Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Alas Nov 29, 2010 9:02:11	This is less of a "what's a player to do?" and more of a "what a player did" post. I've been playing on the PC side of the screen for the last few months, and noticed that I was sometimes overlooking resources-- particularly constant item properties and certain feat benefits, things that don't have a simple bonus for the Character Builder to track. I was shopping around for more concise character sheet options when it ocurred to me that the formatting block for monsters does pretty much what I want. Hit points, defenses, and resistances are summed up nicely at the top; the Traits section calls attention to always-on benefits; and I can break up my attacks and utilities according to standard/move/minor/free/triggered. I still maintain a separate sheet to "show my math," but the monster block does a solid job of streamlining my PC's options during the action encounters. (I even used Pages to format and color it so it looks like I plucked it from Dragon... that's about the most useful thing I've ever done with Pages, honestly.)
#2 zmortis Nov 29, 2010 9:24:51	Any time you can organize your character information to make it more effective for you to use, then I think as a player you are on the right track.  I don't mind using the traditional style sheets, though I often do tend to overlook some non-bonus related benefits by not having the information more organized.  I congratulate you on your increased effectiveness.
#3 boraxe Nov 29, 2010 9:43:59	One of the problems I find with most character sheets is they simply build off the official model instead of rebuilding them from the ground-up. Being a graphic designer I strive for clarity of communication, something that many character sheets are sadly lacking. Whenever I make character sheets I reorder the information based on how it is used during play, not how it has been used on other sheets. I mean really, how often do you need to know your PC's height or eye colour? Yet that info always takes up valuable front-page real estate while you faff about on page 2 or 3 looking for your Spell Save or how many Healing Potions you have left. I do four-page sheets, designed to be printed on tabloid (11x17) paper and folded in half. All the most pertinent info goes on the front, the secondary info on the back, and all the minor and tertiary info in the middle spread. This allows one to access the information used most often in the timeliest manner with a minimum of page-flipping required.
#4 Alas Nov 29, 2010 13:23:53	@Yarium: I'll see if I can post it hereabouts somewhere-- I'm outside the U.S., and my file sharing can be awkward sometimes. Boraxe hits the nail on the head-- there's a lot of information that goes into a character, but it's rare that all of it is relevant at the same time. It just so happens that when my PC faces off against a monster, I pretty much just need the same information the monster is using; so why not present it the way the monster does? Which now begs the question-- how can I better format my character for the non-combat encounters...?
#5 Mythril_Sage Nov 30, 2010 3:20:20	Indeed. A fillable Character sheet optimized for combat would be an ideal solution. I applaud your insight and wonder why I hadn't thought of it first!
#6 Herrozerro Nov 30, 2010 8:22:43	I also love the Monster Statblock style, though my only hessitation would be that the sheer amount of powers sometimes can get overwhelming. How did you do the sheet?   Did you recreate your PC in Monster builder?
#7 MrCustomer Nov 30, 2010 13:38:39	I have always made myself what I call a Battle sheet, that is my character information in a format which shows me everything I need to know at a glance, in a format that I prefer. The only thing that I advise, is that you still use the main character sheet as well. That is have both your Monster PC sheet in the format that ou like as well as the regular sheet. The reason why each sheet isn't built from the ground up, but all based upon the same official sheet, is to keep things consistant. You want to keep yourself familiar with the standard layout of a character sheet, so if you play a different character, or are making up a new character or advicing another player, you are still familair with the official format and know whee to look for what information. Use the official sheet to level up and use the other sheet for when you are playing the character, this way you remain familiar to both.