Simplified Template Design Concept

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by Propjock

I actually did this in the new version, but the relative level and point cost with it. Just having the actual level by itself at the right seemed disconnected.

You can combine what I said with what munin said:

SkillName–Level<right-aligned tab>(Difficulty) RelativeLevel [Point Cost]

Notice the color dims everything but the skill name and actual level. For instance:

Archaeology–15<rt.tab>(H) IQ+2 [12]

Thanks. I reinforced the checkbox motive by having the fixed skills now use a larger filled bullet. I think this should allow me to get away with removing extra lines that said, "Total of X points from:" to buy me a few more lines.

That's an interesting idea, though players would have to be VERY clear on how it works, especially when a template has both fixed traits and a menu, as most do. "Spend the total number of points given in the heading, and you're required to take the ones with filled in boxes." It took me a minute to figure out that's what was going on, and I already know how to use templates.

For typography reasons, I also recommend using a real minus character (−) instead of the keyboard's hyphen-minus (-). It's a pain, but so much nicer. You already appear be using an en-dash for skill levels, so that's good.

[dcarson]

Instead of for example just [25] for the Advantage header have Pick [25] to indicate that you choose from the list maybe. That still fits on one line.

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Propjock

My goal was to come up with something as simple as possible (and no simpler) that I can hand to new-to-GURPS (or even new-to-TTRPGs) to get them started or inspired on chargen.

Very similar to the PreGens I use for convention games, where I assume no prior GURPS experience. Yours look much better then mine.

[Stormcrow]

Here is an example I find very readable. The template is one of my own. I've incorporated the filled box/empty box idea. I didn't add a picture, and I kept all of Microsoft Word's styles at defaults except where I needed a specific effect.

[mook]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

Very similar to the PreGens I use for convention games, where I assume no prior GURPS experience. Yours look much better then mine.

I thought the exact same, Captain Joy (about my own pre-gens, not yours). I actually like the set-up of yours, because they remind me of the Vampire: the Masquerade character sheets!

But basically everything in this thread is full of win, and I can't wait to incorporate some of it.