...that is not Obsidian Portal, please.

I'm "shopping" around for alternatives to the obvious one. I'd like to consider all the viable options before committing to populate with content.

Thanks.

I use offline tools to manage the game, but roll20 to play the game (kinda backwards).

Lets start with the basics.

What do you want the tool to be able to do?

What sort of display does it need?

What is your target audience to view it?

I struggle with this as well. I'm really not wanting to build my own site and keep up with the maintenance on it (I do enough of that at work). I keep using Obsidian Portal. The one thing I really find lacking is a way to plan out a campaign with the available tools. I end up using Writer a lot for my notes and then transfer it in at later stages. It would be nice to have a GM Area that is not mixed in with players. And I would love to have it offline so I'm not dependent on the Internet to add or change items or bring up information at someone else's table. Most places have WiFi for my laptop, but it makes you uncertain of it's reliability if you don't want to work on things at home. Then when internet is available they sync up and everything would be golden. I'd probably pay more than what I do for Obsidian Portal.

As I'm not playing Online, I'm not super interested in Roll20 for something that doesn't use d20 system dice or mechanics (no offense Rhino). I'm also not wanting to do tabletops to show what is going on. A general map every now and then will be fine. I do like that I can have players login to an online source and update their own material and pull up reference data as if it were the Holonet or something. I also like OPs ability for everyone to add content, but I'm not getting much buy-in on journalling from players.

I probably need a better way of dealing with the Wiki. Once you get several pages, you really have to remember what you are adding or updating or looking for...

Gray, not sure why I would be offended, I didn't really suggest Roll20 as a tool to use. I stated I organize offline, and play online. Then I went on to request information about what was wanted to try to find the information (outside of what I use).

There seems to be a lot of reading that I typed something, but not reading the words around it, lately.

No... don't take it that way... and you stated your case correctly. And your questions were relevant. I just didn't want you to think I was attacking your system. It just isn't for me cause I'm not playing online. I could see using it for Hangout style gaming. Sorry I caused Strain by trying to prevent it.

http://www.epicwords.com/

^ that's another option. I'm not vouching for it though, as I think Roll20 alone is more than sufficient (just put stuff in handouts, and categorize them ).

What do you want the tool to be able to do?

What sort of display does it need?

What is your target audience to view it?

This would be for keeping track of old school tabletop play, so at minimum, just a way to document PCs, NPCs, location, journal events and sessons -- basically what OP does. The idea is that players can easily refer to these things, and I can go very, very easy on the physical handouts.

The only other crazy feature I would really need on top of this would be a "GM's only" section for these records where I could have NPC stats and location spoilers, etc.

Hrmm,

Okay next set;

What does Obsidian Portal do wrong?

My first attempt at a suggestion would be a program/tool/thing I never used but I heard brought up a few times.

Fantasy Grounds? I think it is called.

http://www.fantasygrounds.com/

It has a lot of those types of features (I think).

It may be that it is just a competitor to Roll20 and not what you are looking for =/

I will keep searching.

A wiki-themed Google Site sounds like it would work for what you want.

-EF

I'm wondering if a simple collection of Google Docs could do what you require.

There is RealmWorks by the makers of HeroLab. I have not used it, and I know that you can provide online content for a fee, but I know little else about it.

RealmWorks

I love Wolf Lair products. I think in time Realm Works will be there. It is great for connecting stories together (and characters and locations). I grew frustrated in the Beta trying to work with Shadowrun. I have it on my PC, but haven't used the PC in some time... I'll see if I can get this on my laptop and test it out again. If not, I may have to fire up my PC again and test it out. I'll let you know how it goes. The largest drawback I had with it was no online portal at all (it will sync up, but everything resides on one computer... which may have changed recently). Thanks for reminding me of this GM Hooly.

-----

EDIT: Oh yeah... now I remember another thing. It is only PC based (no Mac, no anything) and the web based features are still not enabled. I still expect this to be good long-term, but I still want to see them improve on this...

I use Roll20. Great character sheets, dice API works most of the time, and I use a lot of maps so the dynamic lighting and fog of war is pretty cool.

I'll throw in Evernote, it is just a notebook app, works on PC, Mac, iOS and Androids.

