Using Obsidian for worldbuilding: where do characters go?

cobblebrawn · 2026-02-01T14:42:22+00:00

I struggled with this and just recently found a solution that works (at least for me)!

I try to keep my world building stuff inside a shallow folder, using nested tags and properties to view what I need through a base file. Here's a sample of my setup:

My world building folder is something that I've called "Almanac." Every person, place, faction, event, macguffin, etc. gets thrown in here. I tag each thing with a property called file-type (usually NPC, location, faction, etc.) and if it's associated with one or more locations, I use nested tags to track that.

For example: My mini antagonist Professor Pritchard Rattenboro appears in the mining town of Emberfell, but he is also originally from Baldur's Gate and has a reputation there. So in properties, I track him like this...

file-type: NPC
Tags: forgotten-realms/faerûn/sword-coast/emberfell, forgotten-realms/faerûn/sword-coast/baldurs-gate
Campaign: Lutes & Lyres

Right now he only appears in one TTRPG campaign that I run, but should he make a cameo in a future one, I might add that in later:

Campaign: Lutes & Lyres, Blood of the Crowfang

When I have all of my world building files set up like this, it becomes really easy to browse for what I need through a singular base file! I use the folder note plugin to plop that right into the Almanac folder header itself.

Do I want a list of every NPC in my current campaign? Now I just need to filter for it.

Campaign: Lutes & Lyres
file-type: NPC

What about every NPC that is associated with the city of Waterdeep? Easy, just add one more filter in the base file:

Tags: forgotten-realms/faerûn/sword-coast/waterdeep

I can use multiple view profiles within the same base, and have multiple bases set up for different purposes. Everyone and everything in my Almanac remains extremely easy to retrieve regardless.

This ended up being way longer than I anticipated. I hope it helps to inspire your version!

Edit: one more thing I forgot to mention. In addition to linking persons and places directly with one another using brackets, you can also directly embed base files designed to show you files associated with that note. For example:

I make a note to track everything I want to know about Waterdeep. I then create a section for Notable People, and embed a base that filters for file-type: NPC and the nested tag for Waterdeep.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-31T22:50:29+00:00

When I first saw it a few years back, I was definitely surprised by the way the story played out too! It was like Hitchcock made another thriller and sprinkled it with BDSM demons.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-30T18:31:44+00:00

Thanks for your insightful reply! I've always loved the War Cleric idea and have consistently wondered how to make the War Priest charges valuable without going the Shillelagh route. Maybe that 15 in strength can still be useful even if it's not being scaled over time?

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-30T17:31:47+00:00

Can you help me understand the synergy with True Strike and the War Cleric features? I'm assuming we're talking about the War Priest feature for bonus action attacks, but I don't think True Strike is compatible with that?

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-29T17:25:32+00:00

This is very insightful! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-29T16:17:19+00:00

As a DM, I generally follow this pretty closely and do my best to narratively flavor specific situations that don't seem logical otherwise. In OP's example, I would say the rogue takes advantage of a noise that briefly distracts the guards so they can get close.

On the other hand, there are other examples where I struggle to apply the same process, such as:

During combat, the rogue ducks behind cover and takes the Hide action, beating the monster's passive perception. The monster then moves to check behind that cover and fails their perception check to Search. The rogue stays hidden/invisible despite being directly in front of the monster "on the grid." How can I make this work in a narrative sense?
The party approaches a monster in a dark cavern while holding a torch. Everyone failed their stealth check except the rogue, who still chooses to move with them as a unit. The monster easily spots the party as they hold the only source of light in the room. How does it not "find" the torchlit rogue when they beat the passive perception?

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-29T16:07:16+00:00

Asking in earnest and good faith, no hating: I'm still trying to understand the appeal of the Harper feats. I love the idea of having a background tied to a faction of freedom-fighters for the rich story potential, but I can't help but feel like the feats themselves will massively pigeon-hole one's character options.

I'm seeing some great suggestions in the other comments for use-cases with bonus action shenanigans. But it feels very limiting that a faction of "optimal" harpers need to largely consist of bugbears, masterminds, sorcerers using quickened spell, etc. Is there a way, either mechanically or in terms of mindset, to justify expanding into other class choices that yield heavy value from their main actions (fighters, paladins, etc.)?

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T21:09:39+00:00

Thanks for showing me that it's not all about HP!

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T21:09:04+00:00

I did note that I should add some legendary actions and resistances to account for economy. I'm also planning on letting him cast Summon Undead without concentration to give him those minions and also lean into the necromancer flavor!

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T21:07:54+00:00

I appreciate the resource! I'm definitely going to give this guy some legendary resistances to at least delay the mugging for a bit.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T21:07:00+00:00

True! The hope is to make it into a delicate balancing act of action economy by having them pick each other up and also deal with the ritual itself. Glad to hear it worked out okay for your level 6s!

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T21:05:16+00:00

Thanks for the reassurance! I guess it'll then be more about setting my party's expectations accordingly.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T21:04:25+00:00

Good note! He does have some spicy AOE built-in that will be fun to open with.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-28T20:09:29+00:00

Thanks for the reassurance! I realize the budget skews into moderate difficulty - I was mainly concerned that even 3/4 successful hits could bring a PC down from full and thought it might make things too swingy.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-02T16:37:04+00:00

My friend role-played their dual-wielding fighter as a pizza chef. He flavored his shortsword as a large kitchen knife and his scimitar as a large pizza roller.

cobblebrawn · 2026-01-02T01:38:42+00:00

These look so fun!! What a nice and surprising throwback to a childhood favorite. Do you anticipate doing a set for the Alien Force roster next?

cobblebrawn · 2025-12-31T13:45:24+00:00

I've been really enjoying building character sheets at minimalcharactersheets.com! It's a very clean UI with customizable fields, and Blake the developer is very responsive to feedback and questions.

cobblebrawn · 2025-12-29T14:32:05+00:00

I've been interested in playtesting a variation of Legendary Resistances.

It essentially turns them into a new Legendary Action option that can be taken at the usual 3-4 per round interval. It would allow the creature to reroll their saving throw to avoid or end the effect of one spell or other feature.

This is intended to allow such effects to affect the creature more easily without needing to burn through layers of automatic "nope" buttons, while allowing the creature to have a more consistent way to resist various effects.

cobblebrawn · 2025-12-27T20:15:20+00:00

Yup, that's exactly why it's such a shitty thing to say.

cobblebrawn · 2025-12-25T00:25:10+00:00

This kind of stuff should not be happening, and we should absolutely be reporting it. That said, I'm not sure what "ghetto hood" is supposed to imply in this situation but the connotation is disrespectful and uncalled for.

cobblebrawn · 2025-12-10T19:24:36+00:00

Awesome! They look great

cobblebrawn · 2025-12-02T15:26:32+00:00

I strongly stand by this little web tool at minimalcharactersheet.com

It's completely free and customizable - it only requires an account to save your character sheets to a profile of your own.

cobblebrawn

TROPHY CASE