5E Character Sheet
NOTE: This 5e Character Sheet document is in the process of being updated which will take some time. There are quite a few changes that have been made since the 
NOTE: Some screenshots and older videos may use the Legacy - Leather theme, or Legacy - D&D theme. If you wish to use them instead of the current default Dungeons & Dragons theme, you can load them from the Fantasy Grounds VTT main menu under the EXTENSIONS section.
Applying different themes will not change underlying functionality.
NOTE: The images below are taken from the default Dungeons & Dragons theme that was updated for the 
Character Sheet Overview
The 5e Character Sheet consists of several individual sheets organized by tabs along the right-hand side of the window. The sheets contain the following information:
Main: Character Class and Level, Background and Race (2014) or Species (2024). It also shows ability scores, saving throws, Armor Class, hit points, wounds, speed, and senses.
Skills: Skill details.
Abilities: Feats, special abilities, class features and traits, proficiencies and languages.
Inventory: Equipment, coins and encumbrance.
Notes: Character background details, appearance and notes.
Log: Used for organized play
Actions: Weapon, spell and other action details
In order to create a charactCr, the user must first have opened any modules which contain character creation information - such as the
If you create a character using the Character Wizard or by manually typing in all of the information, then refer to the reference section of this article below for further information on how everything works in the Character Sheet.
Using the Character Sheet
Below, we’ll learn how to use the Character Sheet within Fantasy Grounds VTT in a real game of Dungeons & Dragons. We'll go through each of the tabs and pick out the pertinent information.
Let’s first have a look at some of the common fields and icons that you’ll find throughout the Character Sheet and what they do.
Icon | Description |
| This is a link icon. Clicking on this will open whatever the icon is linked to. In the main tab of the character sheet, for example, there are links to the character’s background, race and subrace. |
| This is the magnifying glass symbol, which when clicked on, will open a dialog box with more information and editable options. |
| The small dice icon in the bottom left of this box indicates a rollable box. Double click on the box to make this roll. You’ll see these boxes on the ability scores and saving throw boxes as well as in the initiative box. |
 
| The small ‘+’ button at the top-left of a box indicates that you can give this entry a temporary boost or penalty. Hover the mouse over the ‘+’ until the cursor changes to a hand sign. You can then hold the CTRL key and use the middle mouse wheel to add or subtract a bonus or penalty to the figure in the box. A small bubble will replace the ‘+’ showing what the bonus or penalty is. |
  | The “sparkle” icon in the lower-right of the boxes denotes Proficiency in that particular field. This can be clicked to toggle between Proficient (as seen in the first box) and Not Proficient (as shown in the second box). |
Main Tab
This is the Main tab of the Character Sheet. Below, we will highlight and explain all areas of the Sheet.
Window Buttons
The Window Buttons are part of the window frame and will remain at the top of the page no matter which tab you are on.
From left to right:
Record Link - You can drag this Record Link onto the hot bar at the bottom of the desktop for quick access to the corresponding Character Sheet, drag it into a Story entry, drag it onto the Chat region to show which character is being references, etc. Anywhere the Record Link is dragged and dropped, it should link to the Character Sheet.
Export Record - You can export your Character Sheet to an XML file that can be imported via the Import Character feature in the Character Selector (Character button from the Sidebar).
Speak As - This button changes the Speak As chatbox in the Chat window to your character’s name so you can speak as the character.
Find Token - This button will open any closed maps and locate your token on said maps.
Lock/Unlock - This will lock or unlock your Character Sheet. Locking the sheet prevents edits.
Open Help - This button, displayed as a question mark ( ? ), will open the corresponding wiki article in a browser outside of Fantasy Grounds VTT. You will be prompted to allow FGVTT to open an external link.
Minimize - This button, displayed as a minus sign ( - ), will minimize the window into a single, round icon on the Fantasy Grounds desktop. Click on the icon to restore the Character Sheet to its original size before minimizing.
Close - This button, displayed as an X ( X ), will close the window. You can open it again from the CHARACTERS button on the Sidebar menu on the right, or from anywhere the Record Link has been dropped.
Picture and Tokens
The Picture and Tokens section is located in the upper-right corner of the Character Sheet next to the Name field.
When clicking on the empty image space, or if a portrait or token was previously added, will open the Picture and Tokens window.
 Shown with no images |  Shown with tokens and portrait |
If you are a player, then click on the green + next to the portrait and this will open a menu showing what portraits you have available (this might be none – depending on what products you own and have loaded). Select one and it will be added to your character.
If you are a DM, then you can also allocate a Token – Flat and a Token – Camera to the character; again what is available here will depend on what products you own and have loaded.
