3x5 cards format suggestions please [Archive] - Wizards Community

3x5 cards format suggestions please [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Stormsender
06-21-06, 08:57 AM Hi if you use 3x5 cards to have a catalog of ready NPC's would you mind sharing who you format that information. I would like to compair the responses so I do it right the first time I am not the best at organizing, so any help would be appreciated. Below is a poor exsample of what I mean.
________________________________________ ________________
NPC NAME: LVL: CLASS: RACE:

Weapons: Armor: Saves: F( )R( )W( )

Feats: Spells: Class abilities:

Treasure:
Illion the Red
06-21-06, 09:04 AM The 3x5 card has two sides...use both. Use one side for combat-specific info such as attack routines, saves, assoiciated special abilities, usable items, and feats. Use the other side for everything else such as treasure carried, personality, physical description, motivations, common hang-outs, etc.

This will keep the combat info short, clean, and easy to glance over and not miss the important parts. Think of the other side as notes for a speech - there doesn't need to be great detail as long as you can remember what "eye scar" and "slurred speech" mean in the greater context of the NPC.
Millennium
06-21-06, 09:19 AM You should also include at least some notes on skill ranks. You need not go all-out on this and do detailed lists for everything, but there are some skills that should be noted, because they're reasonably likely to come up when the PCs interact with them. It's likely that some of these skills will have zero ranks put into them, but it's still good to have them noted down.

Most characters -almost anyone important enough to note on an index card- should have Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and Knowledge[local] noted.
People involved in trade (such as merchants) should have Appraise and Spot noted.
People involved in law enforcement (such as guards) should have Intimidate, Spot, Listen, and Search noted.
People involved in criminal activity (particularly thieves and assassins) should have Spot, Listen, Search, Hide, Move Silently, and Sleight of Hand noted.
Anyone in a profession with an associated skill should have their ranks in that skill noted.
mike_beavers
06-21-06, 11:03 AM I prefer the 4x6 cards and I get colored ones to differniate types. Green are druidic, blue are merchants and tradesmen, red are warriors, fighters etc.

I stat them across the top, equipment ac and such down the left with saving throws at the bottom and appropiate skills feats in the middle with quick notes for personality. on the back any other important information is kept

If its a full blown important type a regular character sheet is used
questionc
06-21-06, 11:23 AM It is really good to get into the habit of working in a compact statblock format. Compressing onto a card becomes just an issue of squeezing it in. I threw out my old cards, but here's some characters written in a compact form. I've omitted the SA, SQ, and Notes sections. If you're running off a notecard, you need to memorize these things.

Boddynock “Sparklegem” Scheppen male gnome Exp2: CR 1; ECL 2; Small Humanoid (gnome); HD 2d6; hp 8; Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 10; Melee unarmed strike -4 (1d3-1 subdual); SV Fort +0, Ref -1, Will +3; Str 8, Dex 9, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 12.
Skills and Feats: Appraise +8, Diplomacy +6; Diligent.

-----------------------------

Doppelganger: CR 3; Medium-size Monstrous Humanoid (shapechanger); HD 4d8+4; hp 24; Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 15 (+1 Dex, +4 natural); Melee slam +5 (1d6+1); SA detect thoughts; SQ change shape, immunity to sleep and charm effects; SV Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 13.

Skills and Feats: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +3, Disguise +9 (+11 acting), Intimidate +3, Listen +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6; Dodge, Great Fortitude.

----------------------------

I've personally never had to use more than 1 side of a notecard. It's ok to cram a lot of information as long as you keep it in a standard format.
Don't bother trying to list a creature's treasure or equipment on the notecard, unless you are listing the weapon as one of its attack forms, or the armor as an AC modifier. You just don't need this information very often, and it's easily memorized.
Only list skills in which the NPC has ranks or some special modifiers. Be sure to list all such skills.

