Maybe this has been asked before, but I don't think so.
How do you keep track of your thoughts, ideas and notes for your world? Currently I am entering much of the notes for Marit into a MS publisher template for web pages. That lets me keep various items such as race, magic, history on separate pages and link to other pages as if it was a wiki. Of course I also have various scraps of paper with quick ideas on them
Does anyone use other programs to organize your game world? or just a notebook and pen?
What are the "best practices" out there?
Don't claim to be anywhere near 'the best' at this, I think I've fianlly moved up to 'not worthless' at this. But, here's what got me there.
I use MS access to keep track of all my databases. Weapons, armors, skills, spells (STUPID SPELLS... :muffy: AARRG!), prices, costs, the tale of years, all are in database format.
And all the stuff now gets thrown onto the wiki.
I include entries in the 'taler of years' for the pc's, so I have a ton of entries at the end of a session in there, (PC's did this, PC's did that).
I don't know much about databases, or rather I don't have the programs mentioned, otherwise I might use them.
I've tried to keep most of my information on the website, but I haven't updated that in a while.
When the wikifarm is ready, I'll probably put some more current information there, because I'm currently working on an earlier time period than what the website displays.
Lacking much tech-saavy-ness, I take random notes on a piece of paper I carry with me at all times, so I don't forget a good idea. All of that gets shoved into a long bulleted list in MS Word. In seperate documents, I mostly keep my world organized by country, with a few others for major races and overall information about the multiverse. These files are kept in folders by region. It's not sophisticated, but it works for me.
I keep some notebooks convenient to catch stray ideas, and gradually distill those ideas into more refined form before/during typing them up. Some of the typed-up business gets posted, but much of it just sits in .doc files on my computer.
I'm pretty disorganized, I guess. I have several different notebooks scattered around the apartment (and I can't even tell where all of them are located and what's in each one.) My digital files are pretty much all over the place, too; I've got old information, new information, unfinished information, posted information and unposted information all mingling around.
Here's what I think would be an awesome piece of software: emulate a notebook.
Not like a word processor, either. I mean, give me places to type terms, character ideas, plot ideas, notes on locations, et cetera, and let me sort them together by type. Let me drag and drop things to reorder them, let me look at lots of things in different tabs. Let me drop in an image (or sketch one in-program) and type labels on top of it if I want to. Then let me save the whole shebang as a single file: "my world."
Basically, I want the ease of organization and editing that digital media provide, and I want the flexibility and "sketchability" that I get with a notebook. 'Cause that'd be awesome.
LC, it sounds like what you need most of all is a blog that you can designate things with tags. Much like ::gasp:: a new CBG option will be!! :) :)
Quote from: IshmaylLC, it sounds like what you need most of all is a blog that you can designate things with tags. Much like ::gasp:: a new CBG option will be!! :) :)
(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/617/csimiamiyeahuw9.gif)
Dun dun duuuuun...?
Ishmayl, if what you're offering is anywhere close to what LC described, sign me up. That's what I want.
All of my stuff is either (1) in my head, (2) in a word file, (3) on a website, (4) in some forums, (5) in a random notebook, or (6) in a random piece of paper wadded up somewhere around here...
I rarely feel in danger of losing valuable information, but I do sometimes wonder how I keep track of it all. I started to put all of Aldreia into one giant PDF, which works well except that it's a hassle to use and update. So now I'm just kinda winging it.
Quote from: Luminous CrayonHere's what I think would be an awesome piece of software: emulate a notebook.
Not like a word processor, either. I mean, give me places to type terms, character ideas, plot ideas, notes on locations, et cetera, and let me sort them together by type. Let me drag and drop things to reorder them, let me look at lots of things in different tabs. Let me drop in an image (or sketch one in-program) and type labels on top of it if I want to. Then let me save the whole shebang as a single file: "my world."
Basically, I want the ease of organization and editing that digital media provide, and I want the flexibility and "sketchability" that I get with a notebook. 'Cause that'd be awesome.
Have you looked at this (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page)? I haven't checked it out 100%, but I have looked at it, and it seems like it may do some of the things you mention.
Edit:Actually LC, besides the option of just dragging-and-dropping pictures, this program looks to be
exactly what you're looking for. Take a look at the Screenshots page (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page#Screenshots).
Quote from: IshmaylHave you looked at this (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page)? I haven't checked it out 100%, but I have looked at it, and it seems like it may do some of the things you mention.
Edit:
Actually LC, besides the option of just dragging-and-dropping pictures, this program looks to be exactly what you're looking for. Take a look at the Screenshots page (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page#Screenshots).
This thing is
incredible. :yumm:
Personally, I just let all the information stew in my head. The idea is that my mind works like a vat, and the good ideas stay afloat and in my memory, while the bad ones sink to the bottom.
Quote from: Luminous Crayon(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/617/csimiamiyeahuw9.gif)
Coolest. Smiley. Ever.
We run a cooperative campaign of 3-4 DM's in the ADMC world, so we design things in several Wikis - one is public to the players, one is for rules work, and a third for plot. Many ideas spring up during a phone conversation or chat, and we immediately jot it down to a "new ideas" section in the Wiki. These are later elaborated on together.
