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Jackson98Tomphson / rpgm-jackson-branch

RPG Manager is a tool to simplify the plot, run and track of role playing game campaigns, helping storytellers to run better campaigns in less time.
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Role Playing Game Manager

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RPG Manager is an Obsidian plugin to simplify the creation and running of role playing game campaings. The plugin is system-agnostic, which means you can use it if you are running a D&D, Call of Chtulhu or any other TTRPG.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Welcome to RPG Manager, the Obsidian plugin designed to be the ultimate sidekick for Storytellers and Game Masters (GMs) preparing and running their campaigns. Are you tired of having your campaign notes scattered across multiple platforms and notebooks? RPG Manager was born out of the need for a central repository for all those brilliant ideas, notes, plotlines, and player character decisions that make up the tapestry of your game.

Why RPG Manager? The beauty of RPG Manager lies in its simplicity and flexibility. It allows you to easily create relationships between various elements of your campaign, forming a web of information that aids in both the plotting and running of the game. Additionally, it is a system-agnostic tool, which means it can be used with any Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) system, providing a versatile platform for managing campaigns without being tied to a specific rule set. However, this does mean that it may not cover every single detail of every system out there, so approach RPG Manager with an open mind and a spirit of adventure!

Advantages of RPG Manager include centralized information, relationships between elements, system-agnostic design, and overall efficiency in preparing campaigns. By providing a central location for all your ideas, notes, and information, and allowing you to create a web of relationships between various campaign elements, RPG Manager helps you craft compelling narratives while keeping track of all the essential details.

So, embark on your storytelling journey with RPG Manager as your trusted companion. Embrace the possibilities it offers, and let it help you create unforgettable adventures.

1.1. Overview of the Plugin

RPG Manager is a plugin for Obsidian, designed to sit comfortably on top of it, like a well-worn wizard's hat. It associates metadata with the Obsidian notes and provides a user-friendly interface to navigate through the information. This is not just any metadata; it's the kind that helps manage the relationships between notes, a crucial aspect for any Storyteller/GM trying to weave a coherent narrative.

The user interface of RPG Manager is an HTML UI that organizes the metadata and displays it inside the Obsidian note. This means you don't have to flip back and forth between different applications or windows; everything you need is right there in your Obsidian note.

The metadata is stored inside a code block in Obsidian, rather than in the front matter. This decision was made because the front matter does not handle the amount of information needed in a clean way and takes away a lot of space at the top of the note in Obsidian. However, you don't have to worry about the nitty-gritty details of formatting or syntax, as all the metadata are read and written through the UI. This means less time wrestling with code and more time crafting your epic tales.

1.2. Key Features

RPG Manager boasts a range of features designed to make your storytelling journey as smooth as a bard's charm. Here's a quick rundown of what you can expect:

  1. Centralized Information: Gather all your campaign ideas, notes, and information in one place, ensuring nothing gets lost in the chaos of creation.
  2. User-Friendly Interface: An HTML UI embedded within your Obsidian notes to help you navigate and manage metadata without the need to juggle multiple applications or windows.
  3. Metadata Management: Store and manage the relationships between notes with metadata, crucial for weaving a coherent narrative. The metadata is stored inside a code block in Obsidian, minimizing clutter and maximizing efficiency.
  4. Relationships Between Notes/Elements: Manage the relationships between various campaign elements effortlessly, creating a web of information that aids in both plotting and running of the game.
  5. System-Agnostic Design: Designed to work with any TTRPG system, providing a versatile platform for managing campaigns without being tied to a specific rule set.
  6. Elements: Everything in RPG Manager is an "Element", whether it is a campaign, adventure, chapter, event, location, clue, non-player character, faction, object, monster, subplot, player character, session, or scene. This helps in organizing and structuring your campaign in a more coherent and logical manner.

Remember, this is just a taste of what RPG Manager has to offer. As you dive deeper into this documentation, you'll discover how each feature can be tailored to suit your unique storytelling style.

1.3. Target Audience (Plotters, Sandboxers, Lazy GMs)

RPG Manager is designed to be a versatile tool that can adapt to different storytelling styles. Whether you are a Plotter, Sandboxed, or a Lazy GM, this plugin has something for you.

