Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tehsquirrely Aug 11, 2014 23:34:09	I just want to see how people feel about character tracking digitally vs manually. Ever since 4th edition our D&D games have seen us all sitting behind laptops or tablets instead of really engaged with the table that comes with having a paper character sheet. Personally I don't like having a digital character sheet at all unless I'm gaming via a digital platform, but even in 4th I built my character online then transfered it to paper, most of my friends did not though. I've thought about banning laptops at my table because they're a distraction, and honestly I just feel like they don't belong. I don't mind having a tablet or mp3 player for music, but when everyone is like the neighbor from Home Improvement just looking at you over their monitors things just feel a bit less personal.
#2 CCS Aug 11, 2014 23:42:34	Paper.
#3 Oulak Aug 11, 2014 23:48:53	Paper. I've been really missing the days in high school where we actually all sat on a couch, bed, floor and rolled dice on the clipboard that our character sheets were clipped onto. It had such a social feeling that was totally different when compared to looking at the back of a laptop monitor when talking to someone. Paper all the way.
#4 Nautilus Aug 12, 2014 0:31:27	I've started using an iPad for my characters and will never go back.
#5 TiaNadiezja Aug 12, 2014 0:35:41	If I had a full-sized tablet, I'd probably prefer that. As is, though, I prefer paper sheets overall, but find digital a pile more convenient.
#6 lawrencehoy Aug 12, 2014 0:44:42	Primarily paper; although, I'd like the digital option available.   I would like to have the digital version as a DM; for reference and ease of getting updated copies.
#7 Chakrum Aug 12, 2014 0:47:04	Pathfinder almost requires an electronic device to track everything. But with 5th edition I feel paper is much easier again. I prefer paper that the player wrote information on themselves. This leads to better understanding of their characters in my opinion.
#8 JohnLynch Aug 12, 2014 2:44:53	Chakrum: I've seen people rely on digital tools like HeroLab and find that my character sheet (written with pencil on paper) is more accurate.   I started with 4th ed and the character builder. When I played Pathfinder I moved to paper. I'd much prefer paper with pencil and will be discouraging of my players using the character builder unless it's significantly different and they have access to a tablet (laptops are outright banned and have been since 2008).   I find the benefits of pencil and paper  outweigh the computer benefits. Intimacy with how the character works from adding all of the values together yourself means at the table modifications is easy. It also means non-official books/rules can be used and you don't have a tool pushing non-PHB options to the players (having to remind them each month to untick any new resources). I've been burnt by both Pathfinder and 4th ed in new rules supplements and will e assessing each one with a critical eye.
#9 OrwellianHaggis Aug 12, 2014 2:44:53	I use PDF to track my character on my Kindle Fire. I agree it's less sociable to play over the top of devices, so I use the stand and have it put to one side for ease of access.
#10 Shiroiken Aug 12, 2014 3:43:02	I use both.   For my IRL games, I use paper, but often have a digital copy in case I lose the paper copy (also nice for for looking back over ended campaigns). Paper is just easier to work with during a session, even though we all have our laptops for references (most of us have had digital copies of the rulebooks, when available).   For my Roll20 games, we use Google Docs so that the DM can see our sheets anytime he wants. I've heard Roll20 has a 5E sheet, but we haven't figured out where.
#11 arderkrag Aug 12, 2014 3:44:31	For characters, paper every time.
#12 alienux Aug 12, 2014 5:36:37	Paper.
#13 malisteen Aug 12, 2014 5:47:17	5e's going for more of a throwback feel, so I'll be using paper when & if I find a game, to compliment that.
#14 autolycus Aug 12, 2014 5:50:37	If possible, monitor. That way I can store my character sheet in the cloud and never loose it.
#15 spelley Aug 12, 2014 5:53:32	I use a tablet to manage the game, and most of my players use their laptops. To be fair, they barely look at them unless it's a random skill check they don't automatically know the number for (and that I also don't remember) or to check their HP. I'm actually looking forward to Morningstar with the note-passing mechanic to really make things interesting.
#16 iserith Aug 12, 2014 6:11:48	Laptops and tablets and using Roll20 as the VTT - for both in-person games and online. Using macros instead of dice greatly speeds up play and I like nice images and maps rather than marker scribbles on a vinyl mat and mismatched minis.
#17 SteeleButterfly Aug 12, 2014 6:15:08	Most of my group use electronic tools (spreadsheets, what-have-you) to create and maintain their characters, but bring a piece of paper to the table.
#18 DaveyJones6913 Aug 12, 2014 6:21:58	paper, but am looking into setting up my smartphone to keep track of stuff that varies alot like HP. my group had been using various solutions of my own devise including dry-erase cards to keep track of HP, HD, spell slots etc. i think i will try to write my own app for that.   as DM i might try some initiative and monster HP tracker apps.
