NEW D&D 5e Character Sheet Walkthrough for Foundry VTT! Everything you Need to Know

A comprehensive tutorial and walkthrough of the NEW character sheet for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition on FoundryVTT! Everything you need to know about how to navigate and effectively use the new character sheet, including managing your inventory, using containers, adding a race, background, and class, leveling up, and more.
Lighting Tutorial: • Dynamic Lighting & Vis...
5e Content Creation Tutorials: • Foundry dnd5e Content ...
FoundryVTT Community Discord: / discord
Neyla & Vola both drawn by Kate! || / tacticiankate
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:26 - Edit / Play Mode
0:59 - Header
1:46 - Left Panel
2:32 - Favorites Section (New!)
3:00 - Main Panel (Details Tab)
5:14 - Inventory Tab
7:26 - Features Tab (Class & Leveling Up)
7:57 - Spells Tab
8:58 - Effects Tab
9:34 - Biography Tab
10:03 - CREATE A CHARACTER
10:48 - Add Race & Background
11:58 - Adding Items
12:19 - Adding a Class & Spells
12:53 - Finishing Up
Maps were created using assets from Forgotten Adventures: www.forgotten-adventures.net
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Mic - Neumann TLM 102
Audio Interface - Solid State Logic SSL2
Recording: OBS Studio
Editor: Final Cut Pro X
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FoundryVTT, Foundry VTT, Foundry Virtual Tabletop, D&D, 5e, DND, Fifth Edition, Dungeons and Dragons, Dungeons & Dragons, Tutorial, Guide, Walkthrough, Step-by-step, Beginner, Easy, How To

[@SteveWrigleyTV]

I was gonna create a video to show my new players how to set up their character sheet in foundry for DND but now I don’t need to this is literally perfect, precise, concise and friendly. 11/10 no notes.

[@alaustin.]

Thanks so much!! Glad to have covered all the bases! Good luck with your game!

[@diggles27]

Agree!

[@rebsiot]

This is an excellent tutorial video. Also the sheet revision is ridiculously great. A level up in every possible way. Congratulations on the achievement!

[@alaustin.]

Thanks for the kind words! Agreed, it feels like a huge step up. Really proud to see the system coming so far

[@Touchfuzzy_YT]

That transition from an empty sheet with "let me show you a fuller inventory" was smooth, hahaha. Thank you for your hard work!

[@alaustin.]

Haha, thank you! I've finally got the strategy down for recording these segments to make transitions easy on myself so I'm glad people like them

[@KurtStolle-hv8lc]

Super thorough, clearly explained, and very appropriately paced. Thank you for taking the time to publish this high-quality tutorial!!

[@DeathToMayo]

Making the switch to foundry and I was planning on skipping the in game character sheets. But after watching this I think I'll give them another try.

[@alaustin.]

Glad to hear it! Using Foundry's sheet is definitely the most convenient way by far, so if it work for you, it's worth learning for sure. Good luck!

[@phillipwarner4062]

Thanks for making this! Very helpful! I'll definitely watch if you post any other tutorials on the new 5e stuff.

[@alaustin.]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@samuelpons1396]

Excellent video! Sending this to my new players as a guide.

[@yuanLaughing]

Love your video! Hope to see more videos about playing D&D in Fvtt!

[@alaustin.]

I hope so! Time is tight these days but I do love making these

[@maxgoldstein8778]

That’s a really clean character sheet. Our group is new to using Foundry and found that the default sheet wasn’t great.

[@alaustin.]

The original sheet was very functional and had its charm, but I am very glad to see the glow up. They were finally allowed to use official branding and they went all out. Good stuff!

[@jontylerlud]

I love this sheet is beautiful! It is very big however so I wonder if there’s a way players can shrink it to see the board easier if they wanted to. Also I don’t think I’ll be updating my dnd 5e system on foundry until the MIDIQOL module updates to work with it. Automated dnd is so much nicer on foundry than extra manual late game dnd

[@481bosco]

Great tutorial!! Very well done!

[@takogames9552]

Awesome video as always

[@alaustin.]

Thank you as always!

[@DamnUsernameAvailabi]

Awesome vid! Such a good tutorial!

[@alaustin.]

Thank you!!

[@drice8866]

Nice work, really well done

[@tfowler1]

Just found your video, and your videos are the best tutorials I've seen yet for Foundry. Well written and easy to follow along. I'm wondering if any current or pre-existing mods or extensions will sync my DND Beyond characters into this new character sheet? Do you have any idea?

