I've come to the realization that I can pretty much tell if I'm going to like an RPG simply by looking at the character sheet for it.  I prefer rules light games and straightforward sheets, but I like a bit of creativity in the design.  But if it's more than 2 sides, forget it. Few things are more annoying than having to shuffle through an overly long character sheet in the middle of a game to find something.  I also strongly dislike horizontal/landscape character sheets.

Unsurprisingly given my predilections I've found 3 sheets I quite like, all derived from the early 80s B/X sheets:

1. Version 2 of the White Box FMAG sheet
2. The "underground" character sheet for OSE
3. The B/X style sheet for ACKS

So what are you favorite character sheets?

On a related note, I think the MERP and Call of Cthulhu (7th edition) sheets deserve mention for cramming the most into a single page.

Probably Warhammer sheets for 1e and 4e.

And also my own crude edition of CoC sheet for Mythos unrelated cyberpunk-kaballah game Rabbi's Cipher.

Any kind of electronic fillable PDF.

Bonus points if it auto-calculates certain derived attributes (attribute + skill, that sort of thing).

Quote from: Ghostmaker on December 03, 2021, 03:20:18 PM
Any kind of electronic fillable PDF.

Bonus points if it auto-calculates certain derived attributes (attribute + skill, that sort of thing).

I'm just the opposite.  I will never use an electronic fillable sheet.  That makes it feel like work to me.  Hard copy; pencils only.

Quote from: Persimmon on December 03, 2021, 02:59:20 PM
I've come to the realization that I can pretty much tell if I'm going to like an RPG simply by looking at the character sheet for it.  I prefer rules light games and straightforward sheets, but I like a bit of creativity in the design.  But if it's more than 2 sides, forget it. Few things are more annoying than having to shuffle through an overly long character sheet in the middle of a game to find something.  I also strongly dislike horizontal/landscape character sheets.

Unsurprisingly given my predilections I've found 3 sheets I quite like, all derived from the early 80s B/X sheets:

1. Version 2 of the White Box FMAG sheet
2. The "underground" character sheet for OSE
3. The B/X style sheet for ACKS

So what are you favorite character sheets?

On a related note, I think the MERP and Call of Cthulhu (7th edition) sheets deserve mention for cramming the most into a single page.

I like what you like, and I prefer a simple single-sided sheet for low level characters.

For a game that edges towards the lighter side of moderate complexity, I prefer a single page sheet.  If the spells, tech, gear, etc. is really involved, then I can see a second sheet for that.  But I want the things referenced most often in play on one page.

I also like sheets that aren't "fussy" with ornate boxes for numbers and decorative flourishes.  I'd rather have info than white space, but if the game is light enough (e.g. Toon) then by all means make use of the white space.  This is where my first preference dominates:  I'd rather have a slightly crowded, plain single page than going to a second page and then trying to find stuff to fill it.

Of course, the more info on the sheet, the more arrangement matters.  It needs to guide the eye to logical areas.

It might not be surprising that it is very rare that I like the official sheet of a game as much as some fan-produced alternative. 

I personally likes multi-pages as long as everything is clear.
But that's because homebrewing sheets myself for heavily homebrew game, I realised sooner hell freeze over, than I shall make any equivalent of those compact sheets so I went full baroque - one sheet for personal info, one for attributes, one for skills, one for equipment, one for magic, one for extras.

With me it would probably be the Classic Traveller TAS Form 2 character sheet. It's not needed whatsoever because characters can entirely be on an index card, but there's just something neatly thematic about it.

Otherwise, I'm also a big fan of sheets that have just minor references to the rules for newer players, like the SWN or OSE sheet. Makes it easier for one-shots and trying new systems.

I actually really like the standard 5e D&D character sheet. I like how the skills list includes the relevant attributes.

The 4e D&D character sheet is a bit of a nightmare, the front page has a lot of 'show your work' stuff not used in play.

I like the unofficial SLUG character sheet.

https://www.acc.umu.se/~corps/slug/slug.cs

https://www.panix.com/~sos/rpg/slug.html

Quote from: RulesLiteOSRpls on December 05, 2021, 01:51:40 AM
I like the unofficial SLUG character sheet.

https://www.acc.umu.se/~corps/slug/slug.cs

https://www.panix.com/~sos/rpg/slug.html

Hehe. Brilliant!

I like both the standard AD&D sheet and a version of the C&C sheet one of my fellow players came up with. 

Some of the OSR ones are nice.

For medieval, I kinda like the 3e Excel one that you can modify as needed (herorealm maybe?)

For modern, a mashup of Twilight:2013 and Millennium's End.