Okay, now what do we do with this Character Sheet?
Filling in the 5E Character Sheet Box by Box
UPDATE: The instructions on this page are for an older version of the character sheet. For the most recent auto-calculate Character Sheets and its instructions click HERE.
These instructions are for use with the character sheet you can download HERE. You can print a blank Character Sheet and fill it out by hand using these instructions. If you fill it out on your computer, the boxes that will be filled in for you are shown in red.
You might prefer a character sheet with more pages and class feature sheets. You can download them here. The instructions are the same.
#____ : Character sheet version. If you make multiple copies of your character sheet enter the version number here. For example, if you print a new copy of your character sheet each time you advance to the next level you may want to put the number 1 here for the first time you print it and change that to a 2 before you print it the next time. Whatever you enter here will also be entered on all of the other sheets.
Player: This is you
Campaign: This is the name of the campaign. Ask the DM.
Character Creation Date: The date that you create this character. [Believe me, years from now, when you find this sheet among your old D&D stuff, you will want to know this.]
Current XP: Your character starts off at first level and with 0 experience points. You will be earning experience points as you adventure. Your DM will tell you how many experience points your character earned at the end of each different adventure, and occasionally more often. You can keep a running total here.
Next Level Goal: This is how many experience points you need to advance to the next level. Refer to the table in the PHB. You need 300 points to advance from first level to second level.
CHARACTER
Name: This is your Character’s name. If you can’t think of a name ask the DM for advice. Whatever name you enter here will also be entered on all of the other sheets.
Race: Enter your character’s race here. It can be Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, Human, Dragonborn, Gnome, Half-Elf, Half-Orc, or Tiefling. Check with the DM first, he may not have all these races in his campaign world.
Class: Enter your character’s class in this box. You may choose from Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock or Wizard.
Alignment: Your character can be any alignment you choose but your DM may not allow evil aligned player characters. The possible alignments are: Lawful good (LG), Neutral good (NG), Chaotic good (CG), Lawful neutral (LN), Neutral (N), Chaotic neutral (CN), Lawful evil (LE), Neutral evil (NE), and Chaotic evil (CE).
Sex: M or F –your choice, there is no in-game advantage to either sex.
Level: This is your character’s current level. You start out at level 1. For multi-class characters, this is the total of all their levels in all of their classes. A character’s level can never exceed 20. If filling this out on your computer, many of the fields on the sheet will be filled in when you enter a number here.
Size: This depends on your character’s race. Gnomes and Halflings are small (S), all other standard races are medium (M).
Age: Enter the age of your character here.
Height: Select any height that is appropriate for your race.
Weight: Select any weight that is appropriate for your race.
Speed: This is the number of feet you can move in one combat round. Dwarf 25 (not reduced by wearing heavy armor), Elf 30, Wood Elf 35, Halfling 25, Human 30, Dragonborn 30, Gnome 25, Half-elf 30, Half-Orc 30, Tiefling 30.
If your character is wearing heavy armor, and his strength score is less than the minimum listed for that armor, his speed is reduced by 10.
Initiative: This is your initiative modifier. When you roll for your character’s initiative at the beginning of combat, you add this to your initiative roll. Unless you have some feature or ability that affects this, your initiative modifier is the same as your Dexterity modifier.
Initiative adjustment: If some feature of the game grants your character a bonus to his initiative modifier (for example the “alert” feat gives you a +5 bonus to initiative) you can click on the word “Dex” below the initiative box and enter a number. This number will be added to your initiative modifier.
ABILITIES
Ability Score: Using a method approve by your DM, determine your character’s ability scores, modify them according to your character’s race and enter the scores in the corresponding boxes.
Ability Modifier: For each ability, the modifier is determined by subtracting 10 from the ability score and then dividing the result by 2 (rounding down). Or you can simply look it up on the table in the PHB.
Saving Throws: This is the saving throw modifier for each ability. It is the same as the ability modifier, unless your character is proficient in that ability’s saving throw. This is typically a proficiency you get because of your race. If you are proficient, check the small box and add your proficiency bonus (see below) to the ability modifier to get your saving throw modifier.
ARMOR CLASS
Armored (the number you put in the shield): This is typically 10 + armor bonus if wearing armor + shield bonus if using a shield.
If wearing light armor add your Dex modifier.
If wearing medium armor add your Dex modifier up to a maximum of +2
You don’t add your Dex modifier to your armor class if you are wearing heavy armor.
Without Armor: 10 + Dexterity modifier (unless a class feature overrides this). Note that if your Dexterity modifier is negative, it lowers your armor class.
HIT POINTS
This box is where you list your maximum hit points. At first level this will be the highest roll of your hit dice (see below) plus your Constitution modifier.
Hit Dice: Here you enter the type of hit die your character uses and the number of hit die of that type you have. At first level your character has 1 hit die. The hit die type depends on your character’s class; Barbarian 1d12, Bard 1d8, Cleric 1d8, Druid 1d8, Fighter 1d10, Monk 1d8, Paladin 1d10, Ranger 1d10, Rogue 1d8, Sorcerer 1d6, Warlock 1d8, Wizard 1d6.
