We are playing around with a new style of Traveller character sheet - all comments welcomed!
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/pdf/travcharnew.pdf
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/pdf/travcharnew.pdf
New Traveller Character Sheet
- Thread starter MongooseMatt
- Start date
Very clean. I like it. I've been cobbling together my own from the versions I've purchased or that came with the core book, and I have one bit of a feedback.
Rather than having the modifiers for range for each weapon, you may to want to think about having the modifier table somewhere (maybe the back of the sheet or so), so then you only need to track weapon relevant info that does not need to be referenced.
You may be able to save on real-estate and then repurpose it so that the commonly used modifiers (range + personal combat) are readily available. Just an option... although like most options, this is just personal taste.
Rather than having the modifiers for range for each weapon, you may to want to think about having the modifier table somewhere (maybe the back of the sheet or so), so then you only need to track weapon relevant info that does not need to be referenced.
You may be able to save on real-estate and then repurpose it so that the commonly used modifiers (range + personal combat) are readily available. Just an option... although like most options, this is just personal taste.
IanBruntlett
Emperor Mongoose
Hmm. I prefer the previous version. The new version is pretty. The old version is more practical.
However... this could be fixed and improved on the old version. Simply take the details missed out by current versions and place them on an optional second page.
HTH
However... this could be fixed and improved on the old version. Simply take the details missed out by current versions and place them on an optional second page.
HTH
The skills section takes up too much space by listing such a broad variety of skills. It would be better to free up the space for more useful data, such as more space in the allies/rivals/contacts section. A busy player will fill that faster than the skills section.
The racial traits box is potentially too small, the equipment section is very small (would not work for those who actually track everything, but works for those that just track major items).
The characteristics section is pretty, but takes up a lot of room. Also, with the extra black shading it will use up more ink when printed - something to think about for someone that does that pretty regularly.
There should be a section for general notes too, to encompass the things you want to keep track of but aren't specifically listed.
The racial traits box is potentially too small, the equipment section is very small (would not work for those who actually track everything, but works for those that just track major items).
The characteristics section is pretty, but takes up a lot of room. Also, with the extra black shading it will use up more ink when printed - something to think about for someone that does that pretty regularly.
There should be a section for general notes too, to encompass the things you want to keep track of but aren't specifically listed.
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
There are several other skills that were added by various supplements. I suggest a "blank" skill bubble or two. Alternately, just do away with the complete list and have a bunch of blank spots for the Player to fill in. Most characters don't have THAT many skills.
As mentioned before, more room for Allies etc. and more Equipement space.
As mentioned before, more room for Allies etc. and more Equipement space.
Agreed - way too much black. Either fill it with a graphic of some sort (which I suspect is your intent) or open it up for notes and doodles.
Also, and less subjectively, there's no good place to record wounds.
But I like it more than the old sheet, even though I'm constitutionally opposed to these new-fangled "art heavy character sheets" with too much scrollwork and not enough information. But I'm also one of those "hand written on an index card is the best type of sheet" guys, so take my aesthetic opinions with a grain of salt.
Also, and less subjectively, there's no good place to record wounds.
But I like it more than the old sheet, even though I'm constitutionally opposed to these new-fangled "art heavy character sheets" with too much scrollwork and not enough information. But I'm also one of those "hand written on an index card is the best type of sheet" guys, so take my aesthetic opinions with a grain of salt.
AndrewW
Emperor Mongoose
Lord High Munchkin
Mongoose
"Character Sheet" is in a serif font... perhaps another, less standard choice would be better.
Reynard
Emperor Mongoose
Decorative and retro. I'd like to see a character sheet with a bit of flair but that much black filler is an ink killer. Make the top an similar with an open design with the logo from the other sheet and offset to the left. It could free up space for the other lines and especially racial traits. Some aliens have a lot of info that would end up in very tiny print or sideways in the margin.
I also agree there should be a skill section with blank lines for players to add what skills they actually have, we can guess everything else is Skill 0. About twenty, maybe two dozen, slots should be sufficient for even some retiring old geezer. There's enough room by each Characteristic to track damage; I like that. Keep the font large for at a glance ease.
If there's room left after shuffling, a note area to track pertinent information could fill it out.
The great thing about Classic/Mongoose Traveller is the minimalist information to describe your character making for an uncluttered sheet no matter how it's styled.
