I have taken to doing this. I got exasperated from constantly saying stuff like "We look for that dude the other dude mentioned about an hour ago..."
So I jot down important names and info for later reference during the adventure.
Yup.
When I first started gaming, I took copious notes, such that I could pretty much recall every event that occurred during a session.
While there are times in more recent gaming that I wish I had such notes, I really can't get that in-depth any longer. I certainly do, however, record people/places/names and quick details on what's going on, there's just no prose to it any longer.
Yes.
Often.
So often that I have had GMs ask me to see my notes on the previous game session to see what they had forgotten.
I always jot down names of important NPCs when I am playing.
Later I regret not taking more copious notes when I find that I no longer remember who Sirius the Black was or what quest he was involved in.
Yes, I at least write npc names on my PC sheet. May also note quest objectives or other important stuff. As GM I have players who make copious notes and others who note nothing, even their own pc class abilities.
All the time.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1097162I have taken to doing this. I got exasperated from constantly saying stuff like "We look for that dude the other dude mentioned about an hour ago..."
So I jot down important names and info for later reference during the adventure.
The back of my charsheet is blank. So I'll jot things down. Like a journal.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1097162I have taken to doing this. I got exasperated from constantly saying stuff like "We look for that dude the other dude mentioned about an hour ago..."
So I jot down important names and info for later reference during the adventure.
Yes. And mapping, and keeping an eye on supplies as best as can. I jot down names or feelings about an NPC sometimes, and overall have a few index cards handy for such tasks.
"Arden the Blacksmith: Gnoll: mentioned would like to get better tools to work with. Keep an eye out for these as we go?"
or
"Nimuel: Spectre: Looking for clues to murderer of family so can pass on finally. Keep eye out for raven haired elven woman with serpentine daggers?"
or
"Otto the Merchant: Human: ripped us off on equipment."
and so on. Adding to as needed.
I do, but I'm really bad about it.
Luckily, my bud's wife is very attention detailed.
You need one good note taker at the table. I rather not be the team scribe, but I'm often the team scribe and my notes are...notable.
I jot down names, places and important events. I don't write a chronicle of what we have done, as that takes the focus away from the game, for me.
Yes, of course. :) In the game of masks, playing pretend, it is easy to slip up on character knowledge and end with a sloppy pastische of "Generic MurderHobo #5."
Of course I take notes. I'm mildly surprised that there might be people that don't.
Yes. Always have. A group with no one taking notes turns every session after the first into a game of Who's on First (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M).
Yes, but sporadically. Mostly just names of NPC and places. Or if there is some kind of riddle or instructions for something.
Yes, every session. Names, places, attributes, and goals/desires of any NPCs encountered, any architecture/places encountered, anything that seems like there might be use or significance later. Not a narration or huge quantity of notes, though, kind of a bullet journal of RPG NPCs, places, items, and significant events.
Funnily enough I am really bad at recording treasure the party acquires, but another friend in the group is on point for treasure so it works out and our party gets paid. :D
I guess I kind of treat every game like a murder mystery note-wise, even though I don't think I've ever played an actual murder mystery campaign. Any detail could turn out to be useful or important later.
I take a lot of notes as GM. Even down to what each character does each round, and so know when a ten-round spell just expired or what action they said they held.
And I also take the same notes as a player, but I try not to slow down the game by pestering anyone to repeat things or to give the exact spellings of NPC names or places. So the notes are not always as useful as they might be.
If I ever get the chance to play again, I will take notes like there's no tomorrow. I am always the GM. But there might be a chance in the near future that I'll get to play once more. I feel disappointed if players don't take notes, forget everything between sessions and stuff like that, because I spend so much time preparing everything.
Yes and no. Yes, in that I write a few things. No, in that I never refer to those "notes" again. If I did, they'd probably be illegible even to me. The act of making a few scribbles that vaguely resemble the English language is enough to fix the thing in my mind.
Quote from: Steven Mitchell;1097474Yes and no. Yes, in that I write a few things. No, in that I never refer to those "notes" again. If I did, they'd probably be illegible even to me. The act of making a few scribbles that vaguely resemble the English language is enough to fix the thing in my mind.
If they are handwritten, yes. Typed notes just don't stick in the brain the same way. And just looking back at a few written notes often helps me recall much more of the adventure than what I wrote down.
Right now the only group I play in regularly gets 1.5 hours every 2 weeks (at work), so I write a summary on a laptop as we play the game and recap it at the start of every session - otherwise even the DM forgets status. I'm the most experienced player so (1) take less time than most to make up my mind and (2) am trying really hard not to overshadow the others. Also, the player who originally volunteered to write summaries wrote them in character as a hyperactive know-nothing gnome.
Quote from: Ratman_tf;1097162I have taken to doing this. I got exasperated from constantly saying stuff like "We look for that dude the other dude mentioned about an hour ago..."
So I jot down important names and info for later reference during the adventure.
I'm usually the mapper when we dungeoncrawl, so I take a ton of notes. It's super immersive, really puts you in your character's shoes. I also love coming back to those notes on the next sessions; there's stuff like "secret door?" and "Nobody trusts Archimon because he contradicted himself" and fun stuff like that.
I dunno. It's fun.
Quote from: Naburimannu;1097760Right now the only group I play in regularly gets 1.5 hours every 2 weeks (at work), so I write a summary on a laptop as we play the game and recap it at the start of every session - otherwise even the DM forgets status. I'm the most experienced player so (1) take less time than most to make up my mind and (2) am trying really hard not to overshadow the others. Also, the player who originally volunteered to write summaries wrote them in character as a hyperactive know-nothing gnome.
The IC Gnome summary sounds fun. But not as the only summary. As a GM I really appreciate it when I have a player who takes good notes.
Many moons ago, one of my favorite computer games was ultima underworld (PC) which I played a lot during D&D breaks. Unlike todays console RPG's, quest details, locations, NPC's were not created for you. It was there I learned the value of taking quality notes.
Yes, I take notes. The amount of detail in my notes depends on whether there is a real detail-hog in the game. If there is, my notes are sparse and concern only things directly involving my character. If there isn't, I assume that duty and keep track of everything.
In the campaign that I am playing now, as opposed to GMing, Bruce writes down a narration of our adventure and has a meticulous list of the stuff we gain, as far as we have found out the details. I note every NPC by name and what they do and will include what each of our characters thinks about them when I am told. Jeff maps. Other players might jot something down but we three are the major note-takers.
I should take more notes... (as player AND as GM...)
I did just copy a bunch of notes out of a play by post game so I can keep track of things in that game better...
As GM I have relied on player notes.
Frank
Please remember to put the notes back when you are done with them. :mad:
OMG yeah... my character sheet is usually filled with notes and such.
Honestly, this is kind of why I am not a fan of digital character sheets. I want to just take things down and map on paper.
Quote from: wolfhillrpg;1097828Many moons ago, one of my favorite computer games was ultima underworld (PC) which I played a lot during D&D breaks. Unlike todays console RPG's, quest details, locations, NPC's were not created for you. It was there I learned the value of taking quality notes.
I remember playing those old school dungeon crawl games. I made hand written maps and notes of them as I explored them.