Because you save your work in the cloud it then syncs across all devices. So, if you have a good idea in the bus/train or at work you can enter it in.

You can also share folders with players, say to create a recap log or such, of have a place holder for their character sheets etc.

Its pretty simple but it has a lot of flexability, so you can use it pretty much how you would like.

Personally, I just use a Wikia. At the onset of a campaign I explain that they are expected to update their character sheets and either create one new article or substantially add to a pre-existing one between each session. If they do not, I give them five less XP for the next session. It's been a great way to alleviate the GM's burden of documenting and keeping track of everything that happens. Specifically, it really helps me see what players like/remember about sessions and to see what they see as the most important aspects of their characters.

If you are already editing a Wikia though, I would recommend going with Obsidian Portal, because you can at least have editable formatted character sheets. Not quite as nice as the PDF version (with the colored dice icons), but overall better than a long string of text, IMHO.

Going back to RealmWorks. If you want tons of detail and the ability to link everything together (in a huge ball of yarn) this is A way to go. I still won't recommend it until the online segment works. It will take a ton of preparation as you have to link everything. It has capability to drill down in all kinds of ways, so once you have it built you can see associations in a lot of interesting ways. Creation though... man... it takes a lot of time... lot of time...

You can import the PDF and show it more easily than a Wiki, but you have to replace it every time you update it, so that can be hit or miss. As I cannot run it on my MacBook without installing Windows again, I'm going to leave it where it is and check in on it again in six months or so...

I use Google+ and just grant access to relevant docs in Google drive. I like Google+ for game nite invites, and for taking the pulse of the group with polls on what they'd like to do, to go, campaign direction, etc.

At the moment I use Obsidian Portal for information that needs to interact with the Players and I manage the campaign with Realmworks.

Salcor

At the moment I use Obsidian Portal for information that needs to interact with the Players and I manage the campaign with Realmworks.

That seems to be the direction I'm heading.

I also have a giant sandbox island for D&D that needs to get captured somewhere , so Realmworks looks to be the best bet.

Personally, I like OneNote. I've been using it to keep all my campaign materials straight, minus the maps, which honestly isn't that important to me. However, I would recommend it. It's also got apps for the iPad and iPhone (and probably other smartphones and tablets, but I'm basing it on what I know).

I have a notebook. Two, actually. Game ideas in one. NPCs in another. All stats, though for the NPCs. I expect clean, legible character sheets from my players (I have made them fill in a new one from time to time) and, frankly, for plot current, previous, and upcoming, as well as character hooks, motivations, obligations, and the things my players have asked for the game's direction, I just remember it all.

I do that as well. My notebook shelf is ... well... unmanageable... but it's hard to throw away 20 year old notes... cause I might need them... for a system I no longer have the hardback books for... yeah...

My biggest problem is remembering I had something, and then giving up the search halfway through without finding it (or squirreling halfway through)...

I do that as well. My notebook shelf is ... well... unmanageable... but it's hard to throw away 20 year old notes... cause I might need them... for a system I no longer have the hardback books for... yeah...

My biggest problem is remembering I had something, and then giving up the search halfway through without finding it (or squirreling halfway through)...

In college, for example, I didn't take notes, buy most of the hooks, nor study, I just sat in class and listened.

Now I just talk to the players and remember it all. Names, origins, my plot, the small threads, NPC names, locations and motivations. I just keep notes for stats since I don't have a head for numbers. Flowcharts for the session too, but I find myself not using them.

My wife seems fascinated by my ability to keep it all in my head, and I find her vast and extensive notes and study dedication deeply impressive, and neither of us understand why or how the other can manage.

Edit: I also write speeches. Or I write so I can put things more elloquently.

Ahh... I see... yeah, I can't do that...

We all have different gifts. I'll not envy you yours and I'll not list mine.

It most certainly is a helpful one for lots of situations though, some of us are more situational I guess...

Ahh... I see... yeah, I can't do that...

We all have different gifts. I'll not envy you yours and I'll not list mine.

It most certainly is a helpful one for lots of situations though, some of us are more situational I guess...

You should totally list yours. Are you double jointed? That is super cool.