You can learn more about portraits, tokens, and associated assets in the following article:
Link: https://fantasygroundsunity.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/FGCP/pages/996640638
Name, Inspiration (INSP) and the Speak As PC Icon
From left to right:
Name - This is the field where you can name your character. This is changeable at any time.
Inspiration - This button, with the abbreviation INSP above it, is used to denote if a character has inspiration. Click on the small circle to add inspiration and click it again to remove it once it has been used.
Class & Level and Proficiency
From left to right:
Class & Level - The Class & Level field shows which Class was selected for this character and what Level it currently is on the same line. In the example on the left, no Class or Level has been assigned. In the example on the right, Class is set as
Clericand the character is a Level1. Many classes also have Subclasses which may add additional abilities, bonuses, etc.
Inside this dialog box, you can see links to the Class and Class specialization, as well as being able to edit the current XP (experience points) and the XP to the next level, and also manually add in a Class and Level. You can also change the Caster type here by clicking on the box below Caster. This cycles through full (1x), half (½) and one third (⅓) caster. There is also a nill ( - ) option. The radial button next to the Caster field toggles Spellcasting and Pact Magic.Hit Die and Used fields denote how many hit dice are currently available, what die type they are, and what has already been used, if any. Dragging the Hit Die from the box into the Chat box will make a Recovery roll for the character.
Generally, apart from XP to the next level, you don’t need to edit anything in this dialog. You will also find the Level Up button here which you can click on to level up if you are using the Character Wizard. If you are levelling up via drag and drop, then just drop the Class you want to level up in on the Class & Level line.
 No Class is set, no level |  Class is Cleric and level is Level 1 |
Proficiency - The Proficiency modifier field, with the abbreviation PROF above it, is used to denote what the bonus is for Skills the character is proficient in, as shown on the Skills tab.
Background and Species
Background - Choosing a specific Background for you character usually offers a suite of additional Ability scores, Feats, Skill proficiencies, Tool proficiencies, and some additional equipment. Select Backgrounds from the Sidebar menu on the right and simply drag and drop a Background from the Backgrounds window onto the corresponding line on the Character Sheet.
NOTE: When dropping a Background onto the Character Sheet, you may be prompted to select Ability options, which Ability you prefer to use for Spellcasting (if applicable), Cantrips, Spells, Equipment, or other additional items related to that Background. This will all be added to the Character Sheet automatically once done.
Species - Clicking on the Species (previously known as Races in Legacy 2014) button on the Sidebar allows you to choose a Species for your character. Species denotes Creature Type, Size, Speed (movement rate), vision types, resilience, and possibly other perks or shortcomings.
When selecting Species, you can also click on the Ancestries button above the Group type to add additional information for your character, such as additional languages, weapon proficiencies, resistances, and other special abilities.
Abilities
Ability Scores (or Abilities), shown in the column of numbers along the left side of the Character Sheet, denote your character's base capabilities in each ability. You can edit ability scores by clicking inside the box you want to edit and typing in a new value. You can also make an ability check by double-clicking inside the box for the ability score you want to roll a check for, or by dragging from that box into the Chat box as shown below.
Saves
Saves, or Saving Throws, are the amount by which your character gains a bonus or suffers a penalty for each value.
If the character is proficient in a Saving Throw, the small star at the bottom-right of the box will be yellow. You can click on this star icon to add or remove Proficiency to a particular Saving Throw.
You can add a temporary penalty or bonus by placing the pointer on the ‘+’ arrow in the upper-right corner of a value box, then hold down CTRL and use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the temporary value.
To make a saving throw, double-click in the box or by dragging from that box into the Chat box.
Senses and Perception
Senses - Any special Senses added to the Character Sheet, either manually or via Abilities, Backgrounds, Ancestries, etc., will be shown in this area. You can edit this line to add more or change the current senses.
Perception - This field, with the abbreviation PERC above it, shows the character’s passive Perception score. You can add a temporary penalty or bonus by placing the pointer on the ‘+’ arrow in the upper-right corner of a value box, then hold down CTRL and use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the temporary value. See Saves for examples.
Armor Class, Initiative and Speed
Armor Class - This field, with the abbreviation AC above it, shows the Armor Class of the character. This field can change based on bonuses, equipment, or anything that adds more defense to the character. The sparkle icon in the lower-right toggles Proficiency.
Initiative - This field, with the abbreviation INIT above it, shows the bonus that will be added when rolling Initiative. You can double-click the field to roll Initiative in the Chat box.
Speed - This field denotes the speed of the character, or how many spaces the character can move in a turn.
All three fields in this section can add a temporary penalty or bonus by placing the pointer on the ‘+’ arrow in the upper-right corner of a value box, then hold down CTRL and use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the temporary value. See Saves for examples.
