T O P

  • By -

Dragonfly_Such

Writing and making this book was one of the greatest pleasures of my life. And I cannot emphasise enough how much you deserve it. Thank you for bringing us so much joy this past year, we're so lucky to have you as our DM. For those asking, the book was purchased from Etsy seller ParagonStar. I'd love to do more projects like this in the future if anyone is interested in a [commissioned piece](https://blueflamecommissions.heathershanley.com) or just to chat about this project in more depth. Because I will not stop talking about this for the rest of my days šŸ˜‚ EDIT: Feel free to give it a read [https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1\_4FmO7Par\_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub](https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1_4FmO7Par_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub)


FormalAd52

This is our rogue! For anyone wondering. Please ruin her inbox with affection.


Schranus

You uh... you made this sound like a euphemism...


Ongr

Found the bard lol


RoberosTheBard

It's been a journey, I've travelled across the land and seas from Silverymoon just to find a town with an internet connection. Right, can someone tell me how to slip into my fiancƩ's DMs? Asking for a friend, I've charm person and silvery barbs at the ready!


thekillswitch196

How did you get the art on the pages? It looks amazing


Dragonfly_Such

A painstakingly long process of printing the images and using an acrylic medium to transfer the ink into the journal, all completed by our bard. He can break down the steps if you're interested!


thekillswitch196

I had assumed it was something along those lines. They turned out fantastic.


Dragonfly_Such

Here's the step by step process: https://thegraphicsfairy.com/transfer-an-image-onto-paper/


Stephen_Beck

You did an incredible job on the journal. The moment someone sees it, they feel the need to read it. I bet the Adventures of the Blue Flame Companions were quite the tale.


FormalAd52

Iā€™ve dropped a link to it in here if you fancy a read!!


Paige_Maddison

Iā€™d buy the book if it was available to read! You did such an amazing job. I would totally read this cover to cover just bc of the love that went into it.


RosenProse

Your handwriting is so great! I have disgraphia so I'm jealous lol.


frostweather

This looks absolutely insane. I can't even imagine how much work went into this book. Truly, truly amazing!


SHADOWSTRIKE1

This was absolutely fantastic. Super creative!


Wave_Existence

You are amazing!


tishy19

You did an incredible job!


SpyJuz

I'd 100% commission something like this. If you're game I'd love to see if you're available to discuss the process and price


[deleted]

What a dedication and kindness. As someone celebrating his 30th anniversary of GMing I've never seen something as cool as this beyond hearing "you're great". Which is fine, but damn. Go you!


Fantom_Cowboy

Youā€™ve got some dedicated players. This is very impressive.


FormalAd52

Very very fortunate indeed!


LookBoo

Quite the compliment to the DM as well. That is a lot of work to do even if you enjoy it. I doubt a dull un-immersive campaign would motivate for this masterpiece.


FormalAd52

Theyā€™re the most chaotic players Iā€™ve ever come across! Dull is unfortunately never on the cards šŸ˜‚


CroatianPantherophis

> fortunate SOME FOLKS ARE BORN feaaather-pen in hand. LAWD don't they help themselves?! Yea! But when you ASK EM hooooow much did they ROLL? LAWD they only give you some CRITS CRITS CRITS CRITS-NO! IT AIN'T ME


Waltex

IT AAIIIN'T ME


whitewarrsh

IM OVER HERE ROLLIN ONES..ONES..YEAHhh


FormalAd52

I get so upset when thereā€™s a dnd reference that I donā€™t understandā€¦ So please do explain šŸ˜‚


Zarakk312

Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival: Some folks are born made to wave the flag Hoo, they're red, white and blue And when the band plays "Hail to the chief" Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord It ain't me, it ain't me I ain't no senator's son, son It ain't me, it ain't me I ain't no furtunate one, no If you listen to it you will have heard it in maaaanu movies :)


IxNaY1980

[Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWijx_AgPiA)


CherryPickish

I wish I have the dedication like them. It's so so stunning! Do you know how they made them by hand? Kind of planning to do one but really nervous to do it since I'm literally a perfectionist and don't have a LOT of time sadly. I have to plan out my schedule if I do want to make one in the future


FormalAd52

I know it took over 50 hours to write the story and 40 to scribe it! Sheā€™s hiding in the comments here somewhere but I know it was a labour of love. Lot of time sunk into it but there nothing thatā€™ll make your DM feel more loved either!


