Notion Wrap Up

Over a series of articles, we have discussed developing a campaign management system in Notion. By setting up your Notion databases, you’ll have a handle on your D&D content in no time. Everything you need to get started is in that set of articles.
 
If your like me, you may have read through everything before getting started. In this wrap up article, I’m going to summarize and highlight some learnings. These are things I’ve discovered as I built out my own Notion system. And as I refined my process in writing this article series. They might help you focus your own approach as you design your own Notion system. If you’ve already started then this will still have value as you continue to refine.

Focus on Notion Databases

The database is the crux of the organization system in Notion. It lets you link everything together in a seamless way. It also lets you organize your notes by content. You can search. And filter to find exactly what you need. Create views, and sort the data how you want it.
 
On top of that, you can embed your central databases inside of other pages. This gives you views to your content from anywhere you are looking. If I want a list of which members are a part of which faction all it takes is a linked database.
 
Notion is much more than a simple notebook where you write down text. In fact, if all you want is simple text notes, there are much better tools available for that. When you use Notion, think of how you can leverage the databases in all your content pages.

Focus on Playability First

When you are using a system to build out your campaigns its a natural extension to use it as a worldbuilding hub. As dungeon masters, we often create rich and exciting worlds that we want to share with our players.
 
But I’d like to gently remind you that we tell the stories at our tables with our players. That means, as a DM we need to have gameable material ready for the table. So when you are building out your Notion system. Make sure you are designing it and focusing on playability first. Layout your system so you can easily find your notes and content that you will use at the table.
 
Its great to have visually stunning layouts, reams of images and pages of history of your world. But make sure that is not coming at the expense of your system’s usability at the table. Or having material actually ready for the table. That’s your responsibility as a DM.

Keep your Notion System as Simple as Possible

With all the bells and whistles that Notion offers, its easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why I recommend sticking to the basics. Keep your layout as simple as possible. Simplicity will help you find your information as fast as possible (an asset at the game table). It will also help you navigate and remember your organization system a lot easier.
 
Simplicity is your friend. That being said, sometimes complexity can be worth it.

Add Complexity When it Adds Value

Knowing when to add complexity can be challenging. My best recommendation is to use simplicity as much as possible. And when you find that your minimalistic set up isn’t cutting it, start experimenting.
 
Through experimentation you can find what works for you. You’ll see how it enhances your Notion campaign management system. Your best metric here is usage. Do you find yourself using your advanced views? Great, that means you’ve found something that adds value. Now take those learnings and see if you can build them out elsewhere.

Final Thoughts on Notion

I wrote this lengthy series on Notion because I believe it is a wonderful tool for game masters. You can keep track of your games, worlds, and adventures seamlessly. It lets you connect everything and find the details you need with little effort.
 
It does have a bit of a learning curve. But that is why I published this series of articles. To get you up and running as fast as possible. If you think I’ve missed anything or have any further questions leave me a comment or send me an email.
 
For now, I’m going to be moving onto other topics on this blog. But I’m constantly tinkering with my Notion system. So as I learn new tricks I’ll be sure to share them out. Thanks for reading, and I hope you find a system that works for your game mastering style.
 
An organized GM is a confident GM.