Ryltar
First Post
KnightErrantJr, I feel your pain. In my opinion, it would be ideal if players contributed campaign journals, which I consider an essential part of a successful campaign. The problem is how to motivate them, if they aren't already. The easiest way to do so would be to give out XP, but in a campaign such as my own which has done away with XP entirely, it's not really an option. I've tried small things such as a bonus reroll or an item of choice placed conveniently in the next treasure hoard, but that's only been successful about 50% of the time. In the end, I decided to do the journals myself. The difficulty was adjusting to the added burden of having to jot down relatively detailed notes during play, but I've found it saves you a lot of time later. Simply wait for the party to do some RP amongst themselves where you - as the GM - aren't necessarily needed; then use that time to scribble your notes. Or do it in between sessions, as long as stuff is still fresh in your memory.
The bottom line, in my experience, is that having a campaign journal beats not having one at any time, even if you have to write it yourself.
The bottom line, in my experience, is that having a campaign journal beats not having one at any time, even if you have to write it yourself.