GM Notes: Handwritten or Typed?

[EricNoah]

Typed and printed out. I like the neatness and organization of typed (plus I can use font colors for different stats - red to call out AC, purple for immunities & resistances, green for vulnerabilities, etc.), and I can use my electronic tools (eTools and spell spreadsheets) to do the number crunching. But then at the table I prefer printed notes so I can scrawl on them as necessary. As you probably know well, stats change a lot during a 3E combat.

 

[SlyFlourish]

I usually have notes on 3x5 cards handwritten. I copy and paste monster stats onto a landscape page, though, and print those out. I grab screenshots of the DDI Compendium for this.

I usually write up my notes and ideas in a Moleskine with a fountain pen, though, while I'm getting ideas into my head.

 

[Alt Boy!]

Am i like the only one who just uses their HEAD? I'll sketch down a statblock or something, but the campaign is up in my cranium.

 

[Grymar]

A little of all.

Most planning is done on a couple of wikis (I recommend pbwiki.com). I have one that the players use to keep character sheet, post recaps, and I use to post maps, backgrounds, and experience points. I have a second wiki that is private just for me where I plan out plot ideas and stat out all of the encounters. Usually I print out these pages before the game, but not always.

Maps are done either in digital format or handwritten, depending on my needs. Usually, if it is for the players' to use I'll digitize it and print it. Handwritten maps are usually only for my reference.

During the game I have my laptop out for referencing d20srd.org or visiting the wikis, plus any notes I printed, maps, and a dry erase board for tracking initiative or hit points.

 

[Lord Ipplepop]

I type out the adventure, and write notes in the margins in pencil or pen, depending on what is needed.
I keep adventure notes on a sheet with a pen to transpose later to the computer.

 

[vagabundo]

Gmail - Google Docs & Sites - all my notes are electronic. Oh I use drop box for images and other docs like PDFs. It works really, really, well as I work on stuff everywhere; work, home, while mobile, blah...

My player involvement has gone from ~0-1% to 55%, it's pure win!

I send out a regular DND Story Hour about the sessions and do character creation with the DDI Character Creator.

I use the compendium and other online tools and pillage dungeon adventures to create sessions in G-Docs.

I've gone totally electronic, except at the game table. I print everything out, no laptops allowed. It is working wonderfully, I've never been happier to DM.

ASIDE: The session on Sunday was excellent, it was short - I was late - but almost 100% roleplaying. Something nearly unheard of at my table. It might have something to do with all their character's getting new sheets from the Character Builder, they all seemed hyped up after that.

 

[Wormwood]

3e: I used Microsoft Word to compose my DM notes.

4e: I use a pencil to scribble in the margins of the Dungeon adventures I print out.

 

[Noumenon]

Am i like the only one who just uses their HEAD?

I used to, but my scalp didn't have enough room for the full 3.5 statblocks and my map of the realms smeared when I took off my hat.

 

[Ktulu]

I type my notes for upcoming games in word, then put recaps/follow-ups on my epic words blog.

I don't do anything handwritten for two reasons:

1. I have horrid handwriting/note taking skills and often lose the paper I'm writing on.

2. If I do it in word, I save it to a shared folder for my work pc, home pc, and laptop. Means I always have all notes in one easy to access location.

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

Handwritten, then transferred to my pbwiki.com for full, clickthrough referencing. See below in my signature.