  1. Plotters: For those who like to meticulously plan their stories, RPG Manager offers a structured approach to organize and manage each element of your campaign, from the overarching narrative down to individual scenes and clues.
  2. Sandboxers: If you prefer creating open worlds and letting your players roam freely, RPG Manager helps in organizing events, locations, and clues, thus aiding in creating a coherent background for your player characters to interact with.
  3. Lazy GMs: Even if you don't prep much and prefer to jot down a few notes and bullet points before each session, RPG Manager can help in centralizing your ideas and notes, ensuring that you can quickly find what you need during the game.

Tips for All GMs

1.4. Getting Started

Embarking on a new adventure with RPG Manager is as exciting as rolling a natural 20! To get started, all you need is an open mind and a willingness to explore the plugin's features to see how they align with your storytelling style.

Common Pitfalls

Resources

While there are no tutorials or guides available at the moment, we are working on creating video tutorials to help you get the most out of RPG Manager. Stay tuned!

1.5. Upgrade your vault from v3

If you are already using RPG Manager and you update it to version 4, the plugin will not work. You have two options: use BRAT to revert to v3.4.5 or upgrade your vault.

Upgrading your vault is always a complicated matter, as the way you structured your data can be different from the way other storytellers have. For this reason, before upgrading your vault, create a backup copy of it!

Important: if the upgrade process gets stuck, check the Inspector Console for errors, and look for help either on Discord or on Github.

2. Installation

Installing RPG Manager is as easy as slaying a level 1 goblin! Follow the steps below to get started:

And voila! You are now ready to dive into the world of RPG Manager. There is no initial setup required, so you can start creating campaigns right away!

2.1. Setting up your first Campaign

Creating your first campaign with RPG Manager is a piece of cake! Here are two ways to do it:

Once you create the campaign, the note containing the campaign will automatically open. That's it! You have successfully created your first campaign. Now, let the adventure begin!

2.2. User Interface

The User Interface (UI) of RPG Manager is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. It is shown directly in the Obsidian note and helps users add/edit any details and see all the relevant information, attributes, and relationships of the elements.

Main Note: In the main note, you will find all the editable attributes of an element. The type of an element is shown underneath its name.

Option Panel: On the right-hand side, the option panel provides additional functionalities. The option panel can be opened by clicking on the d20 icon on the left hand-side of Obsidian, or by clicking the "Options" link in the UI. The functionalities include:

Visual Indications: The UI uses the colors of the installed theme in Obsidian. Currently, the UI is not customizable, but it will adapt to the colors of your chosen theme.

3. Overview of Elements

In RPG Manager, everything is considered as an "Element." An element is a fundamental building block that represents various components of your RPG campaign, such as campaigns, adventures, characters, locations, events, etc. There are different types of elements, each serving a specific purpose and having its own set of attributes and functionalities.

All elements share some common properties:

Some elements have a hierarchical structure. This means that they can contain child elements, and these children can be positioned in a specific order. For instance, a 'Campaign' can contain multiple 'Adventures' and 'Sessions,' and these can be organized in a particular sequence. Similarly, an 'Adventure' can contain multiple 'Chapters,' and a 'Session' can contain multiple 'Scenes.'

Understanding the concept of elements is fundamental to using RPG Manager effectively. As you get more familiar with the different types of elements and how they relate to each other, you will be able to create, edit, and manage your campaigns with ease and efficiency.

3.1. Creating and Editing Elements

Creating and editing elements in RPG Manager is a breeze. Whether you are adding a new character, item, or event, the process is straightforward and intuitive.

Creating New Elements:

To create a new element, you can use either the command palette or the side panel.

Remember, every element type, apart from a campaign, should belong to a campaign.

To edit the information of existing element, simply navigate to the element in the Obsidian note and follow the User Interface (UI) to make the necessary changes. The UI is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy to edit the attributes and relationships of each element.

Now that you know how to create and edit elements, you are well on your way to becoming an RPG Manager pro!

3.2 Relationships

In RPG Manager, every element can contain links to other elements. These links become relationships between elements, forming the backbone of how information is linked to one another, which is crucial in building a campaign. Relationships can contain a description to better explain the connection between elements.

Relationships can be of different types:

By establishing relationships between elements, the storyteller can create a complex web of interconnected information that can be easily navigated and understood, facilitating the development and management of the campaign.

3.3 Elements

3.3.1. Campaign

The campaign is the cornerstone of RPG Manager, the main element a storyteller can create, and all its other elements will form the central repository of information for it.

Attributes

Notes:

In the next sections, we will delve deeper into other elements and how they relate to and support the campaign.