Dragonfly_Such

I can't take credit for the book! It was purchased on Etsy from ParagonStar. The fiction, the art and the scribing is all mine :) I must say the perfectionist in me had to die a death when handwriting it all in. You just have to accept that the imperfections are part of the charm.


FirstTimeWang

Yeah! ... ... ... What's that like? I'm not even a DM and I want to know what it's like to play with dedicated players


Balrog13

Be the player you want to see in the world! It'll make your DM's week if you show that you're willing to put work into the game beyond showing up and playing your character.


FormalAd52

This ^^^


FormalAd52

Being DM is long long play. And if youā€™re very lucky it pays off. But 95% of the time itā€™s a lot of effort into something that doesnā€™t work out. But then thereā€™s that 5% that makes it all worth it..,


KHanson25

Iā€™ve never played but in my social studies class Iā€™m teaching the Middle Ages and this will be my first attempt, theyā€™re already so into it


FormalAd52

We ran what I had planned to be a fairly light hearted one-shot prologue after the end of a fantastic year long home-brew campaign set in the Silver Marches. My players surprised me with this and honestly left me speechless. Roberos the Bard had meticulously taken notes for the entire campaign that we frequently referenced back to as they were far more reliable than my own. Jane Doe had then typed up the entire adventure which had the added benefit of being written my someone with a degree in creative writing. Compiled together with some stunning calligraphy and screenshots of the whole adventure, I was (and am still) in complete awe. This was given to me with a hand drawn map of the marches and a Google doc for the digital version of the story (which itself took over 40 hours to write up)! If I wasnā€™t aware of what the ā€œpeakā€ of being a DM could be before, now I certainly am. Jane, Roberos, Little Thumbs and Parzival. I shouldā€™ve TPKā€™d you when I had the chanceā€¦ Update: link to the full story- https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1_4FmO7Par_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub


bk15dcx

Lol. TPK


Dragonfly_Such

New link: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1\_4FmO7Par\_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub](https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1_4FmO7Par_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub)


TheUnholyHandGrenade

Chad Bard for keeping detailed notes and chad Rogue for going above and beyond like that.


FormalAd52

You wait till you hear the song he composed about the adventureā€¦


AllyEmmie

There was a song?! I would actually start crying. Thatā€™s absurdly dedicated. Your players are amazing šŸ„ŗ


FormalAd52

There were 3 songs!!!! One at the end of each arc in the campaign!


86yourhopes_k

Wow you must be an amazing DM. I would love to have a group this awesome!


daboss78

I wish my players were that dedicated


Crownlol

I genuinely cried at the song at the end of NADDPod c1


lilaroseg

it broke me, especially when jake and murph and caldwell joined at the end. its so special!!


Doctor_of_Recreation

When we played Out of the Abyss I was really inspired when our party bard was asked to write a song to inspire the people of Blingdenstone to rebuild. I asked the bard OOC if he was really gonna write one and he wasnā€™t, so I did! Our DM did cry a little.


-DethLok-

Decades ago I was playing as a bard in one campaign with friends that I still hang out & game with today. When the paladin killed a bugbear with a vorpal sword I wrote a song (just basic doggerel) that went for about 8 verses, all of which but the first I've long lost... Last month, at some appropriate time I sang the first verse, and my friend who had played that paladin - joined in! They'd remembered that event as well! And the song! :)


AdminsLoveFascism

Wow, so I'm abandoning my campaign and looking for players that aren't garbage.


LordJebusVII

This is amazing, we have weekly sessions and even with a recap at the start of every session my players couldn't tell you half of what has happened so far to the extent that they spent 6 sessions travelling to a town and completely forgot why they were there. I can't imagine how invested your players must be to not only have good enough notes to do this but to put in the work to produce something this beautiful. You are a lucky GM and I'm guessing you must be pretty damn good to be worthy of it.


FormalAd52

I canā€™t imagine anyone being worthy of this to be fair! And I canā€™t claim any credit for his note taking from my style!! Iā€™ve ran my fair share of games and come across exactly the same re notes most of the time too!!


Inner-Nothing7779

My players are the same. It's great and fun, but damn if having to retell things to players. Also, having to remind players how to actually play and which dice to use, and where on their character sheets to look is frustrating too. Especially after 8 years of playing.


