keeping track of your world

When running a game in what I have coined “discovery” style, it can become difficult to keep track of your world and lore. I have notes in a book with ideas and moving pieces, but even with that things get lost (or just switched around). So how do I keep it together? Honestly, I don’t.

As I was running through some of the things that have taken place in my current campaign, I discovered I’m missing a lot from my notes. I don’t have all the names and places that my players have encountered, and along with it is missing any details surrounding the events. I do have one player that likes to take extensive notes.

She told me that she was having some trouble keeping track of who’s who, so I suggested making a “murder” board. She took that and ran with it. I now have something I can refer to for my world. Since then, she has realized that I am using it to help myself remember what’s going on as well, and now she will not share her theories with me.

I shrug my shoulders and let it all roll. I have the overall major moving pieces and where it will all culminate, it’s just a matter of how they’ll get there really. However, I am missing the joy of listening to all the speculations and conspiracy theories my players come up with. In light of this though, I created my own board.

However you keep track of the world you campaign is taking place in, be flexible with how the players reach the end. And if things get moved around, go with it and work it into the story somehow, eventually it will all be worth it.