Spellcasters are a problem because spell lists are just too damn long. I've never bothered trying to fit one on a card, but here's my compact form of one:

-------------------------------

Steve, male human Src4: CR 4; ECL 4; Medium Humanoid (human); HD 4d4+4; hp 17; Init +0; Spd 30 ft; AC 10; Melee quarterstaff +0 (1d6-2); SQ middle age; SV Fort +2; Ref +1; Will +6; Str 7, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 17.

Skills and Feats: Concentration +7 (6), Knowledge (arcana) +5 (5), Spellcraft +8 (6); Alertness, Silent Spell, Still Spell.
Languages: Common, Gnomish, Orc.

Sorcerer Spells Known (cast 6/7/4): 0–dancing lights(VS), detect magic (VS), ghost sound(VSM), light(VM), mage hand(VS), message(VSF); 1–comprehend languages(VSM), unseen servant(VSM), obscuring mist(VS); 2–silence(VS).
questionc
06-21-06, 11:32 AM Oh, one more thing...
Don't make a notecard unless you have the character also written on paper. Notecards are a handy addition to, but not a replacement for characters properly statted out on paper. Even creatures like Cat have too much information to fit on a card.
Popinjay
06-21-06, 07:48 PM Write the HP along the edge of the card for enimies that will be commonly fought and then you can use a paper clip to keep track of how many hitpoints that npc has left. A player is fighting say multiple Kobolds? Use several different colors of paperclips. Also you can just sort of randomiize starting HP for different NPCs on the fly by adding or subtracting a few points for the starting location of each clip around the circled number that is the average number of HP that type of character should have.

If the NPCs are of so high a level that you can not put all the HP along the bottom edge then go by 2s or 3s, or ... 10s. When the chacter gets hit round up on even number turns and down on odd numbered turns.

I haven't really tried this yet (because I don't have a printer that works right now), but I have been giving it some thought. Anyway I can't guarantee that it will work well, but it seems like a good idea to me right now.

I would also recommend that you don't worry about all the little details of disposable NPCs. Keep track of the skills of NPCs that have a role, but I wouldn't bother for cannon fodder.

For spell cassters you can list the spells they know on the back. Limit the list by what they are likely to do if you need to. PUt check boxes by each on to be checked with pencil in the case of a NPC that has to memorize spells, or just boxes for spell slots for those who don't.

Pop
psionichamster
06-21-06, 08:45 PM for me, i use the cards landscape style (5" on bottom, 3" vertical)

Character/Monster name.................................... ..CR

S........I............F................. HP
D........W..........R.................Mo ve
C........R............W................I nit (.'s used to format...read as spaces)

AC: N = x (arm) + y (dex) + z (NA) +etc
Touch: P FlatFoot: Q

Atk: type +x (1d8+y)
Full Atk: type +x/+z (1d8+y)
Ranged: "" note: if ranged is primary atk, this will read melee
Feats: blah, blah, blah

on the right hand side, i note skills (only ones w/ pertinent modifiers, exclude spot + listen, usually list them somewhere there's space in BIG letters)

if char has spells, I list spells/day like this, using the right hand side (skills go on back in this case)

0 1 2 3 4 5 etc
6 4 4 4 3 2

list spells known on back of card, MAKE SURE to re-read before combat.

if wiz = 2nd card w/ spellbook included...if killed, simply give card to players when taken (if taken)

if has companion/cohort, they each get their own card

to me, this keeps the pertinent info where i am used to seeing it, which is really the important thing when you want to go quickly. otherwise, you're hunting for info which should be coming almost at your fingertips.

also useful: don't note things on the cards after you make them up. use scratch paper, and you can keep that aristo2/fighter1 from last year and use it in another context.
Myrddin Wyllt
06-21-06, 08:48 PM The 3x5 card has two sides...use both. Use one side for combat-specific info such as attack routines, saves, assoiciated special abilities, usable items, and feats. Use the other side for everything else such as treasure carried, personality, physical description, motivations, common hang-outs, etc.