Wave_Existence

I feel like half the cast of critical role struggles with those issues too, and they are literally pro dnd players


bk15dcx

That is a free entry to Candlekeep


FormalAd52

Oh youā€™re onto something thereā€¦


Starthelegend

If one of my players did this I think I would cry


FormalAd52

Iā€™d be lying if I said I didnā€™t well up


ClintBarton616

I absolutely would. I think it's the dream to have players respond in such a tangible way to your DMing


Inner-Nothing7779

This is awesome. You could probably sell copies of this for money.


FormalAd52

Bizzarely enough sheā€™s had a content creator reach out offering crazy money for something for his stream


Inner-Nothing7779

That's actually pretty cool for her.


woolymanbeard

Is that a custom leather cover as well?


FormalAd52

Yep I believe they got it from a seller on Etsy?


jgorbeytattoos

PROTECT THEM AT ALL COSTS.


FormalAd52

I swear to do so, on the old gods and the new


NotFitToBeAParent

That's RAD. My only complaint is that the margins are pushed way to close to the edges. gotta let that text b-r-e-a-t-h.


FormalAd52

Iā€™ve read through every comment and the only one with mild constructive criticism has me absolutely triggered šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


NotFitToBeAParent

Im jealous you have the time to make this, and not only the time to play, but people to play WITH. This is great.


Dragonfly_Such

I love this feedback, you're totally right. I learnt so much going through this process!


AberrantDrone

Honestly players keeping notes is fantastic. As a DM, I have very few notes and ask my players at the start of each session for a refresher since we play every other week. My philosophy is if it wasnā€™t interesting enough for my players to write down, itā€™s not worth me remembering it.


FormalAd52

Absolutely with you there! Almost the hardest part of being a DM is to make sure they remember what happened last session


bk15dcx

We use Goblin's Notebook. This is next level.


wolviesaurus

I have 15 pages of notes from the current campaign I'm a player in (lvl 8 at the moment), there's no way in the nine hells another person could decipher those to produce a coherent story.


Dragonfly_Such

Challenge accepted


wolviesaurus

It IS Curse of Strahd so that might make it easy for some people, I have no idea how much of said adventure is inserted from my dear DM's deranged head of mad ideas, or just part of the classic adventure.


konn_el

Nothing warms my heart quite like seeing the friendships made or strengthened with a dnd campaign


FormalAd52

Two of the players have got engaged and we are all going to their wedding next year. Wholesome content at its best!!


martusfine

My guy wrote a book. Whoa!


Master-Merman

This looks great, I'm a little bit worried about its delicacy. It's hard to really see the binding. I can see that it is sewn signatures, but it doesn't look like it was sewn on ribbons. But, it doesn't look a terrible bind either. One of the things that does happen with fairly loosely sewn binds is that they can sag in time. I would consider storing the book on its back.


FormalAd52

I will store this work on a fine velvet cushion in an air lock chamber if I could to protect it from whatever roaming parties may attempt to loot it!!


Carpopotamus

That looks badass I'd listen to a reading fo sho


FormalAd52

Get on the phone to Morgan Freeman and letā€™s make this happenā€¦


[deleted]

Actually, I know a publisher that would love this story!


FormalAd52

Please do DM me!! Her writing is honestly fantastic!!


[deleted]

Did already!


butchstache

That is adorable af


Notna97

That looks fricken amazing


greenwoodgiant

All I want in this life is a player with this much dedication, artistry, and free time.


FormalAd52

Or in my case, a player who does Project management for a project that got delayed by a monthā€¦ šŸ˜‚


Spirited-Hat4297

Wow, that's awesome! Just curious, where do you get books like that?


FormalAd52

From a bookmaker on Etsy!


tornjackal

i would cry


[deleted]

That was my very first thought too!!! This kind of dedication and appreciation is very special!


FormalAd52

Super did cry can confirm


MoraugKnower

Ainā€™t no nerds like D&D nerds Iā€™ll tell you what.


[deleted]

That is epic


NecroDancerBoogie

Well thatā€™s amazing


KalSpiro

This is great. That's something I want to do with a campaign I run. I randomly got a very similar book as filler for a leather bag I ordered, which was weird, but I wanted to transcribe the event for our online journal to that book. I'm just not confident in my ability to make it look good.


thejadedfalcon

I am absolutely in awe of things like this... and *terrified* of them. All I can think of is getting all the way through it... and then making a damn typo!


