P&P D&D

If you look around the modern table of most tabletop roleplaying games- it looks much different than it did decades ago.  There have not been a lot of advancement in the realm of flat surfaces, but there have been some changes about how we all accessorize and approach managing a character and a campaign.  I for one don't much like tablets and laptops at the table- because I prefer to keep things pencil and paper as much as possible.

I don't know if my love of notebooks, writing utensils, and things to write on/in is a symptom of or the cause of this low-tech preference, but in spite of spreadsheets and apps I'll do as much as I can without looking at a screen.  There are a number of notebooks that I admire- some specifically branded for use in a tabletop gaming scenario and others (more like the ones that I compulsively purchase) are more general purpose.  So if you can't quite bring yourself to splurge on something like the Table Titan's Adventure Journal or the the Code & Quill Origin notebook "for creatives" to cart around with your other books- might I suggest trying out something compact, affordable, and awesome in the Field Notes brand?

Field Notes come in a variety of sizes and price points, but the most basic models that I like for keeping campaign notes and jotting down ideas for the next session look like so:

They are conveniently pocket-sized and come in lined, blank, or graph pages- I suggest the three pack with one of each.  I keep thinking I might write out the room descriptions of a mega-dungeon in a lined book and make the map in a graph one (though I could just as easily do it all in a graph one I suppose).  It's easy to fit several of these notebooks in whatever bag you might be toting your other books and gaming paraphernalia in.  You could even fit one into a book to save a page...

I reached out to the fine folks at Field Notes at their Chicago HQ to make a suggestion about a product they might market specifically to us pencil and paper geeks.  Here's what I said: 

"... I've made use of several lined, graph, and unruled books for taking notes and drawing up ideas for games of Dungeons & Dragons. 

I wanted to know if you would consider marketing directly to tabletop roleplaying gamers (or specifically D&D players since the game is experiencing a bit of a renaissance as of late) by creating a notebook that had a few features that this demographic would really appreciate.

1) Alternating pages of graph and lined paper.

2) A leatherette cover with a gold leaf cover printing (either of an ampersand or an icosahedron) that was reminiscent of the AD&D Complete line of supplements ('89-'95) or the 3rd Edition Quintessential line of supplements (2002-2004).  The latter were made to imitate the former specifically because of the retro appeal.

3) A slightly different interior of the front and back covers more referential to the tabletop gaming culture.

There is a lot of interest among this particular group of folk in pen and paper- since the games they play are pen and paper games.  I think players could use this resource to take notes during a game and  that DMs and GMs could use these to plot out dungeons or campaigns on the go."

I got a response from Brian at Field Notes that illustrated to me how Dungeons & Dragons geeks have infiltrated every level of society and every field of interest:

"Hi Crit!

We've got a few D&D players here, Matt, Shea, and I all play once every other week with some friends at Threadless, the t-shirt company! I've been playing on and off since original AD&D (mid-80s)

We've talked a bit about doing something D&D-ey, obviously we can't come anywhere near WotC's trademarks and intellectual property. If we were going to do something, we'd want to put our own spin on it anyway, probably go back to a generic fantasy/gaming theme and probably be pretty subtle, we've found books with a very specific use are hard to sell (and people see them and ask "can you make it MORE specific?" ha) and we have a huge user base (and subscribers) so most of our editions need to appeal to literally everyone. So we'll see. something along those lines could happen.

In any case, rest assured lots of Field Notes are being used as-is for D&D, even here in our office. I like the dot-graph larger Pitch Black book, i've drawn some runes on mine in silver paint pen, and glued a copy of my character sheet inside the back cover."

I was so happy to see that there were geeks in this pencil and paper based industry- well specifically tabletop gaming geeks.  I'm also excited that it's something they've at least considered- and it's something I would definitely buy in the future.  At this time a 3 pack of their iconic notebooks is just about $10 so pick a trio up and maybe share with your fellow players or DM.

Now, if you'll excuse me- I'll be cutting up the cover of an old Complete splatbook and making my own slipcover for one of these...