New D&D Character Sheets Are Already Dividing Fans Because Of One Big Change

is getting a new style of character sheets alongside a new batch of core rulebooks, but one element of the re-design is already being met with a mixed reception. Character sheets are a critical part of the experience, allowing players to set up characters for the first time and reference and modify stats and features over the course of an adventure. Although plenty of layouts would get the job done sufficiently well, having a sheet that makes everything as easy and attractive as possible is important.

The new character sheets, showcased by Thomas Christy on Twitter, make the big change of splitting skills among the boxes for each ability score. Not everyone is happy with this change, and Twitter user LoneSniperPro posted an image of the classic 5e character sheet to declare allegiance to the previous method of skill organization.

In the older character sheets, skills were listed together in one box next to a column dedicated to the ability scores. Many players have begun voicing their concerns over the new layout, specifically regarding skills now being spread across five boxes, rather than consolidated in one.

2024 is a busy year for Dungeons & Dragons, but amidst all of the bustle, September 3 could very well qualify as the biggest date of the year.

There's no one way to lay out the amount of information needed for a character sheet in a perfectly legible and efficient way, but it's easy to make arguments both for and against the change. Grouping skills according to the overarching ability types can make it easier for players to jump to a relevant skill, which can be especially helpful in the right style of play. A dungeon master might ask for a general Wisdom check, for example, and a player can quickly check the skills grouped under Wisdom to see if one with proficiency is relevant to the situation.

When hunting for a specific skill to begin with, however, the change could make finding it harder than running down an alphabetical list. If a dungeon master