I've been a long time DM but I keep running into the same issue with my notes.
I am terrible at writing up places, NPC's, locations, etc. I've tried to find layouts but there doesn't seem to be any. Any tips or ways of writing down the information to make it easier?
For an example of the problem: I am currently writing up a tavern in the next town, all I have in order is:
Taverns name Tavern owner name A brief description of what the players see when they enter What the players will see if they approuch the owner.
And that's it. I can't figure out how to structure anything I want to write down. Any tips on the actual layout of how to write things would be amazing and greatly appreciated.
I think your notes layout will depend on what you're using the notes for. What problems are you having that make you think your notes are inadequate? Are you having trouble remembering details about physical locations, NPC personalities, plot events?
For me, I rarely write detailed notes on locations or NPCs I create, because I can just remember that stuff. I do need to write down events or things that are time sensitive. Here's a note I have offhand for next session:
>Leaf & Pestle Potions ("The Old Woman", Ludin Slypha, proprietor)
>Party ordered 3 potions of partial Alter Self on *in game date*, to be ready in 48 hours. Paid in advance.
I don't need any notes on Leaf & Pestle Potions or Ludin Slypha, but I do need to write down what my players ordered and when. I put "The Old Woman" in quotes to remind me that the players didn't ask the shopkeeper's name. (I'll cross it out if they ever do.) That's just how my memory works. So when you design your own system, start by figuring out what you can remember easily. Then just make very simple references to things that are easy for you to recall, and write more detailed notes on things that are hard.
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
I literally just did this for an Inn in Daggerford I livened up before the party sets out.
Inn name with a Brief description: Is it packed with patrons, near empty or halfway? What's the first thing they smell" Is it smoked pork, stale beer or pipe smoke?
NPC name for a server; personality description; cheeful, smiles or rushing around busy because he/she is the only server on duty
Menu: small if they're not staying in town long (3 food items, 3 drink items) or more if they will adventure here longer
NPC name for the owner / bartender, personality description
If they need a plot seed then perhaps an NPC rushes in frazzled about something that happened, or someone is talking about something terrible that happened.
I've been a long time DM but I keep running into the same issue with my notes.
I am terrible at writing up places, NPC's, locations, etc. I've tried to find layouts but there doesn't seem to be any. Any tips or ways of writing down the information to make it easier?
For an example of the problem: I am currently writing up a tavern in the next town, all I have in order is:
Taverns name
Tavern owner name
A brief description of what the players see when they enter
What the players will see if they approuch the owner.
And that's it. I can't figure out how to structure anything I want to write down. Any tips on the actual layout of how to write things would be amazing and greatly appreciated.
You are overthinking it, you are good. Just keep doing you.
If you need more than that you can go to digital and do a wiki, or something like https://www.worldanvil.com
I think your notes layout will depend on what you're using the notes for. What problems are you having that make you think your notes are inadequate? Are you having trouble remembering details about physical locations, NPC personalities, plot events?
For me, I rarely write detailed notes on locations or NPCs I create, because I can just remember that stuff. I do need to write down events or things that are time sensitive. Here's a note I have offhand for next session:
>Leaf & Pestle Potions ("The Old Woman", Ludin Slypha, proprietor)
>Party ordered 3 potions of partial Alter Self on *in game date*, to be ready in 48 hours. Paid in advance.
I don't need any notes on Leaf & Pestle Potions or Ludin Slypha, but I do need to write down what my players ordered and when. I put "The Old Woman" in quotes to remind me that the players didn't ask the shopkeeper's name. (I'll cross it out if they ever do.) That's just how my memory works. So when you design your own system, start by figuring out what you can remember easily. Then just make very simple references to things that are easy for you to recall, and write more detailed notes on things that are hard.
notes? what notes?
Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
I literally just did this for an Inn in Daggerford I livened up before the party sets out.
Inn name with a Brief description: Is it packed with patrons, near empty or halfway? What's the first thing they smell" Is it smoked pork, stale beer or pipe smoke?
NPC name for a server; personality description; cheeful, smiles or rushing around busy because he/she is the only server on duty
Menu: small if they're not staying in town long (3 food items, 3 drink items) or more if they will adventure here longer
NPC name for the owner / bartender, personality description
If they need a plot seed then perhaps an NPC rushes in frazzled about something that happened, or someone is talking about something terrible that happened.