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Using Obsidian for Lazy RPG Prep

by Mike on 4 November 2024

Over the past year I’ve switched from using Notion for my Lazy RPG Prep to using Obsidian. Here’s why:

Obsidian operates in native markdown files. There’s no conversion necessary and the files sit in your own directories on your own filesystem.
Obsidian is cross-platform. I use iCloud to share my Obsidian directory across my Mac, iPhone, and iPad. I don’t have to trust a cloud-based system to be up when I need it.
Obsidian’s interface is fast and clean. Notion feels like it's gotten slower the more extra features they put into it.

I still love and recommend Notion if it works for you. My switch to Obsidian doesn’t mean you need to switch to Obsidian or away from any set of tools you use to do your prep.

Organizing a Lazy RPG Campaign in Obsidian

I have a simple setup for using Obsidian for Lazy GM prep. While many Obsidian GMs love the huge amount of plugins one can use with Obsidian, I like to keep things simple. I only use the templater plugin to set up session note templates.

Download my Lazy GM Campaign Obsidian Template. Patrons of Sly Flourish also access to my Obsidian campaign templates for my current games.

Here’s my directory structure for a typical Obsidian Lazy RPG Campaign folder:

Campaign Name folder
- Session Notes folder
  - Individual Session Note file
- Attachments folder (for pictures or PDFs)
- NPC file
- Character file
- Locations folder
  - Attachments folder (for pictures of maps)
  - Location description file (if needed)

I create extra pages as I need them. For example, in my Shadowed Keep of the Borderlands game, the characters are headed to the drow city of Erelhei-Cinlu from D3 Vault of the Drow. The drow city is complicated enough with the various houses and their secrets that I have a “drow houses” and “drow secrets” file to keep on hand.

For the "NPCs" file, I have two headings: “Current NPCs” and “Past NPCs”. I write their names and any relevant notes about the NPC in a single line. Some GMs want far more information on NPCs but usually a few words are all that I need for the campaigns I run.

For the "Character" file I have each character as a header and then bullets containing any relevant character info like race, species, lineage, heritage, class, and background. I can put character connections or story connections here. I can jot down magic items they received, stars and wishes, or any new abilities they pick up on a level. Put whatever is useful for you to run your game.

Session Notes

The session notes file includes headers for each of the eight steps from Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master and bullets for each of the items underneath. I use a pandoc-based shell script to generate a PDF so I can print them out and use them in my three-ring campaign binder.

Keeping Things Simple

The way of the Lazy GM is a focus on simplicity and impact. We only use the tools we need to run the game we run. Use what works, omit the rest. Instead of going straight into a complex Obsidian setup, start first with the basics — a file with an outline of the eight steps. This outline keeps me focused on the thing that matters the most — the game I’m playing with my friends.

Other Resources

Other GMs, developers, and Obsidian power users have come up with tons of plugins and systems for using Obsidian with D&D, 5e, and other RPGs. Here’s a list of some Obsidian RPG resources:

More Sly Flourish Stuff

Last week I posted a couple of YouTube videos on Comparing Four 5e RPGs: Tales of the Valiant, Level Up Advanced 5e, 2024 D&D, and 2014 D&D and Scourge of the Dragon Empire Session Zero .

Last Week's Lazy RPG Talk Show Topics

Each week I record an episode of the Lazy RPG Talk Show (also available as a podcast) in which I talk about all things in tabletop RPGs. Here are last week's topics with time stamped links to the YouTube video:

Patreon Questions and Answers

Also on the Talk Show, I answer questions from Sly Flourish Patrons. Here are last week's questions and answers:

RPG Tips

Each week I think about what I learned in my last RPG session and write them up as RPG tips. Here are this week's tips:

Make sure your players are good with the controversial choices of the characters.
Avoid betraying NPCs. Use shady NPCs with valuable information instead.
Jot down the Lazy Encounter Benchmark during prep. Improv combat encounters during the game based on the unfolding situation.
Imagine your game as a pool table with characters and NPCs like the balls. Who knows where they’re going to end up until you hit them with your cue.
Keep a good list of NPCs in your session notes. Update it every session.
Print maps and annotate one or two word descriptions on the rooms.
Take turns during downtime. Make sure everyone gets a chance to say what their character does.