Sheet permissions: playing, editing and approval
Who can play, who changes the structure and who gives themselves items or experience, the table rules that change it and character approval.
A sheet has three kinds of actions with different rules. Playing with it (rolling, spending resources, healing) belongs to the owner; changing its structure (the class, the bonuses, a choice already made) and giving yourself things (items, money, experience) depend on the campaign. This split stops anyone raising their Strength mid-game, and it is the same for D&D, custom systems and Foundry ones.
Where it is
The rules are set by whoever runs the game, in the campaign settings, in the Rules and settings chapter, under The table; character approval is under Characters to approve. See Campaign rules and settings and Players, roles and teams.
Requirements and permissions
Whoever runs the game includes the GM, the co-GMs and an administrator. The rules only affect a sheet linked to a campaign: a sheet with no campaign belongs to its owner for everything.
Who can do what
| Action | Owner | GM and co-GMs |
|---|---|---|
| Playing: rolls, HP, conditions, resources, slots, rests, equipping, levelling up, changing the portrait | Yes | Yes |
| Changing the structure: manual editing, hand adjustments, own features and actions, choices already made, rebuilding in the builder | Only if the sheet has no campaign or with Free sheet editing | Yes |
| Giving yourself items or money | Only if the sheet has no campaign or with Free inventory | Yes |
| Writing down your experience | Only with Players log their own experience | Yes |
Someone who only plays can still complete what is missing (a choice brought by a level up) but cannot change what is already chosen. Buying and selling in the table's shops and gifts between characters do not go through these rules: the table handles them.
Approval
When you link a sheet to a campaign, the sheet warns with "It will wait for the GM's approval.". While pending it is neither touched nor filled with things; whoever runs the game accepts it in Characters to approve with Approve. You cannot leave a campaign and come back in to skip approval: the database stops anyone but the GM unlinking or moving a sheet, and forces the link to enter as pending.
Other rules that touch the sheet
- Characters are made at this table: the character is created inside this table.
- Players can see each other's sheets (read-only): players see each other's sheets, read-only.
- The table setting "Sheets they can see" decides which sheets you see at the table: your own, your allies' or all.
Frequent problems
"It won't let me edit my own character." It is in a campaign and the free sheet is off: ask whoever runs the game, or have them change it.
"It won't let me give myself a potion." That is the free inventory; the GM can hand it to you or turn it on.
"My sheet is still pending." You must wait for approval; tell whoever runs the game.
See also
The D&D 5e sheet, My game is not here: the universal sheet, Campaign rules and settings, Players, roles and teams, Co-GMs and sheet editing permissions.