The Scribe
The Scribe is a role shared by the entire table (GM and Players) at any willing/regular table. Their purpose is to carry the burden of summarizing and documenting the events of the table for a particular session.
Selection Process
Section titled “Selection Process”At the start of a session - all members who have not had a turn of being The Scribe roll a straight D20, the lowest roller becomes that session’s Scribe. Once all members have had a turn, everyones goes back into the pool.
Exemptions
Section titled “Exemptions”Real life always comes first - so if there’s real life circumstances that would impact your ability, focus, or the quality of your work as The Scribe; please call this out and we can work together to make it fair (IOU system, etc)
No Double Ups
Section titled “No Double Ups”If you are the last person in the pool - you are allowed to request to be removed from the pool for the first session when the pool “refills” to avoid doing two session in a row.
i.e. if you were The Scribe for Session 57, and were the last person in the pool to be The Scribe. - then you don’t have to be in the roll to be The Scribe for Session 58. You go back into the pool for Session 59.
The Task:
Section titled “The Task:”- You will receive a Session Skeleton within a day or two of the session; this will be a Google doc with a bullet point list crowdsourced from the entire table, covering the key topics/events that should be included in the notes. You also will have access to the session recording so long as it is available. You are responsible for validating the accuracy/clarity with myself/other players/against the session recording.
- You are responsible for turning the bullet point list into a short-medium length summary using full sentences and paragraphs in Past tense - he saw, she watched, they danced, and she had been listening, they had been eating, he got sad and began crying himself to sleep
- No generative AI or otherwise is to be used for this part (ask someone with Actual Intelligence if you need help)
- Once the doc is complete and is proofread, the GM will add any flavour notes/edits and the notes will be transposed from a Google doc into Wiki format.
Writing Guide/Pointers
Section titled “Writing Guide/Pointers”- Don’t just recount the events, tell the story.
- Dialogue can be summarized - quotes/scenes are useful as a transition between paragraphs.
- Notes should be written from an in-universe perspective. Above table details are cool, but they can muddy and confuse the narrative details. Include a “Trivia” section at the bottom if you wish to talk about fun above table moments.
- Once exception to this is phrases like “The Session Opened/Closed” as these are convenient ways to start and finish a set of notes.
- Avoid “Meta” language that refers to above table concepts like Mechanics, Rules, etc.
- Aim for 5-10 paragraphs not including quotes; we don’t want them to be so short that all the details is forgotten
Responsibility
Section titled “Responsibility”Being The Scribe is an integral part of a healthy long-term table. To enforce this system and to avoid people being lax on this responsibility - there are in-game consequences for failing to deliver satisfactory session notes on time.
“The Archons do not take well to those who embody Sloth, or those who fail to take Pride in their work…”
- Aurelius Asahd. 12th Sun, Sophis 9
Rewards
Section titled “Rewards”Being The Scribe is a lot of work - and completing the job successfully should come with in-game rewards. Upon handing of the notes to be transposed for the Wiki - your character receives Archon’s Grace; which functions like a D12 Bardic Inspiration die.
It can be added to any D20 Test at any time and can be stacked with inspiration, or even regular Bardic Inspiration!
Be A Good Human
Section titled “Be A Good Human”A rising tide lifts all boats, so if you see The Scribe struggling - be a good human and help them.
I want this to foster a collaborative environment where we all get to contribute to the written history of our Campaign(s), improve our creative/narrative writing skills, and take pride in the story we’re all telling.
Links:
Section titled “Links:”- Session Skeleton Folder
- Session Skeletons are the loose structure of what happened; in dot-point form.
- Session Recording Folder
- Audio Recordings of Sessions if available.
- Session Recaps Folder
- The finalized recap documents; ready for review and eventual transcription into the Wiki.