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Character sheet woes

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Feeroper
May 03, 2009 1:12:10 Hey everyone,

This is an extremely newb question: I am trying to help my friends fill out character sheets, and we are all new to 4th edition, (I am new to DMing) and I am extremly confused regardind the Attack Workspace, Damage Workspace and Basic Attacks sections on the sheet. I just dont know how to fill them out or how they are used.

I am tempted to use the character builder, but I also want to know how these sections are supposed to be filled out. Can anyone help me out with understanding this? Thanks.
#2
Kensan_Oni
May 03, 2009 1:24:48 I rarely use these spaces on my Spreadsheet anymore, but here is how to make the spaces useful.

The character should hav a common attack bonus that they use constantly with their powers. Take that particular group of powers Ability Modifier and place it in Abl. Take Half your Level (Round Down) and place that in 1/2 level. If you have a Class Bonus (Like the Fighter's +1 for Weapons), place that next. If it's a Weapon, add the Proficiency Bonus into the next box. Then add Feat Bonuses next, then the Enhancement Bonus of the Weapon You are using (Like a +2 sword gets +2), and if there is anything left you need to add, put it in the last box, then add it all up.

Damage Workspace works sort of the same way. Here, we are adding up bonuses that you will be adding to damage. So your Key Ability from your powers gets placed here, then any bonuses from Feats, Then your Magical Enhancment Bonus. If there is anything special (Such as the Sorcerer's Bonus Damage), add it here as well, then total it up. Add this number to whatever dice you roll.

Basic Attacks are a little different. Figure their attack bonus and Damage Bonus based off Strength or Dexterity (For Melee, or Range), and place those numbers there. You might also just jot down the dice code for the weapon as well.

For example. I am running a 7th level Cleric of Melora, and I'm using a Strength Build Cleric, who has a 19 Strength, and a +2 Warhammer. I would fill in the boxes in the following order

Attack Bonus
+11 = +3+4+0+2+0+0

Damage Bonus
+6 = +4+0+2+0+0

Basic Attack
+11 vs AC Warhammer +2 1d10+6

I hope that helps!
#3
Feeroper
May 03, 2009 2:55:42 Im still fairly perplexed. Are those spaces only used to find basic melee and basic ranged attack specs?

Or are they just meant to be used for powers or attacks that are commonly used? The way I see it so far, it looks like the attack workspace lets you figure out your bonus to attack rolls for whatever attack you have selected, and the damage workspace is used to work out the bonus to damage rolls for whatever selected attack, and it all comes together in the basic attack area, where you can quickly refrence it.

Am I understanding this correctly?
#4
Ith
May 03, 2009 3:42:59 In practice, they're for whatever you find convenient. I use the basic attack spaces to jot down my at-wills and any very frequently used encounter power, just so I always have that info right in front of me. The attack workspace is actually pretty handy once you're juggling feat bonuses, enhancement bonuses, ability bonuses, half-level bonuses, etc. It's good to have a place to quickly look and say "yup I'm +11 to hit". I usually use half the attack workspace for melee half for ranged, or half implement half weapon or whatever other split I have available to that character. Damage workspace is a little less useful since there's not quite as many bonuses to keep track of, but I do usually try to keep it up to date, and it provides a convenient place to write down situational damage bonuses (like +2 dmg with combat advantage from talent or Brutal/High Crit weapon or whatever).
#5
defender_of_odintyr
May 03, 2009 9:41:49 I use Shado's character sheets. they are awesome! :D

http://www.dragonavenue.com/dnd/post/4th_edition_character_sheets_and_power_cards/
#6
Kensan_Oni
May 03, 2009 10:14:04
Im still fairly perplexed. Are those spaces only used to find basic melee and basic ranged attack specs?

Or are they just meant to be used for powers or attacks that are commonly used? The way I see it so far, it looks like the attack workspace lets you figure out your bonus to attack rolls for whatever attack you have selected, and the damage workspace is used to work out the bonus to damage rolls for whatever selected attack, and it all comes together in the basic attack area, where you can quickly refrence it.

Am I understanding this correctly?

In practice, they hardly are used for such... I think. You see, I don't really know, because I don't really have that on my Spreadsheet I use to keep track of my character. I figure out all my bonuses and apply it to my Power Template Sheet. So I only use the space for Basic Attacks, but I am sure others don't really do the same.

