Part of the appeal of 5E is the large variety of settings and game styles available. While they all build on top of the core 5E game mechanics, these settings and styles also frequently bring their own twists as well. Many of these we have been able to support just by allowing the creation of everything from custom races and classes to items and custom types. Working with content providers, we have also discovered the need for more basic changes to the character sheet. Extensions address this need.

Extensions are a type that describes changes to the character sheet. Extensions provide support for extra languages, new skills and new character options. To allow more powerful combinations, extensions can be combined with restrictions, described below. Additionally extensions can prefer or disallow content of different types (classes / races / backgrounds / feats). For characters outside of a campaign, players can pick the extensions for each character. For characters in a campaign, the GM picks them at the campaign level.

Languages

Configure a list of extra languages that are available anytime the user has the option to pick any language. Added languages also appear when picking languages for any feature modeling. Selected languages will display on the character sheet even if enabled extensions don’t specifically add them.

Skills

Configure a list of skills that show up on the character sheet at the bottom of the skills section. Each skill provides a name and an ability score for the skill. Enabled skills show anytime a feature gives an option to pick proficiency in any skill. Added skills also appear when picking skills for any feature modeling. Note: selected skills will only display on the character sheet if there is an extension enabling them.

Character Options

Character options provide a more generic extension to the character sheet allowing for new features and trackable counts. All of the character options have an option name, an optional set of features and can be required or optional. The features operate the same as features for classes or races including supporting user options, for example to have the character pick a feat. Required features will generate a hint box at the top of the character sheet if they are not configured. This allows you to have features that may not be required for all characters. There are four character option types:

Counter: counters allow you to track a numeric value on the character sheet. Typical usage would be to track a rank or level on the character sheet. This value only changes when a user makes a change.
Uses: similar to a counter, but instead of showing as a number it shows with usage bubbles. Typical usage would be to track something with a small count, like inspiration.
Pick: a pick provides the ability for the user to select a custom type. Typical usage would be to pick a faction or patron god that provides some additional abilities.
Features Only: just shows the configured features and any options that they may have. Typical usage would be for a simple feature addition like pick a feat.

Character options display directly below languages on the character sheet.

Preferred / Disallowed

When creating a unique setting, in addition to providing new character options, creators also typically have preferences on which races or classes are common or non-existent in their setting. Instead of just writing down those preferences and asking players to remember the rules, creators can now include those preferences in extensions.

Preferred and disallowed content are two lists of different types (classes/races/backgrounds/feats). Preferred content will show up first in card selection views and will display with a slight green background. Additionally, if some content is marked as preferred then other options will appear with a separator level marking the other options as “Uncommon”. Disallowed content will be complete removed from selection options. While a single extension cannot mark something as both preferred and disallowed it is possible the different enabled extensions might. If that happens then the entries will show up in the uncommon section.

Gamemasters can also directly set these preferences directly on a campaign without creating an extension. The configuration is located on the campaign settings available by clicking the campaign name in a campaign.

Restrictions

In many cases, tracking a counter on the character sheet goes beyond just showing the number and comes with different features based on the value of the counter. To support this scenario there is a new restriction option for features. Restricted features only show up on the character sheet and enable the feature attributes if the restriction is met. The restriction can be based on the character level (not the class level) or on a character option value. This could enable a faction to have different abilities based on the character’s rank or renown. The screenshot below shows an example of restricting a faction feature to members with Faction: Rank of 1.

Starting Extensions

To get you started with extensions we’ve included a couple of common extensions in the Shard Player’s Guide.

Heroic Feat: allows character to immediately pick a feat.
Inspiration: adds an inspiration counter to character sheet along with usage instructions.

Extensions