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MasterAO
Over Power
(Admin)
Sweden
8184 Posts
3393(24)
Status: Offline
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 Posted - 08/02/2006 : 17:55:34
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| How important do you rate a campaign journal? That is the new Poll of the Month. Furthermore, who should keep that journal, the DM or a player/players? |
Master AO
Adventurer's tip #25: Never enter a dungeon without a 50 ft. coil of rope. It can save your life. |
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Aussiegamer
Hanging on for grim death
(Moderator)
Australia
9050 Posts
3108(166)
Status: Offline
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 Posted - 08/03/2006 : 01:21:40
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Its a fun read and allows some others to comment on the happenings.
I think they are good if done properly. |
Its amazing that a 1 in a million chance happens 9 out of 10 times. |
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Halidan
Ranger Lord of Berry
(Moderator)
USA
2613 Posts
3079(8)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/03/2006 : 18:58:57
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Personally, I think they're critical to the sucess of the campaign. They add significantly to the amount of role-playing and in-character reactions that takes place in the campaign.
As for who should keep them, I think both the DM and the players should keep the journals. The DM's journal (which should be hidden from the players) has all of the facts about the campaign - where they went, who they talked with, what they've found, etc.
The PC's journal has a simular record - but from the (hopefully in-character) players point of view. Not every plot twist and clue are picked up by the players the first time round. By reviewing the PC's journal, the DM can see which of her plots the players undersatnd and which they are either unaware or confused about. |
Axe High, I go |
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Aussiegamer
Hanging on for grim death
(Moderator)
Australia
9050 Posts
3108(166)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/04/2006 : 00:32:50
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| OK I seem to have the wrong idea of what this is about, I thought you mean tthe campaign write up that I do and some others are doing on site here. |
Its amazing that a 1 in a million chance happens 9 out of 10 times. |
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Barnoth
Demon Prince
United Kingdom
4205 Posts
3148(57)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/04/2006 : 01:27:00
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| Very interesting question, I personally have never kept anything which I would class as anything close to a journal, rather more than scraps of information written on the back of my character sheet etc. But I have never been involved in an long term campaign with regular sessions and the pressing need to remember crucial information for weeks or months (in real life) after I was told about it. I would think that in that situation they become alot more important, so I am in the strange position of supporting something i've never done! |
Jesus Saves, the rest of you take damage.
An evil DM is better than a nice DM, you know what to expect from an evil one.
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Aussiegamer
Hanging on for grim death
(Moderator)
Australia
9050 Posts
3108(166)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/04/2006 : 02:00:18
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| Oh a database of info! Hum then yes |
Its amazing that a 1 in a million chance happens 9 out of 10 times. |
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Philsiefrog
Champion
USA
454 Posts
3073(964)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/04/2006 : 03:26:26
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quote:
Originally posted by MasterAO
How important do you rate a campaign journal? That is the new Poll of the Month. Furthermore, who should keep that journal, the DM or a player/players?
Waste of time?! Blasphemy, I say!
Oh man, do I even have to answer this one for folks to know my opinion? I obviously come down on the side of some attempt at game journals. In an ongoing campaign they're a must.
At their most basic, journals are just game notes. Simple well kept notes, little more than lists with headers of "People Met", "Towns Visited", "Accomplishments" and the like could easily replace a journal. But I generally prefer to preserve the stories as well.
I'd say the responsibility for journals should be shared between DM and players. Or at least one player. That way there's something for both to compare and check against.
By the way, nobody has ever really had to ask me to keep notes. I'm just kind of bookish that way. And these days, I've got more than one game so I need journals to keep things straight in my head. |
Have fun,
Philsiefrog |
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Redlass
Lady
USA
2074 Posts
3124(923)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/11/2006 : 16:38:57
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I'm afraid I'm almost a "method gamer" when it comes to this. If my character is literate and likes to keep notes, I'll keep notes. If my character is social with family/friend ties and would write letters, then I do a "journal" in the form of letters (though those get tricky because sometimes she won't want to put something in writing for fear of it getting intercepted).
If my character can't read or is more of a action vs. thinking character, then I don't keep a journal of any sort.
I do think they're very useful and can help a campaign. |
"She's a monk. If you can't trust a monk, who can you trust?"--Clarissa just before the monk kills her in her sleep. |
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Dessarus
Agnostic Paladin
United Kingdom
1543 Posts
3139(1333)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 08/12/2006 : 12:03:44
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| I never really keep a campain journal myself, except for those occasions when I write up what we've been doing on this forum. I don't have the energy for the most part - the games I play are a three-quarters of an hour walk from my flat and we usually game from 6 or 7 to around 11pm. Also, I'm just lazy. However, I find that I can remember most things reasonably well enough. |
"Huzza! We have outsmarted mold!"
Farquad Ferentad III
[singing] "Characters roasting on an open fire… DM’s nibbling at their toes…”
THE DM |
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JaeWalker
Apprentice
USA
35 Posts
2817(935)
Status: Offline
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Posted - 09/01/2006 : 21:59:45
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As a player, they can be a pain to squeeze into a busy work week, but as a GM they're invaluable. Even if I don't do a journal myself, it's nice to read those of other players for their perspective (and to remember what happened!).
Useful. Not at all a waste of time. |
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'WOW! What a Ride!' |
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