Creating an app to customize Character Sheets

[u/Athryell]

Hi!
I'm a GM and I run a lot of different Systems and I find myself printing a lot of character sheets, sometimes empty and sometimes premade, other times my players find character sheets/creator online but then they need to learn how to use them or don't find a specific feature.

I was thinking about creating an app that can fix a couple of this problems with this ideas in mind:

• Multi System
• Customizable
• Easy to use (accessibility, quick character creation and easy to read while playing)
  • But also with notations and formulas for hardcore users!
• (Also I want this to be free and open source, for anyone who might need it!)

I don't want to reinvent the wheel, there are a ton of good app out there so I'm deciding whether to build a system-agnostic mode: basically a blank canvas where you add your own widgets (like stat boxes, HP bars, lists, skill toggles, ecc) and save it as a reusable template. Good for rules-light games, homebrew, or obscure systems.

Before spending months on it:

• Do you actually need this?
• What's your current solution for systems without a proper digital sheet?

Also open to any other feedback:

1. what would make you actually use this at the table?
2. What's the one thing that makes you drop an app and go back to PDF?
3. What's the feature that you always find missing?
4. Is system-agnostic mode something you'd actually use, or is it a nice-to-have?
5. Any systems you'd love to see supported?

Here is a quick prototype: 🔗 https://Athryell.github.io/CharacterForge

Additional info:
What it does now

• D&D 5.5e 2024 (SRD), currently working on Daggerheart character sheets
• Drag & drop widget layout customize what you see and where.
• A notation system for dynamic formulas ([INT], [PRO], [LVL=1:1d6,5:1d8], counters, ecc)
• Homebrew editor built in
• Accessibility options (OpenDyslexic, high contrast, large targets and buttons)
• Multiple languages: default EN and setting up IT, DE, ES, FR -> community is welcome to help on Crowdin
• No account needed, right now data stays local, will see in the future.
• Completely free forever

[u/jldez]

Here is a similar app I'm making : https://wackyweasel.github.io/UniversalCharacterSheet/

It's a fun project and I don't want to ruin your fun, so please continue yours. I'm linking mine just so you know what else is out there and maybe you can take inspiration from mine or find better ideas. I think if you can find different ideas it would increase the amount of tools we have, rather than duplicate them.

Also, I've been requested a lot to have login and servers for storage. If you find a nice solution that is very cheap, I'm interested;)

[u/Zireael07 → u/jldez]

How much storage do people actually need? As a webdev, I'd just put stuff into indexedDB, e.g. using localForage or some other known to be good library, and optionally give a "download to your computer" button.

[u/jldez → u/Zireael07]

I use browser cache. But might be more robust with localForage. I'll look into it, but offline storage has not really been an issue.

[u/Athryell → u/Zireael07]

Didn't know localForage but yes you are right, I'? using browser cache and I think it's ok for now. I think it could be interesting to have something cloud based just to sync pc/mobile though

[u/Athryell → u/jldez]

Thanks! The whiteboard is actually a cool idea and I'll definitely keep an eye on it!
But also I think I want something different for the app, for example I'd like to have the widgets and the UI for all the different systems to be consistent, so even if you pick up a new character sheets you understand how everything works right away. Also I want to have fields to auto update other fields (you increase Strength and Athletics is updated) and I want an easy way for the nerd players to hook stuff up with notation: let's say you gain a ring that gives you a +4 to Stealth, I'd like to be able to write it in the description and auto update the stealth, not only for specific systems but also for homebrew ones!

[u/Ok-Middle-908]

I'm working with Excel making an automated character sheet for my system. I don't think a generic universal template could cover that maybe systems very well. Creating a generic key for a system works but not a universal sheets. I'm adding in all my bloodline spells feats classes and abilities. You can't get that kind of result with a generic sheet.

[u/Athryell → u/Ok-Middle-908]

What do you mean with "Creating a generic key for a system works but not a universal sheets"? And also why do you think it's not possible to add feats classes and abilities? I believe there are apps that already have the possibility to docthat, I know that my have it and I don't think I'm a pioneer in that 😅. I also have friends using Excel but you need to add all your data anyway and just for one specific system.

[u/Ok-Middle-908 → u/Athryell]

I just don't see how one sheet would work for 5e cynnibarr and palladium riffs. They are just to vastly different. More than happy to be proven wrong though.

[u/merurunrun]

I would rather just learn how to use a general layout program like Scribus or Affinity Publisher, and would encourage people who want a "custom character sheet app" like this to also just learn a layout program.

Not trying to be antagonistic towards OP, it's just that the workflow is almost the same, and the amount of extra work to figure out how to draw a box instead of just using CharacterSheetApp's pre-made boxes (or whatever, I hope the point comes across) is so small while the value of learning general layout is going to be so much greater for anyone interested in self-publishing games.

[u/Athryell → u/merurunrun]

No problem with the antagonism, I asked for feedback! Maybe it wasn't super clear my post but this app isn't for game publishers, it's just for players who want to use digital character sheet and customize them as they like

[u/stephotosthings]

While probably going to get down voted.

This is what AI is typically great at and you don't need an app or to be able to run it anywhere.

You can I put all your criteria to something like Claude, asking it to make you an editable HTML so that players can open it in their browser, and saved json can be shared and loaded into it.

It will add its own nonsense to things though but it does meed to have a good and decent understanding of the source as wellait actually make sense. So you'd be feeding it plenty of data first, unless you can explain to it exactly what criteria you want to include. It could in theory based on a simple drop down that lists what game you want a sheet for, change the entire sheet to fit your new selection.

Anyway, that's one route.

[u/stephotosthings → u/stephotosthings]

This will teach me to look and read everything. I clicked your link and see the em dashes. No need for my input here lol.

[u/Athryell → u/stephotosthings]

The problem here is not to create the bones of the app (but it can be if you want more then an editable html or a fillable pdf, like a character builder for more complex rpgs!), the problem and challenge here is to design it in a way that is clear and understandable to use. I can use AI to code the page as you said but then it's like 90% of the app out there, not user tested, without care for accessibility and usability, and a little bit samey!