Current Hit Points: As your character takes damage, he loses hit points. You can use this box to track the damage.
Temporary Hit Points: Some magic spells or other game effects can grant your character what are called “temporary hit points.” You can list these here and track their loss. You lose these before you lose regular hit points. You lose any remaining temporary hit points after finishing a long rest.
Available Hit Dice: You have one hit die for each level. At the end of a short rest, you can roll one or more of these hit die and, for each die rolled, recover the indicated number of hit points plus your character’s Constitution modifier. You can use this space to keep track of the number of hit die you have left to use for healing. After a long rest, you regain a number of hit die equal to half your total number of them, or a minimum of one hit die.
Death Saves: When you start your turn with 0 hit points you make a death saving throw. You must roll 1d20 and on a roll of 10 or higher you succeed, otherwise you fail. On your third success you become stable, on your third failure you die. A role of 1 counts as two failures. A roll of 20 means that you are no longer dying and you regain 1 hit point. You can use this space to track your progress.
Advantages: List any conditions where you get advantage. For example if you are a dwarf, you have advantage on saving throws against poison.
Disadvantages: List any where you have a disadvantage. For example if your character is small (size S) then you have disadvantage when using heavy weapons.
INSPIRATION
Place a check in this box when you get inspiration. Remove the check when you use it. You either have inspiration or you don’t. Your DM can award your character inspiration, typically for good (or entertaining) roll playing. If you have inspiration, you can spend it to get advantage on any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check. You can give up your inspiration to another character if you think he deserves is.
EXHAUSTION
You can use this area to keep track of your character’s level of exhaustion. Your DM will tell you when your character is susceptible to a level of exhaustion.
PROFICIENCY BONUS
List your proficiency bonus here. It starts out as +2 at first level and increases as you advance in level.
PASSIVE PERCEPTION
This is your Perception Skill bonus modifier +10.
Passive Perception adjustment: If some feature of the game grants you a bonus to your passive (wisdom) perception modifier (for example the “observant” feat gives you a +5 bonus) you can click on the word “Wis” to the left of the box and enter a number. This number will be added to your passive perception modifier.
PROFICIENCIES
Skills: Your character will have proficiency in certain skills. For each skill he is proficient in, place a check in the box by that skill. Add your proficiency bonus to the associated ability modifier to determine the bonus you apply to these skill checks. When he attempts to perform a skill that he is not proficient in, it becomes a simple ability check, so enter the ability modifier for that skill’s ability.
x2: There are some class features with double proficiency bonus on some skills, for example, the Knowledge Domain Cleric and Rogue’s Expertise. For each skill that your character has a double proficiency for, put a check in the little [x2] box to the right of that skill name. Double your proficiency bonus and add that to the associated ability modifier.
1/2: A second level Bard gets the “Jack of all Trades” feature. This adds half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to ability checks you are not proficient in. If your character has this feature, for each skill that your character is not proficient in, put a check in the little [1/2] box to the right of that skill name. Divide your proficiency bonus by 2 (round down) and add that to the associated ability modifier.
Skill adjustment: If some feature of the game grants you a bonus to skill (for example a luckstone grants you a +1 bonus to skill checks) you can enter a number on the ability listed to the left of the box. Add this number to the associated ability modifier.
Saves: List any ability or other saves (such as poison for example) where your character would receive a proficiency bonus to his saving throw.
Tools: If your character is proficient in the use of any types of tools, list them here.
Weapons: List the type of weapons your character is proficient with.
Armor: List the type of armor your character is proficient with. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can’t cast spells.
Other: This is a catch-all for anything that your character has proficiency in that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories.
Sneak Attack: If your character is a rogue you can enter extra damage he does on a sneak attack. This will be 1d6 at first level.
Rages: If your character is a barbarian you can enter the number of times he can rage between long rests. This will be 2 at first level.
Ki Points: If your character is a monk you can enter the number of ki points you have available between short or long rests. You don’t have any at 1st level. At 2nd level you get 2.
Martial Arts: If your character is a monk you can enter the amount of damage you do with an unarmed strike or monk weapon. This will be 1d4 at first level.
WEAPON BOXES
There is room to list up to 5 different weapons. If you have more weapons than this you can print additional sheets.
Weapon: On the line under the word “WEAPON” enter a description for the weapon. Note that if you are filling this out on a computer, the calculated fields for this weapon will remain blank until you enter some text on this line.
The line to the right of the word “WEAPON” is available for you to add additional information about the weapon if you want. For example, you may want to indicate if it is a Light weapon, or list other weapon properties, or a description, or a name.
Reach or Range: Melee weapons have a reach of 5 ft. unless they have the “reach” property and then it becomes 10 ft. Weapons that can be thrown and all ranged weapons have a normal and maximum range.