3.3.2. Adventures

An adventure is a significant component of a campaign, encompassing a series of events or challenges that have a distinct beginning and conclusion. For instance, in the well-known Call of Cthulhu campaign, "Masks of Nyarlathotep," all events transpiring in New York could be classified as a single adventure. Each adventure comprises multiple chapters, which help in structuring the narrative in a more organized manner.

An adventure serves as a pivotal building block within a campaign, functioning as a coherent narrative unit with a specific beginning and end. It normally encompasses a series of events, locations od challenges that can be grouped together in a single narrative. For example, in the famed "Masks of Nyarlathotep" campaign for Call of Cthulhu, everything that happens in New York could be considered a single adventure. An adventure can be further organized into multiple chapters to streamline the storytelling process.

Attributes

Notes:

3.3.3. Chapters

A chapter is a more focused and manageable segment of an adventure, a building block of an adventure. It typically focusses on a specific event or location that the player characters may encounter, and all the relationships and interactions they may have within that context. It serves as a segment of the narrative that leads to one or more destinations, which could be subsequent adventures or chapters. By breaking down an adventure into chapters, it becomes easier to manage the narrative flow, develop intricate relationships, and create immersive experiences for the players.

Attributes

Notes

3.3.4. Events

An event is a significant occurrence or happening in the narrative, something in which the player characters may become involved. It contains a description and leverages relationships to ensure they give information to the player characters. Events are crucial narrative elements that help to propel the story forward and create engaging experiences for the player characters.

Attributes

Notes

Events, while not unique in terms of metadata, are logically distinct narrative elements. Storytellers should consider them as proper events and craft their descriptions accordingly to create engaging and impactful moments in the narrative.

3.3.5. Locations

Locations represent the physical places within the game world where events occur and characters interact. They serve as the backdrop for the narrative and play a crucial role in setting the scene and immersing the players in the game world.

Attributes

Notes

3.3.6. Clues

Clues are pieces of information that propel the plot forward. A clue should describe what the information is and how it can be found. This information is typically part of the clue's description. The relationships of a clue would usually be an event, a location, or a non-player character where the clue can be found and where it leads. However, any element can be related to any other element in RPG Manager, so a clue can also be related to adventures, campaigns, sessions, or any other elements as needed.

Attributes

Notes:

3.3.7. Non-player characters

Non-player characters (NPCs) are the lifeblood of any campaign. They are the individuals that populate the world, providing context, challenges, and support to the player characters. Their presence contributes significantly to the atmosphere and narrative of the campaign.

NPCs are multifaceted, having a range of attributes that define their role, personality, and journey throughout the campaign. While only the description is mandatory, the RPG Manager offers a comprehensive list of attributes that can be customized to create a well-rounded character:

Attributes

While the RPG Manager provides a structured approach to creating NPCs, it also offers the flexibility for storytellers and GMs to customize the attributes to suit their needs. Not all attributes are necessary for every NPC, and the storyteller can select only those that are relevant to their character and narrative.

Additionally, the RPG Manager features a Wizard that assists storytellers in creating NPCs by guiding them through the process in order of importance. This tool streamlines the creation process and ensures that key attributes are considered.

Ultimately, NPCs play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative and interactions within a campaign. Their characteristics, desires, and challenges can drive the plot forward, create conflicts, and enrich the world-building process. Therefore, it is essential for storytellers and GMs to carefully craft their NPCs, considering the impact they will have on the overall narrative and the experiences of the player characters.

3.3.8. Factions

Factions represent organized groups of non-player characters that share common goals, philosophies, or interests. They play a crucial role in shaping the world of the campaign and often serve as allies, enemies, or sources of intrigue for the player characters.

Attributes

In RPG Manager, a non-player character's affiliation with a faction is defined through relationships. A non-player character can belong to multiple factions, and a faction can have relationships with other factions or elements, allowing for a complex web of alliances and rivalries.

Notes

Factions are a vital element in RPG Manager as they influence the actions of non-player characters and can have a significant impact on the campaign's narrative and dynamics. By thoughtfully defining a faction's attributes and relationships, storytellers can create a rich tapestry of interactions that add depth and complexity to their campaign.

3.3.9. Objects

Objects are items of importance within the campaign. While their role and significance can vary widely depending on the GM's narrative, they are essential tools for enriching the storyline and providing depth to the campaign world.

Attributes

Notes

In conclusion, objects, while seemingly simple, are a versatile element that can be employed in various ways to enhance the storytelling and the immersive experience of the RPG.

