How do you record your game sessions?

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

I've ended up as the default recorder of what goes on in our gaming sessions, particularly of our long-term one (Leviathan). It works out okay, as long as I'm not involved in a discussion directly, but when I am I find later I've left out important bits when just transcribing.

So how do you deal with this?

Bear in mind, I don't mean combat stuff like "Ari parries her opponent's sword thrust" and "Levan fires his flintlock and ignites the keg of gunpowder on the other ship." Somehow I always manage to get involved in intense roleplaying, like arguments with a romantic rival or initiation into a cult-like society where the information is important to be able to refer back to. I like to look the DM or the player in the eye, not be scribbling the whole time.

Any suggestions? (Besides "Seek professional help for your obsession.")

Leviathan web page

 

[francisca]

Any suggestions? (Besides "Seek professional help for your obsession.")

Leviathan web page

As the DM, I record the results of encounters (both combat and pure roleplay). I jot down the creature/NPC/etc encountered, the result, XP and treasure gained, and make notes as needed. I havea grid I made up especially for this purpose.

A day or two after the game session, somebody in the group posts a summary on a private message board I run. We also use the message board for away-from-the-table-roleplay stuff, like shopping, selling swag, asking around at the tavern, and whatnot.

 

[eris404]

Bear in mind, I don't mean combat stuff like "Ari parries her opponent's sword thrust" and "Levan fires his flintlock and ignites the keg of gunpowder on the other ship." Somehow I always manage to get involved in intense roleplaying, like arguments with a romantic rival or initiation into a cult-like society where the information is important to be able to refer back to. I like to look the DM or the player in the eye, not be scribbling the whole time.

Buy a tape recorder. No, seriously. I write our game logs in short story format and I don't want to miss any details, so I decided to try it. I used it for the first time last session and it was brilliant. Just make sure you buy enough blank tapes.

 

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

Buy a tape recorder. No, seriously. I write our game logs in short story format and I don't want to miss any details, so I decided to try it. I used it for the first time last session and it was brilliant. Just make sure you buy enough blank tapes.

I'm seriously considering that. I also write the logs in short story format. Did anybody feel inhibited by it or did they tend to forget it was recording?

 

[derelictjay]

Man as a DM I dream of someone like you. The best recorder I had, was a guy who jotted down NPC names and places on the edges of his character sheet. Usually I as the DM had to keep track of the records (never worked very well)

 

[SinisterMinister]

At the risk of tooting my own horn, here's the web site I set-up for the game in which I am a player: http://rpg.hive-brain.com/tiki/tiki-index.php

It uses an open source engine called Tiki. it's got a lot of features we don't use/need, but it does include a wiki (Google the term if you are unfamiliar), which is a great way to keep track of all of the people/places/things going on.

Project #17 on the long list of things I want to do but never have time for is to make a more customized version of this kind of portal tailored for an RPG campaign website.

 

[Desdichado]

I take a few notes. A paragraph or two a session, tops. Other than that, it's all in my head.

 

[evildm]

I run my games online (due to the distance between my old group and I, more than anything else), so at the end of a session, I just copy and paste all the chat logs from MSN to Word, and then turn it into a really accurate session writeup later on.

Having all those accurate records of sessions at your fingertips is REALLY useful. I'm amazed I survived so long without it.

 

[evildmguy]

I jot notes down as we are playing in TreePad. I also use a Digital Audio Recorder as we play. I find that it doesn't effect our gaming or our style. I usually forget it is there! I also try and create index marks, while gaming, for any areas that I think I will want to listen to again.

So far, it is working out well for me. And I like having the audio recording of the session. There is one session that still makes me laugh to the point of tears!

Have a good one! Take care!

edg

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I write a recap, usually a few days after the game. From past experience, I find written logs to be invaluable; not so much for in-game arguments and reference, but so that 10 years from now I can look back and remember it all fondly.

I've played some good campaigns, but I can't keep them straight anymore.