When a gaming session ends and all the players go home, I (as the DM) often have trouble noting down exactly what happened. The next session; I've often forgotten lots of small details I worked into the game, which the players might not miss, but would've made the game even better if remembered.
How do you all keep notes to make sure no potentially important or game-enhancing details are forgotten? Just jotting down a few words when something happens isn't cutting it, but I don't have time to write half a page with every event either...
In the games I´m involved, one of the players always writes a diary. Normally, that duty changes from session to session. It is a good reminder if the last diary entry is read aloud at the beginning of the next session.
Stefan
Well I often write a sort of DMs diary but I don't really cover the details in it - my broad views are really usually what I want to record for later not the minutia.
I also tend to replay the session in my head sometime shortly after finishing it just to see if I have to go through any kind of special prep work or such and also to consider if it was a good session or not and why.
Another aspect is that I write out my adventures or use written ones - usually rewritting them to my own tastes - so all the details are recorded in that format. Otherwise I guess I don't really do much note taking during the session however.
Can you give us a couple of examples of what happened and why it was a problem? Maybe that would help with us offering suggestions.
As a DM, I either noted anything important (NPC names and details), and most of my big plot points are marked down beforehand.
I got tired of my players laughing at the innkeepers with 7 names...
Sorry, other than my list of names, I generally just work from memory. We game every week, which helps a lot.
I write important, one-word memory aids to help me remember, along with a player recap at the beginning of each session. With my one-word memory aids, I usually remember things going on at that time that will help fill in the pieces.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
|
I used to keep one of those lecture recorders (the ones with the miniature cassette tape inside) near the table when we played a few years ago so that I could listen to it later and compile notes outside of game. I lost it during my last move, though, and I have no idea where it's gone to.
In my groups we have tried a lot of different solutions. The one that seems to work the best and create the most fun is to have each player write a short summary in character and email it to the group. This has added a nice character development tool as well as record keeping. I cut and paste them into a file for each character that I save and hand out at the end of the campaign or look at if we need to refer to it.
Characters choose different devices for doing this summary--some do it as a diary, some do it as letters home, one has a special communing time with a druid in his home tribe where he shares stories.
As a DM I keep a campaign journal covering the major events and plots. Luckily one of my player keeps a journal of his own from his players perspective which is fun and insightful because it offers a different view of the campaign.
I usual note everything that I introduce ad hoc during the session.
But what is the problem exactly?
I guess it depends on how often you game as to the strategy for best tracking important info. For those of us who go a month at a time off, our GM will provide a campaign summary. We have tried the players keeping journals or providing summaries, however, there can be significant gaps between what the players perceive as important and what the GM does... This is ok, but it has tended to be less objective in scope than the GM's summary.
So...our GM campaign summary serves not only as a courtesy reminder of events, but it also serves to maintain a story arc of what is being created across multiple sessions (and months of real time).
As ever,
ACE
|
But what is the problem exactly?
I think that the problem is that it is difficult at best for the DM to maintain a log of events while DMing and it is surprising how quickly people forget what happened the last game. So I think the question is how do you keep the DM sane and maintain some kind of record of events to help brush off the cobwebs.
I used to send out an email to the group asking them to respond and give "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" responses the day after the game. That was fun for a little while, but I think that people lost interest in it. We now have a blog that everyone in the group is an admin for so they can assist in clarifying things that are put in incorrectly. This has worked out incredibly well for the group as I can also include maps and pictures in the blog to help people remember what all happened in the story. This takes a little bit of work, but I feel it has been worth it in the long run.
If you have good players, there is no shame in asking the group what they remember happening at any given point. I have found that the more detail and the more that is written down, the more into the game the players have been.
I have pretty good memory, but I do make also some notes (which I also occasionally misplace...), not as extensive as one friend of mine keeps in his laptop...and when in doubt, I ask from the players...they don't necessarily understand what REALLY happened but hopefully they remember enough that I remember what has come up.
I have seen couple of cool campaign blogs and maybe I should try that one too...all the players and DM would be admins and there is also possibility of putting background stories, tidbits about world, nice pictures to fit the mood (the ones about naked druids frolicking in meadows better be tasteful)...works when the players are interested in storytelling and world creation too.
all of my players do "write-ups" of what their character did and submit them; not required, but will gain you extra roleplaying exps for things i forget; also helps me keep a running log of what happens inthe game and side threads for each character outside of my own notes and planned campaigns. what I am looking for in these submitions is their character point of veiw of the situations they are dealing with. Some of these are just simple notes; some players give me several pages noting thier current alliances; who in in; who is out of favor and their take on ever situation and plans for the future; its all good. Almost all use this forum to work on prophesy clues or whatnot clues or descifer the many written iconic languages I have in my world; all worth good exps. I find that players who do this are much more involved and aware in the world and do much more actual roleplaying as their characters are always much more developed; I recommend this very strongly, of course; we have had threads about this before and some people think it is to time consuming; but really, your game will VASTLY improve. Hehe but then you will have my problem of the last 20+ years of people wanting to talk about nothing but your game; calling you all week about it and whatnot; is very flattering but....
hehe my memory is horrible for most things, I have tried taping sessions and everything. I start every session with a short recap of last session; also is a good way to let your players not to stop the chit chat and pay attention; I start every game with : As last we left off, the intrepid adventures ... have done this the same way for years; is a signal everyone knows now and I do a short recap of what I considered the major events that took place last time and gives me a chance to hear the side comments someone will nearly always make about what they thought was significant; someone will nearly almost say - yeah, that was when so and so did such and such meaning it stuck to them and was important. Sometimes players correct me on names and places or whatnot and I note anything people said just so we are all on the same page; helps make things run smoothly and takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
Thanks, this is all very useful :)
My problem is that there is sometimes three or four weeks between sessions. I can jot down and remember the really important details, but I often forget the little things.
For instance; in a campaign last year, the PC's where chasing after a group of mercenaries who kidnapped two scientists; they were moving slowly, but were far ahead; so there was a lot to be done on the road.
I could remember how far they were ahead; most of the clues left behind as to the nature of the mercenaries, but when the group had to backtrack their own steps to a small town they visited, I had no clue as to what they had done the last time they visited the town...
It might not have been world-changing, but all I could remember was the name of the tavern that I had noted down on beforehand. They might aswell never have been there before...
So, not a lot might have been lost, but still. If I had those details, the small things that can be forgotten without impact to the story, but could've also brought the town to life and improve the general atmosphere of the world...
Maybe I'm just nitpicking, but I like small details, I just always forget them :(
|
If you were the guy writing the adventure, and you forget a small detail, it is likely the players will forget it too. So they won't notice the discontinuity. So, does it really matter? If it isn't a vital piece of the plot but more like a detail to liven things up (such as an NPC quirk, to make them more alive in the minds of the players) it probably doesn't matter.
Rather than trying to retain all the little details, maybe you should consider having fewer details to remember. While this may have a mildly detrimental effect on the verisimiltude of your world in the gaming sessions, a few big vivid details (Egad the Ugly has a jagged scar across his cheek) rather than lots of small ones (Egad the Ugly has a mole on his left cheek, acne scars on his forehead and his right eye squints). That may make things a bit more cartoonish, but is easier to retain.
Alternatively, don't worry about it. If your players are saying "Wait, you said so and so had X and now he hasn't - what's the deal?" that is probably really a success, since you provided them with a good description which stuck in their memories, even if it didn't stick in yours. You can correct yourself or try and improvise round your gaff. In the example you give, just ask them what they did - if they can't remember what their characters have done, it's not your job to remember for them. And if they don't notice - well, you can back-fill and make subtle changes all the more easily.