DnD Session Notes Template: How to Prep and Recap Every Session

You write the session notes. You even mean to use them. Then three weeks and four sessions later, someone asks which merchant sold them the cursed sword, and you're digging through a Google Doc that hasn't been touched since session two.

The notes problem isn't discipline — it's structure. When session notes live in a random doc with no consistent format, they're hard to write, harder to scan, and nearly impossible to reference at the table. A proper DnD session notes template fixes all three.

This guide covers what good session notes actually contain, why a template is worth using, what to look for when picking one, and how Lorekeeper's session notes database handles all of this automatically.

The Problem With Session Notes

Most DMs have a notes graveyard somewhere — a folder of session recaps that seemed useful at the time and have since become unnavigable. The docs are all slightly different. Some have loot, some don't. One session has three paragraphs of narrative, the next is five bullet points. None of them are linked to anything.

When you need to remember what happened in session 7, you have to read the whole thing to find one detail. And when you're prepping session 14, “check the old notes” stops feeling worth the effort.

The fix isn't taking better notes — it's having a consistent place and format for them so that writing and reading both take less effort.

What Good DnD Session Notes Actually Contain

A good session notes template has two parts: the prep section (filled out before the session) and the recap section (filled out after). Here's what belongs in each.

Prep Fields

• Strong start — how does the session open? A specific scene or moment, not “pick up where we left off.”
• Planned scenes — 3–5 beats you want to hit. These are anchors, not a script.
• NPCs appearing — names, goals, and one memorable detail for each.
• Secrets and clues — information you want the players to be able to find this session.
• Loot available — what can be found or earned, and where.

Recap Fields

• What actually happened — a brief summary of the real session, not what you planned. Players surprise you; write down what they did.
• NPC interactions — who did the party actually talk to, and what was said or decided? New names introduced here are easy to forget.
• Loot given out — what did players actually receive? Log it here so you can cross-reference later when someone claims they never got that ring.
• Player decisions — big choices the party made. These inform where the campaign goes next and help you honor those decisions.
• Hooks for next session — what threads are dangling? What did you promise, imply, or tease? This is your starting point for the next prep.

Why a Template Beats a Blank Doc

A blank doc is fine if you always remember what to write. In practice, most DMs either write too much (full narrative, rarely read again) or too little (three bullet points that make no sense a month later).

A template solves this in three ways:

• Consistency — every session has the same structure, so scanning back through six months of notes is actually fast. You know where to look for loot history, NPC names, and session cliffhangers.
• Nothing falls through the cracks — the template prompts you for the things you'd otherwise skip. Hooks for next session and loot distributed are the most commonly forgotten, and having a dedicated field means you fill it in without having to remember it belongs there.
• Faster prep — when next session rolls around, you open last session's notes, read the hooks section, and you already know where to start. No reconstructing what happened from memory.

The other underrated benefit: templates are easier to hand off. If you ever miss a session or co-DM with someone, a consistent format means they can read three sessions and understand the current state of the campaign.

What to Look for in a DnD Session Notes Template

Not all templates are equally useful. Here's what separates a good one from a generic doc with some headers:

• Both prep and recap fields — a template that only handles one side is half a system. You need structure for before and after the session.
• Linked to your other campaign data — the best session notes templates connect to your NPC database, your locations, and your loot log. That way a session entry isn't just text — it's a hub that pulls related records together.
• Scannable, not narrative — structured fields beat prose for reference purposes. You want to find the merchant's name in 10 seconds, not read a paragraph to get there.
• Easy to duplicate — you're creating a new entry every week. If duplicating a template takes more than a few seconds, it stops happening.
• A place for the unexpected — an open notes or “what actually happened” field for the things that don't fit the structure. Every session has at least one.

How Lorekeeper's Session Notes Database Works

The Lorekeeper 5e Notion template includes a Sessions database with all of the above built in — and the linked-data part is what makes it genuinely different from a standalone template.

Each session entry in Lorekeeper has Relation fields that connect directly to:

• NPCs — tag which characters appeared in the session, and their full NPC profile is one click away
• Locations — link the session to the places the party visited
• Treasures — log loot directly to the Treasures database so the item has a permanent record, not just a mention in a doc
• Adventures — connect the session to the arc it advances

The payoff: when you open an NPC record and want to know every session they appeared in, Notion shows you automatically. Same for locations, loot items, and adventure arcs. You're not searching — the connections are already there.

The session notes template itself is pre-built inside the database. Duplicate it for a new session, fill in the prep fields before you run, add your recap right after. The structure is already there — you just need the content.

If you want to see how the Sessions database fits into the broader campaign system, the Notion DnD campaign planner guide walks through how all five core databases connect.

Quick Tips for Actually Using Session Notes at the Table

The template is half the battle. Here's what makes it stick in practice:

• Fill in prep fields the day before, not an hour before. Rushing prep means rushing the notes, which means skipping sections.
• Write the recap within 24 hours. Memory degrades fast. Even ten minutes right after the session is worth an hour a week later.
• Use bullet points, not prose. Full sentences take longer to write and longer to read. “Party spared the bandit captain — owes them a favor” is more useful than a paragraph about it.
• Log NPC names immediately. Every time a new name gets introduced — even an innkeeper with one line — write it down. “The innkeeper” is fine until session 12 when the players want to return.
• Start next session's prep from the hooks field. The last thing you write after a session should be the first thing you read before the next.
• Don't over-engineer the recap. The goal is a 5-minute scan that tells you what happened and where things stand. It doesn't need to be comprehensive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I include in DnD session notes?
Cover what actually happened in the session, NPC interactions and any new names introduced, loot distributed to players, meaningful decisions the party made, and at least one or two hooks for the next session. A consistent template ensures you capture all of these without having to remember on the fly.

How do I use a DnD session notes template during play?
Fill in the prep fields (planned scenes, NPCs appearing, loot available, secrets to drop) before the session, then add the recap fields (what actually happened, player decisions, cliffhanger) immediately after. Even rough bullet points right after the session are better than trying to reconstruct it a week later.

What is the difference between a session notes template and a campaign template?
A session notes template structures a single session — the prep and the recap. A DnD campaign template is the full organizational system: databases for NPCs, locations, loot, adventures, and sessions all linked together. Session notes live inside the campaign template as individual records.

Can I use Notion for DnD session notes?
Yes. A Sessions database with a consistent page template gives you structured session notes that are searchable and linkable to your NPC, location, and loot databases. The free Notion plan handles everything a DM needs.

How does Lorekeeper handle session notes?
Lorekeeper includes a pre-built Sessions database with a built-in session notes template. Each session entry can be linked to NPCs encountered, locations visited, and loot found — all in a few clicks. The template is already set up so you just duplicate it for every new session.

Start Keeping Session Notes That Actually Help You

The difference between session notes that gather dust and session notes you actually use is almost entirely about structure. A consistent template — one that prompts for prep and recap fields, and links to your other campaign data — means writing takes less effort and reading takes even less.

If you want to build your own session notes system in Notion from scratch, the framework above will get you there. If you want it already done, Lorekeeper has the Sessions database built, templated, and linked — ready to use the minute you duplicate it.

Also worth reading: the best Notion templates for DnD — covers all the Minva templates including options for players and non-5e systems.