I also agree there should be a skill section with blank lines for players to add what skills they actually have, we can guess everything else is Skill 0. About twenty, maybe two dozen, slots should be sufficient for even some retiring old geezer. There's enough room by each Characteristic to track damage; I like that. Keep the font large for at a glance ease.
If there's room left after shuffling, a note area to track pertinent information could fill it out.
The great thing about Classic/Mongoose Traveller is the minimalist information to describe your character making for an uncluttered sheet no matter how it's styled.
ShawnDriscoll
Cosmic Mongoose
msprange said:
Much better. And still just one page. Very good.
TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
I find it a bit too busy, myself. Not really won over by the graphic design.
I’d like more space to write in career details - and probably in a grid to record Ranks and skills and benefits earned, term by term. As it stands, we usually use scratch paper to generate characters and write down details before we record them on the character sheet. Why can’t we have a character sheet that actually assists in the process of character generation?
The character generation system is one of the biggest selling points of the game - so why can’t the idea be sold a bit with the ‘shop window’ (i.e the character sheet) of the game? Moreover, if we actually have space to record events and mishaps, it actually retains some character background on the sheet too - which is useful for role plying purposes.
I’m not sure that I am actually that keen on having that much space taken up by a complete skill list either actually. Very few characters have that many skills, so a lot of it is just blank space. Instead, why not have a grid that segregates skills by level? So, 0-Level Skills would be recorded together in the first slot, then Level 1 skills, then 2, 3 and so on….maybe up to Level 5 max? The cool thing about this is that you don;t need to record the level of skill, just write it down in the appropriate box.
I would also like to see entree points for character UPPs and Homeworld UWPs too - in the same general area as the Character’s name and other personal details. There really ought to be a method of recording each Characteristic on a declining scale - especially the physical stats which act as HP in effect.
Incidentally, does a new character sheet indicate the potential for a bit of a makeover in the graphical layout and design of the corebook for the next printing maybe? Indeed, any possibility of giving the game a scrub up generally, maybe even with the potential for a bit of glossy colour plates for starship design…..and give it a bash on Kickstarter for a Traveller deluxe version……? Just asking’ :wink:
I’d like more space to write in career details - and probably in a grid to record Ranks and skills and benefits earned, term by term. As it stands, we usually use scratch paper to generate characters and write down details before we record them on the character sheet. Why can’t we have a character sheet that actually assists in the process of character generation?
The character generation system is one of the biggest selling points of the game - so why can’t the idea be sold a bit with the ‘shop window’ (i.e the character sheet) of the game? Moreover, if we actually have space to record events and mishaps, it actually retains some character background on the sheet too - which is useful for role plying purposes.
I’m not sure that I am actually that keen on having that much space taken up by a complete skill list either actually. Very few characters have that many skills, so a lot of it is just blank space. Instead, why not have a grid that segregates skills by level? So, 0-Level Skills would be recorded together in the first slot, then Level 1 skills, then 2, 3 and so on….maybe up to Level 5 max? The cool thing about this is that you don;t need to record the level of skill, just write it down in the appropriate box.
I would also like to see entree points for character UPPs and Homeworld UWPs too - in the same general area as the Character’s name and other personal details. There really ought to be a method of recording each Characteristic on a declining scale - especially the physical stats which act as HP in effect.
Incidentally, does a new character sheet indicate the potential for a bit of a makeover in the graphical layout and design of the corebook for the next printing maybe? Indeed, any possibility of giving the game a scrub up generally, maybe even with the potential for a bit of glossy colour plates for starship design…..and give it a bash on Kickstarter for a Traveller deluxe version……? Just asking’ :wink:
ShawnDriscoll
Cosmic Mongoose
That's what the back of the character sheet is for.TrippyHippy said:
TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
I disagree. I think that the career developments and life path choices should be right there on display, as it informs roleplaying in the game. Moroever, what makes you think there will be a formatted back of the sheet?ShawnDriscoll said:
ShawnDriscoll
Cosmic Mongoose
I was thinking the back side would be a blank page. Then anything about backstory could be written on it. And notes, etc. That's what I've always used the back side for. Anyway, you're grown. No one is stopping you from doing your own desktop publishing.TrippyHippy said:
TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
ShawnDriscoll said:
I actually use Index Cards for my characters, these days. The character sheets on offer are fairly useless to me.
Anyway, you’re grown - which means that when a publisher offers up a potential new character sheet for open criticism, you can respect other people’s views as valid.
