Prep on the Canvas
Upload your battle map art, calibrate the grid, draw walls and doors, place lights, and stage NPC tokens. Mark up annotations and drop spatial sound sources without leaving the tabletop.
Battle Maps
5e Battle Maps Built Into the Virtual Tabletop
Interactive battle maps inside Darkspire let Game Masters and players see combat encounters, terrain, and positioning during every 5e session.
Stage Encounters in Minutes
Upload your scene art, calibrate the grid, and lay down walls, doors, lights, and tokens. Annotate, drop a sound source, and the encounter is ready to run. Prep a dungeon between sessions or adjust the room mid combat.
Upload Your Own Maps
If you already have battle map artwork, Darkspire lets you upload image files and use them directly as playable maps. Run encounters using custom maps, pre-made assets, or scenes created in other tools while still using Darkspire's built-in gameplay features.
Encounters on the Map
During gameplay, the battle map gives every player a shared view of the action. Character and creature tokens move on the grid so the party can read terrain, distances, and positioning at a glance, while the Game Master tracks the encounter from a single screen.
Online or In-Person Play
Darkspire battle maps work whether you are running games online or projecting the virtual tabletop on a shared screen at the table. The map view gives a clear visual reference for encounters, with remote players, in-person players, or a mix of both.
Map Features
Everything you need to run compelling tactical encounters.
Upload Custom Maps
Import image files and use them instantly as playable maps. Run encounters using maps made in other tools or commissioned from artists, with Darkspire's gameplay features layered on top.
Grid-based Combat
Place characters and creatures directly on the map and move them with smart snapping and measuring. No counting squares, no rulers at the table.
Document and Handout Maps
Present players with in-world notes, letters, and treasure maps as living document maps. Paper textures, rich text, and real-time updates let you reveal clues mid-session.
Encounter Generator
Pull from the SRD bestiary or your campaign NPCs and let Darkspire suggest balanced encounters by party level and difficulty.
Spatial Sound Sources
Drop ambient SFX on the map so players hear the brazier crackle as their token steps closer. Audio that reacts to position, not a click-to-play list.
Dynamic Lighting
Real-time lighting and shadows that react to walls, doors, and tokens, making every battle map more immersive and easier to read.
Fog of War
Reveal parts of the map as players explore while keeping unexplored areas hidden from view.
Online or In-Person Play
Use battle maps whether your group is fully remote or gathered around the table. The map is your shared reference either way.
Works Directly in the Browser
Run battle maps inside the Darkspire virtual tabletop without installing extra software or switching between apps.
Battle Map FAQs
New to 5e or want to know more?
Battle maps are tactical maps used during combat encounters in tabletop roleplaying games to show characters, creatures, and terrain on a shared grid. They make movement, positioning, and distances easy to read so the whole table understands what is happening.
Run Your Best Encounters Yet
Sign up free during Early Access and start running 5e encounters with Darkspire's built-in battle maps and virtual tabletop tools.