[@alaustin.]

Thank you!! The only one I'm aware of is the D&D Beyond Importer by MrPrimate, but the Discord would have people who know better than me! Mods are now starting to catch up with the 3.0.x update so you should have some options

[@iskevosi]

Really useful, thanks.

[@Horned-Swashbuckler]

Hi! Thank you for the super helpful guide. Do you have any idea why the background area doesn't automatically add the background feature? It is empty on one of my PC's, but if I try to bring the background or the feature (acolyte), it doesn't add it in the field. I'm talking about the first tab, under race and subrace - section. It tells me player character is allowed to have only one background - but I can't edit, remove it anywhere. Super annoying! All the other character sheets are working well in two of my games.

[@alaustin.]

Sounds like there is some lingering data on that particular character sheet that's causing issues - might've been a migration issue when the world originally updated. I'm not sure how to fix it specifically, but if you pop into the Foundry Discord and ask in the #dnd5e channel I would bet someone knows how to fix!

[@Horned-Swashbuckler]

@@alaustin. I thought so too, but I don't know my way around the sheet yet to find it. Thank you for answering, I will def ask from there!

[@alaustin.]

@@Horned-Swashbuckler Best of luck!! Really glad you enjoyed, thank you for the kind words!

[@jtck1310]

So do you have to be invited to a campaign to make a sheet?

[@acu01136]

Very useful, thank you. (but until ready set roll is available, I don't think we can up date. The fact 3d dice and ready set roll is not standard FVTT is mind boggling.)

[@roberttschaefer]

The ability for players to send their weapon attacks to the chat card and from there, to roll their hit and damage is an improvement to ready.set roll.

[@Blaze-nm1uh]

how do we change the creature type? I have some companions I'm using these sheets for, and they aren't humanoid. Is there a better alternative for them?

[@alaustin.]

Once you add a Race, switching to Edit mode will put a cog wheel on the creature type and you should be able to change it

[@chasenash8895]

Is there a way to display passive skills? Particularly passive perception.

[@alaustin.]

It's the grey number next to the modifier!

[@hcporto]

Thanks for the tutorial. I am still having a problem. How can I roll the spell description to the chat?

[@hcporto]

I just found out that it is a midiqol configuration that is rolling the dices instead of the description.

[@taxabledj8571]

Though your videos are few i find them to be somewhat helpful. However due to my version of Foundry not matching yours, I find it really hard to figure out how to make things. This is just a suggestion, but you might want to make new videos explaining how to do some of the things you have gone over in the past with the new formats they use. I understand if you don't want to, I have just been having a real hard time figuring it out and can't seem to find anyone who can help. Other then that, keep up the good work.

[@alaustin.]

I definitely plan to make newer videos with updated info for things that have fallen out of date, I just have to pick my timing wisely. The dnd5e system especially is getting huge updates a lot more frequently, so I don't want to make a new video right away only to have to make another one a few weeks later. I'm glad you are still finding them helpful! What are some things that you have found difficult to understand? Any specific things that are out of date that made things hard to learn?

[@stefanbecker6085]

There semes to be a bug with the default sheet... if you have multple "sheet Modules". If you are on any non "new" sheet, and switch to the new one... you cant swich back (to say a Tidy 5e sheet) Andone got an idea on how to fix this?

[@alaustin.]

I can switch to the Legacy Sheet and back no problem so I would imagine it's a problem with the other sheet modules? Not sure

[@stefanbecker6085]

@@alaustin. Was my first thought too, but i can't even switch to the "default legacy sheet", while i can freely switch between any others, so long as I dont go to the "default 5e sheet, then I'm stuck with that for the character

[@df6368]

Couple bits weren't clear. 1. For classes like sorcerer, is there an obvious way to limit the number of spells known per level, not just the number spells the can cast? 2. I am not finding this intuitive on how to add a token images from a desktop

[@alaustin.]

The way to limit spells known is to only drag that many spells onto the sheet. The sheet is not going to limit you just because you have a certain class - it would get annoying quickly. You set the token image the exact same way you set a portrait image - in Edit mode swap the art shown from Portrait to Token. Click to browse your files. You can also configure the token art from the token config (cog in the top right).

[@df6368]

thank you@@alaustin.

[@upsetti6404]

Came here to see if we can customise the top banner, any way to do this? I've not found anything myself.

[@alaustin.]

