Comments on: How Do You Organize Past Scenarios? http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:46:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: GilaMonster http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13791 GilaMonster Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:38:43 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13791 I use a tool called keynote. For each adventure I create a entry with some notes on what happened, some detailed notes on anything that the players discovered, or didn't discover and a couple lines on the influence on the main story. Most of my other notes are also in that key note file. I keep the main copy on my flash drive, with copies on the laptop and desktop. I've recently started having the laptop on and near me while running the games, and it it very nice to be able to check over the old notes quickly when necessary. I use a tool called keynote. For each adventure I create a entry with some notes on what happened, some detailed notes on anything that the players discovered, or didn’t discover and a couple lines on the influence on the main story.

Most of my other notes are also in that key note file. I keep the main copy on my flash drive, with copies on the laptop and desktop.

I’ve recently started having the laptop on and near me while running the games, and it it very nice to be able to check over the old notes quickly when necessary.

]]> By: Adam http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13757 Adam Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:21:57 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13757 My group has used a message board for the past couple of years (proboards.com has 'em for free, with ads). Each GM can post whatever info they want, and the players can post any extra RP or background info they want to. We even have sections for custom rules material and feedback, and a section for organizing unusual sessions or other group events. It also keeps the members who've gone to college out-of-state in the loop for when they come back over the semester breaks. It's not exactly the most structured approach, but it scales well. This is good, because my group is about 12 people with 4 concurrent campaigns right now. My group has used a message board for the past couple of years (proboards.com has ‘em for free, with ads). Each GM can post whatever info they want, and the players can post any extra RP or background info they want to. We even have sections for custom rules material and feedback, and a section for organizing unusual sessions or other group events. It also keeps the members who’ve gone to college out-of-state in the loop for when they come back over the semester breaks. It’s not exactly the most structured approach, but it scales well. This is good, because my group is about 12 people with 4 concurrent campaigns right now.

]]> By: Organizing Old Game Material | Game On :: Aleph Gaming http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13728 Organizing Old Game Material | Game On :: Aleph Gaming Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:32:28 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13728 [...] over at Treasure Tables brought up the topic of organizing old game material on Saturday, and I thought I’d share a few of my [...] [...] over at Treasure Tables brought up the topic of organizing old game material on Saturday, and I thought I’d share a few of my [...]

]]> By: brcarl http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13718 brcarl Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:50:23 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13718 Mark me down as another wiki user, stand-alone (offline) TiddlyWiki, to be exact. I love the "many to one" organization/categorization that Johnn describes above, and with a few plug-ins (checkboxes are GREAT) the thing is about a bajillion times better than a Word doc. Mark me down as another wiki user, stand-alone (offline) TiddlyWiki, to be exact.

I love the “many to one” organization/categorization that Johnn describes above, and with a few plug-ins (checkboxes are GREAT) the thing is about a bajillion times better than a Word doc.

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13708 Martin Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:17:29 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13708 <i>Damn</i>, but there are some incredibly detailed approaches showcased here. I am now officially ashamed of my own organizational efforts. :S Damn, but there are some incredibly detailed approaches showcased here.

I am now officially ashamed of my own organizational efforts. :S

]]> By: DavidRM http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13697 DavidRM Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:03:04 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13697 I use <a href="http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/" rel="nofollow">The Journal</a> (I'm the developer). I have a special campaign category where I use a tree structure to organize things. -PC's +-PC-specific NPC's +-PC backstory -Sessions +-Session #1 planning/notes +--Session #1 log (written up afterwards) +-Session #2 planning/notes +--Session #2 log +-etc -Maps -NPC's (not tied to a PC) And so on. So I can easily refer to past session notes and session logs when I'm planning my current session. Also, I post my session logs to my RPG blog (which can be done from inside the software). I just counted, and I have the notes from 5 previous past campaigns, plus my current campaign all within a mouse-click or two. Which makes it easy to re-use some things. I've been wanting to experiment with a wiki, but I get a lot of the same benefits with WordPress, plus very nice blog features. So a wiki hasn't been a priority yet. -David I use The Journal (I’m the developer). I have a special campaign category where I use a tree structure to organize things.

-PC’s
+-PC-specific NPC’s
+-PC backstory

-Sessions
+-Session #1 planning/notes
+–Session #1 log (written up afterwards)
+-Session #2 planning/notes
+–Session #2 log
+-etc

-Maps
-NPC’s (not tied to a PC)

And so on.

So I can easily refer to past session notes and session logs when I’m planning my current session. Also, I post my session logs to my RPG blog (which can be done from inside the software).

I just counted, and I have the notes from 5 previous past campaigns, plus my current campaign all within a mouse-click or two. Which makes it easy to re-use some things.

I’ve been wanting to experiment with a wiki, but I get a lot of the same benefits with WordPress, plus very nice blog features. So a wiki hasn’t been a priority yet.