More than tools, I think the sharing of ideas and designing things together has added immense depth to the ADMC world and made the campaigns memorable.
ADMC Setting (http://admc.pbwiki.com)
Okay, for those of you who are using Freemind how are you setting it up? I have to admit I downloaded this program a few months ago because is was mentioned on the site and liked it, but not until everyone started talking about it did I realize that I was really missing using it to its potential.
Before I had just used it to map out an adventure for my face to face game, but now I see the potential for such things as Marit's history since I can draw lines between various nodes and even color code them.
How are you using it.
(And how can I get it on my computer at work without getting in trouble for it?)
I'm still learning the ropes, but I'm essentially doing everything with keyboard commands, not really needing the mouse at all. I rock out with the arrow keys, Insert, Enter, and the Space Bar, and that's all I need.
(Okay, so I occasionally use Alt+E and Alt+I, and more rarely, I draw the arrows. Arrows are fun.)
This morning, I tried out FreeMind as a note-taking utility in one of my classes, and it worked impressively well. I could get down a lot of information rapidly, and could arrange it in a logical way, without being distracted about formatting. I took much more detailed notes than I usually do, simply because it was so easy to do so.
I have been experimenting with using FreeMind to put together lesson plans. I can put each day, or each unit, or each topic into a separate branch of cells, and manage a month's worth of planning in a single file (while still having it easy to see.) That's awesome.
I'm also toying with the idea of using FreeMind during class (while teaching, that is), with my laptop hooked up to a projector. As an alternative to writing notes on the markerboard during discussion, etc. If I try it out, I'll let you know how it goes.
For campaign setting stuff, I've got a bunch of content branches, a bunch of uncategorized "wouldn't this be cool"-style ideas in a branch of their own and a short to-do list. I don't keep any prose in the file (yet?), but it's sort of a reminder of all my big ideas which I'll translate to prose later.
Also, you should be able to truthfully convince whoever you work for that FreeMind is a valuable asset to your work. Depending on what you do, I guess. It's tremendously useful, and I already use it more for work than I do for play.
Here's how I've started using the program, and, mind you, I haven't moved all of my stuff over to it yet.
I'm basically putting the pdf of my world over into FreeMind. It's a lot easier to edit FreeMind and doesn't require so many formatting issues. I think it's just easier to use. It's also easier to organize things in an easy and consistent manner. Furthermore, when I export it to HTML, it looks pretty good. It isn't all shiny, but it can organize my huge amount of information in logical and consistent ways. For this reason, I like it.
Here is an example of the web that I am working with:
[spoiler](http://colabore.org/Aldreia.png)[/spoiler]
Here is a link to the HTML version of my web, though this one isn't collapsible for me. HTML Version (http://colabore.org/Aldreia.html)
That's my example. I like what LC was talking about with using it for thoughts and plot-lining.
LC and Jharviss, thanks for the input. I am more and more impressed with this program.
Jharviss, and maybe you know this LC: How do you get multiline nodes? It has been driving me nuts. Maybe I just haven't played with it enough.
Your example Jharviss is awesome. I really need to move Marit over to help me get it organized.
Good job on your map Jharviss!
I found a manual for FreeMind. Not sure how different it is from the online help or the in program help file, but I like having another source to look at.
FreeMind Manual (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Documentation_efforts)
I'm currently using Eruvian.Com (http://eruvian.com/default.asp). It works rather well for this purpose, and the reviews I've gotten from other people have been useful in improving it, too...
For my setting, I try to keep all my information in one folder on my computer. This folder has copies of all my finished write-ups (which I then proceed to post), unfinished write-ups, topic-specific brainstorm files and one file entitled "Random Small Ideas.doc" where I maintain an unordered bulleted list of all ideas that occur to me (not always "small ideas"). (I imagine that if I ever get back to working on my setting I'll just go through that list, pick one or a couple of items and start detailing them.) This organizational system is working pretty well for me.
Problems occur when it comes to actual play. As opposed to my setting-related writings, my campaign-related writings are a big mess. I have most of my material in a folder (a physical one, mind you) that I bring to sessions, but it's a disorganized beast, with never-used adventure seeds sitting next to notes about what actually happened in-game, with the adventure that those notes are related to never quite near to those notes, nor completely separated in different tabs. Then there's a folder on my computer that I keep some related ideas in that I happened to get while sitting at my computer and where I store character bio's. And then there's a few things that I lost the notes for (or haven't gotten around to writing down) and are now only in my head. Oh, and then there's a FreeMind map I started working on to organize the information about my campaign better, but it's too basic to be useful. I imagine I need to put *all* my info in there (like Jharviss did so nicely) before it becomes useful.
Túrin
Quote from: RavenspathHow do you get multiline nodes? It has been driving me nuts.
There's a menu line called "Edit Long Nodes," I believe. Pretty sure the shortcut key is alt-Enter.
Ish, any chance the FreeMind applet can be installed? I believe it lets maps be uploaded to websites and then people can view them.
it won't be installed here in the next few days, ravenspath, sorry, but we will be using it when we upgrade the site soon.
Excellent! I didn't mean for it be installed now, just hoping for the future. I wasn't clear in my post which is completely my fault.
But that is great news. Now I must go back to my map. It is calling me.