When 1985 games reached out to us to review their character journals for 5e we were more than happy to take a look. 1985 Games produces a lot of quality products, including some fantastic modular map tiles we reviewed at the beginning of the year. To no one’s surprise, the 5e journals they sent us were just as excellent.
Overview of Hero’s Notes
The 5e Player’s Journal, Hero’s Notes, created by 1985 Games is everything we expect a character journal to be. This journal has been designed to help players keep track of their characters in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition and includes 46 pages for notes, dedicated space for character stats, spells, inventory tracking sheets, multiclass tables, and character details, making it a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal.
Value
One of the standout features of Hero’s Notes is the fact that it comes in a set of three for only $24. This is an excellent value, as each journal contains everything a player would need from a standard character sheet and more. With three journals, players can easily keep track of multiple characters or keep backups of their favorite characters. This is a great deal for players who want to keep their game organized and stay on top of their character’s development. As a dungeon master this is also a steal when you want to pass out journals for your players at the start of a new campaign. Handing out player journals has been a tradition for some of our groups, but these really make it much easier to do without hurting your wallet.
Quality of Materials
The journals themselves are made from high-quality paper and are bound in thick card stock. This gives the journals a premium feel and makes them durable enough to withstand frequent use. The size of the journal is also perfect, measuring 140mm by 210mm, making it easy to carry around and use during game sessions.
Hero Stats
One of the key features of Hero’s Notes is the space dedicated to character stats. This section provides players with a clear and organized way to track their character’s abilities, skills, and other key stats. This is particularly useful for players who like to keep track of their character’s progress and development over time. We especially love the sturdy paper for this section as stats are rewritten from time to time and the paper won’t wear out or tear from simple eraser use.
Space for Spells
The dedicated space for spells in Hero’s Notes is an excellent feature that provides players with an organized and efficient way to track their spells. This is especially useful for wizards, sorcerers, and clerics.
Keeping track of spells can be a challenge, especially for classes that have access to a wide variety of spells. With the dedicated space for spells in Hero’s Notes, players can easily keep track of their spells. The space is divided into a table area and a free form section which we much prefer to more restrictive spell lists options. While we could see a spell caster version of this dedicate more space to spells, this is more than enough for most players as it allows them to quickly reference their spells during game sessions and ensures they never forget a crucial spell at a critical moment.
Inventory Tracking
The inventory tracking sheets are also a welcome addition. They allow players to keep track of their equipment, including weapons, armor, and other important items. This is particularly useful for players who like to be prepared and want to make sure they have everything they need to face any challenge that comes their way.
The inventory and equipment division in this player journal is compact, but also quite detailed. We also really like the final section following the inventory, as it leaves space for tracking magic item creation, something we here at Master The Dungeon are fond of in game.
Multiclassing Tables
The multiclassing table is another feature that players will appreciate. With a table dedicated to tracking the different levels of each class, players can easily keep track of their character’s progression and development as they multiclass, which is often overlooked in similar products. This is especially helpful for players who enjoy experimenting with different combinations of classes and want to see how their character evolves over time. Honestly, this was one of the most pleasant surprises for us in this review and a part we absolutely loved.
Character Details
Lastly, the character details section is an excellent way for players to add flavor to their characters. Here, players can include details about their character’s appearance, personality, backstory, and other critical information. We know this isn’t a revolutionary feature, but having it on hand in a journal makes it much easier to reference character traits during the game and is superior to using a pile of printed character sheets.
Highly Recommended for D&D 5e Players
Overall, we highly recommend Hero’s Notes to any player or GM for 5th edition. The journal provides an excellent way to keep track of character stats, spells, inventory, multiclassing, and character details. The fact that it comes in a set of three for only $24 is an excellent value, and the high-quality paper and binding ensure that the journals will last a long time. The size of the journal is also perfect, making it easy to carry around and use during game sessions. If you’re a player looking for a way to keep your game organized and stay on top of your character’s development, Hero’s Notes is definitely worth checking out.