COMBAT CALC - Clicking on the gear icon will open the Combat Calc window. This allows editing of any of the values associated with Armor Class, Initiative, and Speed.
Special Move and Special Defenses - Special moves and defenses will be listed on their respective lines below the three AC, INIT, and SPEED fields. These can be edited at will for homebrew games.
Hit Points, Hit Dice and Death Saves
Hit Points - This area three fields pertaining to Hit Points (abbreviated as HP):
Wounds - This field, with the abbreviation WND above it, shows how much damage a character has taken, or how wounded they are.
Maximum Hit Points - This field, with the abbreviation MAX above it, shows the maximum number of Hit Points the character has when fully-healed / uninjured and under normal circumstances.
Temporary Hit Points - This field, with the abbreviation TMP above it, shows how many temporary Hit Points a character has. These Hit Points do not apply to the permanent MAX Hit Points and generally run our before the base Hit Points when damage is taken.
Hit Dice - Hit Dice, abbreviated as HD, are used to heal a character by the amount shown on the dice rolled. A player can double-click on the Hit Dice to roll them in the Chat box. Hit Dice often increase at certain level progressions.
HEALTH CALC - Clicking on the gear icon will open the Health Calc window. This allows editing of any of the values associated with the Hit Die Roll (Hit Dice).
Death Saves - Death Saving Throws, or Death Saves, have three fields each to keep track of which rolls made the save and which failed. Clicking on the dice icon next to the S (Saved) and F (Failed) boxes will roll a Death Save check in the Chat box.
Skills Tab
On the Skills tab, and all other tabs, the Portraits, Name, Inspiration and Speak as PC items will remain at the top of the window.
Skills
Skills - Under the Skills heading, you will see all Skills allowed as options for your Character. Here we will examine the columns shown and what features each has.
Name - The Name column, under the header NAME, shows the name of the Skill. Next to each name is a Proficiency toggle (the “sparkle” icon). Clicking on them will toggle through the following states:
If the icon is gray, there is no Proficiency bonus in that Skill.
If the icon is half gold, half gray, there is a half Proficiency bonus in that Skill.
If the icon is gold, there is a Proficiency bonus in that Skill.
If the icon shows two sparkles, the Character received a double Proficiency bonus in that Skill.
Stat - The Stat column, under the header STAT, shows which Ability the Skill uses for Skill checks. You can change the Ability that any Skill is based on by clicking on its Stat block. This will also change the bonus in the TOTAL field accordingly.
Stealth Disadvantage - The “Equipped icon” to the right of he Stealth Skill listing indicates that it is a special Skill and offers a visual reminder that the Character has Disadvantage on Stealth when wearing certain heavy armor types.
Miscellaneous - The Miscellaneous column, under the header MISC, shows a column of fields where miscellaneous bonuses can be added, such as those accrued from a magic item or similar.
Total - The Total column, under the header TOTAL, shows the total bonuses or penalties when all modifiers are taken into account, such as Proficiency levels, miscellaneous additions or subtractions, etc.
A player can double-click on the Total field of a Skill to roll it in the Chat box.
Clicking on the Link Icon for a Skill will open its text window with the details of that Skill.
To the right of the SKILLS header above the columns, there is a green plus ( + ) icon. This is used to create a new Skill from scratch. Clicking the icon will create a new Skill entry where you can fill in the name of the Skill, what Stat it should correspond with, any Miscellaneous bonuses or penalties, and the total will be displayed in the TOTAL column as usual when done.
Clicking the Unlock button in the title bar allows you to edit the Character Sheet. In Edit List mode, listings that are hand-made or not locked can be deleted.
Abilities Tab
This tab is divided into several sections and what resides in this area will depend on your Class, Species, Background and Level. All the information in this sheet is for information purposes only. The primary sections of the Abilities tab are Feats, Features, Traits, Proficiencies, and Languages.
Feats
Feats are a special ability or talent that grants characters unique capabilities beyond their standard class features. Feats represent a character's training, experience, or expertise in specific areas. They can enhance abilities, provide new skills, or offer special bonuses that affect gameplay.
Features
Features are Character enhancements specific to certain Background, Class or Species choices. They provide information about certain abilities inherent to those choices.
Traits
Traits are characteristics that help define a character's personality, behavior, and motivations. They serve to differentiate characters and provide depth beyond just their statistics.
Proficiencies
Proficiencies represent a character's specialized skills and knowledge in various areas. They enhance a character's effectiveness in specific actions, allowing them to perform better than someone without those proficiencies. This can apply to armor types, weapon types, tool kit use, etc.
Languages