Type: The type of damage; bludgeoning (B), Piercing (P), or slashing (S)
Ability (STR or DEX): Most melee weapons use your Strength modifier, and most range weapons use your Dexterity modifier. If it is a melee weapon with the Finesse property, you can choose to use your Dexterity modifier. If it is a range weapon with the Thrown property, you can choose to use your Strength modifier. Check the box next to the ability you will be using.
Proficiency: If you have proficiency with this weapon. Check this small box and enter your proficiency bonus in the large box.
STR/DEX: Enter the appropriate ability modifier in this box. If you are fighting with two weapons, and this is your second light weapon, you don’t get an ability bonus to damage with this weapon so remove the check between the attack and damage boxes and do not enter the ability modifier for damage.
Magic: If the weapon receives a magic adjustment, enter this in both the attack and damage rows.
Misc. Enter any additional bonuses (or penalties) to attack and/or damage.
Attack Bonus: Add up all the attack adjustments and enter the total here. You will add this bonus to your attack rolls.
Damage Bonus: Add up all the damage adjustments and enter the total here. You will add this bonus to your damage rolls.
Damage Dice: Enter the number and type of die to roll for damage. For weapons with the Versatile property, also ether the damage if the weapon is used two handed. For instance, for a Longsword you could enter 1d8 (1d10).
Ammo: For weapons that use ammunition, you can use these boxes to check off your ammunition as it is used. If you take the time after a battle, you can normally recover half of your expended ammunition.
NOTES
The section on the lower right of the first sheet is for any notes you may want to add to help you remember details about your character. There may not be enough room here to describe all of his special abilities in detail, but you could list them here and keep the details on sheet 4, or look them up in the Players Handbook, until you have used them enough to remember how they work. For example, for a first level Dwarf Fighter you might note that he has Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience, Dueling, and Second Wind.
You may want to use separate cards to keep track of information that won’t fit on this sheet. You can use cards available HERE.
If you are filling this out on your computer, there are two non-printing boxes at the bottom of page one.
Update Calculations: All of the information filled in automatically for you should update whenever you make any change. Sometimes it doesn’t. You can press this button to force the form to update all of the calculated fields.
Clear: Be careful to not press this unless you want to erase everything from all of the fields on all pages. If you press it by accident, you may be able to recover the lost information if you press CTRL Z. This button is useful for clearing all fields and starting over, or before printing a blank form to fill out by hand.
PAGE 2
The first page contains everything you may need to reference during combat. The second page contains information about your character’s personality, his physical description, his background and his equipment. There is a wider margin on the left side of the first page and on the right side of the second page, so if you print them on the front and back side of the same sheet there should be room to punch holes for a binder. The sheet version and character name are duplicated from page 1.
ARMOR
If your character normally wears armor, list the type of armor here.
Armor Class: List the armors armor class (AC) here
Category: This will be Light (L), Medium (M) or Heavy (H)
Don and Doff: The amount of time it takes to put on (don) and take off (doff). Refer to the PHB page 146.
Strength: Only used if the armor is in the heavy category. This is the minimum strength to use this armor without receiving a -10 ft penalty to your speed.
Weight: How much the armor weighs.
SHIELD
If you have a shield, list if it is wood or metal.
Weight: All standard shields weigh 6 lb.
AC: All shields provide +2 to your armor class.
PROTECTIVE ITEMS
This is where you can keep track of magical items that provide a bonus to your armor class. If the item requires attunement, you can only be attuned to 3 magic items at the same time, so you may want to keep track of attunement here as well.
OTHER ITEMS
For tracking items that your character owns. You can get the weight for standard equipment packs HERE. For higher level characters, you may only want to list items here that your character always carries with him.
Carrying Capacity: This is your Strength score X 15.
Push, Dag, or Lift: This is twice your Carrying Capacity.
Total Weight Carried: Simply add up the weight of everything listed above.
Lifestyle: Your downtime, between adventures, lifestyle can be Wretched, Squalid, Poor, Modest, Comfortable, Wealthy, or Aristocratic. If everyone in the party wants to stay together between adventures they should all have the same lifestyle.
Expenses/day: This depends on your lifestyle. Refer to the PHB page 157.
TREASURE
This area is for keeping track of your character’s monetary and magical possessions. You can track the number of Copper Pieces (CP), Silver Pieces (SP), Electrum Pieces (EP), Gold pieces (GP) and Platinum Pieces (PP). [More information on coins in the post HERE.]
There is a space for Jewels & Gems [More information on gems in the post HERE], Magic items, and Other items.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Age, Height, Weight, Eyes, Hair, Skin: Use the description of your character’s race in the Player’s Handbook as a guide. (Age, height and weight are also listed on page 1. Entering the information on one page will also enter it on the other page.)
Gender, Handedness: your choice. There is no game advantage or penalty regardless of your choice.
Physical Description: List distinguishing features- scars, tattoos, etc.