3.3.10. Monsters

Monsters are creatures that player characters may encounter during their adventures. They can be creatures of myth, products of magic, or beings from another dimension. Regardless of their origin, monsters add an element of danger and unpredictability to the campaign.

Attributes

Notes

In summary, monsters, while potentially fearsome, are a crucial element in shaping the narrative and the challenges that player characters face during their adventures.

3.3.11. Subplots

Subplots are additional narratives that supplement the main plot of the campaign. While the main plot drives the overarching narrative, subplots add depth, complexity, and richness to the world and its characters. They can vary in scope and scale, and can be generic, affecting the world at large, or specific, tied to a particular non-player character (NPC) or player character (PC).

Attributes

Notes:

Subplots are an essential tool for the storyteller, providing a way to create a multifaceted narrative that engages players on multiple levels. Whether it's a personal journey of an NPC, a side quest that the PCs undertake, or a larger event that affects the world, subplots help in creating a dynamic and immersive storytelling experience.

3.3.12. Player characters

Player characters are the avatars of the players in the game world, serving as a crucial reference for the storyteller. While they are generally created and developed by the players themselves, the RPG Manager provides a space for the storyteller to record key aspects of each player character that are essential for the narrative.

Attributes

Each of the attributes, apart from the description, is optional and can be filled out according to the needs of the storyteller and the player. It is important to note that the RPG Manager is designed to be a tool for the storyteller, and while it provides a space to record these aspects of player characters, it is not a replacement for the character sheets or other tools used by the players themselves.

Notes

In summary, the player characters section in the RPG Manager serves as a useful reference for the storyteller, allowing them to have a quick overview of the key aspects of each player character and understand their place within the broader narrative.

3.3.13. Sessions

You've been there, right? The session is about to start, and you've got some scribbled notes on a napkin, or maybe you've meticulously planned every single detail down to the NPC's favorite type of cheese. Regardless, you know that once the game starts, all your plans could go down the drain because, let's face it, players are chaos incarnate. That's where RPG Manager's Sessions feature comes in. Think of it as your digital napkin, only way cooler and less likely to be used to wipe up spilled soda.

So, why does RPG Manager have sessions? Simple. Sessions are where the rubber meets the road. It's where you, the GM, plot out the session and track what the player characters do during it. Whether you're a Plotter who meticulously plans out the narrative, a Sandboxed who creates an open world with Events, Locations, and Clues, or a Lazy GM who preps just a few notes and bullet points before each session, you're going to need to keep track of what the hell is happening.

Attributes:

Okay, let's address the elephant in the room. Why use the Sessions feature? Well, it's not just a note-taking tool. It’s a way to strategically plan and record the chaos. With it, you can take notes during the session, track player characters' actions, and know how to progress the campaign. And let's not forget the best part; it facilitates the creation of relationships between Sessions and any other element in the game. So, a session can be linked to specific NPCs, locations, events, and other elements, helping you manage the intricate network of relationships and narratives that make up the campaign. It’s like having a super-organized, digital assistant that doesn’t judge you for letting the player characters fight a dragon way above their level.

In a nutshell, the Sessions feature in RPG Manager is your best friend for session planning and tracking. It's adaptable, it's organized, and most importantly, it's got your back when your players decide to go off the rails... which, let's be honest, is every session.

3.3.14. Scenes

In the world of tabletop RPGs, a scene is a fundamental unit of gameplay. It represents a specific moment in the game when the player characters are required to perform an active action. This can range from engaging in combat with a fearsome dragon to making a crucial decision that could alter the course of their adventure. The key purpose of a scene is to facilitate active participation and decision-making by the player characters, thereby driving the narrative forward.

Attributes

Scenes are an essential tool for the GM, as they help structure the session and provide a roadmap for the narrative. However, it is important to remember that scenes are not set in stone and may evolve organically based on the decisions and actions of the player characters. The key is to facilitate active engagement and participation from the players, thereby creating a dynamic and memorable gaming experience.

3.4. Custom Attributes

Custom Attributes in RPG Manager are user-defined fields that you can create to add specific details to various elements of your game that are not covered by the default attributes. For example, if you are running a campaign with a magic system that involves "Mana Points," which is not a default attribute in RPG Manager, you can create a custom attribute for it. Custom Attributes provide a way to customize and extend the RPG Manager to better suit the specific needs of your game, helping you to create a more immersive and detailed world for your players based on your specific needs.

