One of the best ways to boost your roleplaying game (RPG) is to get your players on to fantasy maps and DnD battlemaps on your virtual tabletop! If you're wondering how to add a map to Shard Tabletop, we're here to get your adventure started.
Step 1: Choose Your Map
Right, you've worked out your adventure, and the characters are ready. Now you need an awesome fantasy map that fits your campaign. There are a lot of maps online, but finding one that matches your creative ideas can be hard. The good news is Czepeku has 1,000s of beautifully crafted and imaginative battlemaps with variations like seasons, lighting, and tons more!
For as little as $5 per month, subscribers to Czepeku's Patreon get full access to all the maps in the archive. Join here now and wherever you decide to take your players, Czepeku can transport you there!
We've also made it as easy as possible to find the right map for you and your players with our searchable database. And if you can't find what you're looking for as a Patreon patron, we want to know about it. Vote for maps you want to see in your upcoming campaigns and we'll give it the Czepeku touch!
Step 2: Import Your Map
- First, create your free account here. Shard Tabletop is a free forever platform that lets you upload multiple maps at once, as well as upload alternate images for maps. This feature is perfect for Czepeku's map variations!
- From the main Play Page, select 'Maps' in the 'Reference' box under 'Gamemaster Options'.
- On the top left of this page, click 'Upload' and select the map you want to import. Remember, at this stage, you just want to add the base map. You can add alternate images to the map in step 5.
- Give your map a name and add keywords (optional), then check the size. We'd suggest decreasing the size to below 3.0MB as this will avoid long loading times, but that's totally up to you. Then hit 'Save'.
- Now you can choose what type of map you're adding to your campaign using the dropdown menu (like a battlemap or a city/town), add any relevant environments from the tick boxes, and set the dimensions. For Czepeku maps, we'd suggest that you set the grid to 140 pixels per square/grid, then drag the image to align to the grid as required.
How to add alternative images and maps
(a) In the 'Alternative Map Artwork' box, click on 'Upload Image' or 'Pick Image' if you've already uploaded your map to Shard Tabletop (as we have in this example). Then choose the map(s) you want to additionally upload.
(b) Repeat Step 4 for every image that you add. A pro tip is to shorten the names of your maps to their variations (like 'day' or 'night', 'autumn' or 'winter', etc.) so that they are easier to find and use on the fly in your campaign. - Once you've imported all of the maps and set their information and dimensions, hit 'Save'. This will load it into your map search tool.
Step 3: Load Your Map
- From your Campaign Page, click on 'Load Map' icon in the top menu.
- Once you've selected your base map, you can continue to click 'Load Map' to add your alternate images. When you switch between your maps, your players' tokens, the fog of war status, and any drawings will remain in place. This is great for creating dynamic encounters without having to reset everything every time the weather changes or when your battles rage into the night!
And that's it! If you want more information on using your maps in Shard Tabletop, check out their guide here.
How to Add an Animated Map to Shard Tabletop
If you're wondering how to import an animated map to Shard Tabletop, it's really easy! Just follow the same steps above but just select your animated file instead. It works the same way. Animated battlemaps bring a deeper level of immersion to your games. So get access to all of our animated maps as a subscriber on Czepeku.com.
Start Your Adventure With a FREE Map Pack!
For tons more guides like this, and to keep up to date with the latest from Czepeku, sign up to our mailing list now and get an introductory map pack for FREE.