TL;DR: If this long post is too much, please do read “The Next Step” and vote in the poll.
The 5e 2024 edition (or 5.5, 5.24, One D&D, 50th anniversary, whatever you call it) is upon us and an update to the character sheet is in order. Hopefully, this much everybody can agree on.
How do you think I best go about updating my character sheet for this new edition? It is a weighted choice between getting it done fast and/or functionality improvements.
The next step of MPMB will be a web-app. I have talked about this before, but progress updates have been very few and far between (as there has been very little to report on). It is a project started from scratch, not reusing any of the AcroJS that's powering the PDFs, so I won't have much to show for it for a while longer. I’ll post updates whenever I can share more.
This poll is here to help me determine how I should divide my time between getting the PDF updated to the 2024 rules and/or the next-step web-app.
Whether this web-app will be for both the 2014 and 2024 versions of the rules, or just 2024, is fuel for a future poll. The games I’m playing in are still using the 2014 rules, but they might switch once all three core rulebooks are out.
Below you can read the explanation for the options in the poll. I’ve tried to keep them brief, but did include (non-exhaustive) examples of what kind of changes you can expect.
1 [Fastest] No changes, just content
A copy of the current sheets but with the 2024 rules. This would include no changes to the design, only changes to the options you can select. This will include necessary changes to the underlying code, for example:
Making ability scores bonuses at character creation based on backgrounds instead of race/species.
Add an option for wizards to print the full cantrip list, as they can change the ones they can cast on a long rest.
Add starting equipment to classes.
Prepared spells no longer calculated based on level + ability modifier.
Built-in support for weapon masteries.
2 [Moderate] Minimal design changes
The minimal necessary alterations to make the sheet design fit (better) with the 2024 rule changes. This would include the code changes from option 1 above, but also change the lay-out of the sheet, including:
Removing the Background Feature and using that space for feats and/or class features.
Moving the Personality Traits, Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws to the background page and using that space on the 2nd page for feats and/or class features.
Remove hit points from the wild shape sheets.
Update the reference sheet.
Updating the reference sheet is probably the most work, as it requires some playtesting to get it down to the most essential stuff only. If this “Minimal design changes” is the winner, I might put up another poll to gauge whether a reference sheet should be included or not (or perhaps first a version without and later a version where it is included… we will see).
3 [Slow] Improvements and redesign to fit the 2024 rules
This wouldn’t just be an update of the design like in option 2 above, but would also include rethinking some basic functionality of the sheet. To give some examples:
Add a way to overflow Class Features and a space for this overflow to go to.
Once that is working, no class feature option would go to the 3rd-page Notes section, but will instead be part of the same Class Features section(s).
Rework the hit points section:
Display hit points as “X / Y” (e.g. 21 / 42).
Use less space for death saves.
Space for conditions / exhaustion.
Replace the feat/magic item entries with a singular entry type, one that changes name depending on what you select in it. That way, it could include and correctly display things like ( Epic) Boons, Charms, (Chwinga) Blessings, Dark/Draconic/Supernatural Gifts, etc.
More space for attacks (probably as switchable fields on an Overflow page or their own separate Overflow page).
Swap Proficiency checkbox in the attack line for one at the start of the line so the design is more in line with proficiency for feats. Also, hide this checkbox if not applicable for the attack (e.g. for cantrips). This should leave more space for the weapon
Change the ability drop-down for spellcasting attacks to a drop-down of the casting options (i.e. you'd select "Wizard" instead of "Int" for a cantrip).
Add a fourth type of action, “with Attack”, for features that you can use when you make an attack.
The above list are the main things on my wishlist, but more feature requests could be incorporated. You can expect these changes (and more) to be part of the next step.
I’ll be honest, I'm the least hyped for this option. It requires me to put a lot of effort into something that I will then actively try and replace with the “Next Step” (see above). It would be a good way to test my redesign ideas in printed media before trying to create them in a web-app. Valuable playtest information could then be had if many of you use it in your games and provide feedback. However, if that’s worth all the extra effort is questionable.
4 [Slowest] Wait for the web-app
I won’t spend time on updating the PDF and will instead focus on getting the web-app done. It will take some months for basic functionality and longer for full feature parity.
Until that time, I'll help in the community efforts (see below) of getting a working add-on script to add the 2024 rules to the current MPMB character sheets (i.e. no changes to the underlying code).
EDIT 18-10-2024
The web-app will have the same goal as the current PDFs: to print a character sheet for use at the table. As an upside, it will also be more accessible and easier to use as a purely digital sheet.
As there are many similar questions being asked in the comments, please see the FAQ-post about the idea behind the web-app.
A group of dedicated fans, spearheaded by The Pokésimmer, have been hard at work over on the MPMB Discord server to create an add-on script for the 2024 PHB that works with v13.2.1. If you can’t wait on me, please go check out their work here on GitHub and/or join the conversation on Discord. I will probably borrow from the community efforts to speed up my process.
Yes, there will still be a version of the MPMB character sheets for the 2014 5e rules. If a 2024 MPMB sheet is going to be made, the 2014 version and the 2024 version of the rules will each have a separate character sheet PDF. There won’t be a toggle on the sheet to swap from one ruleset to the other, because they have some incompatibilities. Bug fixes will also be applied to both versions, when applicable.