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Table Tools
Table Tools are live-session tools for pointing, measuring, and drawing attention to parts of the scene.
They include the ruler, ping, and laser pointer. These tools help the GM communicate spatial information during play without permanently changing the scene.
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Use Table Tools when you want to:
- Measure distance.
- Show a movement path.
- Point to a location.
- Highlight an important area.
- Draw player attention to the map.
- Indicate a path, target, or direction during play.
Table Tools are designed for quick use during a session.
Table Tools are available from the Tools menu.
The Table Tools section includes:
- Ruler.
- Ping.
- Arrow Pointer.
- Laser Pointer.
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The ruler is a GM-controlled measurement tool.
Use the ruler to measure:
- Movement distance.
- Spell range.
- Line of sight estimates.
- Travel across a map.
- Distance between tokens.
- Distance across square, hex, or gridless scenes.
The ruler uses the scene's grid and measurement settings.
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Ruler measurement depends on the scene type.
In square scenes, the ruler uses square-grid measurement settings.
In hex scenes, the ruler uses hex-aware measurement.
In gridless scenes, the ruler uses freeform measurement.
If a measurement looks wrong, check the scene's grid mode and measurement settings.
Hold Shift while dragging to add ruler waypoints.
Waypoints are useful when measuring a path that is not a straight line.
Use waypoints for:
- Moving around corners.
- Measuring around walls.
- Following roads or paths.
- Counting a planned movement route.
- Checking a multi-step route through a room.
Right-click removes the last active ruler waypoint.
Escape clears the active ruler measurement.
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Ctrl or Cmd can snap ruler points to grid positions where supported.
Depending on the scene, snapping may target:
- Square grid centers.
- Hex centers.
- Freeform points in gridless scenes.
Use snapping when you want movement or distance to match the grid cleanly.
The ruler can highlight crossed squares or hexes.
This is useful when the table needs to know which spaces a path touches or crosses.
Crossed-cell highlights are especially helpful for:
- Tactical movement.
- Difficult terrain.
- Hazard areas.
- Line and area effects.
- Checking whether a path passes through a specific square or hex.
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The ruler displays total path distance.
When the selected distance mode is not Euclidean, the ruler may also show a straight-line comparison.
This helps the GM compare grid-counted movement with direct distance when needed.
Ping sends a temporary attention marker to the map.
Use ping when you want to quickly show players:
- A location.
- A target.
- A point of interest.
- A destination.
- A danger area.
- A spot where something happens.
Ping appears in GM View and Player View.
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Ping can use different attention styles depending on what the GM needs to communicate.
Use sonar-style pings for quick point-of-interest callouts.
Use radius-style pings when the area around the point matters more than an exact crosshair.
Ping settings may include options such as:
- Size.
- Color.
- Style.
- Visibility.
- Fade behavior.
Use a color that stands out against your current map.
Larger pings are helpful on TVs or projectors where players sit farther from the display.
Arrow Pointer is a temporary directional callout.
Click and drag from the starting point toward the target or direction you want players to notice. The arrow stays visible while the mouse button is held, then fades after release.
Use Arrow Pointer when you want to show:
- Which direction a creature moves.
- Where a sound, attack, or effect travels.
- The entrance or exit players should notice.
- A path segment that needs a clear direction.
- A specific object in a visually busy map.
Arrow Pointer appears in GM View and Player View.
The laser pointer creates a fading trail while the GM drags on the map.
Use the laser pointer to:
- Trace a route.
- Point out multiple locations.
- Circle an area temporarily.
- Show where something moves.
- Guide player attention across the map.
Laser pointer trails appear in GM View and Player View.
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Use ping for a single point.
Use Arrow Pointer for a direction or target relationship.
Use laser pointer for a path, gesture, or area.
Ping is best for:
- “Look here.”
- “This is the target.”
- “The sound came from here.”
Arrow Pointer is best for:
- Showing where something is going.
- Pointing at a target across a flat table display.
- Calling out a direction without tracing a full path.
Laser pointer is best for:
- “The enemy moves along this path.”
- “This hallway curves around here.”
- “The effect spreads across this area.”
Ping, Arrow Pointer, and laser pointer activity can appear in Player View so players can see what the GM is indicating.
The ruler is primarily a GM measurement tool.
Before using Table Tools heavily during play, check Player View to confirm the visibility and scale feel good on the player-facing display.
Table Tools work best when the scene grid and measurement settings are configured correctly.
Before play, confirm:
- The grid mode matches the scene.
- Measurement settings match your game system.
- The map is calibrated.
- Player View display scale is correct if using physical minis.
- Ping and laser pointer colors are visible on the map.
- Arrow Pointer is easy to read on the player-facing display.
Table Tools are useful for:
- Checking whether a creature can reach a target.
- Measuring spell range.
- Showing where an effect begins.
- Pointing to an object or clue.
- Highlighting a door, trap, or hazard.
- Tracing a path through fog or terrain.
- Directing attention on a large map.
If ruler distance looks wrong:
- Check the scene grid mode.
- Check measurement settings.
- Confirm the map grid is calibrated.
- Make sure you are using the expected snapping behavior.
If ping is hard to see:
- Increase ping size.
- Change ping color.
- Check the map brightness and contrast.
- Test it on Player View.
If the laser pointer is hard to see:
- Use a brighter color if available.
- Move more slowly.
- Check Player View visibility.
- Avoid using it over visually busy areas when possible.
If players cannot see ping or laser pointer activity:
- Confirm Player View is open.
- Confirm the correct scene is shown in Player View.
- Check whether Player View is in Hold, Blackout, or waiting screen mode.
Before play, confirm:
- The ruler measures correctly.
- Waypoints behave as expected.
- Snapping feels right for the scene.
- Ping is visible on the player-facing display.
- Arrow Pointer direction is easy to read on the player-facing display.
- Laser pointer is visible on the player-facing display.
- Measurement settings match your table rules.
- The map grid is calibrated.