Strict Records
Practical ways to log session events.
This is less of an advice or commentary piece and more about sharing what I use to keep track of what happens during a session while having a record to refer back to after the session ends.
Below you will find several documents that I print and keep behind the screen to ensure that I know what happened during a session and which of my records may need to be updated.
Maybe a commentary on this is forthcoming, but I wanted to keep it strictly practical for this post.
Time and Logs
As a great man once said: “strict time records” and the like are important. When traveling through a dungeon, I keep specific trackers for it handy. When traveling overland or spending days in a town, I log that appropriately as well.
Organization is required for a coherent campaign when you’re running games regularly for whoever is able to make it. We’re not just winging it.
Session Log
I keep track of what happens during a session with a Session Log. Low-resolution notes, events, decisions, and whatever else will go here. It’s function would easily be served by a blank piece of paper, but when the session is happening and players are going back and forth (collaborating, planning, arguing), having it organized by category makes it easier to keep in my head and keeps me focused on using it throughout the chaos of a session.
It is meant to be printed front and back.
Dungeon Time Tracker
This is essentially cloned from the free Old-School Essentials Dungeon Time Tracker, but with AD&D’s rules instead. It is a single page and helps the Dungeon Master properly track things like torch life, lantern oil, when to rest, duration of potions and spells, random encounters, and anything else that should be happening throughout the players exploration of a hostile place.
For Your Use
Feel free to download the above documents if you wish. It’s not difficult to make your own or adapt the method for whatever game system being used, but if you’re wanting to just use what I brought, that’s fine too.