DMs: What program(s) do you use to track your campaign?

[cmbarona]

I'd like to become more organized in planning my campaign. I currently use a small, spiral-bound journal, which has worked well enough so far, but I know won't work as adventures progress and there become more NPCs, organizations, events, etc. to track. I'd like to put everything in a digital format, but I'm debating the specific format to use. Hence the titular
question.

What program(s) do you use to track your campaign? I'd like to weigh the pros and cons of various applications.

 

[Vascant]

Onenote

I have yet to find anything else that even comes close

 

[Wombat]

Personally, I use three-ring binders (along with spiral binders). I keep documents on my computer that I update and reprint as necessary. For my Ars Magica campaign I kept a couple of basic data-bases, but nothing fancy.

Haven't felt the need for anything else yet.

 

[Orryn Emrys]

I run 3.5E, so DM Genie is teh bomm!!! I checked out a lot of different campaign management and game maintenance software before I settled on it. I used to use MyInfo before that... it was really good for organizing campaign information.

 

[cmbarona]

Onenote

I have yet to find anything else that even comes close

Interesting. I've heard of Onenote, but never used it myself. What are some of its capabilities, and more specifically, its pros and cons for campaign planning/organizing?

 

[Jack99]

Onenote rocks. Another great option is google docs. Coupled with picassa and blogger, you basically have a all in one collection of programmes to cover your campaign needs, and best of all, they are free and can be accessed no matter where you are. No more forgetting your notes. Ever

 

[Charwoman Gene]

My head.

 

[cmbarona]

Hmm... I definitely like the idea of using online tools, since I frequently travel between computers, and I can't guarantee many programs will be installed on all of them.

 

[Umbran]

Ring-binders and folders have been, and still are, my mainstay. I do a lot of write-ups on computer, printing them, and then inserting them. That way every adventure note ends up in the right place.

I am starting to think I might try MS OneNote for the next major campaign I run, except I am not a big fan of using a laptop at the table. Note sure how that one will fall out.

 

[wedgeski]

I use a combination of:

- A campaign wiki. I happen to use PBWorks, but there are no doubt hundreds out there to choose from. A wiki is great not only for organising your campaign, but also for giving your players the chance to write pages and contribute to it directly. From the wiki I print out into...

- A campaign ring-binder. At the table I still need the feel of paper between my fingertips, so notes for that session are printed and put in a folder along with my DM essentials... NPC and place names, session note sheets, etc. After the session I'll transfer whatever additions or changes I need to make back onto the wiki.

- A message board. Google Groups is ours for the purpose, and with Calendar as well, you can organise sessions, post comments, work around players with other commitments, all of those handy things. The message board's primary purpose, for me, is to keep my players engaged and communicative in the time between sessions, especially if we miss a week.

- A campaign blog (see links below) for journaling sessions, gathering player comments (if they'd ever post on the damn thing!) and general musings.