As a timesaver, I use Post-It Notes as bookmarks when I run games — specifically, the 1.5″x2″ size in 2 or 3 different colors (although any size will work). Before a session, I mark up everything I expect to need for the night — skill descriptions, creature stats, etc. — with different colors according to category: rules, descriptions, etc. I also stagger the Post-Its, so I can see all of them when the book is closed.
This lets me go straight to the info I need, and I never have to worry about bookmarks falling out. (I try not to leave them in too long, though, as they sometimes leave behind a sticky spot.)
I’m a big fan of post-its. Color coded for my convenience. Blue for players, red for the Big Bad Guy, Pink for niggly details…
Have you seen Post-It Tape Flags? These are small pieces of colored tape that make great bookmarks. They’re more resilient that a paper Post-It, and can still be written on.
I don’t mark many things with Post-Its, but I do have a Post-It inside the cover of my DMG with the page numbers of several frequently referenced sections (PC Wealth, NPC Wealth, XP, etc.).
Frank
I’ll second the Post-It Flags. They can also be moved and don’t pull up any of the print or paper with them.
This is a good hint, and, it amuses me a bit too. Why?
The adhesive for post-its was originally developed by a 3M engineer. He was working on developing strong adhesives, and in the process, developed the weak post-it adhesive. He didn’t know what to do with it for like four years. Then, after his bookmark fell out of his hymnal one too many times, he decided to apply the weak adhesive to the bookmark. It stopped falling out, of course! The rest is history.
The amusing part is they originally tried marketing a post-it like product as bookmarks, but it didn’t sell all that well. It wasn’t until it was converted for use as a sticky note that it took off. Yet, I found myself using them as bookmarks before I’d ever heard the tale.
Post-its, of any variety, have to be one of the most useful and versatile inventions ever.
I’m often one to have a new sourcebook out on the road with me, flipping through while I commute. I’ll take some post-its, stick them on the back of the book, and jot notes on them as something hits me as useful, or necessary to reference for a game later.
This way I don’t have to juggle the sourcebook and a notebook on a crowded train, bus, ferry, etc.
Post-It Flags are a great suggestion — I’ve seen them, but for some reason never tried them.
It’s funny, but the sticky spot Post-Its leave behind (if stuck on for too long) seems to only come up with WotC core books (the ones with the slightly shiny paper), at least for me. Something to do with the paper, I guess.