The 15 Best DM Notebooks (Updated for 2024)
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When it comes to being a Dungeon Master there’s a ton of information to keep track of. From managing stats for players, monsters and NPCs, to keeping tabs on campaign quests, magic items, maps and locations.
That’s why one of the most essential items in a DM’s toolkit is a good old fashioned notebook. Fortunately for gamers, there are companies out there that actually create DM notebooks designed specifically to make it easier to organize and run your game.
Yet with hundreds of different options on the market, it’s hard to know which ones are actually worth picking up. That’s why we’ve put together our list of the best options for today’s busy Dungeon Masters. So grab your dice and pencils as we crack into… the 15 best DM notebooks for DnD.
15. 3D Dragon DM Notebook
Publisher: DDFE
Why We Picked It: If you’re looking for a DM notebook with some serious eye appeal, it doesn’t get any better than this draconic bad boy. Featuring a detailed and textured 3D exterior, it looks absolutely stunning. It’s also incredibly practical, letting you drop in up to 320 pages in a three-ring binder format. It also feature a handy bookmark for added versatility. While it doesn’t include any of the sections or specific page elements of other RPG notebooks and journals, it’s hard to argue with a cover this awesome.
14. Natural 1 DM Notebook
Publisher: Voxtur Books
Why We Picked It: When it comes to DnD, nothing beats the dreaded nat 1. That’s why the cover to this DM notebook is absolutely pitch perfect. The book itself is also fantastic, featuring 120 pages (with 60 line pages, 20 graph pages, 20 hex-based pages and 20 blank pages). That makes it versatile enough to handle notes, maps, sketches and pretty much anything anything else that might come up during your next game.
13. DnD Notebook for DMs
Publisher: Paladin Roleplaying
Why We Picked It: Created by noted dice manufacturer Paladin Roleplaying, this hardcover DM notebook has a solid design, feels great in hand and offer a ton of usability. Featuring 192 pages and 2 bookmark ribbons, it also includes a gift box and matching pen that you can keep inside the book. It’s a no-frills option that’s perfect for campaign planning or quickly organizing your thoughts during game sessions.
12. DM Campaign Planner
Publisher: Gregory A Price
Why We Picked It: This pick isn’t so much a DM notebook as it is an impressive way to build out and track your next campaign. In addition to pages for notetaking and sketching, it also offers sections for social interactions, combat, NPCs and more. The book also features grid paper for map making, offering a solid structure for organizing your adventures and building out a complete long or short-term DnD campaign.
11. DnD Notebook Gift Set
Publisher: Paladin Roleplaying
Why We Picked It: Another option from Paladin Roleplaying, this simple design is elegant, easy to use and looks great. This notebook features 192 lined and numbered pages, and the size is perfect (coming in at a little bit bigger than a standard piece of printer paper). It also includes a gift box, free pen and a band which holds everything in place and also lets you add other items to the front and back of the book. In short, it’ a solid option if you’re a DMs looking to better manage your session.
10. When the DM Smiles Notebook
Publisher: Tabletop Gaming Notebooks
Why We Picked It: This 7 x 10” RPG notebook has the perfect motto on its front cover (and a great reminder to players to respect their hard-working DMs). The book features a number of blank lined pages which are great for taking notes and includes a section at the back with hex grids for overland mapping. It’s the perfect multi-purpose DM’s journal and is a great option for jotting and keeping tabs on everything from character stats and NPC names to adventure hooks and world locations.
9. Dungeon Master RPG Journal
Publisher: D. Crawler Game Books
Why We Picked It: If you’re a DM planning on running any long term campaigns, this adventure journal is a great option. At over 150 pages in length in includes sections for tracking characters (complete with the ability to add in stats, equipment and spells) as well as blank pages for taking notes. The book even includes a variety of graph and hex paper that’s awesome for mapping on the fly or building out your next dungeon.
8. Adventure Notebook
Publisher: 1227 Studios
Why We Picked It: This simple yet stylish DM journal has a cover that gives off some serious MÖRK BORG vibes, but is also perfect for DnD or just about any fantasy TTRPG. The book includes a variety of page types, including lined and blank pages for jotting down notes or sketches, as well as custom grid paper for mapping out dungeons or world maps. The book is also incredibly beautiful, featuring twelve custom images found on the cover and interior. It’s a great option for DMs looking for a little more visual pop to go with their notes.
7. DM Notebook & Character Journal
Publisher: D. Crawler Game Books
Why We Picked It: Another great option from D. Crawler Game Books, this combination DM Notebook and Character Journal features 150 pages (with 50 pages of custom character sheets, 40 lined pages for notes/sketches, 20 graph pages for dungeon maps, 20 hex pages for wilderness maps and 20 blank pages for sketches and doodles). The 8″ x 10″ format is also the perfect travel size and can fit right next to your dice, snacks and rule books without requiring a bag of holding.