Custom Attributes can be associated with various elements. This means you can create an attribute like "Political Affiliation" for non-player characters, "Weather" for scenes, or "Morale" for player characters, making your game world more detailed and tailored to your narrative.

The type of data a custom attribute can hold includes Text, Number, Option (a dropdown list of predefined options), Checkbox, Long Text, and Date. This wide range of data types allows you to create attributes that can hold different kinds of information, making your game management more flexible and detailed.

You can access this feature through the options menu by clicking on the "Custom Attributes" link. This will open a Modal form where you can define your own attributes. Each custom attribute must have a name, a type (e.g., Text, Number, Option, Checkbox, Long Text, Date), and, if the type is 'Option,' a list of options that will appear in a dropdown menu. Additionally, you need to specify which element type(s) the custom attribute should be associated with.

Creating Custom Attributes allows you to add specific details to the elements of your game that are not covered by the default attributes provided by RPG Manager. This gives you the flexibility to customize your game according to your needs and preferences, making your storytelling more detailed and engaging.

3.5. Tasks

Tasks are essentially a to-do list for each element in your RPG Manager. Whether it's a non-player character, a scene, a session, or any other element, you can assign a list of tasks to it. These tasks represent things that need to be done or accomplished within the context of that element. For example, a task for a non-player character could be "Player characters should discover their secret." If you think this task could be discovered in a scene or a session, you can assign it to those specific elements as well. This helps maintain consistency throughout your campaign and ensures that important plot points or character developments are not overlooked.

Creating a Task Creating a task is straightforward. When you are in the context of a specific element, you can add a task to it. This means you can't create a task independently; it has to be associated with an element right from the start. Each task can be assigned to one or more elements, making it a versatile tool to keep track of important objectives or plot developments across different parts of your campaign.

Tracking Progress RPG Manager allows you to easily track the progress of each task. You can view all the open tasks for a particular campaign, and in each element, you can see all the tasks that have already been completed. This helps you stay organized and ensures that you don't lose track of important objectives as your campaign progresses.

Editing and Deleting Tasks Tasks can be edited or deleted after they have been created and assigned. This provides flexibility in case you need to make changes or adjustments as your campaign develops.

Limitations There is no limit to the number of tasks that can be created or assigned to an element. This means you can create as many tasks as you need to fully flesh out your campaign and ensure that all important objectives are accounted for.

Overall, tasks are a powerful tool in RPG Manager that helps you stay organized and ensure that important plot points, character developments, and objectives are not overlooked throughout your campaign.

3.6. Element Templates

In RPG Manager, an element template is an Obsidian note that contains a special code block, RpgManager4, which is used by the application to render its user interface (UI). This allows Storytellers/GMs to customize their notes by adding any information, text, or other code blocks they need, while still having the RPG Manager UI integrated into the note.

Creating a template is a two-step process:

  1. Define the Template Location: In the RPG Manager settings, specify the folder where your templates are stored. This is where RPG Manager will look for your templates.

  2. Create the Template: A template is an Obsidian note that contains the ```RpgManager4``` code block where you want the RPG Manager UI to appear. You can add any other content you want to the note, but it can only contain one ```RpgManager4``` code block.

3.7. Global Assets

In version 4 you can create elements that are not part of a single campaing. These assets (events, locations, clues, non-player characters, factions, objects, monsters, subplots and player-characters) can be used in anyone of your campaigns. Just add a relationship and you are good to go, writing once, reusing many times!

4. Creating a World

Creating a world is more than just outlining a plot; it’s about constructing a living, breathing environment in which your story can unfold. The RPG Manager facilitates this by allowing you to create and interrelate various elements that are crucial for worldbuilding.

Interconnectedness: By creating relationships between different elements - for example, linking an NPC to a faction or a location to an event - you're essentially constructing the fabric of your world. This interconnectedness helps to create a dynamic, coherent setting in which each element influences others. For instance, an NPC's actions might be influenced by their affiliation to a faction, which in turn might be in conflict with another faction over control of a specific location.

Consistency: As your world grows, it can be challenging to keep track of all the details. The RPG Manager helps maintain consistency by providing a structured way to organize and relate various elements. For example, by linking a subplot to a specific NPC or player character, you can easily track how that subplot progresses as the character interacts with other elements in the world.

Depth: Creating relationships between elements also adds depth to your world. For example, a location is not just a physical place; it's also a setting for events, a home for NPCs, and perhaps a base for a faction. By establishing these relationships, you give the location a history and a purpose that can enrich your narrative.

