TOPIC: What is the proper way to prepare a Party Card?

My son and I will be enjoying TD once again and we have downloaded Amorgen's Character Designer (Excel Spreadsheet)and are familiar with the Characters & Parties generator on this site. We have copies of our characters on both and copies of our preferred characters (several combinations) on Party cards from both programs. My questions are: (1) which program is preferable to give to the coaches/DM's on the runs; and (2) is there any practical way to have new players information inputted on the cards other than by hand. We have generally run in random groups so we do not have complete cards

Hopefully some coaches will weigh-in, but in my experience the Coaches are typically happy if you have prepared anything ahead of time. Last year I used the spreadsheet, which I love, and I would just hand my pre-made party cards to the Coach. In one case the Coach just check my equipment list to the tokens we actually had and eyeballed the party card. In another case, the coach just spot checked a few things, and said looks like you are good to go.

They seemed appreciative to not have to so much work with all the tokens out on the table and time limited.

This is how I prepare for a PUG run:
In the Excel character generator, I fill out a complete character for every class I'm willing/able to play. Then I print a party card consisting of all my characters and bring it with me to the run. Once my actual class is determined, I simply tell the coach which class's stats to use.

Since you're doing this for yourself and son, I would make one "party" printout for each of you.

Good idea Druegar!

Speaking as a coach having either type of pre-filled character sheet is a huge plus. Personally I use the excel sheet but either way is good.

In terms of pugs if you want to make your coaches life easier you could build a party card that has your stats as they would appear each class. Your coach can copy from that depending on what class you end up with.

I would wholeheartedly agree with Druegar. AS a coach it is like a cool spring breeze when folks come in with a party card filled out (correctly). We can verify a few tokens but the math is usually done already. On the Amorgen Excel sheet however, watch out if there are synergy type tokens because if you create a sheet as suggested with tokens for 6 different classes and you put your synergy charm on them all- it automatically will bump the HP on each of them as if the whole party had them. But yes, as much pre-work as you can do will help and usually if you come organized, PUG folks will defer.

Is there a link or location to a blank party card that is used for the Dungeon runs. I already have a copy of the True Grin one.

haasdt wrote: On the Amorgen Excel sheet however, watch out if there are synergy type tokens because if you create a sheet as suggested with tokens for 6 different classes and you put your synergy charm on them all- it automatically will bump the HP on each of them as if the whole party had them.

That's a very good point, thank you for mentioning it! Please enjoy a glass of milk.
[img size=200,200] www.dantasyland.com/td/FrostyGlassofMilk.png [/img]

Druegar wrote:

haasdt wrote: On the Amorgen Excel sheet however, watch out if there are synergy type tokens because if you create a sheet as suggested with tokens for 6 different classes and you put your synergy charm on them all- it automatically will bump the HP on each of them as if the whole party had them.

That's a very good point, thank you for mentioning it! Please enjoy a glass of milk.
[img size=200,200] www.dantasyland.com/td/FrostyGlassofMilk.png [/img]

I just leave the Synergy token in and subtract the number of players that don't have the charm on that run from my Hit Points. The party card doesn't keep track of that anyway. I write it down next to each character stat line on my printed sheet.

haasdt wrote: I would wholeheartedly agree with Druegar. AS a coach it is like a cool spring breeze when folks come in with a party card filled out (correctly). We can verify a few tokens but the math is usually done already. On the Amorgen Excel sheet however, watch out if there are synergy type tokens because if you create a sheet as suggested with tokens for 6 different classes and you put your synergy charm on them all- it automatically will bump the HP on each of them as if the whole party had them. But yes, as much pre-work as you can do will help and usually if you come organized, PUG folks will defer.

since I don't actually know who all will have the synergy items, I figure we will just figure out those bits in the coaching room...it is just HP and treasure, so it doesn't affect the party card anyway.

Because I have the tokens for the group I play with and they are unlikely to know what all the stat bumping tokens do, I have tweaked the party card sheet to show all the HP's so my group will know what their HP is. It fits perfectly on the line above the level of the character. Though I fill out all 12 characters since I never know what anyone is going to play I change the calculation to all count a max of 10 of them. Though I know TD doesn't need the information it is very handy to me.

Druegar wrote: This is how I prepare for a PUG run:
In the Excel character generator, I fill out a old complete character for every class I'm willing/able to play. Then I print a party card consisting of all my characters and bring it with me to the run. Once my actual class is determined, I simply tell the coach which class's stats to use.

Since you're doing this for yourself and son, I would make one "party" printout for each of you.

Hey that's what I do.... I have 4 different copies if the excel sheer on my computer. One for PUG (pick up group), one for my grind build, one for me and the wife's treasure builds and me and the wife's damage builds.

I would look into the iPhone app for 3 dollars as well as it lets you set up characters and change things on the fly and recalculate.