Do you have a wiki for your Dungeons & Dragons or TTRPG campaign? It’s a perfect way to compile all the relevant information from your game and make it accessible to everyone at the table. It doesn’t matter if you purchase a subscription to an online world building tool or use a simple and free wiki website (I highly recommend Notion). A campaign wiki is a great resource for archiving and referencing all aspects of the game for both the players and yourself as the DM. It can also serve as a nostalgic memory book you can look back on after the campaign ends.
Admittedly, it is kind of a chore updating and maintaining a wiki after each session in addition to running a campaign as the dungeon master. But is it worth it to have a living document to reference and a lasting monument to your game? Absolutely! Starting the wiki may seem daunting. But don’t worry… I’ve got plenty of prompts to get you started below. Here are my top ten ideas for fun things to include in your TTRPG campaign wiki…
1. Session Highlights
In my opinion, documenting the highlights of each session is the most important aspect of a campaign wiki. I prefer to list out the major events of each session in a bullet point format. This gives you a quick, at-a-glance breakdown of what happened the last time you played. It’s also a lifesaver when it comes to the before session recap. Add session numbers, dates played, emojis that represent the plot, and fun “episode” titles for a comprehensive account of the story. I like to name each session after song titles, myself.
2. NPC Database
Individual non-player character pages are all well and good, but have you considered creating an NPC database? By putting NPCs in a table format, you can quickly locate the character and their data on the fly. You can include any information you want in the columns, such as physical description, a short bio, affiliations, hometown, known abilities, profession, or anything else you think is relevant but not too in-depth. Add a link to each key NPC’s individual wiki pages and it creates an easily usable resource. This is especially effective for remembering all those spur of the moment NPCs that players fall in love with.
3. Location Database
Locations in your game are just as important as NPCs. So just like the NPCs, I recommend implementing a table-style database for quick reference. Ideas for column items could include the location’s geographical features, governance/politics, total population, overall vibe, session debut, key NPCs, and notable hot spots. Again, adding links to individual location pages or maps adds another layer of depth and usability. It’s perfect for answering when a player asks, “What did we do in that village in session three again?”
4. Player-written Character Pages
A Dungeons & Dragons campaign is very much about the player’s story. So it makes sense that each player’s character would be represented in the pages of your campaign wiki. However, why should the DM be the one to write those pages? Outsource the player character pages to the players themselves. That way they can describe their character how they want, reveal as much or as little of their backstory as they are comfortable with, etc. It also takes a little more off a DM’s plate when it comes to wiki maintenance.
5. Open Quest Board
In a long-running campaign, the player’s party will agree to many quests. Sometimes, there are so many quests in play that the details of a mission might fall through the cracks. That’s why having an open quest board on your wiki can be very beneficial. Players can open the page and see the status of open quests, their progress so far, and the next steps to completing the objective. Bonus points for a completed quest section so that the players can look back on their accomplishments with pride!
6. Deep Lore Archive
Every D&D game delves into the intricate histories of the campaign’s setting. But all that information can be hard for players to remember and locate in their notes. Enter: The Deep Lore Archive! It is a searchable page on your wiki containing all the information your players have dug up about the world around them. This idea is a great alternative to searching through notebooks for ten minutes for a tidbit of lore. It could even be another one of those pages that you outsource to your players to update!
7. House Rules Page
Do you create house rules to modify the player’s experience or cater to their preferences? You should keep track of your homebrew rules on the wiki! It is easy to forget the actual mechanics of a house rule, especially if it hasn’t come up since you established it in session zero. Having house rules written down and accessible to everyone isn’t just convenient. It also holds players (and you) accountable to the wordage and mechanics that was agreed upon early on.
8. Game Statistics
Are you a person who loves looking at numbers and statistics? You can keep track of different in-game metrics in your campaign wiki as well. Document and update categories like confirmed kills, spell levels cast, max damage dealt, successful saving throws and ability checks, etc. If you don’t want to manage all that while also acting as dungeon master, you can ask a particularly studious player to take notes. It’s another thing to keep track of, but seeing the campaign’s various stats can be very interesting.
9. Maps & Artwork
While not at all necessary, it helps to have visual aids in a D&D campaign. Whether you are a decent cartographer, commission a world map, or even just make a rough sketch, it’s a good idea to upload it to the wiki for the players to reference. Additionally, you can include character artwork, completed/cleared dungeon layouts, city maps, etc. Any artwork generated by players, yourself, or through an artist’s commission can really shake up an otherwise basic wiki visually.
10. Links Page
We’ve gone over a lot of ideas for pages inside your wiki. Why not include a page for all the things you utilize outside of it? Creating a page with links to the outside resources used in your game allows everyone to reference them. Include links to the Spotify playlists you use during each session, character or location theme songs, inspirational Pinterest mood boards, all the players social media handles, alternative rules websites, homebrew items created by the online hive mind, or any other links you think are relevant to the campaign!
May your wiki always be up-to-date! Until next time, stay creepy and happy gaming.
Dan
Dan is a creator, game enthusiast, former goth, designer, nerd, blogger, and meme historian. He has always loved creating experiences through art, writing, design, and collaborative storytelling. His career is in the creative industry, specifically focusing on graphic design, marketing, and user experience.