been starin at BBcode faqs...
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A START
This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Sun 05 Oct 2008.

I'm curious if I'm missing anything I should have for my sheet, if I wanted to jump into the play. I know nothing about 4e so I have no clue if I missed something vital. :)

In reply to Joe Darkthorne (msg #40):

Simplest way to build a character sheet using the new format is to click on [ quote ] and replace Kitau's name etc. with yours.  Then remove the [ quote ][ /quote ] tags.  Much easier than trying to rebuild the table.

Take another look.  You should find class traits and such and an explanation for why I didn't fill the page with stuff already spelled out in the PHB.  Maybe I should put that in my house rules.  "It is assumed that the player is marking the target of their attack with their class' mark unless stated otherwise."


In reply to Prathen (msg #41):

Feel free to jump into the RP.  If we find any kinks in anyone's character sheet we'll deal with them as they crop up.  This is one of the reasons you were invited.  I know the players here will be more than willing to fix mistakes rather than pitch a fit and say "but you approved of my 4 at-will powers it's not my fault!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:03, Mon 06 Oct 2008.

  True, my maturity of a 12 year old situation is more in regards to my world outlook and sense of humor.

  My figuring to list the Hunters Quarry with Joe was because it's a Multiclass  perk ENC power you don't generally figure when looking at a 'rogue' sheet.
  Besides, even without that my sheet will end up be larger than others due to the fact that instead of only one damage reference being needed like most others, Joe will be shifting between 87 different weapons (okay, only 4 so far) on the fly <.<  and a few extra lines per power stack up for reading length.

  I'm also wondering if I mistook the purpose of the in parentheses numbers for the stat listing, as the example sheet has numbers of both 16(3) sort and 14(3) listed with 12(2) as well.  If the (#)'s aren't the ability bonus, what are they for?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:10, Mon 06 Oct 2008.

In reply to Joe Darkthorne (msg #43):

OOPS!  Will fix that number right away.  14 does translates to a 2 bonus.  Sorry for the confusion.  Good call on mentioning the hunter's quarry quirk of your rogue too.

  Ah, so I wasn't wrong there, heh.  And yeah, I figure listing the Human racial traits in the table would be a waste of space for the same reason your example listed their class bits only in the text pile.  A big pile of +'s to a few skills or stats don't need to be invidiously known for the at-a-glance 'Combat helper' table.  Especially if those +'s are already factored in.

  And know how you feel Prathen, as this is my first go at playin DnD period.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Mon 06 Oct 2008.

The only way I know of to get 4 at will powers at once is to go human warlock (starts with 3 at wills) and then at paragon tier pick up twofold pack to get a fourth at will and a 2nd pack boon effect you can choose from.

Well... that or go with Wizard of any race. They start with all those cantrips that count as at-wills and I've already seen someone use Mage-hand in battle to hold a sword to someone's throat, so I think they count.

Actually I was referring to 'at-will' attacks as at the time I forgot that I needed to make such a distinction. But ya there are ways to get lots of more at-will stuff but most of those are utilities and non-attack stuff.

Hmm, the new Barbarian Playtest is up
 http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20081006

I definitely won't mind play testing one of these guys although I can already see where a few things might need to be adjusted on them, unless the developers at WoTC really want to encourage noobs to nova and burn through all their dailies in one encounter and then go back to the one fight extended rest that 4th edition has moved away from.

Wow that looks FUN!  (and overpowered.  5+Con temp HP for every successful attack?!  Sheesh!)  I almost regret making Kitau a dual wield fighter... almost.  She was always one to favor fighting smart, though multiclassing into barbarian could prove interesting.  :)

One of the fun combos is Warforged and that deathless frenzy once per day you don't drop till someone takes you to your negative bloodied hit point value since the warforged can't fail a death saving throw. But if you can get healed every round, say from the regen rage, or some other power that offers regeneration (Regen 1 is all that is needed)...anyone could do that with a Soulfourged armor... and the soulforged armor isn't limited to once per day like deathless frenzy.

Another is using a glaive to combo heavy Blade Opportunity + Polearm Gamble + Pressing Strike... Anyone that moves in on you gets pushed back one square if you hit them. More if you pile on items to further your push distance. However the Glaive's 2d4 is sucky damage compared to other two handers, which can do 2d6, Brutal one + hammer Rythem, or 1d12 and High Crit or Brutal 2.

The biggest problem people are seeing with Barbarian is that to do good damage they have to burn a daily each encounter which leads to 'short days'...

Also Warforged with the Reperation Aparatus (A low level item) from the artificer playtest document turns that 5+Con Temp HP into 5+Con+2d6 Temp HP. (But given how low their AC, Reflex, and Will defenses will be they need all the HP and temp HP they can get to not get squashed flat rather fast as they are the ONLY light armor default class that does not have Int OR Dex as either a Primary or Secondary stat.)

