Record identity before results
Start with game title, platform and version if available. Add the session date and in-game location. These details help distinguish an old observation from a current one, especially when a patch changes a tutorial, equipment description or control prompt.
Use three short fields
Write the question, observation and next action. The question explains the purpose. The observation describes what happened. The next action keeps the record useful. Do not let a speculative explanation silently become part of the observation field.
Keep failed tests
A comparison interrupted by travel, a new setup or an accidental input is still worth noting as incomplete. It should not be counted as evidence for the original question. Recording the interruption prevents a tidy-looking notebook from becoming misleading.
Review and retire
After several sessions, combine duplicate questions and retire notes that no longer match the current version. Keep the reason for a correction. A reliable notebook is allowed to change its mind; preserving every early guess as if it were a rule makes future sessions harder.
Try it next session
- Record title, platform and date.
- Use separate question, observation and next-action fields.
- Mark interrupted comparisons as incomplete.