-David

]]> By: Frank Filz http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13693 Frank Filz Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:21:24 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13693 I've mostly not been very organized with this. With one of my Traveller campaigns, I used a portable computer during the game, so I had a reasonably complete log in a text file along with all the PCs and NPCs stats and some special notes for myself. For my first Arcana Unearthed campaign, I started to keep the session notes sheets, labelling each. I'll usually keep some kind of set of notes about significant stuff, but since I tend to run episodic games, and don't have a big master plot or anything, I don't need to keep track of as much stuff. Frank I’ve mostly not been very organized with this.

With one of my Traveller campaigns, I used a portable computer during the game, so I had a reasonably complete log in a text file along with all the PCs and NPCs stats and some special notes for myself.

For my first Arcana Unearthed campaign, I started to keep the session notes sheets, labelling each.

I’ll usually keep some kind of set of notes about significant stuff, but since I tend to run episodic games, and don’t have a big master plot or anything, I don’t need to keep track of as much stuff.

Frank

]]> By: Johnn http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13688 Johnn Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:59:43 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13688 I use PBWiki. Free, online, backups, Google doc-type features, private, reliable. http://pbwiki.com/ The best thing about wikis is you can create new structures, organization, and navigation any time. Each piece of information you just need to create once, then you work hard to make that info accessible according to how you think, organize, and GM. For example, you create an NPC guild leader. Do you file that under NPCs, Encounter XYZ, Game World > Guilds > Leaders, City XYZ > Guilds, player handouts > important NPCs, etc.? The answer, for me, is yes. Create the content and then put into all the organization structures you want. Once someone at work explained to me that one of the great benefits of wikis was many-to-one simple menuing and linking, my wikis became a lot more useful for gaming. I use PBWiki. Free, online, backups, Google doc-type features, private, reliable. http://pbwiki.com/

The best thing about wikis is you can create new structures, organization, and navigation any time. Each piece of information you just need to create once, then you work hard to make that info accessible according to how you think, organize, and GM.

For example, you create an NPC guild leader. Do you file that under NPCs, Encounter XYZ, Game World > Guilds > Leaders, City XYZ > Guilds, player handouts > important NPCs, etc.? The answer, for me, is yes. Create the content and then put into all the organization structures you want.

Once someone at work explained to me that one of the great benefits of wikis was many-to-one simple menuing and linking, my wikis became a lot more useful for gaming.

]]> By: Wes http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13687 Wes Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:14:23 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13687 I use DokuWiki - and I encourage my players to edit in any little details they want (since there can be a lot of information). It's the best thing I EVER did for my RP community. I use DokuWiki – and I encourage my players to edit in any little details they want (since there can be a lot of information). It’s the best thing I EVER did for my RP community.

]]> By: the Mighty Bruce http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13686 the Mighty Bruce Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:09:21 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13686 One thing we've done a lot is my group is designate one player as the "Party Journal Keeper." That player is responsible for writing down everything that happens during the game including NPC names, treasure found, marching order, and any other useful info. As DM, I can look over the entry between games and make my own notes or corrections as necessary. Then, at the beginning of every game, the PJK will read the entry from the last game. It seems to have worked pretty well. One thing we’ve done a lot is my group is designate one player as the “Party Journal Keeper.” That player is responsible for writing down everything that happens during the game including NPC names, treasure found, marching order, and any other useful info. As DM, I can look over the entry between games and make my own notes or corrections as necessary. Then, at the beginning of every game, the PJK will read the entry from the last game. It seems to have worked pretty well.

]]> By: DNAphil http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13685 DNAphil Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:30:43 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13685 When I ran from paper, I kept a campaign binder, where all my past session notes were organized in time order. I did this for a number of campaigns, and I still have the binders in a box. That was the easiest way for me to keep paper notes organized. Now that I run from my laptop, I keep all the notes for my sessions organized on my hard drive. I have each TiddlyWiki file numbered, and in their own directory, along with any maps, counters to be printed, etc. As for the electronic files, I mirror them on a backup server I have, and once a month make an off-site backup to a portable hard drive, which is in a drawer in my office. When I ran from paper, I kept a campaign binder, where all my past session notes were organized in time order. I did this for a number of campaigns, and I still have the binders in a box. That was the easiest way for me to keep paper notes organized.

Now that I run from my laptop, I keep all the notes for my sessions organized on my hard drive. I have each TiddlyWiki file numbered, and in their own directory, along with any maps, counters to be printed, etc.

As for the electronic files, I mirror them on a backup server I have, and once a month make an off-site backup to a portable hard drive, which is in a drawer in my office.

]]> By: Jorge http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios/comment-page-1#comment-13681 Jorge Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:22:59 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/10/how-do-you-organize-past-scenarios#comment-13681 Wikidpad is an invaluable tool for me. It's portable too so I can organize all my stuff on my USB key. It can interact with some command line progs, and have kindof macros (If you know Python) Wikidpad is an invaluable tool for me. It’s portable too so I can organize all my stuff on my USB key. It can interact with some command line progs, and have kindof macros (If you know Python)

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