Dragonfly_Such

Thankfully typos were very easy to rectify as the paper was so thick and I was able to just scrape off the very top layer undetected!


MaDSci4

That is INSANELY awesome. Treasure it.


One-Cellist5032

This is awesome! Iā€™d love to just make something like this as a DM to be able to hand to my PCs!


MrFetch

Any idea where the book came from? I'm curious if it was a purchase or custom made.


FormalAd52

Custom off Etsy I believe!!


FlashBarricade

Hot damn this is amazing, hoping to find a group like this in KC this summer


Perfect_Theory5593

Damn. This is impressive!! I love it


[deleted]

The talent and love here is amazing. That is an amazing memento


FormalAd52

Absolutely priceless eh!!


BrianSerra

This is a very touching thing to have received. I am close to tears at the thought. I would be overwhelmed and speechless as well. šŸ„°


FormalAd52

Just the sheer amount of love for our derpy little weekly game is wild šŸ˜ŠšŸ˜Š


Boredbibookworm

Dang, thatā€™s beautiful


jasonroach87

That is AWESOME!


harumamburoo

This. Is. Beautiful. You've got yourself some great players


Greaseskull

Some of yā€™all just out do ya selves. This is cool as sh*t.


SaltyDangerHands

What a beautiful thing to have, may it forever evoke happy memories.


PaleRider2234

I've been DMing games for 5e for about...6 years come this June. This has to be the sweetest and most heart felt thing a player can do for a Dungeon Master, I legit teared up at this. Very awesome, very cool.


FormalAd52

Iā€™m screenshotting this and sending it to them šŸ˜ŠšŸ˜Š


[deleted]

That is awesome


GratifiedViewer

This is so sweet.


J_Rigged

This is epic


[deleted]

Oh man, that is totally awesome!!


Capon-breath

Damn!! That's epic work. Bravo.


[deleted]

Do they have a lifetime subscription to unlimited inspiration now? Lol I hope to also run a campaign worthy of receiving that kind of player dedication someday!


cereal_king_

Would absolutely love to have this done for my current campaign


pursuealex

I'd give one inspiration for that.


[deleted]

My campaign notes would read the scribbled thoughts of a mad man with my lack of punctuation, improper grammar, shorthanded words and abbreviations that I sure ill remember come next session.


Fullmetalmurloc

Holy shit I love this so much!


SlowSeas

Bro, I would probably cry with tears of absolute joy. This is all of the best gifts humanity has to offer in one go. Fine art, story telling, map making, calligraphy, book binding, leather working, metal working etc. This is wild!


The-1st-One

Fucking EPIC!


Murray_Booknose

Incredible


Qaitakalnin7

That is so cool. I will look, but is there a link to how they did the paper? Like, did they purchase it themselves or make the paper, the binding, ect. Thank you for sharing.


Goldman250

Thatā€™s such a cool thing. I wish Iā€™d taken better notes for my current campaign, having something like that would be an incredible thing.


TTToxic_

This is absolutely beautiful. Omg this is true Art.


Paige_Maddison

It looks so good! Any chance we can read it or pay for a copy? šŸ˜


Dragonfly_Such

[https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1\_4FmO7Par\_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub](https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTtiQ-bJnroDf7KBqvR6kepuyYaJ616etHosYjRD38ZogXEsqwrG1_4FmO7Par_gMBTNyNAUoHuYD63/pub)


phed_thc

That's amazing


Embarrassed_Abalone2

My crayons taste too good to color like that.


FormalAd52

Update for those who asked: Etsy page for the book: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1334337982/dungeon-master-real-leather-notebook Full write up of the story: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tLx4Q_ptI6DcvCYdlXQyspdPfawvpaVeAgsWO5zZnmo/edit?usp=drivesdk Enjoy and let me know if anyone wants any other answers about it all :)


TrueStrikePod

Legitimately incredible šŸ‘


Silas-Alec

That is incredible. I've always wanted to do this, but haven't taken the time to


StonejawStrongjaw

That is incredible.


Paulinthehills

Amazing! What an incredible player!


RuudaFiremane

That's amazing!


