Obsidian Basics: Intro to Personal Knowledge Management

Name: Obsidian Basics: Intro to Personal Knowledge Management
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

Learn Obsidian from scratch and build a simple, reliable personal knowledge system for work, life, and TTRPG projects.

Created byTrent Ford

Last updated 1/2026

English

What you'll learn

Set up Obsidian from a completely blank vault and configure it so it feels simple instead of overwhelming.
Understand core Obsidian concepts like notes, links, tags, and folders in plain language, and know when to use each.
Build a flexible PKM structure you can use for TTRPG campaigns, creative writing, work projects, and personal research.
Capture ideas quickly, file them without overthinking, and resurface them later when you are actually ready to use them.
Use links, maps of content/metanotes, and hubs to connect scattered notes into coherent topics, worlds, and storylines.

Course content

6 sections • 44 lectures • 2h 10m total length

Introduction1:14
Installation and First Vault2:21
Obsidian & PKM Terminology Guide4:44
The Interface1:30
Creating and Saving Notes2:35
Understanding Markdown3:22
Linking in Obsidian0:44
Thoughts on Organization + Basic Folder Structure2:52
Quick Rundown on Making Notes13:47
Using Daily Notes7:42
(Optional) Learning Journey Vault0:05
(Optional) Obsidian Basics Tutorial13:04
This video uses the WISE RPG Vault for a demo. You can get the WISE RPG Zero vault from the WISE RPG Zero Setup Section.

The Philosophy of Personal Knowledge Management6:35
Understand the foundational principles of Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and how it transforms information into actionable insights. Learn about the "second brain" concept, dynamic vs. rigid organization, PKM as an evolving practice, and ethical considerations in knowledge vaults. This lesson sets the conceptual foundation for building an effective personal knowledge system.
Static vs. Dynamic: Choosing Your Organizational Approach5:23
Learn about two fundamental approaches to organizing your knowledge vault: folder-based (static) and link/tag-based (dynamic) organization. Discover how metanotes serve as navigation hubs, explore hybrid approaches, and understand when to use each organizational method. This lesson helps you choose the right structure for your creative work and knowledge management needs.
The Zettelkasten Method Explained3:53
Discover the powerful Zettelkasten method for building interconnected knowledge networks. Learn about atomic notes (one idea per note), the distinction between fleeting, literature, and permanent notes, and how linking serves as a thinking tool. Understand the importance of writing notes in your own words and how to apply this method to creative work like worldbuilding, game design, and writing projects.
Common PKM Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them5:03
Identify and avoid the most common traps in Personal Knowledge Management. Learn about over-organizing vs. under-creating, analysis paralysis, maintenance debt, saving without processing, building for "someday," tag soup, and perfectionism. This lesson provides practical strategies to keep your system simple, useful, and focused on supporting your actual creative work rather than becoming a project in itself.

Maps of Contents (MOCs): Your Knowledge Hubs (aka Metanotes)5:33
Master the art of creating Maps of Content (MOCs) - curated navigation hubs for your knowledge vault. Learn what MOCs are, how they differ from folders and index notes, when to create them, and what to include. Discover how MOCs serve as thinking tools, support long-term knowledge work, and help you navigate complex topics like campaigns, worldbuilding projects, and creative endeavors. Includes practical examples and guidance for creating your first MOC.
Finding Your Note Size2:02
One of the most persistent debates in Personal Knowledge Management is: How long should a note be? The Zettelkasten community champions atomic notes—one idea per note. But real-world PKM is messier and more nuanced than rigid rules suggest.
The Power of Accretion4:10
Learning objective: Understand how knowledge accumulates gradually through small additions, and how this principle supports effective PKM practice.
From Concepts to Workflows4:52
Learning objective: Understand how to apply the PKM concepts from Section 2 to the practical workflows in Section 3, creating a complete system for daily use.
Exercise 3.1: Build Your First Knowledge Network
Exercise 3.2: Structure Comparison Project
Exercise 3.3: From Highlights to Insights
Exercise 3.4: Design Your Personal System
Exercise 3.5: The Connection Challenge

Requirements

A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) with permission to install desktop software so you can run Obsidian
A stable internet connection to download Obsidian and any starter vaults or example files provided in the course.
Basic familiarity with using a computer (typing, saving files, navigating folders), but no prior experience with Obsidian or any note‑taking app is required.

Description

Obsidian can be an incredible personal knowledge management tool… once you get past the blank vault, confusing menus, and endless YouTube rabbit holes.

This course is a beginner‑friendly walkthrough of Obsidian that takes you from first install to a trusted system for capturing, organizing, and using your ideas. Along the way, you will see concrete examples drawn from TTRPG campaigns, writing projects, and everyday life, but you do not need any game experience to benefit.

You will start by setting up Obsidian on your computer and learning the core building blocks: notes, links, tags, and folders. Then you will build a simple structure for projects, people, places, and themes so that new notes always have a clear enough home. Next, you will practice daily workflows for capturing ideas quickly, filing them without overthinking, and resurfacing them when you are ready to write, plan, or prep.

Instead of chasing the “perfect PKM system,” this course focuses on a small set of durable practices that scale. By the end, you will have a working Obsidian vault, example templates you can adapt, and the confidence to keep evolving your setup as your campaigns, creative work, and real‑life responsibilities grow.

If you have ever opened Obsidian, felt overwhelmed, and closed it again, this course is designed for you.

Additionally, you can download the WISE RPG Zero vault here, but it doesn't include all the lesson notes from the original WISE RPG course, but does include samples and the notes for how to use Obsidian.

Who this course is for:

You have heard great things about Obsidian but feel lost every time you open it or watch yet another advanced plugin video
You want a grounded, opinionated starting setup that you can customize later instead of spending weeks researching “the perfect system.”

Obsidian Basics: Intro to Personal Knowledge Management

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction and Getting Started12 lectures • 54min

PKM Philosophy & Core Concepts4 lectures • 21min

Build Your Knowledge System4 lectures • 17min

Advanced Features and Workflows2 lectures • 9min

(Optional) WISE RPG Zero Setup2 lectures • 21min

Walkthrough Obsidian Features using the WISE RPG vault20 lectures • 9min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: