Targeting

Targeting lets you choose which tokens or areas on the map an action will affect. Whether you are casting a spell, making an attack, using an ability, or placing an area of effect, the targeting system guides you through picking exactly what gets hit.

This guide covers how targeting works for both players and GMs.

What targeting is

When a card, action, or ability requires you to choose who or what it affects, the VTT enters targeting mode. A panel appears at the bottom of the screen telling you what to do, and the map changes to help you pick your targets.

Targeting is shared across everyone in the session. When you choose targets, the GM and other players can see your selections in real time.

When targeting is used

Targeting activates when:

The GM starts a targeting request from the GM Targeting Panel or the command console
A card that requires targets is played without any tokens selected
You or the GM use slash commands or the dev console

The exact options available (how many targets, what shapes, what range) depend on the action being used and the game system your table is playing.

For Players

How to know you are in targeting mode

When the VTT asks you to choose targets, three things happen:

A targeting panel appears at the bottom of the screen with a crosshair icon and an orange border
The panel shows a prompt telling you what to do (for example, “Choose a target” or “Pick up to 3 visible enemies”)
Some tokens on the map may appear dimmed if they are not valid targets

Choosing a single target

In Single Target mode, click on one token to select it. The token gets an orange highlight ring. If you click a different token, your selection switches to the new one.

Choosing multiple targets

In Multiple Targets mode, click tokens to add them to your selection. Click a selected token again to remove it. The panel shows how many you have selected and how many you need.

If there is a maximum, you will not be able to select more tokens once you reach it. If there is a minimum, the Confirm button stays disabled until you have selected enough.

Choosing an area target

In Area Target mode, you place a shape on the map instead of clicking individual tokens. The shape determines which tokens are affected.

If the area has a preset size (for example, a fireball with a fixed radius):

Move your cursor around the map – the shape preview follows it
Click to place the shape
Any tokens inside the shape are automatically selected
Click the map again if you want to re-position it

If the area is free-sized (you control how big it is):

Click on the map to set the origin point
Drag outward to set the size or direction
Release to commit the shape

For cones and lines with a preset size, the shape anchors to the source token and you control the direction by moving your cursor. Click to lock in the direction.

Shape types:

Shape	How it works
Circle	Drag outward to set the radius, or click to place at preset size
Rectangle	Drag corner to corner, or click to place at preset size
Cone	Drag to set direction and length. With preset size, anchored to source token
Line	Drag to set direction and length. With preset size, anchored to source token

If the action allows multiple shapes, a shape selector appears in the panel. Click a shape button to switch.

Confirming your targets

Once you are happy with your selection, click the Confirm button in the targeting panel, or press Enter on your keyboard.

The Confirm button is disabled until you have met the requirements (enough targets selected, or an area placed).

Cancelling targeting

Click the Cancel button in the panel, or press Escape on your keyboard.

If you are in the middle of placing an area (dragging), pressing Escape cancels just the current placement without cancelling the entire targeting request. Press Escape again to cancel the whole request.

What happens after confirming

Your confirmed targets are locked in and visible to the GM and other players. The GM may then create a resolution to collect rolls, choices, or other responses from players before determining the outcome. See the Resolution Guide for details on how that works from the player’s side.

For GMs

Starting a targeting request

The easiest way to start targeting is from the GM Targeting Panel. You can find it in two places:

Actions tab in the sidebar (the crosshair icon in the tab bar)
Floating on the canvas if you pop it out using the “Pop out” button

To start targeting:

Select a source token on the canvas (click on the token that is performing the action)
Click the + button in the Targeting panel header to open the start form
Choose the mode: Single, Multiple, or Area
Write a prompt that tells the player what to do (for example, “Choose a melee target”)
Optionally set range, constraints (Line of Sight, Exclude Self, Combatants Only, No Defeated, No Hidden), and min/max targets
For Area mode, choose which shapes are allowed and optionally set preset sizes
Click Start Targeting

The targeting panel then appears for the assigned player, and the map updates with visual indicators.

You can also start targeting from the Command Console (press ` to open it) by selecting “Start Targeting” from the Targeting category and editing the JSON payload.

Managing player targeting

When a player has an active targeting request, you can see their selections in real time on the map. Target rings and area shapes are visible to everyone in the session.

The GM Targeting Panel shows all active targeting requests (from any user, not just yours). Each card shows:

The prompt and mode
How many targets are currently selected
The selected target names
Expandable details showing source token, range, and active constraints

You can cancel any player’s targeting request using the X button on the card.

