How to Take D&D Notes Like Matt Mercer: Complete Campaign Prep Blueprint
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Amateur dungeon masters often write narrative notes like fantasy novels, drafting complete paragraphs of descriptive text meant to be read aloud. Mercer’s actual session sheets reveal the opposite technique: bolded sensory anchors and conditional branches.
A typical Mercer location description consists of four quick sensory bullets: sight, sound, smell, and tactile atmosphere. Instead of two hundred words of prose detailing an underground laboratory, his notes read:
- Green alchemical lanterns, rusted iron cages, shattered glass across slate flags
- Low hum of arcane conduits, rhythmic water dripping from ceiling cracks
- Ozone, stale copper, rotting tallow
- Damp chill that catches in the throat
This formatting allows the DM to scan the page in half a second, absorb the mood, and deliver a natural, spontaneous description while maintaining eye contact with the players. Scripted blocks force the DM's eyes downward, breaking table engagement.
Underneath the sensory anchors, Mercer logs conditional triggers using simple "If/Then" formatting. If the party approaches quietly with a Stealth check above 15, the guards are engrossed in a dice game. If the party triggers the tripwire, the guards flip the heavy oak table for three-quarters cover and sound a brass horn. This creates dynamic, emergent scenarios without rigid railroads.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