CHARACTER SKETCH
Draw a picture of your character in the frame. If you are using Adobe Reader, you can click on the image area and it will pop-up a “Select Icon” menu. You can use this to browse your computer for an image to place in this area. There are many good character sketches available on-line. The image must be in PDF file format. There are free utilities available that you can use to convert image files into PDF format. You may find A character schetch that you like HERE.
Languages: List the languages your character knows in this box. Unless you choose otherwise, your character can read and write any language that he can speak.
The rest of this page is straight forward. All of this information is useful in role playing your character. You may want to glance over this whenever you are trying to decide what your character would do in a particular situation.
PAGE 3 – SPELLS
This page is obviously for spellcasters. If your character can’t cast spells, there is no reason for you to print this page.
Primary Ability: This is your character’s primary spellcasting ability. This will be Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma – depending upon your Class. Click on the down arrow and select from the list.
Spell save DC: This is 8 + your proficiency modifier + the ability modifier for your primary spellcasting ability.
Spell attack modifier: This is your proficiency modifier + the ability modifier for your primary spellcasting ability .
Number of Cantrips Known: This number depends on your class and level.
Spells Known or Available: Bards, Rangers, Sorcerers and Warkocks enter the number of spells known. Clerics, Druids, and Paladins enter the number of spells available.
Sorcery Points: Only Sorcerers have sorcery points.
Spell Slots and Castings
Enter the number of spell slots you have available in the space next to each spell level. As you expend spell slots to cast spells, you can check off the used slots in the boxes below.
Spellbook / Known Spells
If your character’s spellcasting class uses a spellbook, you can use this area to list the spells that it contains. If your class requires that you know a certain number of spells, you can list them here.
Use the checkbox next to a spell to indicate a spell that you have prepared. List cantrip’s as Level 0. There isn’t enough room here for full spell descriptions, so you can use the description space to list the major spell effect. For easy reference to the full spell descriptions, you may want to use spell cards, available HERE. If you only have a few spells, you might want to describe them in detail on page 4.
PAGE 4 – Character Background and/or Notes Overflow
This page is for you to use to tell the story of your character. Where he or she came from and why they are here. It can also be used to keep more detailed descriptions of your character’s feats and abilities that don’t fit on the other sheets. If you need more sheets, make multiple copies.
_____________________________________
The main thing to remember is that the character sheet is yours. Use it in any way that makes sense to you. You can write outside the boxes, use circles and arrows, scribble in the margins, or use it in any way that you choose. Also, you don’t have to completely fill out every box before you start playing. If you never decide on your character’s eye color, it won’t effect the game. [As a DM, I do strongly recommend that you give your character a name before your second gaming session. I have played too many times with one or more “no name” characters. This can be a distraction.]
Here are a couple of tips:
First, use pencil instead of ink. Many things can happen during an adventure that can cause things to change so keep an eraser handy.
Second, I find it useful to apply 3M brand “magic mending tape” over the areas that I know will be changing often, such as current hit points. You can write on it with a pencil and it stands up to frequent erasures without leaving a hole in the paper.
Now that you have filled out your Character sheet, let the game begin!
Dungeon Master Assistance 
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As a rouge I get proficiency in stealth and sleight of hand, but the sheet doesn’t calculate it correctly
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Hi Jakob,
I can’t duplicate your error. Perhaps you are expecting the sheet to do more than it was designed to do.
What it does: For each skill, it calculates the ability bonus based on the ability modifier and will add your proficiency bonus to that if you check the little box to indicate that your character is proficient in that ability.
What it does not do: It does not make any assumptions as to which skills you are proficient in, regardless f your character’s class.
For your rogue; if i assume he is a 2nd-evel rogue with a DEX score of 16, The character sheet correctly fills in a +3 bonus to both Sleight of Hand and Stealth. Then when you click on the little square next to them, it adds his +2 proficiency bonus to each of them for a total bonus of +5.
If this doesn’t reflect the way your sheet is performing, please provide me with more details regarding your problem.
If you think that it should automatically pick the skills your character is proficient in based on your class, I made a conscious decision to not provide that functionality. I will be glad to enplane why if you are interested.
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Ahh it’s not to do with being a rouge but the background Urchin. I suppose it’s beyond the scope of the sheet to take that into account, but being able to edit the numbers manually would maybe be an option? I would like to input all the non changing stats before printing.
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I am not sure what you mean by “non changing stats”. It adds your proficiency bonus to all skills that you check (by clicking on the small check box) but the bonus increases as you advance in levels so they are not “non changing”.
I can’t make it auto-calculating and also allow manual changes. You can enter information in the “other proficiencies” or “notes” area, or you can print a blank sheet and fill everything out with a pencil. Or, you can download my original fallible sheet that does not do automatic calculations. You can copy this address into your web browser to download that one:
Click to access 5-0-crs-character-sheet-rrh-fillable-rev1.pdf
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where do you refrence to in skills
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In the Player’s Handbook under class features are listed the skills you can choose. Also each background gives you proficiency in two skills. So you can select from the skills available for your class and for your background. For each skill you pick you will have proficiency in that skill which allows you to add your proficiency bonus to any check you make which uses that skill. On the Character sheet, click on the little box next to that skill and it will calculate that bonus for you.
