General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
I'm not really sure if this is right forum for this...I was looking at Microsoft's Onenote program, and was wondering if anyone is using it to organize their session notes...Any feedback (of the constructive sort), ideas, etc.
I use it all the time, alongside Open Office. OOo is used when i want layouting power. Onenote for Session notes that have to be stored hierarchically, and for hyperlinking between documents. I inserted the scanned high-res maps for the complete Untermountain Dungeon and wrote hyperlinked room numbers over the real numbers, that led you to a description site with a click.
One thing where onenote really shines is ripping stuff out of other stuff. Dragon article with interesting monster: a) rip it out with Windowskey+s, insert separate page, write into page name: "Monster Name / Level / Function / XP" Thats it. I do that casually, and i´ve already assembled an awesome amount of stuff.
Here´s a picture:
__________________ C4bal: We´re watching your dicerolls.
X-Zine - the German review & news site for RPGs / books / comics / music / CCG / DVDs and much much more
It's awesome, I use it for RPG Sessions, for Work and for Home. The Search is great (it searches even Pictures), it has Tablet-PC functionality, the automatic Synchronisation is cool (USB-Stick, Network, etc).
Also I love the feature that it really works like a intelligent notebooks .. so I can write wherever I want and then drag and drop everything around to my liking...
I loved OneNote for DMing back when I used a Windows laptop. It was great for tracking the development of many plot hooks using separate pages.
Since I switched to a MacBook, I've used Google Docs. Despite its limitations relative to OneNote, I like being able to access my notes from anywhere online.
I started using OneNote at work becuase the IT department had pre-installed it on my PC and I was curious, but once I started using it I just fell in love. I actually bought Office 2007 for my home PC, mostly so that I'd have the latest OneNote and would be able to use it for my personal stuff (including D&D). I usually don't feel so strongly about Microsoft products, but I really feel like they got it right with this one. My only complaint is that there isn't a scripting engine behind it, so I can't make macros. (If anybody knows how to do any sort of scripting/macros in OneNote please please please let me know about it. It would make OneNote 100% better, possibly becoming the awesomest program I've ever used. )
I have a notebook for ideas, so that any time something strikes me I file it away for later. I have another notebook for the campaign I'm playing in where I keep track of things like how many arrows I shot last session and my current hit points (I play online, so I'm already in front of a computer when I play). And I really like the ability to move things around whenever I need to. For example, I started with just one notebook for everything D&D, then I split it up into two, one for my player-related stuff and one for my DM-related stuff.
__________________ Adventure is not outside; it is within. --Found in a fortune cookie on game night
Strangely I think I'd be okay with having a PC die by a bear exploding out of his head. --Awayfarer, after having his PC put a furry ball from a Bag of Tricks into his mouth.
I love OneNote. Used it a ton for school, but I've also used it a lot for D&D. I've found it's great for both plotting out a campaign and working on campaign setting ideas.
At last, I can notebooks full of abandoned ideas... that are digital! It's a dream come true
I had never heard of this program before. Then I found this thread and saw its awesomeness. My mother has a copy of Office 2007 she never used because she got another copy from work, long story short I made her extra copy my own and am FLOORED with how awesome this program is to use. I dont know how I got by without it before! Thanks for the heads up this guys! Now to move my oodles and oodles of notes in various files into ONE easy place to find them.
edit: one quick question, does anyone know of a template or something that I can add to put char sheets for my players into onenote? Would be nice to be able to have that for updating and the like. Just curious
Last edited by Wonka; 19th September 2008 at 04:12 AM..
I think there was a version in Office 2003, but it wasn't as well known.
__________________ Adventure is not outside; it is within. --Found in a fortune cookie on game night
Strangely I think I'd be okay with having a PC die by a bear exploding out of his head. --Awayfarer, after having his PC put a furry ball from a Bag of Tricks into his mouth.
I don't have a character sheet template, but I always use one of those fillable PDF's and print it to One-Note (there is a printer installed from One-Note). If I have to enter something in the session (HP's, Notes, etc) then I write it with my tablet pc in a different color so I can easily see what changed until I level up then I update my original file and start anew.
I don't have a character sheet template, but I always use one of those fillable PDF's and print it to One-Note (there is a printer installed from One-Note). If I have to enter something in the session (HP's, Notes, etc) then I write it with my tablet pc in a different color so I can easily see what changed until I level up then I update my original file and start anew.
Where is this printer option for Onenote? Perhaps I am just not seeing this, and how exactly does it work? I ask because I would love to have a copy of my players char sheets in my notes, that I can update when they level up.
Hmm I found my problem, it seems the Onenote printer driver cannot be installed on a 64-bit windows operating system. Just when MS wins me over for once with an amazing product... Oh well, sour grapes I suppose!
A good look at my Undermountain Campaign in Onenote:
I´ve always wanted to, well, just note all relevant Information directly on the map. And i did. And for 6 month of my Moonsea campaign, my players failed to trigger the portal to Undermountain.
Oh, and the picture has been made using Onenote, of course. I have all notebooks on a USB drive, and can access them on any PC which has onenote installed. And it´s secure, because Onenotes always backs up the notebooks to the PCs harddrive.
__________________ C4bal: We´re watching your dicerolls.
X-Zine - the German review & news site for RPGs / books / comics / music / CCG / DVDs and much much more
Was there supposed to be another picture in your last post? I dont see one?
Thats a good idea to put the notebooks on a USB drive, although I use a laptop, so I just normally take that with me. I already used my laptop for my DMing needs, now this program will GREATLY simplify my job.
EDIT: I also found a temporary workaround for not having a Onenote printer in vista 64, it requires a 50$ dollar printer driver, but it has a 30 day free trial. Ive used it so far and it works nice. http://blog.nils-kaiser.de/2008/06/2...-on-vista-x64/ There is the link for any 64 bit users of Onenote like myself who want the print to one note option!
Gah! Beats my why the picture didn´t work the first time. Sorry Wonka - and i read your post and thought "hey, it´s showing up for me. Did he think i added two pictures?" And now i click on the thread again and it´s gone. Strangeness, your name is Picasa.
Anyhow: The picture:
__________________ C4bal: We´re watching your dicerolls.
X-Zine - the German review & news site for RPGs / books / comics / music / CCG / DVDs and much much more
It's free, and it's standalone. It does download as a "setup", but you can just grab the folder you copied it into and put it on a USB key drive and take around with you. No need to run the "setup" file again.
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