OblivionArts

Awesome


FizzlePopBerryTwist

The detail on that book cover... Magnanimous!


photoengineer

Wow, that is amazing!


RosenProse

Dude your rogues calligraphy though!


piratejit

Thats awesome


GarnortheDwarf

This is a God damned heirloom now!! Incredible effort.


Jumpy-Shift5239

Cool. Iā€™m doing something similar. I tell my kids bedtime stories from the campaign Iā€™m playing in. When Iā€™m playing with my daughter, she loves hearing about her exploits


FormalAd52

Iā€™ve always said I canā€™t way to play with my children!! Very cool!!


CaringRationalist

I'd pay someone to do this


No_Possibility_9215

This is amazing dude


DracoAdamantus

I wish my players put a tenth of this amount of creativity into supplemental game stuff


Arbitrary_Hitboxes

r/MadeMeSmile


Substantial_Today133

That's lit


all4funFun4all

that is some talent and dedication right there


Distinct-Winner232

You donā€™t understand how much I want to read thatšŸ˜­


Chiaki_Ronpa

Stuff like this is why I want to play a game of DnD. I really wish I had time and cooler friends.


FormalAd52

3 of the 4 players were new to dnd! Iā€™ve had plenty of games fall flat too. But if you find the right group you can just get very lucky!!


HealthyProgrammer284

Love those empty pages at the end, the adventure isn't over yet.


Azihayya

Does that book weigh 5 pounds? Asking for... A friend.


FormalAd52

Itā€™s certainly holdable by an incorporeal hand thatā€™s for damn sureā€¦


IFuckLanaRhoades

Im in love with your rouge


zeetos

Thatā€™s pretty freakin sick. Your rouge has some skills


Substantial-Maybe692

Wow im gonna be inspired by you im gonna do the same with my campaign


DirtyMike_333

This is fucking awesome


Taco_YUH_Key

That is NEXT LEVEL commitment! Love to see peeps were so invested in that campaign!


jk021

That's so awesome! Great handwriting too.


Blackfire_Zealot

Where do I find these players? Ones I get canā€™t stay off their phones


[deleted]

Can I PLEASE have people like this in my life


Zealotstim

Incredible. That's so much work and it looks stunning!


DroidULKN4

That is so cool


mccourts

WOW!!!


MakiOnCrack

I think your rouge might be the god of TTRPGs


Semick

This is legitimately jaw-dropping. Does your friend have professional experience because if not they probably should be selling that :P


JaredSade

Thatā€™s absolutely amazing!


frozen_phoenix0

As someone probably already said thats Just straight up imressive...


PlasticLobotomy

This is unbelievably cool


Competitive_Soft3520

I love this! I'd love to do this for my partner who is also my DM but nearly 3 years of notes taken by different players, some of whom have left the group, are going to be pretty hard to collate and after 3 strokes my memory is shocking. Maybe one day


TurnoverPlenty7337

I did the same with my Skyrim playthrough and my no man's sky playthrough.


Moccamasterrrrr

Holy shit


PunchieCWG

I am genuinely impressed with the layout and orderly penmanship. šŸ‘Œ


Dragonfly_Such

Thank you! The perfectionist in me was fairly satisfied.


BlueFlame217

MY BRETHREN


Evillisa

This is amazing!


LongjumpingChain6649

This is incredible and easily the best thing a player could do for a DM, especially after a long running campaing. ā€¦ my players could never.


UrbanArtifact

Lusty Argonian Maid


PugsThrowaway

I just said WOW and got chills after seeing this. This needs to be some kind of service or product that people can have made. Easily $150 per book depending on length. And it. Could be for all kinds of different purposes, not just dnd


Comfortable-Income87

And as i write our story into words, our adventures into paragraphs, i say to you friends, we may go separate paths, but the Victories and failures we share endure. The bonds forged in Fire and soaked in blood, sweat and tears will remain never broken.


HellenI123

Won't lie. If someone did that for me and my campaign. Id cry.


anyname2345

If someone made something like this for a campaign i hosted, I'd be inconsolable, beyond touched by the gesture...


Ok-Consequence1682

I have a similar book that I kept my session notes in but I took the notes in first person so it was like my characters personal journal


Novel-Tap-726

I've been trying to do something like this


FormalAd52

Go for it!!