This will keep the combat info short, clean, and easy to glance over and not miss the important parts. Think of the other side as notes for a speech - there doesn't need to be great detail as long as you can remember what "eye scar" and "slurred speech" mean in the greater context of the NPC.

Ditto. Scary ditto, in fact. It's like we both read the same article at RoleplayingTips.com (a must-read for any new or not-so-confident DMs).
Stormsender
06-22-06, 04:11 AM Thanks for the information this will come in handy. I am making up a catalog for my next big campaign and want to get the format down so I can be alittle more efficient and keep things rolling.

I think I will be adding NPC Name & Race, CR, Ability stats & mods, saves, attacks & weapon, AC & armor, Feats & Skills & Spells.

I am going to sort them according to CR, Area = City,Wilderness,Dungeon And alphabetically.

That way I can generate random encounters easier on the fly. Flip to desired CR, Pick the setting and find what I want. I will also have a index of generic social & background npc so the interaction between the players and civilians is a little clearer. That way when the characters are asking questions from a commmoner I can more realistically based on stats represent the interaction.

Thank again for the help you have given me allot of good ideas.
stargate525
06-22-06, 11:21 AM Thanks for the information this will come in handy. I am making up a catalog for my next big campaign and want to get the format down so I can be alittle more efficient and keep things rolling.

I think I will be adding NPC Name & Race, CR, Ability stats & mods, saves, attacks & weapon, AC & armor, Feats & Skills & Spells.

I am going to sort them according to CR, Area = City,Wilderness,Dungeon And alphabetically.

That way I can generate random encounters easier on the fly. Flip to desired CR, Pick the setting and find what I want. I will also have a index of generic social & background npc so the interaction between the players and civilians is a little clearer. That way when the characters are asking questions from a commmoner I can more realistically based on stats represent the interaction.