Really tempted to make a Warforged Barbarian named 'Numbskull' or 'Moron' just for laughs.

  I'm sure 'Thick head' could be just as literal for a Warforged Barbarian as Numbskull (provided Warforged don't feel pain.

Thought it'd share a tool I'm developing for streamlining making new characters / updating existing characters.

http://spreadsheets.google.com...3bxPD0pRRy7-px7zNWGw

Work in progress, but I'm very pleased with what I've accomplished so far.  Part of the reason I'm making this is because Tuesday nights have become such an XP glut that I'm going to lose track of all the changes needed to be made to my character on a weekly basis.  I plan to make an editable public version once it's perfected.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Thu 09 Oct 2008.

I have a post written and ready. 2 actually. One based on if I need to make a religion check. The other based on if I don't need to. The question is this: Would someone with training in Religion know off-hand who Ao is? Or is that something so uncommonly known that I would have to do a religion check?

Quick google of wizard's site and I find this tiny tidbit:
"Ao created the first gods," http://www.wizards.com/default...20071203a&page=4

From what I've heard, Ao is the D&D version of the Big Bang; an impersonal mysterious thing that set the universe in motion.  Was creation an event rooted in the laws of nature?  Is Ao a sentient person like the other gods?  If so, why is Ao so different from the other gods?  Why is Ao indifferent to the worship of mortals?

IMO the name Ao is probably common knowledge to anyone who worships a deity, especially to those trained in religion.

I agree with Mittens, in fact most of the names of deities and what they are best known for should be common knowledge, it's stuff like how those deities are worshiped or what do their holy symbols look like, etc... that would require religion checks of varying DCs.

Timothius tested the google spreadsheet map, and he was able to edit it.  There's no overt save option, but when he closed his window and I opened the document, his changes were still there.  At last an easy way we can share the same map!  If you want to double check if your changes are being saved, change the text color of your letter, close the window, then follow the link again to see if the change is still there.  :)

---

Also, added the following to the House Rules thread.  The idea is to keep things moving without being bogged down by RL schedule conflicts and what not.  If your turn is approaching at the same time a RL event is approaching, please let us know so this rule won't be needed.

Example: "OOC: Delgar delays indefinitely.  Family visiting tomorrow for who knows how long.  Back in a week I hope."


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Sat 11 Oct 2008.

Please forgive me if it sounds like I'm being overly technical or restrictive.  DM rulings are always up for common-sense discussion.  My priorities are as follows:

1) Everyone has as much fun as possible.  (I'm having crazy fun already!)
...
10) Keeping to common sense.  (This is low because it's just a game after all.)
...
9,351) Sticking to a plot point.  (This is very low to prove a point.)

Also, I'll strive to create challenges that have at least 2 solutions that I can think of.  Example: 1) break down the door with big hammer, 2) use the key on the lock instead.  Over time, clues will become apparent, but not everything assumed to be a clue is in fact a clue to overcoming a challenge.  If a challenge takes too long to overcome, I'll simply make a way to skip it rather than give away the solution.  The players only lose out on whatever rewards would have resulted in solving the problem.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Sat 11 Oct 2008.

That makes sense, especially when trying to avoid Total Party kills, especially due to situations resulting from screwy dice rolls.

But please don't pull traps like from http://www.dndgamer.com/traps.htm
as most of those traps are just DMs being a jerk... although a few are funny to read about, but still quite cruel.

This is an example from that site and is one that I found funny, but only because of what the Players did afterwards to the DM. I'd never approve of a trap like this being pulled on someone though

COUNTDOWN TO FREEDOM
"Party enters a 10x10 room, and stone doors seal the room at all entrances. Looking about, there is a button on the wall, beside a number dial (like on a gas pump) that counts down 10-9-8... Some bright soul presses the button, and the dial resets to 10. In my campaign, the party spent fully 45 minutes of real time searching the room for an escape, while one PC stayed near the button to continue resetting the dial. Finally, they said forget it, and let the dial count down to 0, at which point the doors slid open, and the DM was chased from the room."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Sat 11 Oct 2008.

  Oh no, Mittens is making reasonable rules and priorities again! We're doomed!  But yeah, thanks for the heads up on the various House rules updates so far.  It's always nice to be told when rules are tweaked.

  And do get how a PC doesn't know things like 'there are exactly 8 cells' just via the map, but was too amused by the coincidental matching 50' distances not to mention it.
  The vague details from non-check looking told me what I wanted to know anyways.  Yes, the fires are taller than convenient jumping over height.  No, there isn't anything to conveniently catch a grappling hook onto the walls/ceiling with.

 Edit: Well, with the current Steep slope showcasing of the side view, seems Joe still doesn't know that no, there isn't anything useful on the ceiling yet due to Mr. Line of sight -.o
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Sun 12 Oct 2008.