What happens after targeting confirms

When targeting is confirmed, the Resolution Panel shows a “Targeting Confirmed” card with a Create Resolution button. This lets you immediately create a resolution item (for rolls, saves, damage, etc.) with the confirmed targets already filled in. You can also dismiss the card if no resolution is needed.

See the Resolution Guide for how the resolution system works.

The GM Override

When targeting constraints are active (range limits, line of sight, filters), a shield icon appears in the top-right corner of the targeting panel. This is only visible to GMs.

Click the shield to toggle Override Mode:

All tokens return to full brightness (no more dimming)
You can select any token, even ones that would normally be blocked by walls or filters
The constraint chips in the panel show with a ~~strikethrough~~ to indicate they are bypassed
Range limits are still enforced even with override active

This lets you make judgment calls. For example, if a player argues they should be able to target a creature despite a technicality with wall placement, you can override the restriction.

Using targeting in combat

Targeting works alongside the combat system. You can set up targeting requests that only allow targeting combatants, that exclude defeated enemies, or that respect initiative order.

Use the filter field when starting a request:

"filter": {
  "excludeSelf": true,
  "requireCombatant": true,
  "excludeDefeated": true
}

Area-of-effect targeting

To set up a preset area (like a fireball or breath weapon), use areaConfig:

Fireball (circle with fixed radius, placed at a point):

The player moves a circle preview around the map and clicks to place it. Tokens inside are auto-selected.

Breath weapon (cone with fixed length, anchored to source):

The cone extends from the source token. The player moves the cursor to aim the direction and clicks to lock it in.

Multiple shape options:

Set allowedShapes to give the player a choice. A shape selector appears in the panel.

Understanding targeting indicators

The VTT uses colour, brightness, glow effects, and animations to show you what is happening during targeting. The default colour for targeting visuals is teal, but this can be changed in VTT Settings (see Customising targeting visuals below).

Token highlights

Visual	Meaning
Glowing ring + spinning reticle	This token is selected as a target. The ring glows and a dashed outer reticle rotates around it.
Cyan glowing ring + spinning reticle	This is the source token (who is doing the targeting)
Spinning reticle (faint, on hover)	You are hovering over a valid target and can click to select it
Full brightness	This token is a valid target
Dimmed (faded out)	This token is not a valid target (out of range, blocked by a wall, excluded by a filter)

All rings and reticles have a glow effect similar to wall lines on the map. The spinning reticle is a dashed ring with small tick marks that rotates continuously, making active targets easy to spot at a glance.

Arc lines

When a targeting request has a source token, animated curved lines (arcs) connect the source to each target:

Selected targets get a brighter, more prominent arc from the source token
Hovered targets get a lighter, more tentative arc that appears as you move your cursor

The arc animation style can be changed in VTT Settings. See Customising targeting visuals for details on each style.

Range indicator

When the action has a range limit, a dashed cyan circle appears around the source token showing how far you can target. The dashes rotate slowly to distinguish it from static map elements. Tokens outside this circle are dimmed.

Constraint chips

Small labels appear in the targeting panel showing which restrictions are active:

Chip	Meaning
LOS (with eye icon)	Line of sight required – targets behind walls are blocked
No self	You cannot target the source token
Combatants	Only tokens in the active combat encounter can be targeted
No defeated	Defeated combatants are excluded
No hidden	Hidden combatants are excluded
Group: [name]	Only tokens in the named group can be targeted
Not: [name]	Tokens in the named group are excluded

Area shapes

When placing an area target, the shape preview appears as a semi-transparent overlay on the map with a glowing outline. Tokens whose centre falls inside the shape are automatically included. The area shape colour matches your targeting colour setting.

Customising targeting visuals

You can change how targeting looks in VTT Settings (the gear icon in the VTT toolbar). The Targeting section has two options:

Arc Animation

Controls the style of the animated curved lines that connect the source token to targets. Choose from four styles:

Style	Description
Progressive Draw (default)	The arc extends itself from the source toward the target like a projectile being fired. A bright glowing tip leads the way, pulling a fading trail behind it. Once the arc reaches the target it holds briefly, then fades and repeats.
Crawling Dashes	Multiple bright dashes flow continuously along the curve from source to target, creating an energy-stream effect. Selected targets show a dim base arc underneath; hovered targets show only the moving dashes.
Traveling Pulse	A dim static arc connects source to target, with a single bright pulse that glides smoothly along it from source to target and repeats. Calmer than crawling dashes.
Static	No animation. Selected targets get a solid glowing arc; hovered targets get a dashed arc. The simplest option if you prefer minimal motion.