Dynamics: Relationships between elements also create dynamics that can drive your narrative. For example, the relationship between an NPC and a faction might change over time, influencing the NPC's actions and decisions. These dynamics can create unexpected twists and turns in your story, keeping your players engaged.

4.1. What Type of Storyteller Are You?

Understanding your style as a storyteller is crucial for effectively using the RPG Manager. Generally, storytellers can be categorized into three main types:

  1. Plotters: These are storytellers who like to plan their stories in detail. They create intricate plots with well-defined story arcs, character development, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. They often use tools like the story circle to craft compelling narratives.

    Example: If you enjoy creating detailed outlines for each session, developing extensive backstories for your NPCs, and knowing exactly how each subplot will unfold, you are probably a plotter.

    How RPG Manager Helps: The RPG Manager is designed to help plotters organize their thoughts and ideas, create detailed relationships between elements, and develop compelling story arcs.

  2. Sandboxers: These are storytellers who prefer to create open worlds where the players can explore and create their own stories. They focus on creating a detailed setting with various events, locations, and clues that the players can interact with.

    Example: If you prefer to create a detailed world with various locations, events, and NPCs, but leave it up to the players to decide how they want to interact with these elements, you are probably a sandboxer.

    How RPG Manager Helps: The RPG Manager helps sandboxers by providing a structured way to organize and interrelate various elements of their world, making it easier to manage the open-world setting.

  3. Lazy GMs: These are storytellers who prefer to do minimal preparation before each session. They often have a rough idea of how the session will unfold but prefer to improvise and adapt to the players' actions during the game.

    Example: If you prefer to do minimal preparation before each session, often jotting down just a few bullet points or key ideas, you are probably a lazy GM.

    How RPG Manager Helps: The RPG Manager helps lazy GMs by providing a way to quickly and easily create and organize the essential elements needed for each session, making it easier to improvise during the game.

No matter what type of storyteller you are, the RPG Manager is designed to help you create and manage your world with ease.

4.2. For Every Storyteller You Are

Whether you're a Plotter, a Sandboxed, or a Lazy GM, RPG Manager has something for everyone. This section will help you understand how to use the tool, no matter what your storytelling style is.

4.2.1. Creating Rounded Non-Player Characters

Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are the lifeblood of your world. They are the ones your players interact with, the ones who give out quests, the ones who stand in their way, and the ones who help them on their journey. Creating rounded NPCs is essential to build a three-dimensional world that feels alive and immersive.

A rounded NPC is not just a collection of stats and attributes; they have their own desires, fears, and motivations. They have a past that influences their present actions and a future they aspire to. These NPCs are not just passive elements waiting for the player characters (PCs) to interact with them; they have their own goals and can take actions independently of the PCs.

RPG Manager helps you create rounded NPCs by guiding you through the process of defining their personality, goals, and relationships with other elements of the campaign. This ensures that your NPCs are not just cardboard cutouts but feel like real, living beings that contribute to the richness of your world.

Do not be daunted by the many attributes available in RPG Manager; you can use as many or as few as you wish. The tool is designed to be flexible and adapt to your style of storytelling.

By creating rounded NPCs, you not only enhance the realism and depth of your world, but you also create opportunities for more engaging and dynamic storytelling. These NPCs can drive the plot forward, create conflicts and resolutions, and provide a deeper emotional connection for your players.

4.2.2. Developing Adventures and Chapters

Adventures and Chapters are the building blocks of your campaign. An adventure is a single, self-contained storyline that can be part of a larger campaign, while a chapter is a smaller section of an adventure, or a standalone mini-adventure in its own right.

Developing well-structured adventures and chapters is crucial for maintaining a logical and engaging narrative.

The key to developing engaging adventures and chapters is to create a logical flow of events that guide the PCs from one challenge to the next, while also allowing room for unexpected twists and turns. It is important to strike a balance between guiding the PCs along a predetermined path and allowing them the freedom to make their own decisions and explore the world at their own pace.

RPG Manager helps you develop well-structured adventures and chapters by providing a framework to organize your ideas and create a logical flow of events. You can define the relationships between different elements of your campaign, such as how an event in one chapter might trigger a reaction in another, or how a decision made by the PCs in one adventure might have consequences in the next.

4.3. For Plotters

If you are a Plotter, you enjoy creating detailed plans and well-structured narratives for your gaming sessions. You find satisfaction in developing intricate storylines, with carefully thought-out plots, subplots, and character arcs. You appreciate the value of a well-crafted narrative and believe that a good story is the foundation of an engaging gaming experience.