Thank again for the help you have given me allot of good ideas.
http://www.thegamemechanics.com/products/initiativecards.asp
Print out your info, make 'em nice and neat. Has different cards for monsters and NPCs. only problem is that you need to note possessions, languages, and feats in the bottom or on the back, but still a cool card.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Stormsender 06-21-06, 08:57 AM	Hi if you use 3x5 cards to have a catalog of ready NPC's would you mind sharing who you format that information. I would like to compair the responses so I do it right the first time I am not the best at organizing, so any help would be appreciated. Below is a poor exsample of what I mean. ________________________________________ ________________ NPC NAME: LVL: CLASS: RACE: Weapons: Armor: Saves: F( )R( )W( ) Feats: Spells: Class abilities: Treasure:
Illion the Red 06-21-06, 09:04 AM	The 3x5 card has two sides...use both. Use one side for combat-specific info such as attack routines, saves, assoiciated special abilities, usable items, and feats. Use the other side for everything else such as treasure carried, personality, physical description, motivations, common hang-outs, etc. This will keep the combat info short, clean, and easy to glance over and not miss the important parts. Think of the other side as notes for a speech - there doesn't need to be great detail as long as you can remember what "eye scar" and "slurred speech" mean in the greater context of the NPC.
Millennium 06-21-06, 09:19 AM	You should also include at least some notes on skill ranks. You need not go all-out on this and do detailed lists for everything, but there are some skills that should be noted, because they're reasonably likely to come up when the PCs interact with them. It's likely that some of these skills will have zero ranks put into them, but it's still good to have them noted down. Most characters -almost anyone important enough to note on an index card- should have Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and Knowledge[local] noted. People involved in trade (such as merchants) should have Appraise and Spot noted. People involved in law enforcement (such as guards) should have Intimidate, Spot, Listen, and Search noted. People involved in criminal activity (particularly thieves and assassins) should have Spot, Listen, Search, Hide, Move Silently, and Sleight of Hand noted. Anyone in a profession with an associated skill should have their ranks in that skill noted.
mike_beavers 06-21-06, 11:03 AM	I prefer the 4x6 cards and I get colored ones to differniate types. Green are druidic, blue are merchants and tradesmen, red are warriors, fighters etc. I stat them across the top, equipment ac and such down the left with saving throws at the bottom and appropiate skills feats in the middle with quick notes for personality. on the back any other important information is kept If its a full blown important type a regular character sheet is used
questionc 06-21-06, 11:23 AM	It is really good to get into the habit of working in a compact statblock format. Compressing onto a card becomes just an issue of squeezing it in. I threw out my old cards, but here's some characters written in a compact form. I've omitted the SA, SQ, and Notes sections. If you're running off a notecard, you need to memorize these things. Boddynock “Sparklegem” Scheppen male gnome Exp2: CR 1; ECL 2; Small Humanoid (gnome); HD 2d6; hp 8; Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 10; Melee unarmed strike -4 (1d3-1 subdual); SV Fort +0, Ref -1, Will +3; Str 8, Dex 9, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 12. Skills and Feats: Appraise +8, Diplomacy +6; Diligent. ----------------------------- Doppelganger: CR 3; Medium-size Monstrous Humanoid (shapechanger); HD 4d8+4; hp 24; Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 15 (+1 Dex, +4 natural); Melee slam +5 (1d6+1); SA detect thoughts; SQ change shape, immunity to sleep and charm effects; SV Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; Str 12, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 13. Skills and Feats: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +3, Disguise +9 (+11 acting), Intimidate +3, Listen +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6; Dodge, Great Fortitude. ---------------------------- I've personally never had to use more than 1 side of a notecard. It's ok to cram a lot of information as long as you keep it in a standard format. Don't bother trying to list a creature's treasure or equipment on the notecard, unless you are listing the weapon as one of its attack forms, or the armor as an AC modifier. You just don't need this information very often, and it's easily memorized. Only list skills in which the NPC has ranks or some special modifiers. Be sure to list all such skills. Spellcasters are a problem because spell lists are just too damn long. I've never bothered trying to fit one on a card, but here's my compact form of one: ------------------------------- Steve, male human Src4: CR 4; ECL 4; Medium Humanoid (human); HD 4d4+4; hp 17; Init +0; Spd 30 ft; AC 10; Melee quarterstaff +0 (1d6-2); SQ middle age; SV Fort +2; Ref +1; Will +6; Str 7, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 17. Skills and Feats: Concentration +7 (6), Knowledge (arcana) +5 (5), Spellcraft +8 (6); Alertness, Silent Spell, Still Spell. Languages: Common, Gnomish, Orc. Sorcerer Spells Known (cast 6/7/4): 0–dancing lights(VS), detect magic (VS), ghost sound(VSM), light(VM), mage hand(VS), message(VSF); 1–comprehend languages(VSM), unseen servant(VSM), obscuring mist(VS); 2–silence(VS).
questionc 06-21-06, 11:32 AM	Oh, one more thing... Don't make a notecard unless you have the character also written on paper. Notecards are a handy addition to, but not a replacement for characters properly statted out on paper. Even creatures like Cat have too much information to fit on a card.
