Character Sheet via Google Docs

[ego093]

Before I post a link to the character sheet we're using on Google Docs (a great platform for sharing sheets for online games) I'd like to make sure I won't get in trouble for having a public sheet available that handles basic calculations like Power Rank and adding up bonuses and also has the base skills listed. If it's not a problem, then I'd like to make it available for others to use - especially the group that just started playing online.

[Y.O.Morales]

Although I'm not an official Green Ronin employee, I understand that the rules and stats that you have mentioned are Open Game Content (OGC) and thus can be distributed as long as you include the Open Game License. However, they are still copyrighted to Green Ronin. I suggest you search the internet for more information on OGC.

[ACodispo]

<notlegaladvice>
Arakor has a character generator (http://true20.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582) which has similar capabilities.

For various reasons I don't think one gets prosecuted for posting character sheets.

Some links for reference:

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl108.html - U.S. Copyright Office: Copyright and Games
http://www.godsmonsters.com/?ART=77 - Specific: Gamers and Copyright
http://www.godsmonsters.com/?ART=153 - Even more specific: Compatible Works (like character sheets)

Lastly, its very nice of you to ask, and I'm sure a GR employee will provide an answer presently.

</notlegaladvice>

[ego093]

Well... here goes nothin' then! If you have a Google account, you can view (and then copy to use) the character sheet at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key= ... Q-JQ&hl=en

To use this document, click on the File button on the left of the page and then "Copy spreadsheet..." which will give you a dialog-box where you can name your sheet.

I'd be interested to hear what people think.

[duckydan]

A google spreadsheet character sheet. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!!! Wow. Thanks for sharing this. I can't believe I didn't think of this.

[ego093]

@DuckyDan - Ya, I had one of those slap-my-forehead moments when, after beginning to code the database backend for my homebrew app, I realized that all of this was already available and easy to work with on Google Apps.

I guess we're all getting used to the web-app paradigm still.

[ACodispo]

I had been using the RPG Web Profiler but this solution is much easier.

[ACodispo]

ego093: your sheet does not seem to calculate saving throw bonuses. Would it be difficult to implement that?

[ketjak]

Well... here goes nothin' then! If you have a Google account, you can view (and then copy to use) the character sheet at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key= ... Q-JQ&hl=en

snip

I'd be interested to hear what people think.

Great work. I've used Excel sheets for so long and never thought to use a Google doc.

For starters, you need some sort of key that indicates what is an entry field, what is a mid-step calculation, and what is a final result. You seem to use white for any entry fields and that brownish mauve for calculated fields, all of them. The final value field should be eye-catchingly colored, not colored to blend in with all other calculated fields - and bold text doesn't go far enough.

For example, it is not clear which of the values in the abilities section is used and the user has to enter numbers twice rather than, say, just using the starting column plus a misc column to generate the final value automatically.

For another example, the skills fields use the same color for the final value - which is also all the way to the right instead of right next to the skill name - instead of using a different color to highlight there is a difference between that column and the ability bonus.

Second, your saving throw calc is completely opaque and seems to leave no room for Lightning Reflexes and the other miscellaneous modifiers to saves. It also ignores the class bonuses due to saves and seems to rely on the user to enter that value - when the sheet is already tracking the important information (core role, role levels). You probably haven't hooked it up yet - and in any case, when you do, it needs to be more visible (you can scrape together space from the cells containing the names of the saves).

Thirdly, the power saves need to clearly indicate if the save is the base (and fatigue) save or the DC for targets. I'd also put the rank for each next to each power, but that's largely redundant in True20.

That is all. Family needs my attention. Nice work, Ego!

[ego093]

@ACodispo - I've been thinking about adding auto-calc for the save bonuses. It should be easy enough to do - I just need to add a "good save" field.

@ketjak - 1) The field colors are something that we're planning on changing for exactly the reason you mentioned. I passed the sheet to one of our players and the fact that everything was the same color really made the sheet unreadable.

2) I haven't messed much with the saves yet, but the ability to add extra mods will definitely find its way into a future revision. Good point.

3) Noticed this on Saturday too... my magic user noted that the fatigue save is still useful, and should be added. Again, great point.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll probably find some time this week to do a revision and will post back when I've got something.

[ego093]

OK - I've just built a new version of the character sheet with the following new features or fixes:

• Saves are now calculated based on role / level
• Calculated totals are now a different color and on the left
• Table headers show how the calculation is being made
• Toughness is now with the other saves
• Everything else is moved around... for the better?
• Abilities for skills are now specified by the ability abbreviation
• Calculations take size into account
• Possibly more, but I forget

And here's the link (new):
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pLt6StRGpSipxAwHegunjVQ&hl=en

To use this document, click on the File button on the left of the page and then "Copy spreadsheet..." which will give you a dialog-box where you can name your sheet.

If you're interested in helping me work out the kinks, take a look and post your experience with the sheet. Thanks!

[The Bane]

I was tinkering with the sheet and for some reason it wants to occasionally format the 'Current' attribute field into feet. For example if I try to put in a STR of 2 it puts STR 20' and then there are errors in the skills and all formulas calculated on STR. Nice sheet though and great to be able to convert to other formats from there.

Out of curriosity, does the CS I played with show for everyone? I am a complete Google Form Noob. Sorry if it is a dumb question.

Best,
The Bane

[ego093]

@The Bane - Thanks for the kind words!

The problem is with Google Docs and how they handle auto-fill. I reported the bug to a friend on the project and hopefully that'll get fixed.

The sheet you worked on is only visible to you until you share it with other people. I have a bunch of NPCs that I've been knocking out with the sheet (very fast, BTW) and none of them are visible to my players.

[The Bane]

Thanks for the reply and please bare with my ignorance, but I do like the principle behind this.

So, is the sheet I messed with local to google, local to my google acount, or neither and in some 'database'? So if I make it public, the world could see it like the ones you have displayed or just who have access to my google sheets?

Best, and thanks in advance.

The Bane

[MrJamela]

The sheet is very cool, but I've noticed some issues with the Saving Throw calculations -- namely, they don't seem to be figuring the values correctly.

Nothing I do seems to get the values anywhere near where they are supposed to be.

Jaime