In your games, how do you track NPCs? Do you have an app or any special technique?
I'm just about to start a campaign where there'll be on-and-off contact with NPCs and the actions and behaviour of the players will affect how the NPCs will interact with them in the future, cause potential plot developments etc. ideally, I'd like a resource where I can note down what's happened so far with an NPC, then I can review the notes when that NPC comes back in again.
Obviously, there's the good old fashioned notebook, but that would either have notes for NPCs all over the place or I'd have to guess how much space I'd need and then I'd have to try and where in the book a given NPC is, which gets messy and slow.
So I was wondering if anyone has a system that they use to make it easier, or if there is a good app or something?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I have a small notebook for the world. I write important NPCs in there. General one off NPCs or a back ground flavor just pop up and are forgotten, until a player brings him/her up 8 moths later. But I also record all of my games, so I can go back to it later.
I use an excel sheet. I have one tab that’s specific to character backgrounds, one tab that’s specific to locations (an NPC who will always be in the same town, like the local shopkeeper, etc.), and one tab for more global NPCs who might move around and be encountered anywhere.
I put them in by name, then use other cells for notes, using a new cell for each different, notable interaction.
I use excel sheets too, but I also use a notebook for lesser NPCs such as that one barkeep that the party ordered a drink from a year ago. Never underestimate your player's ability to bring up a random NPC that you never actually gave any thought.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
- Igglywiv the Wizard
I played every class, now playing every sub-class.
You would not believe how much ADHD helps with creating campaigns!
I'd use an electronic document so I can update my notes on each NPC. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, but if you want stronger organization, Google Docs, Word, and any decent word processor will let you do outline-formatted things, so you could organize your people by region or whatever makes sense.
(Personally, I keep it all the major people in my head, but that's not something everybody can do, and I do use a fair amount of notes still.)
I use OneNote for all my stuff. During a session I treat the area my players in as the "live area". This is where I mentally move NPCs around. Like in a city and such.
After each session I sit for an hour and move the world along regarding the areas the players may go to. which is typically around the areas they could be heading to.
Though if there are wars or something important happening in the world I'll advance that and change the world accordingly with town criers or notices in the areas on what's going on.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
In your games, how do you track NPCs? Do you have an app or any special technique?
I'm just about to start a campaign where there'll be on-and-off contact with NPCs and the actions and behaviour of the players will affect how the NPCs will interact with them in the future, cause potential plot developments etc. ideally, I'd like a resource where I can note down what's happened so far with an NPC, then I can review the notes when that NPC comes back in again.
Obviously, there's the good old fashioned notebook, but that would either have notes for NPCs all over the place or I'd have to guess how much space I'd need and then I'd have to try and where in the book a given NPC is, which gets messy and slow.
So I was wondering if anyone has a system that they use to make it easier, or if there is a good app or something?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I have a small notebook for the world. I write important NPCs in there. General one off NPCs or a back ground flavor just pop up and are forgotten, until a player brings him/her up 8 moths later. But I also record all of my games, so I can go back to it later.
I use an excel sheet. I have one tab that’s specific to character backgrounds, one tab that’s specific to locations (an NPC who will always be in the same town, like the local shopkeeper, etc.), and one tab for more global NPCs who might move around and be encountered anywhere.
I put them in by name, then use other cells for notes, using a new cell for each different, notable interaction.
I use excel sheets too, but I also use a notebook for lesser NPCs such as that one barkeep that the party ordered a drink from a year ago. Never underestimate your player's ability to bring up a random NPC that you never actually gave any thought.
- Igglywiv the Wizard
I played every class, now playing every sub-class.
You would not believe how much ADHD helps with creating campaigns!
Happy Pride Month!
I'd use an electronic document so I can update my notes on each NPC. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, but if you want stronger organization, Google Docs, Word, and any decent word processor will let you do outline-formatted things, so you could organize your people by region or whatever makes sense.
(Personally, I keep it all the major people in my head, but that's not something everybody can do, and I do use a fair amount of notes still.)
I use OneNote for all my stuff. During a session I treat the area my players in as the "live area". This is where I mentally move NPCs around. Like in a city and such.
After each session I sit for an hour and move the world along regarding the areas the players may go to. which is typically around the areas they could be heading to.
Though if there are wars or something important happening in the world I'll advance that and change the world accordingly with town criers or notices in the areas on what's going on.