Best Notion Templates for Dungeon Masters

Most “D&D Notion templates” are planners: empty databases and pretty dashboards. That can be fine, but it’s not what you want if your goal is to run a great session tonight.

Main question this guide answers

A good template reduces decisions. It gives you a clear starting session, a linked quest and NPC system, and an obvious next step after play.

A quick self-check (pick your priority)

• •I want to run tonight without writing a campaign from scratch.
• •I want a beginner-friendly workflow with clear guidance and safety tools.
• •I want a system that stays organized during live play.
• •I want a campaign that can actually be finished in a reasonable number of sessions.
• •I want a consistent structure across multiple campaigns (bundle).

What to look for (a quick checklist)

• •It’s a campaign: quests, NPCs, and locations are already written.
• •Links are built in: quests connect to NPCs, locations, factions, and rewards.
• •Session support exists: agenda and recap flow, not just a calendar.
• •Beginner guidance is included: tone, safety tools, and pacing prompts.
• •It’s easy to customize: clear structure, not a maze of views.

Green flags (features that save prep)

• •A strong Session 1: a clear hook, a location, and 2-3 NPCs ready to use.
• •Quest statuses: a simple way to see what’s next and what’s completed.
• •Linked reference: NPCs and locations are connected so you do not search mid-session.
• •DM guidance: tone notes, safety tools, and pacing advice live inside the template.
• •A recap flow: a consistent place to capture outcomes so the world stays coherent.

Red flags (features that slow you down)

• •Everything is blank: you have to write the campaign before you can play.
• •No links: NPCs and locations exist, but they are not connected to quests.
• •No session workflow: there is a calendar, but no agenda or recap structure.
• •Too many views: lots of pages with unclear purpose and no starting point.

Why prewritten templates win for most DMs

A blank workspace still asks you to do the hardest part: writing the campaign. A prewritten campaign gives you a story spine, reusable NPCs, and a session sequence, so your prep becomes choosing, not inventing.

How to evaluate a template in 5 minutes

• •Open the Campaign Hub: do you immediately see where to start?
• •Find Session 1: is there a clear hook and a short sequence of beats?
• •Click an NPC: does it link back to quests and locations?
• •Click a location: does it show related NPCs and quests?
• •Check the recap flow: is there a place to record consequences and keep continuity?

Bundles: when they’re worth it

Bundles are worth it when they share the same structure. That way, you can switch campaigns without relearning the system: sessions feel consistent, and your DM workflow stays clean.