However, I believe you grok the idea now. :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Feeroper May 03, 2009 1:12:10	Hey everyone, This is an extremely newb question: I am trying to help my friends fill out character sheets, and we are all new to 4th edition, (I am new to DMing) and I am extremly confused regardind the Attack Workspace, Damage Workspace and Basic Attacks sections on the sheet. I just dont know how to fill them out or how they are used. I am tempted to use the character builder, but I also want to know how these sections are supposed to be filled out. Can anyone help me out with understanding this? Thanks.
#2 Kensan_Oni May 03, 2009 1:24:48	I rarely use these spaces on my Spreadsheet anymore, but here is how to make the spaces useful. The character should hav a common attack bonus that they use constantly with their powers. Take that particular group of powers Ability Modifier and place it in Abl. Take Half your Level (Round Down) and place that in 1/2 level. If you have a Class Bonus (Like the Fighter's +1 for Weapons), place that next. If it's a Weapon, add the Proficiency Bonus into the next box. Then add Feat Bonuses next, then the Enhancement Bonus of the Weapon You are using (Like a +2 sword gets +2), and if there is anything left you need to add, put it in the last box, then add it all up. Damage Workspace works sort of the same way. Here, we are adding up bonuses that you will be adding to damage. So your Key Ability from your powers gets placed here, then any bonuses from Feats, Then your Magical Enhancment Bonus. If there is anything special (Such as the Sorcerer's Bonus Damage), add it here as well, then total it up. Add this number to whatever dice you roll. Basic Attacks are a little different. Figure their attack bonus and Damage Bonus based off Strength or Dexterity (For Melee, or Range), and place those numbers there. You might also just jot down the dice code for the weapon as well. For example. I am running a 7th level Cleric of Melora, and I'm using a Strength Build Cleric, who has a 19 Strength, and a +2 Warhammer. I would fill in the boxes in the following order Attack Bonus +11 = +3+4+0+2+0+0 Damage Bonus +6 = +4+0+2+0+0 Basic Attack +11 vs AC Warhammer +2 1d10+6 I hope that helps!
#3 Feeroper May 03, 2009 2:55:42	Im still fairly perplexed. Are those spaces only used to find basic melee and basic ranged attack specs? Or are they just meant to be used for powers or attacks that are commonly used? The way I see it so far, it looks like the attack workspace lets you figure out your bonus to attack rolls for whatever attack you have selected, and the damage workspace is used to work out the bonus to damage rolls for whatever selected attack, and it all comes together in the basic attack area, where you can quickly refrence it. Am I understanding this correctly?
#4 Ith May 03, 2009 3:42:59	In practice, they're for whatever you find convenient. I use the basic attack spaces to jot down my at-wills and any very frequently used encounter power, just so I always have that info right in front of me. The attack workspace is actually pretty handy once you're juggling feat bonuses, enhancement bonuses, ability bonuses, half-level bonuses, etc. It's good to have a place to quickly look and say "yup I'm +11 to hit". I usually use half the attack workspace for melee half for ranged, or half implement half weapon or whatever other split I have available to that character. Damage workspace is a little less useful since there's not quite as many bonuses to keep track of, but I do usually try to keep it up to date, and it provides a convenient place to write down situational damage bonuses (like +2 dmg with combat advantage from talent or Brutal/High Crit weapon or whatever).
#5 defender_of_odintyr May 03, 2009 9:41:49	I use Shado's character sheets. they are awesome! :D http://www.dragonavenue.com/dnd/post/4th_edition_character_sheets_and_power_cards/
#6 Kensan_Oni May 03, 2009 10:14:04	Im still fairly perplexed. Are those spaces only used to find basic melee and basic ranged attack specs? Or are they just meant to be used for powers or attacks that are commonly used? The way I see it so far, it looks like the attack workspace lets you figure out your bonus to attack rolls for whatever attack you have selected, and the damage workspace is used to work out the bonus to damage rolls for whatever selected attack, and it all comes together in the basic attack area, where you can quickly refrence it. Am I understanding this correctly? In practice, they hardly are used for such... I think. You see, I don't really know, because I don't really have that on my Spreadsheet I use to keep track of my character. I figure out all my bonuses and apply it to my Power Template Sheet. So I only use the space for Basic Attacks, but I am sure others don't really do the same. However, I believe you grok the idea now. :D