07. Editing Maps

Overview

Whether your map is a world/kingdom, cosmic, settlement, or battlemat, most of the editing functionality is the same. The instructions below describe using the tabs on the right side of the map, which normally appears once you have a map open.  However, you may use floating toolboxes instead by click the “Use Toolboxes” checkbox in the menu bar. If using toolboxes, these are opened by the buttons on the right side of the menu bar.

Terrain/Tiles

To place or change terrain on a world/kingdom map, starry backgrounds on a cosmic map, or floor tiles on a battlemat, use the Terrain tab on the right side.  (Note: Settlement maps don’t often use terrain or floor tiles and often it is better to use shapes for battlemats.) Simply select the button for the terrain/tile you’d like to place, and click where you want it on the map.  The new type will replace whatever was there. Other controls on the Terrain tab are described in the Editing Terrain & Features section.

Features

To place features such as city, fort, ruins, etc., icons on a world or kingdom map; stars or planets on a cosmic map; buildings and trees on a settlement map; or doors, tables, chairs, etc., on a battlemat use the Features tab.  Click the button for the icon you’d like to place (a textbox near the top of that drawer allows you to filter by name and a drop-down list lets you filter by icon type), then click on the map where you’d like it.  Other controls on the Features drawer allow you to rotate it, resize, it and more. See the Terrain & Features section of the manual for more details. Note: If you wish to change the settings of a feature already on the map, you need to click the “Select Feature” button on the Features drawer, then click on it on the map to select it, then make your changes.  Otherwise, any changes you make will only affect the next feature you place.

Shapes

To place shapes such as a river, road or sea/coastline on a world/kingdom map, or the same things on a settlement map, or those things as well as room walls & floors on a battlemat, or travel routes on a cosmic map, use the Shapes drawer.  Select the shape type using the buttons at the top, and set the shape’s fill type & color and stroke type & color, then click points on the map for that shape.  Unlike Features, Terrain/Tiles, and Labels, as you place a shape is stays selected until you “De-select” it using the “De-select” button at the top of the shapes drawer or press control-D on your keyboard. More details are in the Shapes & Labels section of our manual.

Labels

To place labels on any type of map, go to the Labels drawer.  Enter the text of your label, then press the “New Text Label”, and finally click on the map where you want the label. Note: As with features, changing the settings for the label after you place it will only affect the next label you place.  To change a label on the map already, click “Select Label”, then click it on the map, and finally then change the settings. More details are in the Shapes & Labels section of our manual.