East York Game Camp: Location – The Teaching Space, 2205 Danforth Ave. Toronto, Ontario (Main Floor)

“If that elf quotes the poetry of Val’tha’quil again, I may have to teach him a few words in the Dwarvish tongue that aren’t terribly polite! I’ve had to tolerate the constant spider attacks in this cavern, not to mention the shoddy work of these tunnels! But elf poetry is where I draw the line! Hopefully tomorrow, just before the elf begins a quip, I can interrupt and have a word in before the great oratory begins!”

The above is an excerpt from the journal of Galdron the dwarf. He’s usually a chipper fellow who enjoys poetry of every sort, but the haughtiness of his elven compatriot along with the hardships associated with a life of adventure has made him a little touchy of late!

Players who want to add depth to their characters might consider keeping an in-character player journal. This exercise helps immerse the player in the character’s mind and world, and can help explore inter-character relationships and personal character arcs in a genuine and creative way!

A few do’s and don’ts for character journal can help guide the process in the most productive fashion.

Do: feel free to write about other characters in the game

Don’t: use your journal as an excuse for venting frustration. It should be a tool for cooperative play. If you refer to another character in your journal, ask the player involved first and see if you can mutually craft a narrative that is respectful while creating useful tension or friendship that serve the story and helps both players grow.

Do: record your character’s impressions of locations, Non-player characters, magical gear, and lore.

Don’t: Use the journal as a vehicle for critiquing the adventure you’re playing. This is a form of “metagaming” that has the opposite of the journal’s intended effect: to create immersion.

As you can see from this brief, non-exhaustive list, the rules are really quite simple: Be respectful of everyone at the table, be creative, explore, and grow!