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13:34, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Public Character Sheets Anyone?

Posted by Evil Empryss
Evil Empryss
member, 143 posts
DSM IV-TR Code 300.14
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 02:27
  • msg #1

Public Character Sheets Anyone?

I see that a lot of people object to the idea of making character descriptions lockable.  Since the primary reason *I* would like to see them lockable is that when they're used for public character sheets some players have abused them to change their information in the middle of a game ("No really, I had weapons familiarity with shoulder-mounted rocket launchers the whole time!  Ignore the change time stamp at the bottom of the page!")

So instead of locking character description pages, how about the option to make the character sheets public?

If GMs could choose to make the character sheets visible, then they wouldn't need to ask players to post character sheet info in the character descriptions where other players could see it.  There also wouldn't need to be a thread devoted to character sheet info like that, either, with all of the drawbacks to having a thread dedicated to what's already got a place.

I have no idea how hard it would be to code.  I would think making the character descriptions lockable would be easier, but this one actually makes more sense to me.
HasniM
member, 184 posts
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 02:46
  • msg #2

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

-1 from me, though I understand what you're suggesting.  You want an open game where everybody can see what other people's strengths are and background stories so they can play off individual hooks.

I really think that interesting characters have secrets, stuff only they and the GM know.  Stuff that might come up later...or not, at the GMs discretion.

Personally, I keep a thread which has the 'character sheet of record' for each character. (I currently have them private-lined out so that everybody can't see everybody's stuff, but obviously that isn't neccessary.

I let the players update and fiddle their char sheet as they wish. However, he stats and skills and stuff that COUNT are the ones I control.

I'd suggest simply starting a character sheet thread, make it a notice, and then give each person a 'reply' message all their own.  One of the benefits is that you can just scroll through a message to see what people can do rather than having to open each individual char sheet.

Heck, I kinda wish mine was that organized now.  :-)


For the record, I don't mind the lockable char description, though I've seen games where the char description ends up being the public character sheet, as you described.  Again, not a big fan of it, but everybody runs their game differently.
Evil Empryss
member, 144 posts
DSM IV-TR Code 300.14
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 02:59
  • msg #3

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

I mentioned in the lockable character description thread my reasons for not using threads for character info.

- Some people like to write essays for their characters, whether its to describe their stats or their background.  And don't forget pictures!  If you've got twenty PCs or more in the game, that thread is going to get prohibitively long and hard to read through to find the one you're looking for.

- By making it a thread post, you are separating it from the character name, making it hard to find.  Being able to click on the character's name and get directly to this information is an important tool that makes life easier for the GM and the players.

- Putting things in a thread would mean either pinning it to the front page by making it another notice (and clogging up the first page with yet another thread) or risk losing it to the clutter of 20+ pages of threads.  Neither of these are ideal.

- This doesn't solve the problem of people changing important information when the GM isn't looking: making changes to a post wouldn't update the thread.  If it's a locked thread they have to get permission, yes, but that wouldn't be any different than asking the GM to unlock the description so they can make changes there.

I have a game where people posted information in threads and I find it very annoying to have to dig through the posts to get to the person I'm looking for, and there are only half a dozen PCs in that game.  In a game with more players it would be really difficult to find the information quickly.  Making individual threads for each player is even worse, leaving things spread out across upwards of 20 pages of posts unless they're pinned on the first page, but then I'd be going to the second page just to find the new posts from players.

If you need to keep stuff secret in the public sheets you still have the option of private lines to the GM or putting those secret plot hooks in a PM thread where the player and GM can discuss it at length.  :)
HughBurgin
member, 15 posts
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 03:47
  • msg #4

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

-0
I wouldn't play in any game where my private character information is public, and cannot imagine ANY circumstance when other players need to know EVERYTHING about my character. But I guess if there could be some insane reasoning in the game, then it would be useful. Still, I cannot give it a positive vote, thus the negative zero.
This message was last edited by the user at 03:52, Tue 24 July 2012.
bigbadron
moderator, 13029 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 05:55

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

quote:
Being able to click on the character's name and get directly to this information is an important tool that makes life easier for the GM and the players.

In which case make the first post in the thread a "contents" post - list the names of all characters and either include a link to the post where their sheet is stored, or simply put the msg # alongside the name.
jait
member, 209 posts
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 07:30
  • msg #6

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

Or, alternately, create a closed thread specifically for this purpose and YOU post one post each in each of the PCs names (thus giving them edit access).  They can then put whatever they want in these posts, come back and edit them as much as they want.
Utsukushi
member, 1031 posts
I should really stay out
of this, I know...but...
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 17:14
  • msg #7

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

Given that this suggestion wasn't Public Character Sheets for Everyone, or even By Default, but just something a GM could do...  I think there are games it could be good for on the face of it, and others where (as suggested in the "lockable Character Descriptions" thread) it might just solve other problems by being usable in different ways.

With that noted, I was leaning against it until I went over to Beta and tested if [Private To... still works in character sheets.  But it does, just fine, so the player and GM can have Private to That Character notes for anything that needs to still be kept secret.  Eg, say Tiffy wants to have a really smart character who acts dumb, and it's important to the player that she really wants people to believe it, they can put -
Intelligence: 8 {Private to Tiffy: Real Int 18, she just acts vapid}

...And everybody else will just see that her Int is an 8.  So you can still have your secrets, even in an open game.

It looks like if the player does a Private to GM note, then even that player won't be able to see it outside of the Edit Screen.

Interestingly, it looks like the GM could also put Private to Biff, say, in Tiffy's character sheet, and Tiffy couldn't see that either.  Except in the Edit Screen, of course, where all the formatting breaks down - but for a game with Public, Locked Character Sheets, that has some interesting applications.  For instance, the GM could add, {Private to Biff: Int 12? 14?  You've noticed she's smarter than she lets on!} ...and Tiffy's player won't know that's in there.  Combined with the above note about Private to GM lines, that also means the GM could keep their own notes specific to the PC that only they could see - for example, the details on a not-yet-identified magic item.

So on the whole, I'm a solid +1.  It seems pretty simple and at least useful enough, and easily not-done for people who want to not-do it.
Brygun
member, 1406 posts
RPG since 1982
Author, Developer
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 19:05
  • msg #8

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

-1 No need

What we call the description can actually hold the character sheet if you post it there. Ta da. Public character.

Im in one game that does that. Even has our history and secrets showing. :-P
MagickalMelody
member, 4632 posts
THE GUMMIE BEAR OVERLORDS
WILL RULE US ALL!
Tue 24 Jul 2012
at 19:12
  • msg #9

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

But, as noted before Brygun, the character description isn't lockable... this'd be a good solution for someone who wants a LOCKED character sheet/info that is also public.

I'd throw in a +1. Any of the private information pertinent to particular characters can be done by the GM in private lines (as tested by Utsukushi) so it'd actually be a pretty cool mechanic.
praguepride
member, 582 posts
Asker of Questions
Finder of Answers
Thu 2 Aug 2012
at 16:27
  • msg #10

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

+1


If we don't want lockable character descriptions then for non-standard games this is important.

I would say default it to hidden because the majority of games on here work like an rpg but for non-standard RPG like GM-less games or non-RPG games, it is important that players have a moderated source.

For example, deck lists in a CCG game or army lists in a minitures game.


For RPGs it also allows open games to take the burden off the GM by having the players monitor each other's sheets.
drew0500
member, 53 posts
D&D Gamer
Eclipse Classless
Sat 18 Aug 2012
at 02:17
  • msg #11

Re: Public Character Sheets Anyone?

+1

Some games this would be nice. The rest, you don't need to display it.
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