On page 2 you can list which skills were from your class and which were from your background. List these under “proficiencies based on class” and “proficiencies based on background”.
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As somebody who has played off and on since the red and blue box days, but haven’t played at all since 3.5 edition, I’m almost ashamed to admit how useful this was. This whole blog, really. I’m getting back into D&D now as a DM to my son and his friends. Teaching them to play and learning the new rules can be a bit rough.
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Hang in there. I am glad to see another generation taking up the game. I am glad that this blog is of some benefit to you.
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Do you know anything about a guid for another/ different sheet, i have a different 5e character sheet (adventurers League)
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I don’t know of any box by box guide for the official adventurers league character sheet. I like that sheet. It has many of the same boxes as mine does so you can use the instructions above for most of the sheet. The main differences are those related directly to Adventure League games. As I an sure you are aware, adventure league games are a special subset of the overall D&D world. You only need to use those character sheets if you are playing an Adventure Leagues game. These are typically played at game stores.
There are two main items that are on the Adventure League character sheet that are not on any other character sheet; Factions and DCI number.
Factions:
If you play in an Adventure League game your character will want to choose a Faction to belong to. As a character allied with one of the factions goes on adventures, he or she earns renown for accomplishing tasks that align with the faction’s goals. As a character earns renown, the character progresses in the faction’s ranks.
DCI number:
The DCI is the official sanctioning body for competitive play in D&D and various other games produced by Wizards of the Coast. In order to play in sanctioned events, players must register for membership and receive a DCI number. The DCI maintains a global player ratings database and members have access to their entire tournament history online. Stores should have DCI cards for new players and Dungeon Masters to get DCI numbers.
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Message Dungeons and Dragons Memes (Not “&”) on facebook with your articles and we can share them on there for you.
– Doc
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I don’t know how to do that.
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Hello, i have been trying out this auto fill Character sheet and im noticing that the Ability section in weapons only uses the strength modifier even when the dexterity box is checked. is there a fix for this or will this need to be changed manually?
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Others have pointed this out. I am working on a fix. I believe that this is a problem only with the first weapon. Try the second weapon. Until I fix it, you can use the first one for a club, or some weapon where you only need a strength modifier.
While I am working on it, is there any other area that you think could use improvement?
Thanks for your comment.
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Fixed it. Download the latest version (rev5).
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Hi, I seem to be having a little issue with the form-fillable version. I cannot seem to type anything into the Proficiency Bonus box, and subsequently anything I type in the weapon proficiency boxes etc does not stay. Any ideas?
Also, thanks so much for this sheet! So much more efficient than the one I was using before 🙂
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Thanks for your comment. Let me see if I can explain it better.
Fill in your character’s LEVEL and the proficiency bonus will be calculated and filled in for you.
Fill in a weapon description (any text on the line under the word WEAPON) or all of that weapon’s information will remain blank, Put a check mark (by clicking on it) in the little box to the left of the word proficient and your proficiency bonus will be automatically placed in the box.
You need to know that all boxes that contain a value that the sheet calculates for you cannot be edited directly.
I know that this can sometimes be a little confusing at first, Please let me know if this answers your questions and if you have any other problems..
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Right yep, that was jsut me being a bit of an idiot! Thanks for the comment! Fantastic resource you have created here. I am definitely going to send these links to all my party members 🙂
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Glad I could clear that up for you. Tell your party that they are all welcome.
Be sure you have downloaded the latest version (rev5).
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Hi, I’m risking duplication here because I left a message on the download page for the sheet, btu there are several design problems with your sheet.
1. Page 1 – Proficiencies Section – The text boxes overlap the title boxes for Saves/Tools/Weapons/Armor/Other causing the text to be intermixed with each title. You need to space them a bit.
2. Page 2 – Personality Traits – This is heavy and enlarged like the other section headings when it should look the same as Ideals, Bonds, etc… As is, it leaves no room to actually input your personality traits (need room for two). It could use at least three more lines.
3. Also, the Background Heading area could use another line for adding a note from the first table of information each background has (usually seen before the Personality Trait table).
You could lift as many as 5 lines from the Features area to make the rest of the background area a bit more comfortable.
Just some thoughts
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Excellent observations. Thank you for taking the time to point these out.
You are absolutely right on all points, except for reducing the number of lines for feature.
I see a need to completely reformat the entire right hand side of page 2. This may take me a couple of weeks (real work tends to get in the way).
Stay tuned.
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Istatic1st,
I revised page 2. Downloading the most recent version (from any Character Sheet post) will now download this revised version (rev6b).
Check it out. I am interested in your feedback.
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what about feats?
