Keeping Your Players Locked Into Your Game

By way of post game session notes

A friend of mine, Matt Sherman, sends me his game session notes from time to time and I am always envious. What he does consistently, I do sporadically. So, I decided to ask him a few questions about taking game notes to see if I could “roll with advantage” on my note taking skills for my next campaign.

What inspired you to start doing session reports and how long have you been doing them?

Honestly, it’s because I am getting old and can’t remember what happened last session!! These session reports are for me as much as my players. My group plays every other Sunday so time passes between sessions.

The group was started around 2018 and we’ve played ever since. The newer, more detailed, reports started recently. I like watching live plays on Youtube and like the recaps at the start of new videos. I was like, “I need to do that better!!”

Can you walk me through your process for writing a session report after a game?

Post session I collect my notes from the game and all materials used. I use this time to calculate XP ( we play 1E AD&D). I recap all the activities of the session, include the xp rewards, and I started throwing in Greyhawk Lore.

I use the old TSR books and websites for inspiration. I try to share items that may not be commonly known about the world around the players.

Do you take notes during the session, or rely on memory afterwards?

Chicken scratch notes, I am an active DM so I up standing around the table. Can’t read them all but I figure them out!!

Do you use any note taking apps or just handwritten? How soon after a session do you try to write the report?

By hand, I technologically adequate, but I really like the handwritten notes.

What do you recommend to other DM's. Do you write your reports more like a journal, a narrative story, or a summary?

I use the summary method to recap the events. I try to point out a highlight of each player if I can. I can see myself taking the notes and recaps and after the campaign composing a narrative story to retell all the events. I also try to sneak easter eggs into the recaps to give the players a sense of what may be ahead.

Do you include player dialogue, character thoughts, or just a play-by-play? How do your players respond to the reports?

I have a wide range of players, male and female, old and young, and varied backgrounds. I think the recap gives them a sense of community and shared experience. The best thing, as a DM, for me is when a player says, “ Hey, remember when this happened” and it may have happened years ago. I strive to have all my player have a great time at the moment, but to also create long lasting memories!!

Have your reports helped you become a better DM or storyteller?

It definitely keeps me honest to remember what happened and critical rulings I may have made that can carry over to future sessions. It allows to me to keep to my story better as well. I don’t run an open sandbox campaign, I use classic materials and put my spin on them to make them my own. We just recently ended an almost three year campaign that say the players go through the GDQ module series, of course with my own twists included.

What’s the hardest part of writing session reports?

Getting it all right!! And not leaving anyone out. Some players are not as dynamic and do not do memorable things. I still try to include them. I have also tried harder this new campaign to use PC names and not the player’s real names. I think it makes the experience more immersive.

How do you deal with sessions where not much happened or the tone was off?

Luckily, I have great buy-in from my players. It becomes my job, if there is a lull to spice things up and re-energize the action if things bog down. It’s important at the table and in recaps to include everyone. Give them a solid reason to keep up and be part of the action.

What advice would you give to a DM who wants to start writing their own reports?

#1 Do it!! It keeps the action alive in between sessions. I love when the players reach out to me between sessions to ask questions or provide feedback on events.

#2 Use the tool to keep yourself sharp!! It helps me stay on top of my game and provide a better experience for my players.

#3 Just do it!!! It’s like keeping a personal diary of your game. You never know when you need to recall an event. I wish I had done this sooner. We had a member of the group pass away a few years ago and I would love to have the recaps and memories of when he played with us. RIP Glenn.

Thanks for sharing your insights with us Matt.

How about you? Do you take session notes and give them to your players?

If you do, let me know your best tip for session note creation/distribution