#19 Sartalo Aug 12, 2014 6:47:17	I find using my tablet a huge help!  I use the D20 Fight Club / D20 Dungeon Master on my iPad and love it!  I hope the creator is able to put together a 5.0 version as well.  I use the DM app to build encounters and it lets me enter monster stats and record important PC and NPC info. Having something that helps keep track of initiative is handy, but this has lots of helpful tools.  I have no problem with paper character records (I still use them), but being able to cary an entire library in one device is the way to go for me.   I just wish that WotC would (but I doubt they will) produce pdf versions of their books!  Having a searchable pdf is a big help and make it so much easier for me to travel with my game.  I have all my Pathfinder books on my tablet and can look up anything in a flash.
#20 tallric_kruush Aug 12, 2014 6:51:38	A lot of clutter has been eliminated for us by going as digital as possible. I still have lots of paper filed at home, full of campaign concepts and character write-ups; but all I take to the game is an iPad mini and my smart phone, along with a small note pad for tracking hp, conditions and the like.   Not everyone at the table has tablets, yet, but it's only a matter of time. Those who have not are seeing how awesome these little devices are. It was weird, at first, but we've even played around the table without dice, everyone rolling with apps. That actually saves a lot of space.   If WotC would start releasing PDFs of their current products, we'd completely eliminate the need for hauling libraries.
#21 Sartalo Aug 12, 2014 7:03:03	I still own my hard copy books as well and would never consider trading them away.  I usually do all my campaign notes and ideas on paper and then translate them to my tablet once I have finalized the details.  I actually use the camera on my tablet to take photos of my hand drawn maps!
#22 BecDeCorbin Aug 12, 2014 7:26:09	We play mostly online these days. I don't usually bother printing out my sheet. I haven't used an 'official' premade character sheet in 10+ years, preferring word documents since they're easier to revise and maintain.
#23 Veilwalker Aug 12, 2014 7:38:30	I will use a computer or tablet to create the character and store it but there's nothing like playing with a paper character sheet. I am old school Gamer and every character sheet I have isn't just a character it tells a story of a time and what went on in my life, with every stain and smudge on that sheet. Its not just a character sheet it's a piece of history.
#24 Uskglass Aug 12, 2014 7:47:01	Having tried both, I prefer paper. There is something about the physical quality of it that just seems to help sorting things out. Also the less tablets, smartphones etc are out at the table, the better, as they can be a significant source of distraction.   Still digital tools can be useful for backups, building/preparation and to play online of course if getting together is not an option.
#25 Brightmantle Aug 12, 2014 8:44:43	Paper.
#26 ShadeRaven Aug 12, 2014 8:57:07	I like the feel and personalization of paper.  A lot.   I run 4 campaigns over the internet (Fantasy Grounds).  I expect that most players let their characters live electronically rather than also copying it to the written form.   I will say, though, that even with paper, I do like having an accurate creation tool to maintain them in.  For 5E, I would love to see Morningstar be true to the RAW but customizable. I found the 4E D&D Insider tools to be useful and that Hero Labs is valuable as well (for PF).   Having a checks-and-balances systems to catch occasional errors is welcome.
#27 Pallus Aug 12, 2014 8:58:35	Once you go iPad, you never look back.  It amazes me that Wizards would launch 5th edition without updating their character creator for Gencon.  HeroLab is absolutely awesome and now you can create characters in Pathfinder.  I know Wizards would never support HeroLab which just baffles me.  You know your executives need to retire when they are electronic adverse.   Where is my 5th edition digital PHB!!!
(Reply to #27) tallric_kruush	Pallus wrote:
#29 ChrisTheS Aug 12, 2014 9:08:30	I have enough distractions going on at my table (two families with toddlers) that everybody having laptops/tablets (seems like everybody at the table has a Surface Pro 3 except me, grrrr) is not even remotely an issue.   Also, the GM banning devices is not going to make a distracted player pay attention (not to mention it can offend the player and make them want to pay less attention just to spite the GM).  Chances are, the player is not paying attention because the game is boring for them and the GM is not making an effort to make it interesting, or because the player has the attention span of a gnat and if they didn't have something to occupy them they would start playing dice jenga, which is distracting for everyone else.  I'd rather have them staring at their ipad screen than making a racket.
#30 Satyrn Aug 12, 2014 10:14:31	Paper.  Though when DMing I use my tablet as an aid. Write my notes as webpages and use the srd (3.5)
#31 Phobos Aug 12, 2014 10:41:06	Paper across the board, but I like having books and adventures ALSO (not in place of) in PDF so I can read on the go.
#32 Chimerasame Aug 12, 2014 11:03:10	I don't like laptops on top of the play table, with the exception of the DM. They get in the way of view and can kinda obstruct the experience. (In the DM's case, this is not as much of a problem; the laptop could even be part of the typical 'DM screen', combined with a propped up book or something.)   If you've got a tablet that can lie flat, or if your laptop is sitting on another table behind you or something and not actually at the gaming table, then that's no problem.   For quick notes on the order of less than one sentence, I find paper easiest, followed by laptop, followed by tablet. For long paragraphical descriptions, I find laptop easiest, followed by paper, followed by tablet. For keeping track of often-changing values such as HP, available spell slots/sorcery points, etc, I find laptop/tablet easiest, followed by paper.   I use paper when gaming in person, myself, although I can see myself switching to tablet at some point when they start to feel just a little more like paper.