New Player Character Sheet for 5th Edition
I've run quite a few games with brand new players who knew absolutely nothing about D&D or tabletop RPGs or even roleplaying at all. Typically I describe it to them as improv with some rules for realism and a narrator, which is the DM. That seems to do the trick to get them to understand and get excited about playing. Then I hand them a character sheet and all the color drains out of their face as they see a dizzying matrix of numbers and math and terms they've never heard of before. What was genuine excitement before is replaced with a "maybe I'll just watch."
How I generally manage to salvage the situation is telling them to ignore huge swaths of the sheet and only focus on the simple lists and character descriptors. I also decided to make this sheet, with the parts players will actually want to focus on at the top, and leaving the stuff that honestly only the DM needs to care about at the bottom for reference.
Shout outs: Stacey, Adam Fowler, Amanda Kettles, Angelo Anderson, Appreciate Witch of Life, AstroLass, bilbens baggo, Brian Nunziato, Bryan Sheairs, Brysen Packer, Bryson Waits, Burlyfighter, Caitlin W., Christopher Allbritton, CJMAXP, Connor, Dalton Elliott, Damon Carrington, Daniel Edwards, David Schraff, Dragons With Jetpacks, Elisa Martinez, eric sun, Ezzela1891, Federica Frezza, Gordon Alexander Fallon, Gundar Wez, Iofire, Irate The Pirate, Jade Arrowood, Jake Lane, Jeremiah Walker, Jess, Joe Dalby, John Nazario, JollyGamer, Jonathan Lekse, Jordan Brazeal, Joshua David Maddox, Justin Snyder, Kerry Melton, Kevin, KFB_Patreon, KingHavok1217, Kingyo Senpai, Kyle Clark, Lisa Tucker, Liz Fontain, Lizzie, Lou Bliss, Luke P, Mario Pizzamiglio, Mark L, Matt Yates, Max Hops, Maxwell Mayer, Michael Hamilton, Millergendraft, mtnman1979@aol.com, Mx Charlie, Mylon Schroder, Nahellion, Nathan, Nicholas Zamora, Nick Soucy, Phil Mehl, Phillip P Torchia, Pythor Sen, R., Rachel Anderson, Ray Bissonnette, Remora Jewel, Robert Rich, Robert Skadsem, Ryan Flagg, SallySparrow132, Sarah Holland, Serafina Moon, Shane Andrews, ShortyMcgibble, Sik Makoyi, Siren, Stefan Gottschalk's, Steve Rosenlund, Stuart, Syn21, That Video Editor Nic, thea musing, Trev909, Vedie V, Vincent Drone, Warren Clarida, Wesley Muncy, XMrMonkyx ., Zachary Burgess-Hicks, zachary gee, Zealot23, Zee Livezey
Their contribution stands as a beacon of hope for all adventurers!