RPG Manager is designed with you in mind. It provides the tools and structure necessary to organize your ideas, develop your narrative, and plan your sessions in detail. From creating well-rounded non-player characters to developing intricate subplots, RPG Manager provides a comprehensive platform to manage all aspects of your campaign.

As a Plotter, you will find that RPG Manager streamlines your planning process, making it easier to keep track of all the moving parts of your campaign and ensuring that you are well-prepared for each gaming session.

4.3.1. Using the Story Circle

For Plotters who love crafting well-structured narratives, the Story Circle is a particularly useful tool. It's a framework adapted from Dan Harmon's approach to storytelling, designed to create a satisfying, complete story. The Story Circle consists of eight stages: You, Need, Go, Search, Find, Take, Return, and Change. With RPG Manager, you can implement the Story Circle at various levels of granularity:

So, whether you're crafting the grand tale of a world-saving quest or planning out a single session's escapade, the Story Circle offers a valuable framework for developing compelling narratives. RPG Manager's functionality allows you to incorporate this directly into your planning, making it an indispensable tool for the Plotter GM.

4.4. For Sandboxers

Sandboxers thrive on flexibility and improvisation. They create an open world, filled with events, locations, and clues, and then set their players loose to explore and interact with that world as they see fit. The narrative emerges organically from the players' choices and actions.

With RPG Manager, Sandboxers can create a detailed and immersive world for their players. The players' choices and actions will determine the course of the narrative, making for a dynamic and engaging gaming experience.

So, if you're a Sandboxer who loves creating detailed, open worlds for your players to explore, RPG Manager offers the tools and flexibility you need to craft your narrative.

4.4.1. Creating Open Worlds

Creating an open world involves much more than just sketching out a map with a few cities and points of interest. It's about creating a dynamic and interactive environment that your players can explore and affect through their actions. With RPG Manager, the process of creating such a world is simplified, but still offers the depth and complexity that your world deserves.

Remember, creating an open world is not just about creating a large space for your players to explore, but about creating a world that feels alive and interconnected. With RPG Manager, you have all the tools you need to create such a world.

4.4.2. Developing Events, Locations, and Clues

RPG Manager is your trusted companion in this creative endeavor. It enables you to populate your world with various elements, all interconnected and ripe for exploration:

By developing these elements, you can create a rich tapestry for your players to interact with.

5. Running a Campaign

Once you have created your world, developed your adventures, and populated your game with well-rounded non-player characters, the next step is to actually run the campaign. This is where all of your hard work and preparation come into play. Running a campaign involves orchestrating the sessions, managing the player characters, and navigating the storylines as they unfold.

RPG Manager is not just a tool for preparation, but also an invaluable companion for the actual gameplay. It will help you keep track of everything that happens during a session, from the actions of the player characters to the progress of the storyline. It's also an excellent tool for improvisation, providing you with quick access to all the necessary information and making it easier to adapt to unexpected twists and turns.

As the storyteller, you are the guide for your players as they navigate through the world you have created. It's your responsibility to ensure that the campaign runs smoothly and that everyone has a good time. This section will provide you with tips and guidelines on how to effectively run a campaign using RPG Manager.

5.1. Prepping for a Session

Prepping for a session is an essential task for any storyteller, regardless of their style. How you approach this task will vary depending on whether you are a plotter, a sandboxer, or a lazy GM. RPG Manager is flexible enough to cater to all these styles, helping you to prepare in the way that suits you best.

No matter your style, prepping for a session is crucial to ensure that the game runs smoothly and that your players have a memorable experience. RPG Manager is designed to assist you in this task, making your prep work easier and more efficient.

5.2. Taking Notes during Sessions

Taking notes during a session is crucial to keep track of what happens, especially because the decisions made and the events that unfold can have lasting effects on the campaign. RPG Manager facilitates this process by allowing you to easily document the progress of the game, even while in the heat of the moment.

Taking notes during a session helps you maintain continuity in your campaign and ensures that you don't forget any important details. RPG Manager is designed to make this process as easy and efficient as possible, allowing you to focus on running the game and creating a memorable experience for your players.

5.3. Managing Scenes

Managing scenes is a fundamental aspect of running a session as it involves orchestrating the events that your players will engage with. RPG Manager assists you in organizing and managing these scenes, ensuring that your sessions run smoothly and are engaging for your players.

