Category: Notebooks

Capturing Essentials - Layouts, Part 1

10/30/2020

Part 1: For Players

One of the biggest tips we recommend over and over again is that you need to make your notebook work for YOU. Whether you're the type of gamer who enjoys taking simple, bullet point notes or who enjoys journalling from the perspective of your character, you need a way to lay those scribbles out in a way that will make sense to you in the future. This comes in especially handy when you're trying to do things such as remember what NPCs you met three sessions ago or when it was that you encountered that group of gnolls just outside of town.

One way of doing this, is to create a layout (or a spread, in bujo terms) for each session you participate in. Here are some tips on creating your own layout, which can easily be adjusted to suit whatever you might need to capture.

Where do I start?

Image of the top of a campaign notes layout showing the date, session number XP gained, players, locations, NPCs, and encounters.

First thing's first. Make a list of all the "housekeeping" or quick notes type of things you know you will want to remember during each session. Things like:

Date
Session number
Who was playing/names of their characters
XP gained

Some of these things might not become apparent until you're one or two sessions into your campaign; so, it's totally okay to start with a handful of things and then adjust as you go along.

Then, decide how you'd like to lay those things out in a manner that will remain consistent every session. This will allow you to easily thumb through your notebook to easily reference it. For example, you might choose to always place your date, session number, and XP gained on the very top of your layout, so that you can flip through your notebook and quickly land on the last session when your party got XP.

Okay, what else do I add?

Following the top section of things that can easily be entered every session, the rest of your layout is entirely up to you and what is important for you to remember in your game. You might decide that you just devote the rest of your layout to random notes. You might have a few sections devoted to writing down a quick summary of events that occurred, such as monster encounters, treasure found, or even a collection of thoughts you might have as you piece together the larger plot. Either way, try to eventually land on a layout that will remain consistent throughout your notebook.

QUICK TIP: Consider leaving an intentional space to jot down a line or two describing where that gaming session left off.

Creating a layout (or spread) is an excellent way to organize your session notes. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up, so you can create it ahead of your session or make it up quickly just before gaming begins. Either way, it's a great tool that can help provide you with a consistent focus on what you have decided is important to remember, especially during those moments when you're swept up with whatever shenanigans might be going down!

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HOW TO SERIES: The Index

9/28/2020

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One of the primary features of our campaign notebooks is the front index. Borrowing from the bullet journal (bujo, for short) model, it eliminates the need to divide your notebook into sections and allows you to just use the next available page to take your notes. Here are some tips that will help you get the most our of your front index.

Make it easy to reference

Make your entries as broad or as narrow as you need, for easy referencing. Do what works for you. I like to keep mine broad, so that I can maximize the usage of space in my index and prevent a cluttered looking index. Generally speaking, you will only have a handful of pages per reference, so it should not be too overwhelming to search through the pages quickly.

One quick note: DO reference that "Big Important Thing That You Know You'll Need to Remember in the Future" [TM]. Even if it is only a one line scribble.

Add symbols in the margin

Remember, the index list is not alphabetical. You enter information in it as you go along. So, if have a few entries that you want to be able to pick out immediately without having to read through the whole index list, make sure to highlight those with a symbol in the left-hand margin. You'll be able to find them at a glace. Stuff like your list of XP, contacts list, or treasures list would be good for this, depending on the system you're using to play and what is important for you to track.

Use a page numbering system

This one seems rather obvious, but make sure that you're using the designated space at the bottom corner of the notebooks to enter some sort of page numbering system. You will use those numbers next to your entries. You don't have to write in every single page's number; in fact, I only write in the odd numbers. Come up with whatever works for you for easy referencing. The point is to be able to maximize the use of your index.

Got some index tips and tricks of your own? Drop them in the comments below!

