Basemaps

The basemap is the map image your scene is built on — everything else (grid, walls, lights, tokens) sits on top of it. Open Basemap Options on the toolbar (the map icon, GMs only) to get the Basemap Settings panel.

It has three tabs: Edit Map, Change Map and Upload Map.

Change Map

The Change Map tab is your map library. Search by name, description or tag in the Search maps… box at the top, then either:

• Click a map to open a larger preview — drag the preview image to pan around it, then click Use This Map; or
• Click the arrow button on a row to switch straight to it.

The new map applies to the scene immediately, so if you do this mid-session everyone at the table sees it.

Caution

Changing the basemap doesn’t move anything already placed. Your walls, lights, fog and tokens stay exactly where they were, which usually means they no longer line up. Swap maps between scenes rather than under a built-out one — see switching scenes.

Upload Map

1. Open the Upload Map tab and click Select Image. JPEG and PNG are accepted.
2. Give it a Map Name.
3. Add tags — type a tag and press Enter or comma to turn it into a chip. Tags are searchable from the Change Map tab.
4. Add a description in the notes box (“Optional GM notes or map context”) — also searchable.
5. Click Upload. The map is compressed, added to your library, and set as the scene’s basemap.

Uploading your own maps needs Booster or Collector. There’s also a per-plan cap on how large the file you upload can be.

One Booster covers the table

Custom map upload is a room capability, not just a personal one. If the GM has Booster, everyone playing in that GM’s room gets the capability while they’re in it — your players don’t each need their own subscription to bring a map to your table.

Animated & video basemaps

A basemap can be a short looping video instead of a still image — drifting fog, lapping water, a crackling fire pit. Upload an mp4 or webm the same way you’d upload an image: use Select Image or Video on the Upload Map tab (or pick one from your library — animated maps show a small film badge). The clip plays and loops behind your tokens, and the grid, walls, lights and fog all sit on top exactly as they do over a still map.

1. On the Upload Map tab, click Select Image or Video and choose an mp4 or webm.
2. Give it a Map Name, tags and notes, then click Upload.
3. The clip is added to your library and set as the scene’s basemap. It starts looping right away.

Tip

Keep clips short and small — a few seconds, gently looping, at a sensible resolution. A video plays continuously, so an oversized file is heavier on everyone’s device than a still map. Muted, seamless loops look best.

Note

The map pauses when the tab isn’t visible, and players who’ve turned on reduced motion see a still frame instead of the moving clip — so motion never gets in the way.

Animated basemaps use the same Booster upload capability as custom images, and one Booster covers everyone at that GM’s table.

Edit Map

The Edit Map tab holds adjustments to the current basemap — resizing and offsetting it relative to the scene.

Related

• The grid — line the grid up with your new map.
• Creating a scene — where a basemap is first chosen.
• Assets — the wider library your uploads live in.
• Plans & billing — what each tier includes.