6. DM Campaign Journal
Publisher: Ranger Tidings
Why We Picked It: This RPG notebook is a great option for budget-conscious DMs and also has an amazing minimalist cover design that looks stunning. The notebook comes in at 121 pages and includes a blank table of contents, a campaign outline planner, a world map grid, 16 sets of location details and 10 sets of character sheets. It’s an absolute steal considering how much epic DnD goodness you can fit inside.
5. DM RoverBook
Publisher: Dungeons & Stationary
Why We Picked It: Created by Dungeons & Stationary – a company literally dedicated to designing notebooks for DnD – the DM RoverBook is a functional and affordable option for Dungeon Masters. The book can help you plan your campaign, run individual sessions and take notes on the go. Featuring 470 pages on premium A5 paper and a coil-bound design that comes with several cover art options, it’s an amazing choice for DMs looking for a higher end and more durable notebook.
4. Arcana Note GM Planner
Publisher: Arcana Goods
Why We Picked It: Designed by Arcana Goods – a company which offers a variety of RPG merchandise – this 200 page DM notebook is another fantastic, high-quality option. It includes a 14 point cardstock cover in a variety of different designs, and the interior pages are printed on 85 lb stock that’s much heavier than standard printer paper and holds up better to erasing (letting you get a little more bang for your buck). In short, it’s an incredibly stylish and functional journal designed specifically for DnD 5e Dungeon Masters.
3. Guide to Adventure: Campaign Diary
Publisher: Cantrips Media
Why We Picked It: Cantrips Media has been designing high-quality TTRPG notebooks for years. Their Campaign Diary is the pinnacle of just what they can achieve and is designed specifically to work with DnD 5e. The discbound clamps let you easily remove and swap pages and the book includes two transparent sheets with dry-erase markers that are perfect for use in combat. At 196 pages it also includes a sticker sheet, 6 dividers, 6 world building pages (including maps and timelines), 6 pantheon pages (for up to 16 gods), 12 region pages (with options to track cities, shops and towns), 12 NPC pages (for up to 36 individuals), 8 pages dedicated to story arcs, 2 player background pages, 20 pages for monsters/encounters, 1 encounter page dashboard and 42 session page notes. It also includes extra pages for notes, maps and grids. In short, it’s one of the great DM notebooks ever made.
Get it from Cantrip
2. 5e Gaming Journals
Publisher: Field Notes
Why We Picked It: Field Notes is arguably one of the most iconic, high-end journal creators in the world, so it’s not surprising that they’d take a shot at creating a product for DnD. Their Game Master Journals combine high-quality paper and an elegant design that includes empty charts, tables, hex grids and more. The book is also structured in a way that lets you track campaign progression along with character stats, NPCs, locations, monsters, world lore and a ton of other information. It’s a one-size-fits-all solution to DM notetaking that’s almost impossible to top.
1. Dungeon Notes DM Journals
Publisher: 1985 Games
Why We Picked It: And our our number 1 pick for the best DM notebook is 1985 Game’s DM Journal. Consisting of not one but three separate books in one single pack, they’re functional, high-quality and beautifully designed. The first book is a campaign journal that’s designed to help with worldbuilding, with blank templates for mapping, locations and more. The two session journals let you track up to eight sessions each, with options for keeping tabs on NPCs, monsters and PCs. If there’s one DM journal to rule them all, this is it.
Other places to find DM Notebooks
- Etsy: Take a quick spin around Etsy and you’ll find ton of different custom made DM notebooks. Just be sure to check out the reviews first and remember that shipping and handling can add up.
- Your Local Game Store: Chances are your LGS has a wide variety of DM journals to choose from and may even include some option from designers in your area.
- Conventions: There are a ton of crafters and third-party creators that often attend cons, making them the perfect place to pick up a handmade notebook and support a local artist at the same time.
How to Make Your Own DM Notebook
If you’re more of a do-it-yourself Dungeon Master, then you might want to consider making your own DM journal. This can be as simple as simply grabbing a cheap notebook from the dollar store, to getting a little more ambitious and creating something bespoke (the website Roleplaying Tips has a great guide on how to do just that).
Also check out video below from YouTuber FitzTheGame for more info on how to make your own DM notebook.
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Paige Stuart is a Staff Writer who lives in Chicago, Illinois where she majored in English Literature at Northwestern University. She’s relatively new to Dungeons & Dragons having started playing 5th edition several years ago. Her favorite D&D campaign setting so far is the Forgotten Realms and her favorite character to play is a Wizard named Felician who hurls both bad puns and fireballs with equal ease.
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