D&D session tools
Compare D&D session tools by what your table needs
Choose a session tool by what you want ready after the game: audio you can keep, notes you can search, a recap for your players, or campaign history that helps with next week's prep.
A D&D session tool should solve the problem your table actually has. Start with where you play and what you want to keep. Choose the recording and recap workflow that fits your group.
Decide what you want to keep
Raw audio gives you the complete source but takes time to revisit. Some players may feel less comfortable keeping raw audio because hearing your own voice replayed can feel more personal than reading a transcript, especially if the recording is ever shared. A transcript lets you find a moment without replaying the whole session. A recap gives everyone the story they need for next week, while campaign memory carries the useful details into your prep.
We take table privacy seriously. Recap Raven does not retain audio for download: we delete it as soon as reasonably possible after transcription. We choose and review our transcription and AI providers for security, location and contractual safeguards, and do not authorise them to train on your content. Read our privacy policy and review the privacy policy of every service your table considers.
Choose by where and how you play
Start with capture. A Discord bot suits an online voice game. An upload tool suits a table that already records elsewhere. A mobile recorder is easier for an in-person group.
Choose Recap Raven if...
- Your D&D game runs on Discord, or you already have a Craig link or timestamped transcript, and you want notes and a recap handled with it.
- Players need a useful recap without your GM-only notes or secrets.
- You and your players want to ask your campaign anything directly in Discord and get a cited answer in seconds, while you keep prep help and feedback on spotlight balance and scene energy.
- Privacy is a priority for your table, and you want its audio deleted after transcription rather than retained.
Choose another tool if...
- You want audio files you can download and keep. Start with Craig’s free recorder.
- You play in person and need to record from a phone. Look at SessionKeeper.
- You already have raw audio files and need them transcribed. Look at The DM's ARK or SessionKeeper.
- You want the same recording bot for D&D and ordinary meetings. Look at DiscMeet or NotesBot.
| What you need | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Player recap, private GM feedback and cited answers in Discord | Recap Raven | Separate player and GM outputs, spotlight analytics and campaign memory |
| Audio files you can download and keep | Craig | Free multitrack recording with separate speaker files you can save |
| Recording an in-person game | SessionKeeper | Mobile capture alongside web and Discord options |
| Pasting an existing timestamped transcript | Recap Raven | The same recap, GM notes and campaign workflow without uploading audio |
| Uploading an existing raw-audio file | The DM's ARK or SessionKeeper | Both accept audio recorded elsewhere |
Craig and Recap Raven cover different parts of the job
Craig is a long-running Discord recorder. It records speakers on separate tracks and gives you files to download. Choose it when owning the original audio matters, or use its recording link with Recap Raven when you want the audio and a finished recap.
Recap Raven records through its own Discord bot or accepts a Craig link. The recap is the first useful output from a wider campaign intelligence workflow: persistent memory, cited answers, separate GM notes, open hooks and prep for the next session. Spotlight balance and scene energy surface the feedback players do not always give you. It suits weekly D&D groups that want the campaign record to keep working after the recap is shared.
You do not need Craig to use Recap Raven. Our own Discord bot handles recording, transcription and recaps. Use a Craig link when you also want to keep the original audio yourself.
Discord-first D&D note takers
DiscMeet records Discord calls and offers transcripts, summaries, RPG characters and entities, searchable history, custom vocabulary, downloadable audio and MCP access. It offers a downloadable full-session MP3 when recording is enabled on an eligible plan. Read the detailed DiscMeet alternative guide for the closest comparison.
Crit Scribbler presents itself as a Discord D&D note taker. Its published plans cover notes, transcripts, recaps and campaign features, with generated images on some tiers. These features overlap with Recap Raven’s session outputs, so compare what your table will actually use rather than the length of the feature list.
NotesBot covers Discord meetings and games, with a dedicated D&D mode, custom summary prompts and multilingual transcription. Recap Raven is built around the D&D campaign workflow: fantasy-name vocabulary, separate player and GM outputs, cited campaign memory and private GM feedback. Choose around what happens between your sessions, as well as the notes from each recording.
Upload and in-person options
Already have a Craig recording link or a timestamped transcript? Recap Raven can bring either into the same recap and campaign workflow. It does not accept raw audio files or record an in-person room.
The DM's ARK records through its Discord bot or accepts uploaded raw audio, then turns it into transcripts, summaries and a campaign compendium. Raw-audio upload is the practical difference here: Recap Raven accepts a Craig link or timestamped transcript, but not an uploaded audio file.
SessionKeeper offers mobile, web and Discord capture alongside summaries and a campaign wiki. Its phone apps make it a useful option for an in-person table. For a Discord campaign, Recap Raven brings the player recap, cited answers and private GM feedback into the workflow you already use.
How we checked these D&D session tools
Recap Raven publishes this page and is one of the products listed. Product facts were checked against each company's own public website or documentation on 5 September 2026. We describe what those sources currently show and avoid filling gaps with guesses.
Products change. Prices and limits can move faster than an article, so check a product's current terms before choosing. Recap Raven is independent of the other products and their names belong to their respective owners.
Product information checked
Prices and published features change. These pages were checked on 5 September 2026.
- Recap Raven features and workflow
- Craig public recorder and help pages
- DiscMeet public RPG bot and documentation pages
- Crit Scribbler public D&D note taker and pricing pages
- NotesBot public D&D transcription page
- The DM's ARK public session transcription page
- SessionKeeper public D&D notes and pricing pages
Frequently asked questions
What is the best D&D session recorder for Discord?
Choose Recap Raven when you want a player-safe recap, private GM feedback and cited campaign answers in Discord. Choose Craig when downloadable multitrack audio is your priority; its free recording service also gives you a link you can send to Recap Raven. Compare the outputs your group will use each week.
Which D&D note taker keeps GM secrets out of the player recap?
Recap Raven creates the player recap separately from GM-only notes and keeps GM-only fields outside the player recap generator. It is designed to leave out hidden motives and unsupported inferences. If the GM hints that the mayor serves the Ashen Magus but nobody discovers it, that conclusion should stay out. AI can still make mistakes. The recap posts automatically when ready, and the GM can correct its share page afterward in the web portal.
Which tool should I use for an in-person D&D game?
A mobile or upload-first tool will usually fit better than a Discord-only workflow. SessionKeeper supports mobile capture, while The DM's ARK accepts uploaded recordings.
Can I try Recap Raven free?
Yes. You can run up to four sessions free with the current introductory offer.
If your D&D game runs on Discord, Recap Raven can record it and turn it into a player-safe recap, separate GM notes, spotlight analytics and cited campaign answers.
