Player Notes: What You Need.

Today's entry is directed toward tabletop players rather than DMs, but contains information that could be useful for game masters to see things from a player-centric perspective, or to provide advice to their own gaming group.

Everybody knows that it is important for a DM to take detailed notes of their game, but it can also behoove your players to do this as well. Not only is it useful to have easy reference for remembering people, places, and things, it is also very good to have on hand for short term bursts of inspiration. Something like "I want to shoot out the lights in the room" or "Can I ask the shaman about these artifacts I recovered last session?" I can't tell you how many times a player has forgotten a really clever idea they had by the time their turn came up. Some really good potential moves have been lost to the mists only because the player got distracted and didn't remember what they originally wanted to do.

If you can, as a player, I strongly recommend writing down a very brief note if you have a really clever idea that you can't share right away. By the time it gets to your turn, you will hopefully have a list of things to do that you can pick from and rattle off to the DM. It's vital to have as many of these options as possible, as the simplest change to the battlefield could throw your plans into flux. An enemy you planned on attacking might be destroyed before your turn, or might have moved into a completely different position. If you focus on just one plan, it may be negated or irrelevant by the time you get to move. If you have multiple avenues to choose from, you will be less likely to get stumped when the spotlight turns to you. Keep planning and thinking on your feet, and make some fast, loose notes to help keep your mind clear.

In terms of long term notes, I also encourage you to  write down a series of goals, or "wants" for your character (I will cover this in more detail in a future entry.) Whether it is character flaws that need to be addressed, an enemy that needs to be defeated, or some long term achievement that your character desires, it helps to have easy reference for things that can motivate your character in the long term.

Of course, above all, it is useful to have a general quest log of your current mission objectives and useful information. It is far too easy to get diverted from the main storylines while fighting monsters and exploring the world. Keeping a list of important goals and plot points is one of the best uses of your personal notebook as a player.

Remember to consider what notes might be most helpful to you whenever you sit down to your next gaming session. Keep some extra paper or a notebook on hand to record anything that might come in handy, and pay close attention to the DM and your fellow players. It will be a real benefit to you and will keep you from forgetting the most important facts of the game. Above all, don't forget to have fun. Happy ventures!