Popinjay 06-21-06, 07:48 PM	Write the HP along the edge of the card for enimies that will be commonly fought and then you can use a paper clip to keep track of how many hitpoints that npc has left. A player is fighting say multiple Kobolds? Use several different colors of paperclips. Also you can just sort of randomiize starting HP for different NPCs on the fly by adding or subtracting a few points for the starting location of each clip around the circled number that is the average number of HP that type of character should have. If the NPCs are of so high a level that you can not put all the HP along the bottom edge then go by 2s or 3s, or ... 10s. When the chacter gets hit round up on even number turns and down on odd numbered turns. I haven't really tried this yet (because I don't have a printer that works right now), but I have been giving it some thought. Anyway I can't guarantee that it will work well, but it seems like a good idea to me right now. I would also recommend that you don't worry about all the little details of disposable NPCs. Keep track of the skills of NPCs that have a role, but I wouldn't bother for cannon fodder. For spell cassters you can list the spells they know on the back. Limit the list by what they are likely to do if you need to. PUt check boxes by each on to be checked with pencil in the case of a NPC that has to memorize spells, or just boxes for spell slots for those who don't. Pop
psionichamster 06-21-06, 08:45 PM	for me, i use the cards landscape style (5" on bottom, 3" vertical) Character/Monster name.................................... ..CR S........I............F................. HP D........W..........R.................Mo ve C........R............W................I nit (.'s used to format...read as spaces) AC: N = x (arm) + y (dex) + z (NA) +etc Touch: P FlatFoot: Q Atk: type +x (1d8+y) Full Atk: type +x/+z (1d8+y) Ranged: "" note: if ranged is primary atk, this will read melee Feats: blah, blah, blah on the right hand side, i note skills (only ones w/ pertinent modifiers, exclude spot + listen, usually list them somewhere there's space in BIG letters) if char has spells, I list spells/day like this, using the right hand side (skills go on back in this case) 0 1 2 3 4 5 etc 6 4 4 4 3 2 list spells known on back of card, MAKE SURE to re-read before combat. if wiz = 2nd card w/ spellbook included...if killed, simply give card to players when taken (if taken) if has companion/cohort, they each get their own card to me, this keeps the pertinent info where i am used to seeing it, which is really the important thing when you want to go quickly. otherwise, you're hunting for info which should be coming almost at your fingertips. also useful: don't note things on the cards after you make them up. use scratch paper, and you can keep that aristo2/fighter1 from last year and use it in another context.
Myrddin Wyllt 06-21-06, 08:48 PM	The 3x5 card has two sides...use both. Use one side for combat-specific info such as attack routines, saves, assoiciated special abilities, usable items, and feats. Use the other side for everything else such as treasure carried, personality, physical description, motivations, common hang-outs, etc. This will keep the combat info short, clean, and easy to glance over and not miss the important parts. Think of the other side as notes for a speech - there doesn't need to be great detail as long as you can remember what "eye scar" and "slurred speech" mean in the greater context of the NPC. Ditto. Scary ditto, in fact. It's like we both read the same article at RoleplayingTips.com (a must-read for any new or not-so-confident DMs).
Stormsender 06-22-06, 04:11 AM	Thanks for the information this will come in handy. I am making up a catalog for my next big campaign and want to get the format down so I can be alittle more efficient and keep things rolling. I think I will be adding NPC Name & Race, CR, Ability stats & mods, saves, attacks & weapon, AC & armor, Feats & Skills & Spells. I am going to sort them according to CR, Area = City,Wilderness,Dungeon And alphabetically. That way I can generate random encounters easier on the fly. Flip to desired CR, Pick the setting and find what I want. I will also have a index of generic social & background npc so the interaction between the players and civilians is a little clearer. That way when the characters are asking questions from a commmoner I can more realistically based on stats represent the interaction. Thank again for the help you have given me allot of good ideas.
stargate525 06-22-06, 11:21 AM	Thanks for the information this will come in handy. I am making up a catalog for my next big campaign and want to get the format down so I can be alittle more efficient and keep things rolling. I think I will be adding NPC Name & Race, CR, Ability stats & mods, saves, attacks & weapon, AC & armor, Feats & Skills & Spells. I am going to sort them according to CR, Area = City,Wilderness,Dungeon And alphabetically. That way I can generate random encounters easier on the fly. Flip to desired CR, Pick the setting and find what I want. I will also have a index of generic social & background npc so the interaction between the players and civilians is a little clearer. That way when the characters are asking questions from a commmoner I can more realistically based on stats represent the interaction. Thank again for the help you have given me allot of good ideas. http://www.thegamemechanics.com/products/initiativecards.asp Print out your info, make 'em nice and neat. Has different cards for monsters and NPCs. only problem is that you need to note possessions, languages, and feats in the bottom or on the back, but still a cool card.