Targeting Color

A colour picker that controls the colour of all targeting visuals – token rings, spinning reticles, arc lines, area shape outlines and fills, and the glow effects. The default is teal. The source token ring always remains cyan regardless of this setting.

Keyboard shortcuts

Key	What it does
Enter	Confirm targeting
Escape	Cancel targeting (or cancel an in-progress area placement)

These shortcuts only work while you have an active targeting request. They are ignored when you are typing in a text field.

Permissions

Role	What you can do
GM	Start, update, confirm, or cancel any targeting request. Toggle the override to bypass constraints.
Player	Start, update, confirm, or cancel your own targeting requests. Cannot modify another player’s request.
Observer	View targeting in real time, but cannot interact with it.

Troubleshooting

I cannot select a target

Likely causes:

The token is out of range. Look for the dashed cyan range circle around the source token. Tokens outside it are dimmed and cannot be clicked.
The token is behind a wall and line of sight is required. Check for the “LOS” constraint chip in the panel.
The token is excluded by a filter. Look at the constraint chips – it might be excluded because it is defeated, hidden, not a combatant, or not in the right group.
You have already reached the maximum number of targets. Check the count shown in the panel.

What to do: Ask your GM to check the targeting settings or use the GM Override if appropriate.

The Confirm button is disabled

In single or multiple mode: You need to select at least one target (or meet the minimum target count shown in the panel).
In area mode: You need to place the area shape first. Click on the map to place it.

I selected the wrong target

In single mode: Click the correct token – it replaces the previous selection.
In multiple mode: Click the incorrectly selected token again to deselect it, then click the correct one.
In area mode: Click the map again to unlock and reposition the area.

I cannot target more than one token

The action is set to single target mode. This is determined by the card, action, or GM settings – not something you can change as a player.

My area target does not include a token I expected

Area targeting checks whether a token’s centre point is inside the shape. If a token is on the edge, its centre may fall just outside. Ask your GM to adjust the area placement or use the GM Override.

I do not see the targeting panel

Targeting may not have been started yet. The panel only appears when there is an active targeting request assigned to you.
Make sure you are connected to the room. The panel requires a live connection.
If you are an observer, you will not see the panel (observers cannot interact with targeting).

The GM can target but I cannot

The targeting request may be assigned to the GM, not to you. Each request has an owner – only the owner (and the GM) can interact with it. If the GM wants you to choose targets, they need to start a request with your token as the source.

Targets disappeared after reconnecting

Targeting state is saved on the server. If your targets disappeared after refreshing or reconnecting, the targeting request may have been confirmed or cancelled while you were disconnected. Ask the GM to check.

Targeting seems out of sync between players

Targeting updates in real time across all connected clients. If something looks out of sync, try refreshing your browser. If the issue persists, the GM can cancel the request and start a new one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change targets after confirming?

No. Once you confirm, the targeting request is finalised. If you need different targets, the GM can start a new targeting request.

Can the GM override targeting restrictions?

Yes. GMs have an override toggle (the shield icon) that bypasses line of sight and filter constraints. Range limits are still enforced even with the override active.

Can I target hidden tokens?

It depends on the targeting settings. If the “No hidden” filter is active, hidden combatants are excluded. If it is not active, or if the GM uses the override, hidden tokens can be targeted.

Why can I only choose one target?

The action is set to single-target mode. The number of targets allowed is determined by the card, action, or GM settings. Check the targeting panel – it shows whether you are in single, multiple, or area mode.

Do targets automatically apply damage or effects?

It depends on how targeting started. Targeting requests started by the GM do not apply anything by themselves — after they confirm, the GM can create a resolution to collect rolls, saving throws, or other responses from players, then resolve the outcome. See the Resolution Guide for details.

Targeting that begins from playing a card does apply the card’s effect automatically once you confirm — saving throws are rolled per target, and damage, conditions, and charges are handled for you.

What happens if I disconnect while targeting?

Your targeting state is saved on the server. When you reconnect, any pending targeting request will be restored. If the request was confirmed or cancelled by someone else while you were away, it will no longer appear.

Does targeting work outside of combat?

Yes. Targeting can be used during or outside of combat. Some filters (like “combatants only” or “exclude defeated”) only apply during active combat, but the core targeting system works at any time.

Can multiple targeting requests be active at the same time?

The system supports it, but the current interface shows one targeting request per user at a time. If multiple requests are active, you will see the one assigned to you.