Feature List

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Originally compiled for MapTool version 1.3b86 and may be missing some of the more recent features. It still covers the main features of MapTool.

Software

• MapTool is Java based, meaning it is platform independent (e.g. runs on Window, Mac, Linux etc.)
• Open Source
• Free

Extensive Community of Users

MapTool is supported by an active and lively community on a variety of social media platforms.

• Large community forum with years of history.
• Discord Server
• Facebook Page
• Large number of user-created video tutorials.

Maps

• Supports virtually infinite maps, limited only by each connected computer's memory resources
• Ability to create maps, even in real time during a game using built-in drawing tools and drop-in image support
• Ability to drag and drop images from virtually anywhere into MapTool to use as maps, tokens, objects, etc.
  • Can accept from the system clipboard, file browsers, web browsers, TokenTool, chat software, etc.
• Ability to view PDF files as folders of images from the Resource Library so they can be added directly
• Built-in drawing tools with texture support
• Support for 4 layers of map drawing:
  • background here you either draw maps or drag images to become maps both from outside MapTool or from within MapTool
  • object here you can again draw and drag images both from outside MapTool or from the internal library
  • hidden same as other layers but everything in this layer is visible to the GM only
  • Token the actual layer where the players and the GM have their tokens which they can move around. Has the same drawing and dragging support as the other layers
• Multiple map support
• Export and Import function for MapTool type maps
• Hi-res Screenshot support

Fog of War

• Option for individual character fog of war, otherwise FoW is shared by the entire party
• Hard fog for undiscovered areas
• Soft fog for previously discovered areas but outside Line of Sight (note, no items on the token layer show to players if the item is in soft fog)
• Option to reset the fog
• Option to manually clear fog
• Option to manually recreate fog
• Option to have player movement clear fog automatically

Grid

• Different types of grids:
  • Square
  • Hex (Horizontal Hex)
  • Vex (Vertical Hex)
  • Isometric (as of 1.4)
• Grid color
• Grid size
• Grid offset
• Toggle snap to grid
• Grid is positioned above the background and below the objects to give a sense of depth in the maps
• Ability to Auto Resize imported map images to quickly fit the grid (as of 1.4)

Library Support

• MapTool includes a built-in library with:
  • Tokens (e.g. Hero, Dragon, Troll)
  • Objects (e.g. door, wall, table)
  • Textures (e.g. Grass, Cobble stones, Mud)
  • States (e.g. Stunned, Blinded, Dazed)
  • Other stuff like Overlays, example Maps, Health Bars, Dice, Cards
• Option to download from RPTools other available resources packs like maps, tokens and objects
• Option to extend the resource library with material localized on your own PC

Frameworks

Through the MapTool forum and its very lively community frameworks have been created which give support for the following RPG games:

• D&D 3.5 Ed
• D&D 4 Ed (English, French and Spanish)
• D&D 5 Ed
• Pathfinder
• Warhammer 40k - Dark Heresy
• Warhammer 40k - Roque Trader
• Warhammer 40k - Deathwatch
• Warhammer 40k - Black Crusade
• Warhammer 40k - Only War
• Warhammer 2nd Ed
• Warhammer 3rd Ed
• Call of Cthulhu 5.6 Ed
• Call of Cthulhu 6 Ed
• Call of Cthulhu 7 Ed
• Fate 3.0
• Hackmaster
• Dragon Age
• Savage Worlds
• Hero 5th ed.
• HarnMaster 3
• Star Wars
• Bash
• Gurps
• Gumshoe
• Ars Magica 5h Ed.
• Dogs in the Vineyard
• A couple of board games

Script language (Macro support)

• MapTool provides a script language with which the above Frameworks have been developed
• There exists an active and up-to-date Wiki with support for the script language
• There are several 'drop-in' resources available through the forum

Tables

• MapTool provides a support for basic lookup tables with text or images keyed to dice rolls or ranges.
• Using the UI or chat commands, tables can return a random result to the chat window.
• Macro scripting functions can automate and chain the creation and use of tables.

Preferences

• A LOT of settings are provided to personalize MapTool to your needs

Interface

• Different panels are available:
  • Initiative Panel: contains images of the active tokens and their respective initiative number
  • Global Panel: contains macros that are locally stored (on the PC) and are independent of the active Framework (i.o.w. always there).
  • Campaign Panel: contains macros that are applicable for the campaign (Framework)
  • Selection Panel: contains macros specifically for the currently selected Token(s)
  • Impersonate Panel: same as Selection only this always applies to a single Token
  • Table Panel: Panel with the tables
  • Resource Library Panel: here the Resources are available
  • Map explorer Panel: here one can see which tokens are on the map and in which layer
  • Draw explorer Panel: here one can see drawings by layer and edit their properties
  • Connection Panel: shows who's connected through the (inter)net to your game
• Panels can be:
  • Docked or Undocked (floating)
  • Hidden
  • Auto-hidden, accordion style, ie, when you mouse near the edge where the panel is set to auto-hide, it pops out for use and hides itself once you mouse out.
  • Docked panels may also be dragged into tabbed groups of multiple panels
• Full screen support
• Zoom option (which is definitely necessary with the possibility of very very very large maps)

Tools

• Force view
• Force Zoom Level
• Lock movement
• Lock Zoom

Different Languages

• English
• French
• Italian
• Japanese
• Spanish
• German
• Polish
• Russian

Tokens

• Maptool differentiates between PC's and NPC's
• Option to set Ownership of tokens (so player can Own NPC tokens or multiple PCs)
• Option to set 'vision' of a token:
  • Night vision
  • Normal vision
  • Arc/Cone, Circle, or Square
  • Range
• Option to set 10 different sizes including free-size (technically, objects are "free size" and tokens are "native size")
• Local properties (like Strength and Toughness) are completely customizable per token
• Stat sheet on mouse over token, again completely customizable (and can be hidden for all tokens)
• States can be set per token
• Health bars, either standard or again completely customizable (can also be used for Ammo, Stamina, etc.)
• Shape, different shapes are supported:
  • Square
  • Circle
  • Top Down (rotates entire token when facing is set, token is also not limited to its square) (that last part applies to all tokens)
• Option to set token visibility (e.g. all clients can see the token or only owners can see the token)

Light

• set different ranges
• set different shapes (Square, Circle, Cone with an arc ranging from 1 to 360 degrees)
• set different colors
• set layers of lights (e.g. first yellow and then an outer ring of red)
• set auras (don't shed light, but can be used to show ranges of weapons, for example)
• set auras visible to self, all, or GM-only
• Create different groups of light

Chat box

• loads of chat commands
• smiley support
• can handle html commands
• broadcast option
• impersonate token and talk from that token
• whisper to a single token (so the rest won't see the message) or GM only
• (show/hide) typing notifications
• different colors
• scroll lock
• allow macro commands to be typed straight into the chat

Maptool summarized in one picture

Drop-in: Bag of Tricks

This is not a default feature which comes with Maptool, but something you need to install. This drop-in will roughly add an additional 80 features like Teleports, animated doors, automatic VBL manipulation, token grouping, extended tables, debug tools, etc. etc. It can be found here. The web-post includes a full list of all features, tutorials on how to use and install it. --Wolph42 15:18, 11 May 2011 (UTC)