For the campaign I am running, we meet every two weeks. I intend to keep some sort of campaign journal (intended for players and/or myself to review before we return), and wonder what the best way to do that is, given the resources here and other places?
As of right now, I intend to keep the journal—as well as have all players create their characters and join my campaign—here on this DND Beyond site. I just would put the latest entry at the top and let the history scroll on the DND Beyond “My Campaign” page.
However, since this is my first campaign to run—and first time using this site—I don’t know if that is a good idea, and if there is some limitation to how long it can get.
Does anyone have any helpful thoughts or suggestions? Thank you so much!
What you describe is exactly what I have done my last several campaigns. I will start the entry with the date of the session in bold face and then the narrative of what happened. Seems to work good enough and is easy to reference.
My advice is: Make it simple! I usually to start out "high", and it just ends up being too much work. I use the campaign-page here, and that works fine.
However the best thing I've used is actually Facebook (given that all players are on FB). Create a secret group/page for your campaign, and upload a pdf (or something there) as well as posting the new entry as a post. That way most people actually read it, AND they commented and got involved.
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
I've started a shared One Note journal for all of my players to contribute to in this way and its been REALLY fun so far! It really keeps them aware of their character's experience of the adventure and helps them brainstorm possible RP situations (which is something I strongly encourage), far more easily. Only difference is we use Milestone for leveling up, so instead I'll find ways to give those players some kind of in-universe assistance (i.e., the cleric wrote out a really funny and detailed summation of the previous session's puzzle solution, so I had him roll a religion check for his goddess to guide him to a hidden stash of health potions). I'm a believer in rewarding the kind of player behavior you want to see more in game.
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Like every single one of my characters, I am a giant lesbian. Unlike every single one of my characters, I am not named after an alcohol.
Active player in the greater Boston area. Possibly interested in local or online games if the group is right.
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
Just want to say—for our first session (we meet every two weeks)—this was great! I have them all contribute their version of events to me, either privately or on a Facebook page I’ve created, and then I craft my own “fact based” version on what they said.
i mainly use it to correct information that they may have misunderstood or even put information there that I may have neglected to mention clearly in the moment. Right now, we’re all new at this so I don’t mind doing a little hand holding, but it was great fun to read the different perspectives of the characters.
im allowing them to send me private messages because some of them have motivations that they don’t want to discuss in front of everyone, but they share them with me so I can work in stories to use them during our adventure. They are awarded 15 xp for doing that. I figure I will award them about 5% of what it takes to get to the next level (since we meet every two weeks). I figure that’s enough to be worth it, but not so much that it’s too generous.
Im also keeping a running list of NPC’s viewable for now too—just to help us all keep it straight. Thanks so much for the advice!
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
Just want to say—for our first session (we meet every two weeks)—this was great! I have them all contribute their version of events to me, either privately or on a Facebook page I’ve created, and then I craft my own “fact based” version on what they said.
i mainly use it to correct information that they may have misunderstood or even put information there that I may have neglected to mention clearly in the moment. Right now, we’re all new at this so I don’t mind doing a little hand holding, but it was great fun to read the different perspectives of the characters.
im allowing them to send me private messages because some of them have motivations that they don’t want to discuss in front of everyone, but they share them with me so I can work in stories to use them during our adventure. They are awarded 15 xp for doing that. I figure I will award them about 5% of what it takes to get to the next level (since we meet every two weeks). I figure that’s enough to be worth it, but not so much that it’s too generous.
Im also keeping a running list of NPC’s viewable for now too—just to help us all keep it straight. Thanks so much for the advice!
Cool!
One of the great things (at lest when I did this), was that it kept the players active also between sessions. And as you say - it's sometimes hilarious to read some in-character descriptions of the events.
Level of secret messages and stuff, depends on the campaign and players is my experience. For me it is a matter of balance - It can be very cool, but it can also kind of "divide" the group if it get too much. I've had campaigns where some players "continued" play between sessions in PM's with me. That's OK, but I sometimes have to hold back the most eager ones so they haven't done too much between sessions because that can be a little boring for the other players.
But very funny to hear that you used my advice and that it worked very well! Best of luck on continuing :-)
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
Just want to say—for our first session (we meet every two weeks)—this was great! I have them all contribute their version of events to me, either privately or on a Facebook page I’ve created, and then I craft my own “fact based” version on what they said.
i mainly use it to correct information that they may have misunderstood or even put information there that I may have neglected to mention clearly in the moment. Right now, we’re all new at this so I don’t mind doing a little hand holding, but it was great fun to read the different perspectives of the characters.
im allowing them to send me private messages because some of them have motivations that they don’t want to discuss in front of everyone, but they share them with me so I can work in stories to use them during our adventure. They are awarded 15 xp for doing that. I figure I will award them about 5% of what it takes to get to the next level (since we meet every two weeks). I figure that’s enough to be worth it, but not so much that it’s too generous.
Im also keeping a running list of NPC’s viewable for now too—just to help us all keep it straight. Thanks so much for the advice!
Cool!
One of the great things (at lest when I did this), was that it kept the players active also between sessions. And as you say - it's sometimes hilarious to read some in-character descriptions of the events.
Level of secret messages and stuff, depends on the campaign and players is my experience. For me it is a matter of balance - It can be very cool, but it can also kind of "divide" the group if it get too much. I've had campaigns where some players "continued" play between sessions in PM's with me. That's OK, but I sometimes have to hold back the most eager ones so they haven't done too much between sessions because that can be a little boring for the other players.
