6.6 KiB
6.6 KiB
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:
# 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:
---
type: npc
world: Eldoria
faction: The Red Circle
status: alive
era: 1100-1250
---
Callouts
Use Obsidian callouts for formatted blocks:
> [!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
---
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
---
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
---
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
- Open this folder in Obsidian: File → Open Folder
- Create a new world: copy
worlds/template, fill in overview - Create a new campaign: copy
campaigns/template, link to world - Link everything together with
[[wiki-links]] - 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## Secretssection to separate player-visible info