Quick Start

This guide gets a new story working quickly, then points you to the deeper systems.

1. Create a story

Open the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd + P) and run Storyteller Suite: Create new story.

A story is the active container for your notes, folders, and dashboard lists. Only one story is active at a time.

2. Open the dashboard

Use Storyteller Suite: Open dashboard view or click the book ribbon icon.

The dashboard is where most day-to-day work happens:

• Characters
• Locations
• Events
• Groups
• Scenes
• Maps
• Compile
• Analytics

3. Add your first character

Go to Characters and create a character.

Start with just these fields:

• Name
• Description
• Traits
• Status
• Group membership

If you plan to use campaign play, also fill in:

• D&D class / subclass / race / level
• STR / DEX / CON / INT / WIS / CHA
• Max HP, current HP, AC, speed
• Owned items

See Characters.

4. Add one location and one event

Create a location, then create an event that happens there.

That gives you enough data to test:

• dashboard filtering
• map placement
• timeline grouping
• milestone highlighting

5. Open the timeline

Use Storyteller Suite: Open timeline panel.

The current timeline supports:

• timeline view and Gantt view
• grouping by character, location, or group
• search jump-to-event
• milestone-only filtering
• eras and custom tracks

See Events and Timeline.

6. Build one scene

Create a scene and give it:

• a chapter
• a POV character
• linked location
• linked characters
• linked items if needed

If you are writing normally, this is enough to start drafting.

If you are running a campaign-style session, use Edit Branches & Encounter Table inside the scene to add choices, dice checks, gates, and outcomes.

See Manuscript and Campaign Play.

7. Optional: run your first campaign session

The new D&D / campaign flow works best when you already have:

• at least 2 characters with D&D stats
• 1 scene with branches
• 1 or 2 plot items

Then:

1. Click the swords ribbon icon to open Campaign Play.
2. Create a session.
3. Pick a starting scene.
4. Select party members.
5. Run the scene and test HP, inventory, flags, and scene navigation.

See Campaign Play.

8. Optional: customize compile output

Open the Compile tab in the dashboard when you are ready to turn scenes into a manuscript export.

Each draft can use its own workflow, and workflows can include built-in cleanup steps plus your own custom JavaScript steps.

See Manuscript.

Next:

• Characters
• Campaign Play
• Manuscript