But very funny to hear that you used my advice and that it worked very well! Best of luck on continuing :-)
Yeah, we'll see where the private messages go. We have six players and some of them really enjoy the writing. There are two rogue characters who are the "shady" ones...and...one of them is a pretty experienced and enthusiastic player. The other is brand new to the game. The rest are pretty straightforward. It's a learning experience for me as well. I'm a relatively experienced "small group leader" in other areas--and I think all of our goal is just to have a group of people getting together to entertain themselves, so I think I can gauge whether or not it is good or bad group interaction going on--but it will be interesting to see!
Also--it's entirely possible and likely that my job will remove me from the local area in the next couple months, and that will add to the challenge. But we'll figure it out. It's been a lot of fun so far.
I do that. I developed my overall campaign in my head. When I create modules for my campaign I often write it out in detail. I don't always read the full detail in the group, but I post it in full. I had a critical part of my campaign and I started writing and it came out to 10 pages. Oops.
I do it very simply. I keep a running journal on Google Docs and give my group access. Then after every session I spend a half hour and update it while it is still fresh in my head.
For the campaign I am running, we meet every two weeks. I intend to keep some sort of campaign journal (intended for players and/or myself to review before we return), and wonder what the best way to do that is, given the resources here and other places?
As of right now, I intend to keep the journal—as well as have all players create their characters and join my campaign—here on this DND Beyond site. I just would put the latest entry at the top and let the history scroll on the DND Beyond “My Campaign” page.
However, since this is my first campaign to run—and first time using this site—I don’t know if that is a good idea, and if there is some limitation to how long it can get.
Does anyone have any helpful thoughts or suggestions? Thank you so much!
It's as good an idea as any.
What you describe is exactly what I have done my last several campaigns. I will start the entry with the date of the session in bold face and then the narrative of what happened. Seems to work good enough and is easy to reference.
My advice is: Make it simple! I usually to start out "high", and it just ends up being too much work. I use the campaign-page here, and that works fine.
However the best thing I've used is actually Facebook (given that all players are on FB). Create a secret group/page for your campaign, and upload a pdf (or something there) as well as posting the new entry as a post. That way most people actually read it, AND they commented and got involved.
Ludo ergo sum!
Oh, and consider awarding XP to players that write journal entries. The campaigns I've done this in is by FAR the best documented. Let them write in character if they want - can be really funny, and keeps the campaign "alive" between sessions.
Ludo ergo sum!
What a great idea! Thank you!
I've started a shared One Note journal for all of my players to contribute to in this way and its been REALLY fun so far! It really keeps them aware of their character's experience of the adventure and helps them brainstorm possible RP situations (which is something I strongly encourage), far more easily. Only difference is we use Milestone for leveling up, so instead I'll find ways to give those players some kind of in-universe assistance (i.e., the cleric wrote out a really funny and detailed summation of the previous session's puzzle solution, so I had him roll a religion check for his goddess to guide him to a hidden stash of health potions). I'm a believer in rewarding the kind of player behavior you want to see more in game.
Like every single one of my characters, I am a giant lesbian. Unlike every single one of my characters, I am not named after an alcohol.
Active player in the greater Boston area. Possibly interested in local or online games if the group is right.
Just want to say—for our first session (we meet every two weeks)—this was great! I have them all contribute their version of events to me, either privately or on a Facebook page I’ve created, and then I craft my own “fact based” version on what they said.
i mainly use it to correct information that they may have misunderstood or even put information there that I may have neglected to mention clearly in the moment. Right now, we’re all new at this so I don’t mind doing a little hand holding, but it was great fun to read the different perspectives of the characters.
im allowing them to send me private messages because some of them have motivations that they don’t want to discuss in front of everyone, but they share them with me so I can work in stories to use them during our adventure. They are awarded 15 xp for doing that. I figure I will award them about 5% of what it takes to get to the next level (since we meet every two weeks). I figure that’s enough to be worth it, but not so much that it’s too generous.
Im also keeping a running list of NPC’s viewable for now too—just to help us all keep it straight. Thanks so much for the advice!
Cool!
One of the great things (at lest when I did this), was that it kept the players active also between sessions. And as you say - it's sometimes hilarious to read some in-character descriptions of the events.
Level of secret messages and stuff, depends on the campaign and players is my experience. For me it is a matter of balance - It can be very cool, but it can also kind of "divide" the group if it get too much. I've had campaigns where some players "continued" play between sessions in PM's with me. That's OK, but I sometimes have to hold back the most eager ones so they haven't done too much between sessions because that can be a little boring for the other players.
But very funny to hear that you used my advice and that it worked very well! Best of luck on continuing :-)
Ludo ergo sum!
Yeah, we'll see where the private messages go. We have six players and some of them really enjoy the writing. There are two rogue characters who are the "shady" ones...and...one of them is a pretty experienced and enthusiastic player. The other is brand new to the game. The rest are pretty straightforward. It's a learning experience for me as well. I'm a relatively experienced "small group leader" in other areas--and I think all of our goal is just to have a group of people getting together to entertain themselves, so I think I can gauge whether or not it is good or bad group interaction going on--but it will be interesting to see!
Also--it's entirely possible and likely that my job will remove me from the local area in the next couple months, and that will add to the challenge. But we'll figure it out. It's been a lot of fun so far.
I do that. I developed my overall campaign in my head. When I create modules for my campaign I often write it out in detail. I don't always read the full detail in the group, but I post it in full. I had a critical part of my campaign and I started writing and it came out to 10 pages. Oops.
I do it very simply. I keep a running journal on Google Docs and give my group access. Then after every session I spend a half hour and update it while it is still fresh in my head.
For my campaign, we use Slack.
We've created a specific channel for the the character's to post a journal entry. They receive inspiration when they post a journal entry.
We also have different channels with game summaries, NPCs, places, treasure, copies of handouts, etc...