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Welcome to Roleplaying Game Notetaking, Simplified

8/31/2020

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A player holding a pencil, ready to take notes during a game

The Silverwing Armoury notebooks were born out of necessity. Influenced by the bullet journal (bujo) method, our creator and designer, Veronica, hands out some quick tips on how you can simplify your in-game notetaking, whether you're playing in one campaign or more. For a more in-depth look on how to maximize the use of your campaign notebook, check out our HOW TO Series.

Use the next available page

Ever find yourself dividing your notebook into various sections or guesstimating how many pages you think you will want to devote to maps, lists, character journals, etc.? In my experience, you always over or under estimate how much space you will actually need. Instead, simply use the next available page for whatever you need to write down AND (here's the important part) make sure that you use the front index to reference it in some way, should you feel that you will need to find that note again in the future. By doing this, you will make more effective use of your pages and won't end up endlessly hunting down that tiny, but oh-so-important, scribble about that merchant you were supposed to talk to once you got to that town you're now in.

A blank front index surrounded by dice and rulebooks

Try a page layout

A two-page player layout showing sections for things like NPC names, locations visited, items acquired, and general notes

Page layouts have been a saviour for me, both as a player and a GM. They've allowed me to ensure that I capture the really important bits that occur within a session, while still leaving room for random notes. I will usually tailor them to what is important for me to remember from each session; however, there are always some things that I will write down, regardless of what system I am playing in. Things like - who was at the table, a quick list of NPCs we encountered, whether we got XP (or whether I gave XP), any major encounters, and where we left off at the end of the session. I will usually show up to the next session with my layout already done up, but they're super quick to make, so it shouldn't be a huge deal to whip it up just before gaming begins.

Lists, but make them purposeful

I like to keep track of how I have spent my XP and, because the system I am currently playing in allows us to spend our XP to purchase Talents, I like to keep a wish list of Cool Stuff I Want My Character to Do (TM). In previous games, where finances were a whole thing, I kept a ledger of expenses. In almost all of my games, I keep a list of contacts that shows me the NPC's name, location, and references the page number of the session where we first encountered them. So, the long and short of it is, if lists are useful to you and your game, then do them up! Make them work for you. Use your next available page to start your list of stuff you want to keep track of and (of course) make sure that you reference your list on the front index. If you run out of room and need to continue the list, just use the next available page and reference that page number on the front index, alongside the other relevant page number(s). That way, you'll know that your XP ledger can be found on pages 3, 10, and 22.

#AllTheGames

If you prefer to only have one notebook to carry to all of your game nights, then look no further. By using the tips and tricks I've explained above, you can keep notes on various games and campaigns that you are playing in, in ONE notebook. All you need to do, is make sure that you organize your front index accordingly. Perhaps you create two columns - the one on the right is for your Monday night game and the one on the left is for your Thursday night game. Or, perhaps you don't bother with columns at all and just use highlighters - anything highlighted in yellow pertains to your D&D game and anything highlighted in blue pertains to your Star Wars game. You can come up with whatever works best for you.

Front of the Winter Mage campaign notebook

What has helped you in simplifying the way you take notes?
Drop us a comment below.

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TIPS & TRICKS FROM THE ARMOURY

Capturing Essentials - Layouts, Part 1

Part 1: For Players

Where do I start?

Okay, what else do I add?

HOW TO SERIES: The Index

Make it easy to reference

Add symbols in the margin

Use a page numbering system

Welcome to Roleplaying Game Notetaking, Simplified

Use the next available page

Try a page layout

Lists, but make them purposeful

#AllTheGames

Author

Archives

Categories

TIPS & TRICKS FROM THE ARMOURY

Capturing Essentials - Layouts, Part 1

Part 1: For Players

Where do I start?

Okay, what else do I add?

HOW TO SERIES: The Index

Make it easy to reference

Add symbols in the margin

Use a page numbering system

Welcome to Roleplaying Game Notetaking, Simplified

Use the next available page

Try a page layout

Lists, but make them purposeful

#AllTheGames

Author

Archives

Categories

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