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[custom sheet] Looking to create a custom sheet for my TTRPG system

1609245940

Edited 1609246156
Hello everyone :) I have been working on a TTRPG of my own for 6 years, and the time has come where I want to build a solid character sheet for this system here on roll20. I need some advice on how to create such a sheet efficiently. To give you guys a quick overview: - I have some experience with modifying existing char sheets from other systems, but I feel uneasy using such a modified sheet for my project, since it is supposed to be commercially distributed one day. - I feel it is a waste of time to start completely from scratch, specially since I have almost no CSS experience and my HTML is still weak. - I understand this is not a place to get professional legal advice, just looking for help getting a basic idea of my best options. So, I guess my question is: is there any sheet I can use as a base and be safe of licensing trouble? Or a place with multiple templates for different sheet functions? Thank you for taking the time, All the best, gui8312
1609248112
Andreas J.
Forum Champion
Sheet Author
Translator
- I have some experience with modifying existing char sheets from other systems, but I feel uneasy using such a modified sheet for my project, since it is supposed to be commercially distributed one day. All the sheet code in the repo is avaiable under MIT, so you should have no qualms to use existing sheet code as a partial basis for any sheet you create, whether you get paid or not. - I understand this is not a place to get professional legal advice, just looking for help getting a basic idea of my best options. I suggest you read the MIT license , and perhaps read some articles people have written about it to get a better perspective on it, and to aliviate your legal concerns. If you intend to get a sheet published so it appears in the Roll20 sheet selection, your code will end up in the public github repo and fall under MIT license all the same.(Roll20 have sheets they made themselves in a private repo, so even sheets comissioned/created by publishers themselves ends up in the public repo. Exceptions might be possible, but you'd have to reach out to Roll20 for more on that). On a personal note, I'd worry more about asking help on too specific "sheet creation"-issues from others (the equivalent of having the internet do the job/homework for you", rather than anything related to using other peoples code. If it's in the repo, the MIT license give basically a free-to-do-whatever on it, and if you find sheet code elsewhere on github or somewhere else, check if there is a license on it or what it says. That being said, there are several sheet templates available, made by people who have professionally worked on creating roll20 sheets(me included). <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Building_Character_Sheets#Sheet_Templates.2FExamples" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Building_Character_Sheets#Sheet_Templates.2FExamples</a> Sheet Templates/Examples Roll20's character sheet Roll20's template Cassie's sheet template by Cassie (Uses PUG/SCSS so not recommended for beginners) CSS Grid sheet template by Anduh Sheet template based on Blades in the Dark by Jakob Of these three independent ones, only mine(Anduh) have an actual license attached, while the others are clearly intended for anyone to use, but is in a legal grayzone in that sense, so reaching out and asking about it would make things easier.
1609252654
Kraynic
Pro
Sheet Author
gui8312_C31 said: - I feel it is a waste of time to start completely from scratch, specially since I have almost no CSS experience and my HTML is still weak. Don't let this stop you.&nbsp; If everyone let that stop them, there wouldn't be nearly as many sheets available on Roll20 as there are. I would say to go for a functional sheet that simply supports playing the game.&nbsp; Think of this more as a playtest alpha/beta sheet.&nbsp; If/when you get the game published, then something more polished can be created to better support the finished product.&nbsp; After all, you can't submit the sheet to github until the rules are publicly available (unless the rules have changed since the last time I looked), so this will only be used in games where you have provided the sheet code.&nbsp; Until the rules are out there in the wild, you can use the sheet in play and tweak it as your experiences using it dictate without having to worry about how the changes will affect other people's games.
1609350846

Edited 1609350896
@Andreas J. Thank you for your quick response! The clarification on the current licensing norms present on the official char sheet repo is very useful :) I have had some basic experience with the MIT license, so I feel confortable enough working with it - but the idea of reading articles about it, that's something I hadn't thought about either... On a personal note, I'd worry more about asking help on too specific "sheet creation"-issues from others (the equivalent of having the internet do the job/homework for you", rather than anything related to using other peoples code. I am not 100% sure what you mean, but I think you are giving me advice on avoiding questions about specific problems I encounter while creating my char sheet. If this is what you mean, I agree - help from others is not a substitute for dedication and working smart. You post really was very helpful at putting me more at ease! Time to not reinvent the wheel it is :) @Kraynic Hey Kraynic, thank you for your help :) Appreciated the points you made about creating a new char sheet. Two notes on that: * I do not shy away from hard work :P but I want it to be smart work too, that's why I didnt want to start absolutely from scratch if I didn't have to... I have learnt a lot about HTML since I started editing sheets - I hope that this way (using a template) it is not too difficult to get things rolling. * Making a simpler sheet absolutely makes sense for the current dev phase, I agree :) I also want my TTRPG to be great at a table without laptops and the like, so designing a simpler sheet seems like an important focus to keep. * I also hadnt read the requirements for posting sheets on the repo for a while, thanks for making me think about this now, as I am starting char sheet development :D Well, off I go, I hope I can start working on this sheet soon :)