DM Binder?

[Aopy]

I am starting to DM a brand new campaign set in Greyhawk and was wondering if anyone out there keeps a "DM Binder"? What are the contents of this binder? Or would I be better off investing in a wack load of index cards that seem to be so popular on these boards?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lazarus Long]

Its really a matter of taste. I've used both, and I just like the binder better. It feels more organized for me, but ymmv.

If you want some good tips, there's Johnn Four's site, Roleplaying tips.

Here's a link to an article specifically for binders:
http://www.roleplayingtips.com/issue69.html

My binder has: PC notes, Fleshed out NPC notes, NPC lists, creatures that I had to work longer than 5 minutes making (like Trollocs with Armsman levels ), plots, and a whole lot of paper. I plan on getting one of those small calendars to keep track of time.

hope this helps!

-Laz

 

[Horacio]

In my first campaign I didn't used a DM binder. My campaign notes were a collection of heterogeneous size papers, withot any real organization. When the campaigns grew, it soon became unmanageable...

Since then I use always a DM binder (or folder), with standard size papers, and I try to have everything as organised as possible. It pays off, that's sure!

 

[Moonlion]

Three ring binders annoy me because when they're opened, DM screens aren't big enough to wrap around them. So, it's rather like not having a screen in the first place.

I should be annoyed at DM screens for not being big enough for binders.

I guess it's like contemplating the number of hot dogs in a package vs. buns in a package.

 

[Zappo]

I use a DM binder! It contains:
- copies of all the PCs sheets
- the adventure
- sheets where I write who was present at what session, how long the session lasted, and how many XP each player got in each session
- full stats for a bunch of generic NPCs
- full stats for a lot of specific NPCs
- a summary of all fighting options and rules, complete with tables

However, recently I dropped the copies of the PCs sheets and the full stats for NPCs, because I store them in a laptop instead.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I use plastic folders, they have a string tie, are very strong and hold a good bit. I then place my notes, index cards and such into them.

Tried using binders but either my data was not hole-punched or I did not have enough sheet protectors and mostly something was always falling out!

 

[Deadguy]

A Really Useful Idea

Now I will start by saying that I haven't really tried note cards, except a brief trial a long time ago, when I decided I wasn't happy with them, finding them too prone to being misplaced.

But I do keep my role-playing stuff in folders, both as a player and DM. I find I use Display Books (the kind with the clear pockets bound in books of 20 to 100); or I use the punched pockets and 4-ring binders. Either way, they store my information in a logical fashion. As the amount grows, I get extra folders and redistribute the information.

As to what they contain, my Shattered World setting has grown to 6 folders:

1. Campaign File: setting material, House Rules and Character Creation material
2. Adventure File: the typed up adventures (yes, I do sometimes prepare an entire adventure in advance); this also gets printed copies of downloaded adventures for fufure use
3. Maps: I like to have maps separate from adventures or campaign stuff, so I can find them easily, and reuse them quickly if I need to
4. Magic: I have made enough chanes to magic, inclusing expanding magical schools, bardic colleges and 'religious' orders that I need somewhere to concentrate the material
5. NPCs: I like to have important and recurring NPCs kept separately; I also file here old NPCs from earlier adventures, which lets me 're-use' bits as I need without looking through the adventure stuff
6. Notes: I make notes on A4 paper when I DM, and these eventually get into the notes file, so I can find them all without losing sheets of paper
   [/list=1]
   I appreciate that this sounds like a lot of files and a lot of work! But it saves a great deal of effort in the long run, being able to recover information more readily. And that makes a big difference to consistency and fairness.
   
   Still, whatever works for you is always the best, naturally.

 

[Psion]

I use a laptop.

I used to use a binder. A laptop is much easier to organize.

That said, I am thinking about resurrecting my old binder. It primarily held house rules and related information for the players. Though I don't have as many house rules as I used to have (3e requires less house rules than 1e or 2e), I now have many PDFs that I could see throwing in a binder with house rules, world details, and other printouts for the players' consumption.

 

[Dungeon Master]

I used a laptop in the past but I found that it was a bit too bulky. Anyway I purchased a fancy leather dragon 3-ring binder at a renn fair in January.

Unfortunatly, I've been so tied up with getting Dramaer published and some other writing projects I've just started putting together this binder.

Thanks for all the good information everyone, this helped me quite a bit!

The DM

 

[Tewligan]

God bless the teeny tiny notebook

I use a binder, but I find those little 3ish" x 5ish" memo pads much more useful during play. They don't take up crazy amounts of space behind the screen, and they're useful for both adventure notes and for jotting down reminders of things you make up mid-game. They're cheap, too - buy 'em, use 'em, love 'em.