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There is no special place to list feats.
You can list them on the notes section on page 1, or describe them on page 4. If the feat includes increases to ability scores, or bonuses to skills you should enter them in the appropriate places. Many feats give you special abilities that you receive under certain conditions. You simply need to have then noted somewhere on your sheet to help you remember to take advantage of the feet when those conditions occur.
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This is very cool. I already use a form fillable character sheet from my iPad when I play but this has a lot more info. On the version 6b, when I download it, the ammo section doesn’t have anything to check off, and I can’t get adobe reader to do anything under character sketch to add in a photo. It doesn’t give me any options at all there.
If you still check these comments, I’d love an update for ammo if possible.
Thank you very much!
Jay
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Jay, I am glad you like this. It never occurred to me that anyone would use it on their iPad at the gaming table. I just assumed that you would use it to fill out the sheet and print it to take with you to your game. That is why I didn’t make checking off the ammo boxes form fillable. Perhaps I will re-think that.
As for the character sketch box, I just dowmloaded the sheet and tried it with Adoby Reader on my PC running Windows 10 and it works just fine. Perhaps it works differently on an iPad.
Unless I get a lot more request for filable ammo check boxes, you will have to wait untill the next time I update this. For now it is stable and I intend to let it sit for a while.
You have given me something to think about though. I think the next version should be more geared to using live at the gaming table.
Does anyone else have any Ideas on how that might change the design of this character sheet? I would like to know how many of you are using it on a device during play. Any comments would be appreceated.
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I just found this today! I learned D&D with 4th edition and so only know it with access to a digitally created character sheet. When 5e came out, I was sad to have lost that. Finding this resource today has filled me with joy! I am, however, having a problem. The calculations button doesn’t do anything. I think I have everything filled in that it needs but I must be missing something. Help a girl out, please!
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The problem you describe is usually caused by not using a compatible program to fill in the form. I have seen similar problems when people try to use an on-line pdf reader – such as google’s – to fill in the form. If you haven’t already, I suggest you download the PDF file onto your PC and use Adobe Reader, or some other good PDF program that lets you fill out forms. As soon as you enter your character’s level it should start filling in some boxes and as you enter your ability scores it should start filling out more of the boxes. You should not have to press the calculate button for this to happen. The calculate button if for those times when you enter a value and the form doesn’t automatically re-calculate all of the values.
If this doesn’t help with the problems you are having, please let me know.
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Thank you for replying. I was trying to do it in my browser and saw it wasn’t working so I downloaded it and am filling it out in Adobe Acrobat Pro. It’s still not working. Just printing what it lets me fill in and writing in by hand for now. I have three more sheet to get done in the next 2 hours so we can play tonight.
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I also had the same issue when I tried using Preview on a Mac. Once I switched to Adobe everything went smooth. I also use Adobe on my iPad when we play rather than print it out. Our whole group uses some sort of digital sheet but I think this is the best one.
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So I downloaded Adobe Reader on my iPad and the calculations still don’t fill in. When I was doing my daughter’s form on my computer, in Acrobat, one ability modifier filled in but it was incorrect. Her score was a 14 and it place a 0 in the modifier slot.
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Have you tried with a fresh download and started again? That’s what I had to do when preview didn’t work. I tired a fresh download and used Adobe on my Mac. I use Dropbox to save it to the cloud so I can either open it on my iPad or Mac.
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When was this character sheet created and what is the latest version?
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This was based on one I did for version 3.5 that I updated for 5th edition. the first one I posted for 5th edition was “5.0 – Character Sheet – RRH.pdf” that I did on 7-17-2014. The first fillable version was “5.0 – Character Sheet – RRH-fillable – Rev1.pdf” dated 9-11-2014. The current version (the one you get if you download it off this page) is “5.0 – Character Sheet – RRH-fillable – Rev6b.pdf” that I did on 5-7-2016. The letters RRH in the name are my initials. They stand for Ronald Ray Hart.
When I post a new version, I try to update all the pages where you can download a copy. You will always find the latest version on the “Downloads” tab at the top of every page.
Does this answer your question?
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Yes, it sure does. I’m just getting into D&D and found your character sheet. It really provides more options to create your character. Thank you!
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You are welcome. I tried to put on it what I felt was useful. And welcome to the game. It has provided me with years of entertainment and continues to be a fun activity.
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Are you stationed out of Colorado Springs?
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Yes. I have lived here for about 20 years. I love it. I am originally from Texas.
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I’m originally from Louisiana, been here coming up on three years. The new game you are DM’ing, what are the level of your PCs?
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You say you have been here almost three years? I assume you are saying that you live in Colorado Springs?
The group that I have over on Saturdays are currently all third level. Here is a website that I am hosting for this group:
https://sites.google.com/site/alabasterportal/
We got started on the first of October. We are having a lot of fun. It feels good to be DMing again. Are you currently playing anywhere? I am afraid that my table is full right now and I have several people on a waiting list. Find my email address on the Alabaster Portal and send me a private email with your contact information and I will add you to the list. You never know when a player will have to drop out for some reason.
