Summary
Dungeons & Dragonsis getting a new style of character sheets alongside anew batch of core rulebooks, but one element of the re-design is already being met with a mixed reception. Character sheets are a critical part of theDnDexperience, allowing players to set up characters for the first time and reference and modify stats and features over the course of an adventure. Although plenty of layouts would get the job done sufficiently well, having a sheet that makes everything as easy and attractive as possible is important.
The new character sheets, showcased byThomas Christyon Twitter,make the big change of splitting skills among the boxes for each ability score. Not everyone is happy with this change, and Twitter userLoneSniperProposted an image of the classicDnD5e character sheet to declare allegiance to the previous method of skill organization.
In the older character sheets, skills were listed together in one box next to a column dedicated to the ability scores. ManyDnDplayers have begun voicing their concerns over the new layout, specifically regarding skills now being spread across five boxes, rather than consolidated in one.
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D&D’s Character Sheet Change Has Pros & Cons
It’s Impossible To Make Everyone Happy
There’s no one way to lay out the amount of information needed for aDnDcharacter sheet in a perfectly legible and efficient way, but it’s easy to make arguments both for and against the change.Grouping skills according to the overarching ability types can make it easier for players to jump to a relevant skill, which can be especially helpful in theright style ofDnDplay. A dungeon master might ask for a general Wisdom check, for example, and a player can quickly check the skills grouped under Wisdom to see if one with proficiency is relevant to the situation.
When hunting for a specific skill to begin with, however, the change could make finding it harder than running down an alphabetical list. If a dungeon master asks specifically for a Survival check in the wilderness, a newer player might not know that it should be found under Wisdom. Although this is one way to help form the associations between ability scores and skills,it could result in a lot of potentially frustrating hunting and peckingearly on.
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Skill layout isn’t the only divisive aspect of the new character sheets, with the removal of thebackstory elements of flaws, personality traits, ideals, and bonds also posing both benefits and drawbacks. Luckily, it’s easy enough to make use of classic or custom character sheets, so the changes aren’t necessarily going to be imposed on everyDnDcampaign. Character sheets are only one part of the sweeping changes occurring with the introduction of newDungeons & Dragonsrulebooks, but they’re a great example of just how tricky updating the game can be.
Sources:Thomas Christy/Twitter,LoneSniperPro/Twitter
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
