NPC notes

NPC Notes are private, freeform notes attached to an NPC entity. They are separate from the NPC's public article and are never visible to players, regardless of the entity's visibility setting.

Accessing notes

Open any NPC in your world and select the Notes tab in the entity sidebar. Notes are only visible to you.

Important

NPC notes are GM-only at all times. There is no visibility toggle. Changing an NPC's visibility to Party or Public does not expose their notes.

What to put in notes

Notes are for quick session reference — the things you need to remember at the table that do not belong in the public article.

Useful things to capture:

CategoryExamples
Current stateCurrent mood, what they are currently planning, where they are right now
What they knowWhat they know about the party; what they have figured out; what they are pretending not to know
What they wantTheir goal in any interaction with the party; their short-term vs. long-term interests
Party relationshipWho in the party they trust, fear, like, or intend to use
SecretsThings you have not decided to reveal yet — possible futures you are holding
Session remindersAnything you will need to remember during play: a name they would use, a mannerism, a lie they told

Notes persist across sessions

Notes accumulate over time. Add to them after each debrief. Over a long campaign, they become a compact record of everything you know about this NPC that the players do not.

There is no length limit. Write as much or as little as you need.

Notes vs. Secret blocks

These two tools serve different purposes:

NPC notesSecret blocks
FormatFreeform textStructured (secret + reveal condition)
VisibilityAlways GM-onlyGM-only until you reveal it
Best forThings you need to rememberInformation you plan to reveal at a specific moment
Player experienceNever shownShown to players when you reveal the block
💡Tip

If you know you want to reveal a piece of information at some point — the NPC's true name, their connection to the party — use a Secret block. If you just need to remember it yourself, use a note. The distinction is whether the information is eventually for the players.

Use notes when you just need to remember things. Use Secret blocks when you want structured visibility control over information that will eventually surface in play.