Scene Organization

With RPG Manager, you can organize your scenes in the order you expect them to occur. However, the tool is flexible enough to allow quick adjustments in case your players take an unexpected route. This way, you can ensure that you're always prepared, no matter what your players decide to do.

Scene Attributes

Each scene in RPG Manager can have several attributes, such as the description, the story circle stage, the type of scene (e.g., Action, Combat, Decision, etc.), the in-game date, and whether or not the scene is exciting. This allows you to have a clear picture of what each scene entails and how it fits into the overall narrative of your session.

Dynamic Scenes

Sometimes, your players will do something unexpected, and you'll need to create a new scene on the fly. RPG Manager allows you to quickly add new scenes during the session, ensuring that you can adapt to your players' decisions and keep the game flowing smoothly.

Easy Access

During the session, you'll need to access information quickly. RPG Manager makes it easy to navigate between scenes, access the necessary details, and make any required adjustments. This ensures that you can focus on narrating the story and engaging with your players, rather than scrambling to find the information you need.

Optional Scene Creation

It's worth noting that the creation of scenes in RPG Manager is entirely optional. The tool is designed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate different styles of play. Whether you prefer to meticulously plan each scene or create them on the fly, RPG Manager supports your preferred approach to storytelling.

6. ChatGPT Integration

Imagine having a creative assistant that not only helps you save time in generating non-player characters but also serves as a sparring partner, providing ideas that align with your campaign's description. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, with RPG Manager's ChatGPT integration, this dream becomes a reality!

ChatGPT can serve as your creative companion, generating entire non-player characters from just a few details, or assisting you step-by-step, suggesting parts of the non-player characters as if working shoulder to shoulder with you. The better and more descriptive your campaign is, the more the generated non-player characters will fit right in.

In this section, we will cover privacy concerns, cost implications, how to generate non-player characters with ChatGPT, and how to activate the ChatGPT integration. Let's dive in!

6.1. Privacy Concerns

When using the ChatGPT integration for non-player characters generation, the campaign description and the non-player characters information are sent to OpenAI servers. The data protection measures implemented by OpenAI ensure that the data is handled securely. However, it is important to be aware that this information is being transmitted and processed externally.

6.2. Costs Implications

Utilizing the ChatGPT API has an associated cost, which is calculated based on the number of tokens sent in each message. Each message exchanged with the ChatGPT API consumes tokens, and therefore, incurs a cost. It is important to be mindful of this, as frequent use of the ChatGPT integration will result in higher costs.

6.3. Non-player characters generation

The ChatGPT integration can assist in generating attributes for non-player characters, with the exception of the description attribute. This is done via the wizard, which proposes generations for each attribute during the creation process.

6.4. How to activate ChatGPT

To activate ChatGPT in RPG Manager, you will need an OpenAI API key. Follow these steps to obtain your key:

  1. Sign Up for an OpenAI Account: Visit the OpenAI website and sign up for an account by clicking on the 'Sign Up' button and following the prompts.
  2. Generate API Key: Once you have created your account and logged in, navigate to the 'API' section in your OpenAI account dashboard. Here, you will find the option to generate a new API key. Follow the on-screen instructions to create your key.
  3. Enter API Key in RPG Manager: Open RPG Manager and navigate to the settings section. Input your newly generated OpenAI API key into the designated field.

7. Contributing

RPG Manager is an open-source project, and we welcome contributions of all kinds - from code contributions, bug reports, to documentation and any other help you can provide.

7.1. Code Contributions

If you are a developer and want to contribute to the codebase, please feel free to submit a pull request on our GitHub repository. We appreciate contributions that improve the functionality, usability, and overall quality of RPG Manager.

7.2. Bug Reporting

If you encounter any bugs or issues while using RPG Manager, please submit a bug report on our GitHub issues page. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible about the issue, including the steps to reproduce it, so that our developers can address it promptly.

7.3. Documentation:

Good documentation is crucial for any software project. If you have a knack for writing and want to help improve the RPG Manager documentation, please consider contributing to our documentation repository. Whether it's fixing typos, clarifying existing content, or creating new content, every contribution is valuable.

7.4. Other Ways to Help:

If you want to contribute in other ways, here are a few suggestions:

7.5. Community

Being an open-source project, RPG Manager thrives on the support and contributions of its community. Whether you are a developer, a storyteller, or just someone who wants to help out, we appreciate your support and encourage you to get involved. Join us on the support thread on Discord!

8. Frequently Asked Questions