New member query

Hi,  I am looking to start a MERP (Middle Earth Role Playing) campaign on Roll20 but I will need to utilise a homebrew style character sheet.  Now I have watched the training module and understand in the least that to make your own character sheets requires a pro membership.  I haven't even launched a game yet so I have a lot to learn, but is there no other way around this?  Can I not upload a word document that I currently use for character sheets? The issue I see is that my campaign is VERY homebrew.  I am utilising a campaign book for which Roll20 has no resources for and I am also combining material from Rolemaster as well. Help me knowledgable hive, you're my only hope...

Hi Ben. Each character has 3 tabs. The Bio & Info tab is a large open field for free-text. You can probably Copy-Paste from your word processor version. If there are tables and formatting it might or might not come through. At the very least this is a plain-text area, which supports some formatting. Wiki docs, <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Journal#Bio_.26_Info_Tab" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Journal#Bio_.26_Info_Tab</a> The 2nd tab is called Character Sheet, and you can have one installed or not, or use a custom one, or just ignore this tab. You might want to try a MERP or Rolemaster sheet here, or nothing, and eventually later consider coding or getting someone to code a custom character sheet for you. Note: When you are ready to make a Custom Character Sheet for Roll20, this forum is the place to ask for assistance. Wiki, <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Building_Character_Sheets" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Building_Character_Sheets</a> The 3rd tab is called Attributes & Abilities. You can program values and max-values (things like Hit Points and Ability Scores) here. You can also program some macros and automation that is similar to what a fully coded character sheet does.&nbsp; You can use the Attributes & Abilities sections, in addition or instead of Character Sheet, or just ignore it. Wiki, <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Macros" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Macros</a> If it helps, I play a very homebrew game too, and I still use an AD&D 2e Simple Sheet from the Roll20 community character sheets, but for the custom stats I just direct players to use the Bio tab and/or the extra fields (like "Notes") on the character sheet, for a place to fill in the homebrew stats.

Thank you so much! &nbsp;Excellent information.

Before we had Character Sheets we just had the bio & info tab and the attributes & abilities tab. Somehow we managed to play complex games with just that. I use just those 2 tabs to this day for the monsters in my 13th games because that’s all I need along with the default roll template.&nbsp;

Thanks Andrew, I’ve had a little play making a character and can see how that would work just fine. &nbsp;As Goldie suggested above, I can use a Rolemaster character sheet, they are somewhat similar to MERP, abit more detailed though. &nbsp;I have allot of work to do; scanning maps and pics of characters etc for artwork plus handouts etc. &nbsp;somewhat annoying as I already have it organised for tabletop RP which didn’t eventuate but also means I only have to transcribe. Have you got any tips mate - for a beginner in Roll20 GMing? As far as I can see, get maps and environments for encounters, flesh out npcs and I should be just about ready to go. &nbsp;I haven’t delved deep into macros yet but I imagine after my first session I’ll be keen to get that in order.

Get your Art Library organized early, with folders for maps, props, tokens, etc., I try to have 1 map page per session, with sub-maps on that, hidden using fog of war until needed. Otherwise I get tripped up by having tokens in the turn tracker that aren’t on the same map as the players.&nbsp; Have a splash map page where you park the ribbon between sessions. I put the PC tokens there so the players can pop in and update their character sheets and tokens at their convenience.&nbsp; Macros aren’t too bad if you use the default roll template and the roll templates that are defined by your Character Sheet. For example, here’s the Initiative macro for all my 13th Age monsters (Init is an Attribute): /w gm &{template:default} {{name= @{selected|token_name} }} {{Initiative= [[ 1d20 +@{Init} &{tracker} ]] }}

Ok, abit to take in for a novice, especially macros. &nbsp;But thanks, it makes sense to try to use 1 page for the main map and sub maps. &nbsp;And a splash page...simply a page where players have full access post sessions...? How do I set up a splash page? &nbsp;I’ll search it in forums. Not sure what you mean by parking the ribbon, but that does sound convenient between sessions.

My splash screen is the first map page in my page toolbar. It just has the 13th Age logo on the map layer, and the player’s tokens on the object layer. In between games, that’s what the players can see. The ribbon is officially the Player Bookmark, described here: <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Page_Toolbar" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Page_Toolbar</a>

You can also copy/paste basic text/info into the Bio/Info section and just play from there. Roll20 is as simple or complex as you make it.