Is there a DM tool for organizing my thoughts?

[Drammattex]

I'm going to check out that neat-o Masterplan.

I use the Mac-based Scrivener program whenever I'm designing something. With Scrivener you can import as many documents as you want and organize them under various folders, which form a menu for the project on the left side of the screen. For example, I have imported pdfs of the PCs' character sheets so I can just click on them to see what they've got; I've imported campaign maps, images from the web, pdfs of DDI articles on skill challenges.

Check out the link. Run the tutorials. Check out the free trial. I plan everything in Scrivener.

 

[ki11erDM]

Onenote. You can even use the online version for free. office.live.com

 

[mysticknight232]

Onenote. You can even use the online version for free. office.live.com

Sounds like Onenote and Masterplan are the tools I'll be looking into. This is stupid, but I never even thought of simply cutting and pasting Monster Stat Blocks into word...that would help big time too. See, I'm glad I asked this question! I know you need to be flexible when you DM as you can never expect your players to do what you want them to do...but I feel that if I still have every little idea written down, I'll be better prepared myself. Thanks for the advice.

Edit: One question...will I need to have my laptop with me in order to take advantage of all the stuff I input into Masterplan or can I print off the info I create on there?

 

[Smoke Jaguar]

Yeah, I usually do some of the tedious slow rolling before hand, ie initiative rolls for 10 monsters. I will list all their rolls in excel in order and will paste their stat block next to the rolls. It is nice to have all the information on one page.

 

[Ryujin]

If you're looking for something to organize the basic concepts of the storyline, then I would recommend you consider using one of the many free programmer's flow chart programmes. Thinking about it in terms of If/Then/Else makes sense, when you're dealing with the broad strokes.

 

[Herschel]

A bottle of tequila and a notebook have never steared me wrong.

I generally do still stick to low-tech when working on ideas.

 

[doctorhook]

Edit: One question...will I need to have my laptop with me in order to take advantage of all the stuff I input into Masterplan or can I print off the info I create on there?

I'm not sure about Masterplan offline. I know you can print out sections of your work in OneNote... but in the case of both Masterplan and OneNote, you'll be losing out on the main functionality of the software if you aren't using it live. In other words, bring your laptop. (It has replaced my DM screen.)

If you're looking for something to organize the basic concepts of the storyline, then I would recommend you consider using one of the many free programmer's flow chart programmes. Thinking about it in terms of If/Then/Else makes sense, when you're dealing with the broad strokes.

Good idea, but both Masterplan and OneNote can do this.

A bottle of tequila and a notebook have never steared me wrong.

I generally do still stick to low-tech when working on ideas.

I've never had a game session go well when it involved tequila.

...Come to think of it, I can't think of anything that's gone well with tequila.

 

[mysticknight232]

I'd just like to say that after messing around with Masterplan for about an hour, I love it! This is exactly what I've been looking for. I know I have a lot to learn, but after creating my opening skill challenge, I'd just like to recommend this to everybody.

Any chance somebody could link the youtube instruction videos?

 

[Ferghis]

Are your players on iplay4e? It integrates seamlessly with Masterplan.

In case you haven't checked it out: iplay4e.appspot.com

 

[mysticknight232]

Are your players on iplay4e? It integrates seamlessly with Masterplan.

In case you haven't checked it out: iplay4e.appspot.com

Yes, we're all definately on iplay...not yet for this one-shot as they're still working on their guys, but they will be.

Tonight I plan on tackling a regular combat encounter. Can't wait to see how that goes for me, hopefully as seamless as the skill challange.

Edit: One question for somebody tho...how do I populate my library with creatures and such in order to build my encounters? When I looked last night, there was nothing there. Is there a file I need to DL or do I need to input monsters by hand the first time? I'll be digging through the manual a bit later on and so maybe I'll find my own answer, but if anybody has any advice to offer fist, I'd appreciate it.