The Campaign Builder's Guild

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][/spoiler]

Here is a link to the HTML version of my web, though this one isn't collapsible for me.  HTML Version

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

I'm currently using Eruvian.Com. 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.