You can do it but with a bit of CSS - no button to do it in the UI. Folks in the Discord have walked people through it before, it's not terribly complicated if you're interested

[@upsetti6404]

@@alaustin. thanks for the reply, I headed over to the discord after I made my original comment and found it. The guy there has made a module for it!

[@Fuzzatron3000]

So players and DMs can only create characters when inside a campaign? You can't just do it in downtime when you are not playing?

[@alaustin.]

You can do it whenever you like, but the server has to be up and the proper world currently loaded. It doesn't have to be during a game session, but the server has to be live to access it, yes. This could be as simple as the server is hosted in the cloud, and is always accessible, or if the DM is self-hosting they can just leave the app open. No different than opening a game on R20 to create a character in a game there.

[@12multiraven]

Im on the 11.315 but my character sheet tab dont look like those stated on the video. :(( please help me to make it look like your's

[@alaustin.]

Make sure you update the dnd5e system! 11.315 is the Foundry version but the dnd system is updated seprately in the app. Click on "Game Systems" on your setup screen. Also make sure you don't have any modules enabled that might be changing the character sheet.

[@CarnivorousMeat]

There used to be a key to hold to interact with the description pop out on the left when hovering a spell\feature\weapon\etc. How do I do this so I can scroll some of the longer descriptions without flooding chat or going into edit? It used to be 'x'.

[@alaustin.]

I THINK it's middle click on the pop up?

[@CarnivorousMeat]

​@@alaustin. if I move the cursor to the popup - it goes away. if I hit middle mouse - browser goes into scroll mode (FF)

[@alaustin.]

It's super finnicky but I CAN confirm middle clicking on the tooltip will lock it and let you scroll, but it is really tough. Tooltips for things like skill checks disappear like instantly but the ones for items linger for a few moments to let you click on them. They definitely need work@@CarnivorousMeat

[@alaustin.]

There is a ticket open for the tooltips to be adjusted to be easier to lock!@@CarnivorousMeat

[@CarnivorousMeat]

​@@alaustin. thanks for info. I'll just play with it more I guess.

[@LordByronLove]

when I create a character I get a blank page, I have nothing of what appears to you...

[@alaustin.]

Make sure you've updated your game system and disable any modules you might have active

[@Fatewing_]

great video! already shared with my players since they are lazy and need any help using foundry there is :P thx

[@alaustin.]

Hope this helps them adjust! Glad you enjoyed!

[@puljicdan]

What about custom resources? Some modules - for example, the very popular Spell Points - and game features, such as keeping track of the number of arrows in a quiver if you play in a game that considers such minute details - require a resource to function properly, and yet i cant seem to find a place to create my own resources?

[@puljicdan]

a follow up - i know i can switch between the legacy version and the newer one in order to create, view, and manipulate resource values, but i would *REALLY* rather not have to do that, especially since i run casters in gaes with sthe spell point variant rule quite often

[@alaustin.]

@@puljicdanCustom resources are the only fields that didn't make the cut in the new sheet - but that's because their functionality exists inside of any other item. You can keep track of arrows by just adjusting the quantity of said arrow. You can even edit a ranged weapon (let's say Shortbow) to consume the ammunition. Edit the bow item, Details tab, set Resource Consumption to Ammunition, select the ammo you want it to use (both the weapon and the ammo need to be on the same character sheet for it to appear). The bow literally will not fire if you run out of ammo. If you are keeping track of some other arbitrary number, you can create any other item (features are items don't forget) and give it Limited Uses in its Details tab, including if it recharges on a rest. Same exact function but you just have to create an item first. Doing it this way also enables additional layers of functionality if people want them. If you want to be able to see the resources without going into another tab, you can add it to favorites. At that point it works nigh identically to the custom resources from before. Not sure what the modules will do to switch things up but I am sure they will find an elegant solution

[@puljicdan]

@@alaustin. Now it looks like if you add a named resource in the legacy sheet they get appended to the favorites section with the tag "LR" (maybe Legacy Resource?) so it seems to be fixed, at least concerning the spell points module

[@Traelin-i2s]

Is there any support yet to import a sheet from DND beyond into this new sheet?

[@alaustin.]

I think the DDB Importer (by MrPrimate) has been updated for a while, yeah.

[@TheFarbee]

Is there any way to change the red top banner?

[@alaustin.]

