D&D-style 5-foot squares
Square grids for fifth-edition style movement, opportunity attacks, and area templates. D&D map maker for system-specific framing.
TTRPG map maker
TTRPG Map Maker for Battle, Dungeon, and Encounter Maps
Browser-based map maker for tabletop RPGs—D&D, Pathfinder, OSR, and other grid-based systems. Paint terrain, stamp props, set the grid, save the project, and export PNG for your virtual tabletop or print.
Quick answer: A TTRPG map maker is software for building playable tabletop role-playing game maps with terrain, props, a tactical grid, and exports your virtual tabletop can use. RPG Map Editor runs in a desktop WebGL browser and exports PNG images—useful for D&D, Pathfinder, OSR, and other grid-based TTRPG systems. It does not export Roll20 walls, Foundry scene JSON, dynamic lighting, or token data.
About RPG Map Editor
RPG Map Editor is a browser-based DnD and TTRPG map maker for creating battle maps, dungeon maps, and fantasy RPG maps online.
Paint terrain, place stamps, align a tactical grid, save projects to your account, and export PNG snapshots for Roll20, Foundry VTT, or in-person play. No installer — runs in a modern desktop WebGL browser.
Basics
What is a TTRPG map maker?
Software for tabletop role-playing game maps: the playable surface a Game Master shows so a party can position, move, and fight on a shared grid. Most TTRPG combat is grid-based (5-foot squares are the D&D 5e norm, hex grids are common for travel and OSR-style hexcrawls), and a map maker’s job is to make those squares or hexes readable at a glance—on a VTT screen or a printed mat.
Systems
Which TTRPG systems does this fit?
Any grid-based tabletop where the GM needs encounter-scale maps: D&D 5e and earlier editions, Pathfinder 1e/2e, OSR retroclones, Shadow of the Demon Lord, Tales of the Valiant, and similar systems. RPG Map Editor focuses on the map artwork plus a tactical grid; system-specific tokens, sheets, and combat math live in your VTT or at the table.
Pathfinder-style tactical play
Same square-grid workflow with tighter cover and flanking math—prep the same way you would for D&D battle maps.
OSR & hexcrawl prep
For wilderness travel and OSR-style exploration where hex grids matter, see hex map vs square grid for tradeoffs.
Map types
Battle maps, dungeon maps, and encounter maps
A TTRPG session usually needs three flavors of map—pick the one that matches the scene you are about to run.
Battle maps
Tactical encounter layouts: cover, chokepoints, lanes, and clear movement squares. Start here when initiative is about to roll.
Dungeon maps
Rooms, corridors, caves, doors, and tactical interior spaces—designed for exploration pacing and fog-of-war reveals.
Fantasy encounter scenes
Outdoor camps, ruins, forest paths, taverns, and roadside ambushes—encounter-scale fantasy scenes ready for grid play.
Workflow
A repeatable TTRPG prep loop
The fastest way to prep weekly is to keep the same loop every session: terrain first, props second, grid check, export, upload. This is the same shape regardless of system.
- Pick map size in squares for the encounter you will actually run (20×20 for tight rooms, 30×20 or larger for open fights). See battle map size guide.
- Paint terrain so the playable space reads before any decoration.
- Stamp tactical props that change movement or line of sight—skip pure decoration on small laptop screens.
- Align the grid while editing; reconcile any drift before exporting.
- Export PNG at
columns × pixels-per-squarebyrows × pixels-per-square. - Upload to your VTT or print—set the VTT grid cell size to match your export math.
Step-by-step narrative: How to make a battle map
VTT handoff
From RPG Map Editor PNG to your VTT
The export carries pixels and the grid you painted. Walls, doors, line-of-sight polygons, dynamic lighting, and tokens are configured inside the VTT after import—RPG Map Editor does not emit those structures today.
Roll20 import
Upload as a map-layer image, set Page Settings cell size to match pixels per square, align offset. Full checklist: Roll20 battle map export.
Foundry VTT import
Set the PNG as a scene background, set scene grid size in pixels, then trace walls and lights in Foundry. See Foundry VTT battle map export.
In-person tabletop
Print at your target inches-per-square (e.g. 1 inch = 1 square) or display on a TV / projector. The grid you painted is the grid you play on.
Honest limits
What this TTRPG map maker does not do
Some things are explicitly out of scope today, so prep accordingly.
- No Roll20 wall, door, or dynamic-lighting export. Configure inside Roll20 after import.
- No Foundry scene JSON / module export, no wall polygons, no light sources. Configure inside Foundry after import.
- No token export, no character sheets, no initiative tracker. Use your VTT or tabletop tools.
- No AI generation, no procedural “generate-a-whole-dungeon” button. You paint and stamp the map yourself; that is the whole product.
- Not a continent / world-atlas cartography suite. Encounter and dungeon scale only.
Related
Related pages
D&D framing
D&D map maker for fifth-edition style encounter language.
Battle maps
Battle map maker for the tactical encounter workflow.
Dungeons
Dungeon map maker for interior and cave layouts.
Sizing
Battle map size guide for squares and pixels.
Tutorial
How to make a battle map for the prep loop.
Plans
Pricing for Free vs Studio.
FAQ
TTRPG map maker FAQ
What is a TTRPG map maker?
Software for tabletop role-playing game maps: a playable surface with terrain, props, and a tactical grid that a Game Master uses to run combat and exploration. RPG Map Editor runs in a desktop WebGL browser and exports PNG images for VTTs or print.
Which TTRPG systems does RPG Map Editor support?
Any grid-based tabletop where the GM needs encounter-scale maps: D&D 5e and earlier editions, Pathfinder 1e and 2e, OSR retroclones, and similar systems. The editor handles map artwork plus a tactical grid; system-specific tokens, sheets, and combat math live in your VTT or at the table.
Can I make battle maps and dungeon maps in the same tool?
Yes. The same browser editor handles battle maps, dungeon maps, and encounter scenes. The dedicated battle map maker and dungeon map maker pages describe the workflow for each type.
Does the export include Roll20 walls, Foundry scene JSON, or dynamic lighting?
No. PNG export carries pixels and the grid you painted. Walls, doors, line-of-sight polygons, dynamic lighting, and tokens are configured inside the VTT after you import the PNG.
Does it generate maps with AI or procedurally?
No. RPG Map Editor does not ship AI map generation or a procedural "generate-a-whole-dungeon" button. You paint terrain and place stamps yourself; that is the entire product today.
Can I use it for hex maps and OSR-style wilderness travel?
The editor focuses on tactical encounter and dungeon scale rather than continent-scale hexcrawl cartography. For hex vs square tradeoffs, see the hex map vs square grid guide on this site.
Is it free?
Free includes core editor tools, up to three saved maps, PNG export, and moderated forum access. Studio (paid monthly) adds unlimited saved maps, public share links, and priority support. The live monthly amount comes from the Stripe Price on the pricing page when billing is enabled.
Build one TTRPG encounter this week
Sign up free, paint a single encounter map, export PNG, and align it inside your VTT before the session.