Archivist - Obsidian Plugin

A D&D 5e/2024 toolkit for Obsidian with a built-in AI agent powered by Claude. Write YAML code blocks to render parchment-styled stat blocks, or chat with the Archivist to generate entire monsters, spells, items, encounters, and NPCs on the fly.

Screenshots

Monster stat block	Spell block	Magic item

Features

AI Agent (Archivist Inquiry)

• Generate content -- Ask the Archivist to create monsters, spells, magic items, encounters, and NPCs. Generated content renders directly as styled stat blocks.
• SRD lookup -- Search and retrieve any entity from the bundled D&D 5e SRD (300+ monsters, spells, and items).
• Vault-aware -- Attach vault files and notes as context. The agent can read your campaign documents, session notes, and lore to inform its responses.
• Inline editing -- Select text in any note and ask the agent to rewrite, expand, or refine it in place.
• Multi-tab conversations -- Run multiple chat sessions in parallel with full history.
• MCP server support -- Extend the agent with custom Model Context Protocol servers.

Content Blocks

• Monster Stat Blocks -- Full stat blocks with abilities, skills, saves, senses, and feature sections (traits, actions, reactions, legendary/lair/mythic actions). Single and two-column layouts.
• Spell Blocks -- Spell cards with level, school, casting time, range, components, duration, and description.
• Magic Item Blocks -- Item entries with rarity, attunement, type, and description.
• Edit Mode -- Click-to-edit UI for all block types with auto-calculated values (HP, AC, saves, skills, passive perception) and manual override support.

Inline Tags

• Dice rolls: `dice:2d6+3`
• Attack rolls: `atk:DEX`
• Damage: `damage:1d8+STR`
• DC checks: `dc:WIS`

D&D 5e Math Engine

Auto-calculates proficiency bonus, ability modifiers, saving throws, skill bonuses, HP, and AC from ability scores. Supports manual overrides with auto-recalculation.

Entity Compendium

Bundled SRD with 300+ monsters, spells, and items. Supports custom user-created entities stored as vault notes with frontmatter. Reference entities inline with {{monster:goblin}} or {{item:flame-tongue}}.

Usage

Create a fenced code block with the appropriate language tag:

Monster

```monster
name: Young Red Dragon
size: large
type: dragon
alignment: chaotic evil
ac: 18 (natural armor)
hp: 178 (17d10+85)
speed: 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
abilities: [23, 10, 21, 14, 11, 19]
```

Spell

```spell
name: Fireball
level: 3
school: Evocation
casting_time: 1 action
range: 150 feet
components: V, S, M (a tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur)
duration: Instantaneous
description:
  - A bright streak flashes from your pointing finger...
```

Magic Item

```item
name: Flame Tongue
type: Weapon (any sword)
rarity: rare
attunement: true
entries:
  - You can use a bonus action to speak this magic sword's command word...
```

Or use the slash commands: /Monster Block, /Spell Block, /Item Block to insert templates.

Commands

Available via the command palette (Cmd/Ctrl+P):

Command	Description
Archivist: Insert monster block	Insert a monster YAML template at the cursor
Archivist: Insert spell block	Insert a spell YAML template at the cursor
Archivist: Insert magic item block	Insert a magic item YAML template at the cursor
Archivist: Open chat view	Open the Archivist Inquiry chat panel
Archivist: Inline edit	Ask the agent to rewrite the current selection
Archivist: New tab	Open a new Inquiry chat tab
Archivist: New session (in current tab)	Start a fresh conversation in the active tab
Archivist: Close current tab	Close the active Inquiry chat tab

Requirements

• Obsidian 1.5.8 or newer, desktop only. The Archivist Inquiry agent shells out to Node.js APIs, so this plugin does not run on Obsidian mobile.
• Anthropic API key - required only to use the Archivist Inquiry AI agent. Stat blocks, inline dice tags, and the SRD compendium work without an API key. See AI Setup below.

Installation

Community Plugins (coming soon): Search "Archivist" in Settings > Community Plugins > Browse.

Beta via BRAT:

1. Install BRAT from the Obsidian community plugins
2. Open BRAT settings and click "Add Beta Plugin"
3. Enter: archivist-gg/archivist-obsidian-plugin
4. Enable the plugin in Settings > Community Plugins

Manual: Download main.js, styles.css, and manifest.json from the latest release, place them in .obsidian/plugins/archivist-gg/, and enable the plugin.

AI Setup

The AI agent requires an Anthropic API key:

1. Get an API key from console.anthropic.com
2. Open plugin settings > Archivist Inquiry
3. Enter your API key

Building from Source

npm install
npm run build

Copy main.js, styles.css, and manifest.json to your vault's .obsidian/plugins/archivist-gg/ directory.

License

AGPL-3.0