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Yes, three years in the Springs. As I’m just getting into D&D I’m not currently playing anywhere. The last time I tried playing D&D was back when I was 10…a LONG time ago, 1980!…but I never really got into it then. I’m almost finished reading the PHB. I’ve created a couple of characters so far: a Halfling-Stout Monk and my latest one, a Half-Elf Cleric. I have the D&D Starter Set and was thinking about playing it with my family to get a feel for how the game flows. I’ll send you my contact info via email. Thanks for the info.
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Playing the starter set with your family is the perfect way to get back into the game. Keep us posted on how that goes. P.S. I got your email and put you on my back-up player’s list.
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Just wanna say a big thanks for the character sheet instructions. I recently starting co-DMing a group with a lot of players, and many of them are new. Even for the more seasoned players among us, it’s nice to be able to quickly review certain portions of the sheet. This overview is just the right amount of conciseness and detail. Thanks so much!
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Your comment has expressed the idea behind this post far better that I ever could. Thank you very much. I am glad that you found it and found it useful. Tell all of your friends 🙂
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Hi Ronny, I went looking for a D&D character sheet that I had found and printed in early 2015 for my first 5th edition game. I remembered liking it so much more than the default because it was succinct in both layout and ink it would use.
Well now in 2017 I needed more of those sheets but apparently I hadn’t kept the file!
It was arduous search to find “that-awesome-sheet-I-should-have-saved”, but here it is! That awesome character sheet is yours, and I just wanted to express my appreciation for you making it and for it luring me to this interesting blog. May luck favor your dice and your wit, and I hope you have a great rest of your day!
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Matt,
Thank you for your wonderful comment! You just made my day.
May all of your rolls be natural 20s.
Ronny
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okay how do I use the program. I have downloaded it and tried to use it and cant.
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Hi Steven,
I’m sorry that you are having problems with this.
It’s not a program per se. It is a form fillable PDF file. You should be able to download it onto your home computer and then open it with the free Adobe Reader and start filling in the information. If you got that far and the numbers aren’t filling in properly, be sure you enter a level first and then your ability scores. If nothing else works, you can print it out and fill everything out with a pencil.
Read the comments above and see if anyone else had the problem you are having and how I answered them.
If non of this works, Let me know what computer and what software you are using and exactly what isn’t working for you. Be as specific as you can. I will see if I can walk you through the solution to your problem.
Good luck.
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I know this has nothing to do with the subject, I apologize for that, but I just wanted to ask how abilities work. For Example: How high of a roll do you need to achieve in order for an athletics check to be successful.
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There is no simple answer to that question.It all depends on the difficulty of the task you are attempting and whether or not you get to add bonuses to your roll. It may give you a better understanding of how this all works if you look at my post on Bounded Accuracy here:
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Patrick,
I hope you read my post on Bounded Accuracy, it may give you a little incite as to the “why” of how abilities work in D&D. Now I will attempt to answer your question more directly.
Your ability score tells you how your character compares to the other characters and creatures in the game. Each ability – whether it is intelligence, strength, or whatever – is given a score between 3 and 18 to start with. An average ability scores is 10. If your ability score is 10 then you are nether better or worse than average at doing things that use that ability. Higher scores are better.
To resolve an action you roll a 20-sided die and add modifiers. If the result is greater than or equal to a target number then the action succeeds.
Here is how this works.
First example – without ability scores.
Lets say that your character wants to climb a cliff, your DM might ask you to roll a die to see if you can climb it. You then roll a d20 and see what number you come up with. If the DM has decided that climbing this particular cliff would not be too hard, he might decide that it will only require a 15 to succeed. If you rolled 15 or higher you succeed. If you rolled 14 or lower you failed. That target number is called the Difficulty Class or DC for the task.
Second Example – with ability score modifiers.
Lets say you have a strength score of 10. With that score you get an ability modifier of +0, which is really no modifier at all. To climb the cliff in our last example, the DM might ask for a Strength check. That means that you roll a d20 and add your strength modifier. You will still need to roll at least a 15 on the die to succeed in climbing the cliff because your strength modifier is +0. But what if you were really strong? Lets say that you have a strength score of 16. Looking on the table on page 13 in the Player’s Handbook you see that with a score of 16 you get a score modifier of +3. What this means is that when you roll a d20 to make an ability check, you get to add 3 to the roll. So you will only need to roll a 12 on the dice to climb the cliff (12+3=15).
Third Example – with ability modifiers and proficiency bonuses.
If you are good at doing something, it is said that you are proficient at it. When creating your character you get proficiency in certain skills. You can add your proficiency bonus to your ability check when you attempt a skill that you are proficient in. Your proficiency bonus at first level is +2 and it increases as you advance in levels.
