# D&D Campaign Notes

## Overview

This directory is a **single source of truth** for all D&D notes — multiple campaigns, multiple worlds, ideas, and homebrew. Designed for use with **Obsidian**, with wiki-links connecting content across campaigns and worlds.

## Core Organization Principle

**Worlds are reusable context. Campaigns are specific stories played within them.**

- **Worlds** (`worlds/`) contain persistent lore, geography, factions, and NPCs that exist independently of any single campaign.
- **Campaigns** (`campaigns/`) link to a world and layer on top the specific story, session notes, and campaign-only NPCs/items.
- **Ideas** (`ideas/`) are a scratch space for future campaigns, worlds, and mechanics.

## Folder Structure

```
dnd/
├── worlds/
│   └── world-name/
│       ├── overview.md          # Cosmology, history, tone, magic rules
│       ├── geography/           # Continents, regions, kingdoms, maps
│       ├── factions/            # Organizations, guilds, religions, orders
│       ├── npcs/                # World-level NPCs (reusable across campaigns/eras)
│       ├── lore/                # Myths, legends, major historical events
│       └── creatures/           # Homebrew monsters, regional ecology
│
├── campaigns/
│   └── campaign-name/
│       ├── overview.md          # Premise, timeline, linked world, player info
│       ├── sessions/            # Session-by-session notes
│       ├── npcs/                # Campaign-specific NPCs (villains, quest givers)
│       ├── quests/              # Story arcs, plot hooks, timelines
│       ├── items/               # Campaign-specific magic items and loot
│       └── locations/           # Specific places visited (link to world geography)
│
├── ideas/
│   ├── campaign-ideas/          # Premises not yet run
│   ├── world-ideas/             # Concepts for future worlds
│   └── mechanics/               # Homebrew rules, class/race ideas, tables
│
├── systems/                     # Game system references
│   ├── dnd-5e/
│   └── other-systems/
│
└── players/                     # PC sheets, backstories, character arcs
```

## How Worlds and Campaigns Relate

### Same World, Different Eras

```
worlds/eldoria/                  # The world definition
  ├── npcs/king-aldric.md        # An eternal figure, referenced across eras
  └── factions/the-red-circle.md # A mage order that exists for centuries

campaigns/shattered-crown/       # Set in Eldoria, Continent A, year 1200
  overview.md → "Set in [[worlds/Eldoria]]"
  npcs/red-circle-elder.md       # The Red Circle as it is NOW (corrupted)

campaigns/ashes-of-the-north/    # Set in Eldoria, Continent A, year 1100
  overview.md → "Set in [[worlds/Eldoria]]"
  npcs/red-circle-founder.md     # The Red Circle at its founding (idealistic)
```

### Same World, Different Locations

```
campaigns/southern-tides/        # Set in Eldoria, Continent B
  overview.md → "Set in [[worlds/Eldoria]]"
  locations/port-city.md → "On the coast of [[worlds/Eldoria/geography/Continent B]]"
```

## Where Do NPCs Live?

| Type | Location | Example |
|------|----------|---------|
| **World NPC** — exists across campaigns/eras | `worlds/world-name/npcs/` | A legendary king, an immortal wizard, a faction leader |
| **Campaign NPC** — specific to this story | `campaigns/campaign-name/npcs/` | The local blacksmith who gives a side quest, the BBEG |
| **Player Character** | `players/` | Linked from the campaign they belong to |

Campaign notes can **link to** world NPCs. If a campaign changes or evolves a world NPC, create a campaign-specific note that links back:

```markdown
# Campaign Villain

> Once a member of [[worlds/Eldoria/factions/The Red Circle]], now corrupted.
> Originally inspired by [[worlds/Eldoria/npcs/King Aldric]].
```

## Obsidian Markdown Conventions

### Wiki-links
Link notes across folders: `[[worlds/Eldoria]]`, `[[campaigns/Shattered Crown/overview]]`

### Tags
Use consistent tags for search and graph view:
- `#world`, `#campaign`, `#session`
- `#npc`, `#location`, `#faction`, `#item`, `#quest`
- `#homebrew`, `#idea`

### Frontmatter
Include metadata for filtering and potential Dataview plugin use:

```yaml
---
type: npc
world: Eldoria
faction: The Red Circle
status: alive
era: 1100-1250
---
```

### Callouts
Use Obsidian callouts for formatted blocks:

```markdown
> [!info] Quick Reference
> **Race:** Human
> **Class:** Wizard
> **Location:** [[worlds/Eldoria/geography/The Capital]]

> [!warning] Spoilers
> The king is actually the villain — don't reveal to players.

> [!tip] DM Note
> Foreshadow this event two sessions before it happens.
```

## Note Templates

### World Overview
```markdown
---
type: world
name: World Name
---

# World Name

> [!info] At a Glance
> **Tone:** Dark fantasy / High magic / Pulp adventure
> **Magic System:** [[Magic rules]]
> **Major Events:** [[Lore event 1]], [[Lore event 2]]

## Cosmology
## Geography
## Factions
## History Timeline
```

### Campaign Overview
```markdown
---
type: campaign
world: [[World Name]]
system: D&D 5e
status: active
start_date: 2025-01-01
---

# Campaign Name

> [!info] At a Glance
> **World:** [[World Name]]
> **Setting:** Continent A, year 1200
> **Tone:** Political intrigue, low magic

## Premise
## Player Characters
- [[players/Character 1]]
## Active Quests
## Session Log
- [[Session 01]]
- [[Session 02]]
```

### NPC Template
```markdown
---
type: npc
world: World Name          # or campaign: Campaign Name
faction: Faction Name
status: alive
---

# NPC Name

> [!info] Quick Reference
> **Race:** 
> **Class/Role:** 
> **Location:** [[Location]]

## Appearance
## Personality
## Goals & Motivations
## Connections
- Ally of [[NPC]]
- Enemy of [[NPC]]
## Secrets (DM only)
```

## Usage

1. Open this folder in Obsidian: **File → Open Folder**
2. Create a new world: copy `worlds/` template, fill in overview
3. Create a new campaign: copy `campaigns/` template, link to world
4. Link everything together with `[[wiki-links]]`
5. Use tags and frontmatter for search and graph view

## Conventions

- **File naming**: Title Case with spaces (e.g., `The Lost Artifact.md`, `Continent A.md`)
- **Folder naming**: lowercase with hyphens (e.g., `worlds/eldoria/`, `campaigns/shattered-crown/`)
- **Linking over duplicating**: If content exists in a world, link to it from campaigns — don't copy it
- **Frontmatter**: Keep it consistent for Dataview compatibility
- **DM-only sections**: Use `> [!warning]` callouts or a `## Secrets` section to separate player-visible info