Prep faster. Take cleaner session notes. Turn last session into editable campaign canon.
TableBuddy is a local-first GM companion for live tabletop play: Session Prep, Game Notes, PCs, NPCs, and editable recaps in one focused workspace.
v1.0.0 is a controlled playtest built around the real table workflow: prep before the session, capture quick notes during play, then turn the previous session into a saved recap you can edit before the next game.
Use campaigns and sessions to keep PCs, NPCs, prep cards, game notes, and saved recaps scoped to the table you are actually running. Campaign data lives in this browser profile unless you export it.
Open the playtest app- Create or open a campaign
- Add 2 PCs and 2 NPCs
- Create a session and add prep cards
- Take 8-12 notes, build a recap, then export a backup
What v1.0.0 includes
Plan with cards for tone, focus, hooks, complications, clues, encounters, rewards, and loose ends without mixing hidden prep into live notes.
Capture fast, freeform notes during or after play. Mention PCs and NPCs naturally, then pin important notes when you want to guide the recap.
Keep campaign-scoped character profiles close, including roles, aliases, tags, notes, and active-session context for the people at your table.
Build a deterministic draft from the previous session, edit it, save it as campaign canon, reopen it later, and copy it as Markdown.
Export the full local dataset as JSON, import with preview, and keep a backup habit before serious playtest sessions.
Netlify Identity gates access to the app, but campaign data is stored in your current browser profile. It is not cloud-synced.
- Invite-only access to the controlled v1.0.0 playtest.
- Campaigns, sessions, PCs, NPCs, prep cards, game notes, and saved recaps.
- The rich sample campaign, Mists of Ravenhollow, for a quick full-flow test.
- Backup, export, and import tools so you can keep control of your notes.
- Does moving from prep to live notes to saved recap match how you run?
- Do PC and NPC profiles help without turning note-taking into homework?
- Are deterministic recap drafts useful once you edit them with GM judgment?
- Do open questions carry forward as loose ends in a way you would actually use?
- Do export/import backups feel clear, safe, and worth trusting?
Help test v1.0.0
Drop your email and I'll send playtest updates, access notes, and short testing prompts when new builds go out. If you already have an invite, this still helps me know who is actively testing.
- Create or open a real campaign. Try Mists of Ravenhollow too if you want a sample.
- Add 2 PCs and 2 NPCs.
- Create a session.
- Add a few prep cards, including at least one loose end or open question.
- Take 8-12 game notes during or after play.
- Create or select the next session, then generate the previous-session recap. Edit and save it as canon.
- Carry at least one open question into the next session's prep.
- Export a JSON backup.
- Did prep, notes, and recap fit your real table rhythm?
- Where did the recap draft miss, flatten, or overstate what happened?
- Did local storage, Identity access, and backups feel clear?
Give feedback
Short and honest beats long and polite. Screenshots are welcome (just paste a link in the message).
Build: v1.0.0 playtest
Device: (Desktop / laptop recommended; tablet or phone if tested)
Browser: (Chrome, Firefox, Safari...)
What I did:
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What happened:
What I expected:You can copy this into the feedback box.
FAQ
Yes. During the controlled v1.0.0 playtest, access is free and invite-only. My goal right now is feedback: what saves brain space, what breaks trust, and what gets in the way at the table.
Your campaigns, sessions, PCs, NPCs, prep cards, notes, and recaps are stored in this browser profile with localStorage. Changing browsers, clearing site data, or using private browsing can make that data unavailable unless you export a backup.
No. Netlify Identity controls access to the deployed playtest app. It does not store your campaign data on an app backend, and it does not sync campaigns between devices.
No. The recap builder uses deterministic local heuristic logic. It can produce a useful draft from notes and context, but it will miss things sometimes. The editor is there because the GM gets the final say.
Export JSON backups during testing, especially before switching devices or clearing browser data. Treat exported files like sensitive campaign notes; they are plain JSON and not encrypted.
Not yet. Desktop or laptop testing is the main target for v1.0.0. Tablet and phone feedback is still useful, but expect rough edges on smaller screens.
I review feedback regularly, group it into bugs vs. improvements, and prioritize the stuff that blocks play or causes confusion. If you leave an email, I may reply with a follow-up question or let you know when a fix ships.