There is, but I do not know to do it! There isn't a button to press or anything, at least not yet. But I've seen someone in the Discord do it already, so I would ask in there! #dnd5e channel is good

[@BergyBerg-vz9df]

Is there a way to turn off the hover over tooltips?

[@alaustin.]

don't think so. plans to add come configuration to them though since they're a little aggressive rn

[@BergyBerg-vz9df]

@@alaustin. It would be nice to turn it off completely

[@fgarza]

Thanks for the tutorial but I'm having an issue with the first tab, Actions it just show's an empty page. Do you know what would be the issue?

[@alaustin.]

It's something a module is doing because there is not an "Actions" tab in core!

[@fgarza]

@@alaustin. Awesome, thanks!

[@eyedoc8567]

I didn't see how to track spell slots... Did I miss it?

[@alaustin.]

It's pretty quick - just put the sheet into play mode on the spells tab. Any number slot will have little pips on the right to track slots. You need to have spells or a spellcasting class on the sheet to see the spell level categories

[@tingtaiji]

My compendium has almost nothing in it. Very frustrating.

[@alaustin.]

The compendiums come with everything that Wizards of the Coast allows to be distributed for free - the System Reference Document or SRD. Nothing else is allowed to be legally distributed without paying for it, that's WOTC's rule.

[@alessiosaputo5867]

I don't have this kind of sheet, where do i find it?

[@alaustin.]

You need to update the D&D 5e game system to 3.0 or higher (current version is 3.2.somthing)

[@SkullyFluff]

Is Multi-classing just as easy?

[@alaustin.]

Pretty much! You just drag an additional class onto the sheet and set levels accordingly. I haven't messed around with it too terribly much so there might be some tweaking you have to do but I know there is decent support for it out of the box

[@IIReckllessII]

Am I stupid or have they completely removed the "resources" tabs from the UI on the new sheet?

[@alaustin.]

They did remove the resources - but only sort of. If you had custom resources on the legacy sheet, they should migrate into the "favorites" section on the new one as a holdover. If you don't see them, maybe set the sheet BACK to legacy sheet and add them in again. Those blank custom boxes are removed, but the functionality still exists. You can create any item type (feature, equipment, etc) and give that item Limited Uses. This allows you to keep track of a resource exactly the way the old boxes worked, but also allows you to name the resource, give it an icon, and do all sorts of other things with macros and effects etc etc (if you want) or just can be used to track like you did before, but now you can have way more than just 3. You can then just add the item to the Favorites bar so its available on every tab of the sheet. It might sound annoying to have the extra step of creating an item first but it's the more "proper" way to do things, the custom resource boxes were originally added because it was assumed that characters wouldn't need to track more than 3 things (lol). Charges on items didn't always exist so that was the way to do it, but then once they were added to items the boxes became a little redundant, because with class advancement it made much more sense to have tracked resourced be a part of the actual class feature (like Channel Divinity, etc etc).

[@MrGabriel1alves]

there is a way to alter the spellcasting modifier?

[@alaustin.]

Special Traits at the top!

[@MrGabriel1alves]

Nvm, i find.

[@matthewmanning8413]

What version does this become active. I'm running version 11.315 and can't see it

[@alaustin.]

It should be available, you are on the latest version. You could pop into the Discord and see if anyone knows why it may not be showing up

[@matthewmanning8413]

@@alaustin. I had not updated the D&D 5e System

[@blaink8064]

they just need to make a new npc sheet the foundry one is terrible and i cannot find any alternate sheets that still work

[@alaustin.]

I mean the structure is pretty similar to what there is now just without the pretty branded layout, they're perfectly functional. If you can learn this you can learn the other one no problem

[@blaink8064]

@@alaustin. I was used with the tidy sheet one the new/old one doesn't even have a way to use initiative in the sheet not that i know of and the tidy sheet was more easy to find everything in one place

[@alaustin.]

You roll initiative in the combat tracker for all NPCs at once why are you doing it from the sheet to begin with? Just take 5 minutes to find the things you need and you'll be fine. They are working on NPC and Vehicle sheets with the new layout anyway @@blaink8064

[@blaink8064]

@@alaustin. Idk why, maybe its because i started playing in roll20 and in there we roll fron the sheet its just an old habit but you are right its more fast roll all together, and on the finding things topic for me its not 5 minutes its wayyyy more i have ADHD and dyslexia and everything thin in one place not multiple tabs was more easy for me, but it's nothing serious, and im happy that they are working on a the NPC and vehicle sheet