Beginner's Essentials

[chiisu81]

I guess it should be decided whether it keep this document updated for the upcoming release of 3rd edition, or "fork off" a copy so that there is still a BE for 2nd edition.

As far as editing to match the upcoming 3rd edition, there's no need to wait for further changes; the rules are pretty much set in stone and won't change, it'll be minor edits and such.

I don't know if a character sheet should be included in BE, as there's not one included in the full rules either.

[Hywaywolf]

Its called the Beginner's Essentials. A character sheet is an Essential . The idea is that a new player can download a single file and have everything they need to play a first level PC.

I agree that there needs to be a BE for second edition and a BE for 3rd once it comes out. The 2nd Ed BE file is already created so all it would take is adding 2 more lines to the download page for 3rd Ed BE in PDF and ODT.

[LibraryLass]

Its called the Beginner's Essentials. A character sheet is an Essential .

It's not. Last time I GMed I had all my players, new and experienced alike, just use index cards and it went fine.

[Hywaywolf]

an index card is a character sheet.

[Sir Bedivere]

I guess it should be decided whether it keep this document updated for the upcoming release of 3rd edition, or "fork off" a copy so that there is still a BE for 2nd edition.

Will there be enough of a change to keep two versions around?

As far as editing to match the upcoming 3rd edition, there's no need to wait for further changes; the rules are pretty much set in stone and won't change, it'll be minor edits and such.

You're right that the changes are minor, but I still prefer to wait for the finished 3E. The rules are being tweaked, equipment added, and page numbers changed, and even a minor discrepancy might cause a beginner some confusion.

[SmootRK]

I think you should just look over one of the basic character sheets already on the site and append it to your doc (of course giving proper credit). I agree that it would be ideal for new players to have something to work on... otherwise, while a simple thing, they don't have to wing it on their first characters.

[LibraryLass]

an index card is a character sheet.

Yes. But it is also not one. My point is a specially-made character sheet isn't what I'd call an essential because even a beginner can improvise one.

[Hywaywolf]

its a sheet of paper (thick) with character data on it so that makes it a character sheet. It doesn't matter if it was a premade character sheet included with the Beginners essentials or written on an index card, a character sheet is essential to the game. So my point is that if you are making a file that includes everything needed to play a first level character why wouldn't you include a character sheet. Then as a DM you can skip the handing out index cards and just have them download the beginners essentials.

Heck, someone can play BFRPG without any of the rules by just sitting at the table and telling the DM what they want to do and the DM tell them how to do it. You wouldn't need a BE.

[chiisu81]

I was gonna suggest building off of the current BFRPG standard sheet, since alot of the others are PDF only, but it's a spreadsheet file. Should we just make a new sheet just for the BE within LibreWriter?

[chiisu81]

Will there be enough of a change to keep two versions around?

You're right that the changes are minor, but I still prefer to wait for the finished 3E. The rules are being tweaked, equipment added, and page numbers changed, and even a minor discrepancy might cause a beginner some confusion.

I think we should have a separate file/download for a BE for 3rd edition, and we can polish up the one for 2nd while 3rd is being developed.