How are GMs using Multiple Logs in Campaign Logger?

[SDavies2720]

I've been away from my campaign for a while and decided to restart it using Campaign Logger. But I'm struggling to figure out the use case for multiple Logs in a single Campaign. Originally I thought I'd have one for Future Plans (or Loopy Planning if you prefer), one for Active information, and an Archive. But I don't see a simple way to move things from one Log to another. Perhaps I could separate by geography or adventure, but I'm not sure that really gains me much.

How are others using multiple Logs?

 

[JochenL]

I am using Campaign Entries for Planning.

For ideas, I have a separate Log - one entry per idea or idea "cluster."
I have another Log (the longest one) for session notes - usually, one entry per scene gamed.
The third Log is published summaries - one entry per session.

During prep, I review my session notes and write a summary.
Session notes with *-tags propose open ends/plots I might want to pick up.
I then review my ideas (I log chaotically to it whenever something comes to mind), and anything that I like, I promote to a Campaign Entry.

Before that, I used a separate Log for Planning and copied the relevant entry to my session log.
Nowadays, I prefer Campaign Entries for Planning, though.

 

[SDavies2720]

Ok, thanks. Yeah, the Campaign Entries (CE) seem to be a big step forward.

I played around with it and I'm now starting to see how this can work (having just written a couple of "how would this work" examples and figured them out as I typed them). Because the main information about each item is in the CE, it pops up whenever I hover over it in any Log (I'm stating the obvious, but I didn't quite grok how critical that is until now). So if the CE indicates (for instance) which plotline an NPC appears in, I can then jump to that Log.

Thanks -- I'm sure there will be other "how do you" questions, but this helped me get through a mental block. I suspect that having a "move this" to move an entry from one Log to another (or new) Log would be helpful, but I should live with this for a while before suggesting features!

Steve

 

[JochenL]

Thanks -- I'm sure there will be other "how do you" questions

Keep the questions coming!

I suspect that having a "move this" to move an entry from one Log to another (or new) Log would be helpful, but I should live with this for a while before suggesting features!

There is a copy entry button. After copying you can delete the original entry as a workaround.

 

[JohnnFour]

@SDavies2720 As Jochen mentioned, check out the copy feature for quickly moving Log Entries between Campaign Logs.

I'm prepping a 5 Room Dungeon in its own Campaign Log right now. I like the focus.

And note that Campaign Entries span all Logs in a Campaign. I think of it as my campaign bible as per BioWare's lingo.

What I mean is, when creating a new piece of information, I go through this thinking process:

1. How much information is involved?
   1. If 2500 characters would suffice, I might use a Log Entry
   2. If I need more, I'll use a Campaign Entry
2. Will this Tag be needed across multiple Logs? (eg do I want autocomplete?)
   1. Yes => Campaign Entry
   2. No => Log Entry probably
3. Will I need versions of this information? (eg idea version vs. canon version)
   1. Yes => Log Entry probably
   2. No => Campaign Entry

If recent updates, @JochenL has added cross-Log search and filter. So that makes it even more fluid to compartmentalize information.

And because a Campaign Entry is available for reference in all Logs, it's also fluid.

In my 5RD example, I've got a separate log for the 5RD rooms and details. It's only got a few Log Entries. But key NPCs and Items I've made into Campaign Entries so I can tag them in any Log.

I haven't run a campaign in awhile, but have started planning a new one.

So far, I've got this:

• Campaign
  • Many Campaign Entries for NPCs, Items, Locations, etc. => world, campaign, and adventure shared info
  • 1 Campaign Log for session notes
  • 1 Campaign Log for the first 5RD/adventure I plan to run
  • 1 Campaign Log for plans and ideas

The amazing thing now is CL vNext offers multiple ways to create and store your campaign details. There are very few data cul de sacs and silos left because of how Campaign Entries span multiple Logs, and you can search/filter across all Campaign Entries and Campaign Logs.

So the exercise I'd do if figure out how you think. Then create that in your CL setup.

If you are a linearor hierarchal thinker, use several Campaign Logs, create Table ofcontents style Campaign Entries, and make liberal use of Headers in your entries.

If you are a pool or cloud thinker, mash your data into one giant Campaign Log or a small number of Logs and leverage search/filter.

If you are a relationships thinker, use lots of Tags in your entries, and check out the new diagram feature to build visuals/maps of your information.

 

[SDavies2720]

Thanks -- this is helpful. I'll have to take a look at the Copy function.

I'm heading toward having:

• Log for in-game notes (messy, possibly I'll be able to delete these once I've reviewed, but probably my OCD will keep them around)
• Log for plans and ideas (the future and a resource for improvising)
• Archive Log (stuff that is now in the rear-view mirror, I may want to access it from time to time, but I don't want it cluttering things)
• Log for the "current" adventure: I don't know if this will be session-by-session or arcs or what. My campaign tends to be messy as players enter, leave, head off on wild hares, etc. Probably it will be an "active" single log that has every currently-playing or abandoned adventure (until I get tired of seeing it and want to put it in the archive).
• Probably one or two "coming soon" adventures that I'm fleshing out.

That's a pretty close analog to yours. Thanks.

 

[pbianchi]

Thanks -- this is helpful. I'll have to take a look at the Copy function.

I'm heading toward having:

• Log for in-game notes (messy, possibly I'll be able to delete these once I've reviewed, but probably my OCD will keep them around)
• Log for plans and ideas (the future and a resource for improvising)
• Archive Log (stuff that is now in the rear-view mirror, I may want to access it from time to time, but I don't want it cluttering things)
• Log for the "current" adventure: I don't know if this will be session-by-session or arcs or what. My campaign tends to be messy as players enter, leave, head off on wild hares, etc. Probably it will be an "active" single log that has every currently-playing or abandoned adventure (until I get tired of seeing it and want to put it in the archive).
• Probably one or two "coming soon" adventures that I'm fleshing out.

That's a pretty close analog to yours. Thanks.

Could be useful to have another Log with empty templates (for Scenes, NPC, Faction, etc) that you copy where you need.

About your in-game notes log getting messy you can use the prefix field of the log entry: I put the session number %SXX, its date %yyyy-mm-dd and the name of the players attending it, but maybe just the session number suffices for your needs.

 

[SDavies2720]

Could be useful to have another Log with empty templates (for Scenes, NPC, Faction, etc) that you copy where you need.

Very good idea -- thanks. I'm often looking around for templates, often for ones that I've used before!

About your in-game notes log getting messy you can use the prefix field of the log entry: I put the session number %SXX, its date %yyyy-mm-dd and the name of the players attending it, but maybe just the session number suffices for your needs.

LOL. Yeah, I do that exact thing (not with player names, although that's a good idea too). No, I meant messy in terms of the notes: I've typically got 6-8 players who are often unruly with the result that I have lots of notes like "Grog left the sword with the " because I get interrupted before I finish. If I go back soon and clean things up I can usually recall where the sword was left, or I can email Grog's player. Otherwise, it's unusable. As I say, the whole thing is messy.

I generally look at my in-session notes as an impressionist tapestry that I hope will give enough direction for me to reconstruct important information (in one of the other logs).