BLUE-BOOKING

Blue-booking brings a list of benefits to the Guide:

Engage Adventurers or small teams in parallel side-missions
Handle difficult scenes more objectively
Prepare Faction and NPC stories “in-character” before they debut at the table
Time to carefully consider all the ramifications of an action
Increased ability to plant rumors, clues, leads, and trails for Adventurers to choose among
A deep pool of potential additional story “leads” for crafting future encounters and adventures

Blue-Booking: How To Facilitate?

Help Adventurers explore their history and background more deeply if asked.

Help Adventurers plan privately if asked.

Engage with the Adventurers stories as a fan if possible.

Help Adventurers keep a timeline of the Blue-Booking events separate from the campaign timeline.

Occasionally encourage “camp fire story” scenes within sessions to grant Adventurers spotlight time to share their background stories.

Keep Guide knowledge of Adventurers' stories separate from NPC knowledge.

Avoid “spoilers” by allowing Adventurers to choose if, how, and when blue book story mixes into the active table sessions.

Allow NPCs to learn about blue book stories only if they overhear or encounter the Adventurer during or recounting those deeds.

Blue-Booking may interfere with active tabletop sessions if:

One or more Adventurers start Blue-Booking rather than following the action at the table.
One Adventurer requests a Blue-Booking scene with the Guide during an active table session.

Certain genres, such as mystery and spy thrillers rely on information as currency.

Keeping a list of “who was there?” or “who heard?” for rumors and clues can prevent errors which undermine the flow of the campaign and its stories.

When building a rumor or knowledge table, track and consider details which: