Help with a Character Sheet

[JmOz]

I have a player in my group who has semi severe learning disabilities. Let me say first of all he is a great guy who brings alot of fun to the gaming table, great sense of humor, and one of those people who just makes everyone around him happy.

HOWEVER: Do to his LD the standard Hero Game Character sheets are a pain for him, so I have created one that I hope is a little bit easier for him. I have removed alot of the extra data from it, such as costs of powers and tried to make it as user friendly as possible. I would like you as a group to review it and tell me what could be better on it


Note his character has a different character sheet that is used outside of game play for accounting purposes (It is a standard 3 colum number)

The layout is as follows:
Page 1: Non Combat
Page 2: Offence
Page 3: Defence

[Blue]

I found that a little more confusing, but then that's likley because I'm used to the standard layout.

Removing costs is good. You might do well, if you have a minute or two, to highlight (or maybe in the original sheet to Boldface the things he'll use most often. I mean, DEX certainly comes up more often than COM. Stuff like that gets lots in a table-type layout.

If the two STR stats had been for a normal v. superhero ID I would have recommended seperate character sheets so he can just have one in front of him depending on which ID he's in, but I see the seperate stats are tied to a STR boost you simply activate, so that's impractical.

It still seems a little busy, but I honestly can't come up with a way to simplify it.

You could leave the stats for the combat manuevers off and leave that to you (the GM). That way if he says, "How would a haymaker affect this" you can tell him the pros and cons. But that's all that comes to mind for now.

[JmOz]

I found that a little more confusing, but then that's likley because I'm used to the standard layout.

Removing costs is good. You might do well, if you have a minute or two, to highlight (or maybe in the original sheet to Boldface the things he'll use most often. I mean, DEX certainly comes up more often than COM. Stuff like that gets lots in a table-type layout.

If the two STR stats had been for a normal v. superhero ID I would have recommended seperate character sheets so he can just have one in front of him depending on which ID he's in, but I see the seperate stats are tied to a STR boost you simply activate, so that's impractical.

It still seems a little busy, but I honestly can't come up with a way to simplify it.

You could leave the stats for the combat manuevers off and leave that to you (the GM). That way if he says, "How would a haymaker affect this" you can tell him the pros and cons. But that's all that comes to mind for now.

Thank you for the reply

Actualy when he saw version 1 (this is version 3 I have posted and am working on version 4) he especialy liked the manuver section as it let him consult a list of manuvers

The idea of highlighting is a good one, espesialy things like his defences and OCV, etc...

I agree as someone who is use to the old sheet this is not how I would want it, but I think that is from experience.

[Supreme Serpent]

Looks pretty good.

For someone not familiar with the character, I would add more detail to the disads/powers, but if he's familiar with the guy, all good. For example, the STR bit can be confusing - is he 15 Str, then +60 to 75, or is he 15, 75 w/armor, and 135 (!) with boost? Force Field defense line? Is that with the Force WALL added in, or does he have a seperate FF? Again, only confusing if you're not familiar with the character.

I'd add a missile charges bit alongside the Stun/End/Body tracker.

I'd add in lines for some of the "assumed" powers. "Battlesuit protection: +15PD/ED Armor - already factored into defense line". "Jetboots: 15" Flight"

I'm assuming some of the powers are in a multipower - it might be a good idea to note what can't be used at the same time - can be have a force dome up while holding up a big heavy object, and use his cutting torch with the other arm? Etc. If it's all one MP, easy enough to say "Weapon Systems - due to power restriction, can only operate one at a time"

I'd also recommend attaching a "real" sheet to it, for easy reference for you, and over time the player may become more used to the standard sheets, if he has his "cheat sheet" to work with deciphering the regular sheet. It would be good to keep things in the same order on both sheets.

[JmOz]

Thanks for the comments SS

He is familiar with the character, yes all of his weapon systems is one MP (will make a note for him on that)

The ammo is a good idea, but I think it would work better under the missile slot

Yes the Force Field is a seperate entry (and hardened, a note is a good idea)

[Supreme Serpent]

If the FF's hardened, you may want to expand the defense chart to include lines for vs AP attacks. I find that it's difficult for even relatively experienced players who have partially hardened defenses to figure it out sometimes...

[JmOz]

Great Idea Ss, Done

[JmOz]

Current Version

[Hugh Neilson]

Maybe it wuld be easier to have two character sheets, one "in armor" and one "out of armor"? This might be easier to follow than highlightng items that aren't available if he's not in his armor.

[Supreme Serpent]

Looks good. Will require a bit of maintenance as the character advances - changing the hit charts as he gains levels, etc.

[JmOz]

Maybe it wuld be easier to have two character sheets, one "in armor" and one "out of armor"? This might be easier to follow than highlightng items that aren't available if he's not in his armor.

I have thought of that, my concern is that to many pages might be more confusing for him. I E-Mailed him & his wife the current version for them to look over, we will see what comes back.

[JmOz]

Looks good. Will require a bit of maintenance as the character advances - changing the hit charts as he gains levels, etc.

Thank you

[JmOz]

Any other comments?

[JmOz]

Well it has been slightly over a month sense he started using it, and he loves it, I want to thank you all for the imput (now I am making him one for his OTHER character...)