Summary
The Maps feature on D&D Beyond is currently in alpha, but it’s already seen a lot of progress as a good way to runDungeons & Dragonsgames online. Although it’s perfectly possible to playDnDwithout any maps at all, having a proper layout for exploration and battles can make the game a lot more intuitive. D&D Beyond’s Maps come with some upsides that are hard to find elsewhere, but there’s one complication that makes deciding whether to commit to it a bit tricky.
Introduced as an alpha feature in September 2023, Maps integrates directly with the official D&D Beyond platform that houses digital versions of published books, character sheets, and more. It didn’t arrive fully formed, however, missing a number of key features like rulers and a robust fog of war system.Although the tool is still in alpha, it’s been getting consistent updates, and it’s now on a level where most dungeon masters could probably feel reasonably comfortable using Maps to run adventures.
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D&D Beyond Maps Are Becoming A Strong Feature
Updates Have Made The Tool Genuinely Useful
Screen Rantrecently participated in a play session of aQuests from the Infinite Staircaseadventure that made use of D&D Beyond’s Maps, and there’s a lot to appreciate in the current iteration. Some features added in recent months simply make life a lot easier for dungeon masters, like the ability to pause games to allow for private set-up of things that players don’t need to see.DnDis also releasing multiple digital versions of maps in new books, providing variants that show or hide information for the DM’s sake.
The biggest come-up for combat probably lies in the addition of more tools for measurement. A basic ruler is an important one for figuring out diagonal ranges, but Maps has also added slightly more complex tools to determine the radius of spells and the reach of conical attacks. Everything’s simple and responsive, and the lack of overall clutter makes it easy to find the right tool without fumbling around in obtuse menus.
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D&D Beyond’s Maps feature still has room to grow, and groups that like having as many features as possible might be more driven to look elsewhere. All the same,it’s a world apart from the earliest alpha release, and the essentials are all now more or less in place. Having something directly integrated with D&D Beyond could make life a lot easier, especially when it comes to running official adventures with tokens, maps, and more available for anyone who buys the books through the service.
A Subscription Model Makes Maps A Harder Sell
Some Alternatives Offer Fewer Barriers To Entry
For anyone who isn’t already committed to the D&D Beyond ecosystem, however, the Maps feature might be a much harder sell.It’s currently only available through a Master Tiersubscription to D&D Beyond, which costs $5.99 when billed monthly or $54.99 annually. It’s not the most expensive virtual tabletop subscription in the game, but other options tend to offer ways to play for free or a one-time purchase.
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A subscription can be especially intimidating whenlaunching into aDnDcampaign, as it’s not something that can be conveniently paused or canceled for budgetary reasons as long as regular sessions continue.The D&D Beyond Master subscription is certainly useful for DMs to havein general, but there are plenty of ways to run onlineDnDwithout it, Maps notwithstanding. If anyone’s used to improvising, DMs are, and how much value is placed on ease of access varies from person to person.
Another major perk of Master Tier is the ability to share unlocked content with others, a cornerstone feature that makes it easier to run campaigns without players needing copies of books.
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
