High Notes: Simple D&D Note-Taking Tips
- Irma Hoyt
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
You're brand new to D&D, still trying to remember what a d20 is for, finally understanding what "advantage" means, and now I'm telling you to take notes too?
But hear me out … taking even a few quick notes during your session is going to be the difference between, "Wait, who's Baelrian Gardeaux again?" and actually feeling like the badass adventurer you're playing.
Trust me, future you will thank present you for jotting down a few things.
Why bother with notes at all?
D&D campaigns can last months or even years (looking at YOU, Curse of Strahd). NPCs will come and go that are sometimes actually super crucial to the main quest, and your DM is hoping you’ll remember their name at some point.
Not to mention, notes can help you notice any patterns, coincidences or maybe something felt "off" that rando NPC said to your party ... you might want to make an insight check next session...
And besides, your brain is already juggling A LOT on a regular basis, so why not ease some of those mental gymnastics with a few notes?
The Heady Bard's simple note-taking method
Here's the thing about note-taking for D&D: you just need a system that captures the important stuff without making you feel like you're back in school taking lecture notes.
Whether you're using my printable free D&D Session Notes Checklist or just grabbing whatever notebook is nearby, here's what to track:
Session basics (because you WILL forget)
Date & Session Number - Future you will want to know if this happened in Session 5 or Session 15.
Current Location - Where did your party start? Where did your party end up? Geography matters, especially when your party is wandering around like chaotic little kobolds.
NPCs
Write down:
Names - I mean, obviously, right?
Quick description - shady merchant with an eye patch and soul patch, oddly friendly innkeeper who knows a little too much (BUT them thangs thangin'), etc.
Important info - what they want (come on, did your party pick up ANOTHER side quest), what they know (did you shake them down for info), or if they're just plain sus
THB tip: If an NPC gets a dramatic introduction or your DM is really leaning into their description, that NPC probably matters. Write them down.
Key events & plot points
You don't need a novel here, just bullet points of what actually happened.
Example:
Started quest from Verity Kye (tiefling/red skin, blue eyes, white hair, black horns/former thief)
Found a probably cursed item while stopping for a quest in Cormyr
Barbarian ~accidentally~ started bar fight (again...)
Made deal with a kind of sketchy merchant
Focus on things that moved the story forward or seem like they'll be important later.
Quests & objectives
Wait ... what was your party supposed to be doing?
Write down:
Main quest goals
Side quests your party picked up
Any deadlines or time-sensitive stuff
Rewards or consequences mentioned
Nothing feels worse than showing up to session and realizing you have no idea what your party is supposed to be doing.
Loot & rewards
Did you find a magic item? Earn some loot? Steal some loot? Write it down!
This is also where you track:
Gold/currency changes
New equipment
Cool items that might be useful later
Animals/companions ... every party has got to have at least one player stealing animal friends lol
Questions & mysteries
This is optional but also my favorite section. Write down anything that seems suspicious or unexplained:
Why did that merchant run away when we asked for directions?
What the hell is going on in that pie shop?
Who keeps leaving us those cryptic notes?
When to take notes (without disrupting the flow)
The key is finding moments that work for YOUR table and write during the natural pauses (like bathroom breaks).
Here are some natural note-taking windows:
During recaps - Your DM is summarizing last session? Perfect time to jot down key points from last session and any new info you just learned.
When NPCs are introduced - Quick name and description while your DM is introducing any new NPCs (also a good time to ask for the spelling and any extra info they want to share).
After major events - Combat ends? Quest completed? Take 30 seconds to write down what happened. If it's a long initiative order, you can jot a few notes during combat rounds while it's not your turn.
During breaks - Bathroom break, snack run, smoke break, when the DM is looking something up, or whatever works at your table.
End of session - Spend two minutes filling in anything you missed.
Ready to level up your note-taking?
Start simple! Write down names, quests, and anything that seems important. Use whatever format works for your brain, whether that's using Notion, notes on your phone, or pen and paper.
Want a little help remembering what to jot down? Grab my printable free D&D Session Notes Checklist.
Keep it at the table, glance at it during play, and let it be your training wheels until note-taking becomes second nature.