Back to climbing our cliff. The DM might say “make a Strength (Athletics) check.” So if you are first level and have a strength of 16 and you are also proficient at athletics, you roll your d20 and then add +3 for your strength modifier and then add +2 for your proficiency bonus. You would only need to roll a 10 or higher on the die to get the DC 15 needed to successfully climb the cliff (10+3+2=15).
I hope this helps.
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Thank you, Ronny, I really appreciate that you took the time to teach me about Bounded Accuracy. I’m starting to get into Dungeons and Dragons and I’m also being the Dungeon Master for the campaign “The Lost Mines of Pandalaur” (Correct me if I got the name of the campaign wrong.) I use this site as the main source for Dungeon Master tips and you have provided that successfully. Thank you again!
Before I sign off, I would love to ask one more question: Do you have any tips for Dungeon Masters that I could use? Again, I really need some tips for when the time comes.
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I’ve go lots of tips.
Start with this “How to be a Better Dungeon Master” post:
https://olddungeonmaster.com/page/2/
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Just an idea for the character sheets, you could laminate them and use dry erase markers instead of being worried about erasing through the paper. Or you could use sharpie and Mr.Clean magic erasers on laminated sheets as well. That won’t rub off as easily if that’s a concern with dry erase 🙂
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Excellent suggestion. Thank You.
I didn’t know that you could erase sharpie off of plastic with a magic eraser.
You can also use wet erase markers on the laminated sheets. Or if you put the sheet in a plastic sleeve, that would also work.
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Hello, Ronnie! I can’t plug in DEX for armor. Am I missing something obvious? I’m also lost on the proficiencies part as Acrobatics through Insight seem to allow for manual input, but Intimidation through Perception is automatic but does not show any number, and Performance through Survival are also automatic though functioning normally with the correct number showing up.
The other issue is that the DEX through CHA does not show the number I put in, but the modifier does show up and they work in parts of the proficiencies table as discussed.
Thanks for your time!
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Hi Elle.
I’d be glad to address your issues, but I am confused as to which character sheet you are using. It can’t be the one that you can download on this page as it doesn’t make any AC calculations and your other questions don’t appear to be related to this version. I have posted several different versions of this character sheet.
Please include the full name of the pdf file you are using. You may want to make sure you are using the latest version by going back to the post where you originally downloaded it and downloading a fresh copy.
Also, people have often reported that these don’t always work properly if you are attempting to edit them on your browser. Whichever version you are using, please download it to your computer and edit it with Adobe Reader, or some other pdf reader. If it still doesn’t work properly, let me know.
I recommend you use one of these if you are playing a single class character: https://olddungeonmaster.com/2019/12/03/dd-5e-character-sheet-and-instructions/
Or, if you are using it for a multi-class character you could use one of these: https://olddungeonmaster.com/2022/10/03/5e-multiclass-character-sheets-with-artificer/
Or, my personal favorite, is this character sheet and folio that can be used for single or multi-class characters: https://olddungeonmaster.com/2023/01/30/dd-5e-character-sheet-and-folio/
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Hi, is there anyway you could add the Str,Dex,Con,Int,Wis,Cha slider to the No Amour option as my class makes it so I can’t use dex and must use Str
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It would help if you said which character sheet you are referring to. I have posted several. None of them are directly accessible on this page, but there are links on this post to 3 different posts where sheets are available.
The one that the instructions on this page refer to has the name “5-0-character-sheet-rrh-fillable-rev6b,pdf”, but you must not be referring to that one because it doesn’t calculate AC.
Another one that these instructions are for is named “character-sheet-rev7.pdf”, but it also doesn’t calculate AC.
So that leaves the link in the “UPDATE”” section at the top of this post that links to auto-calculate Character Sheets and new instructions. On that page there are links to a separate character sheet for each class, a separate class feature sheet for each class, a simple character sheet if you don’t need the class information, and 2 different multi-class character sheets, one with and one without the Artificer.
If you could tell me what class, or combination of classes if your character is multiclass, that would help. But without any of that information, here is my best attempt to help. I have tested all of these and that all appear to be working as intended. The were all created to specifically work with official D&D 5E classes. It appears that you are not using any of these, which is fine, but if that is the case the one listed as “Simple Character Sheet: This is a 2 page character sheet if you don’t need the class information.” should be what you need to be using. It has the name “character-sheet-short.pdf”. In the AC Calculations box on page 2, when you select the check mark next to “No Armor”, it calculates the AC based on your DEX modifier + 10. I know that you need it to use STR instead of DEX, but because all of the official classes use DEX I don’t want to add a slider here. I feel it could cause confusion with new players. However – I do have a solution! On the same line there is a box for “Magic” and another for “Misc.” If I were you I would use the “Misc.” box and enter the difference between your DEX modifier and your STR modifier. For example: If my DEX was +1 and my STR was +4 I would enter +3. If my DEX was +4 and mt STR was +1 I would enter -3. I would have to remember to change this if my STR modifier ever changed, but will give me the correct AC.
I hope this helps.
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