I Made a Stat Block Template in Obsidian (And You Can Steal It)

The monster stat blocks I built for my Obsidian DM notes make me a better game master. And I'm giving them to you! ** Download the free CSS here: http://bit.ly/4raYoTy Join the Adventurers Guild at https://Patreon.com/ShortRestStudios or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCychTZf1Z2Womi56s_Ddk9w/join Get Obsidian (it's free!): https://obsidian.md/ Back Nimble's Monsters & More Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nimblerpg/monsters-and-more-a-nimble-ttrpg-reprint-and-expansion Get the CSS to make your Obsidian stat blocks look like professional RPG books. This copy-and-paste setup features rounded corners and custom colors. Most TTRPG notes in Obsidian look like plain text files, which can be a nightmare to read during a high-stakes combat encounter. By applying a specific layer of CSS, you can transform those messy markdown files into structured, readable stat blocks with alternating row colors and distinct headers for actions and abilities. This design uses a "Mav, The Winter Queen" example to show how visual hierarchy helps a Dungeon Master find HP, Armor Class, and speed at a glance without digging through a wall of gray text. More ways to support Short Rest Studios! ============ Short Rest Studios Merch: https://short-rest-studios.printify.me ============ Short Rest Studios PDFs: https://www.patreon.com/ShortRestStudios/shop ============ Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/C89CBNZpbe ============ My website: https://shortreststudios.com ============ My DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=3260793 ============ Shop D&D, DCC, my video equipment and more in on my Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/shortreststudios ============ Get 10% off game tables and furniture at https://legacygametables.com/shortreststudios ============ Get 10% off dice and accessories at https://MistyMountainGaming.com with code shortreststudios ============ Get 10% off at Into the AM: https://intotheam.com/shortreststudios ============ Get 5% off at Zyltech: https://www.zyltech.com/?aff=138 ============ Get 20% off with Homie and the Dude: https://hatdbuilder.com/?coupon=shortrest ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The technical side of this setup relies on a CSS snippet that handles the heavy lifting of table formatting and callout styling. Even if you aren't a web designer, you can use these "ghost borders" and nested callouts to organize monster traits and legendary actions into clean, colored boxes. This method moves away from the standard Obsidian look and moves toward a layout that mimics a high-quality monster manual. Using a "Math is Music" philosophy for the numbers, the template ensures that the most vital information is front and center, reducing the cognitive load while you are running your Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder games. Everything needed to replicate this look—the CSS file and the markdown structure—is available to copy directly into your own vault. The setup includes specific instructions on how to handle table cells, row spans, and custom icons to make your monster notes look intentional and polished. You can take these styles, change the hex codes to match your own campaign's aesthetic, and immediately see the difference in how your combat encounters flow. This isn't just about making things pretty; it's about building a functional interface for your DM screen that works as hard as you do at the table. 00:00 Intro 00:13 The Stat Blocks 00:41 The CSS 04:06 Building a Stat Block