Build the 3D map and play on it, without exporting
Dungeon Alchemist builds good-looking 3D maps quickly on the desktop, then exports them as images to run in a virtual tabletop. TerrainTale skips the export: the 3D scene you build is the table you play on, in the browser.
Side by side
| Topic | TerrainTale | Dungeon Alchemist |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A 3D map builder and virtual tabletop | A 3D map maker that exports to VTTs |
| Install | Browser | Desktop application |
| Building | Room tool, tile brush, terrain and water brushes | Fast rooms with automatic furnishing |
| Playing | In the same 3D scene, with minis and tracker | Export to a VTT and play there |
| Measuring | Feet with diagonal rule, waypoints and height | Handled by the VTT you export to |
| Lighting | Live: a time-of-day slider, sun shadows, torches | Baked into the exported image |
| Pricing | Free plan with one saved scene; Premium $6/month | One-time purchase |
Dungeon Alchemist is a trademark of its owners and is not affiliated with TerrainTale. Feature notes describe the other product in general terms as we understand it at the time of writing; check its site for current details.
Height survives to the table
An exported image flattens the balcony and the cliff. In TerrainTale they stay 3D during play, so the ruler reports the drop and the shadows still show cover.
Change the map mid-session
Knock out a wall, move a table, switch to night: edit the scene and players see it in the shared room. There is no re-export.
Where Dungeon Alchemist is still the better pick
DMs who want maps generated and furnished almost automatically, or who need image exports for an existing VTT their group already uses. TerrainTale builds by hand and does not export map images.
Moving across
There is no importer for Dungeon Alchemist maps. Rebuild with the room tool and brushes, or describe the map to an AI assistant and import the scene recipe as JSON. On Premium, your own 3D models can be dropped on the table.
Questions
Can I import Dungeon Alchemist maps?
No. There is no importer; rebuild the room or use a scene recipe.
Does TerrainTale generate maps automatically?
Not by itself, but an AI assistant can draft a scene recipe from a description, which the builder turns into a grid-correct map.
Can I play on the map I build?
Yes. Building and playing happen in the same app, with a ruler, initiative and HP.
Does it need a powerful PC?
No. Quality is picked from the GPU and runs on integrated graphics.
Keep reading
3D Dungeon Map Maker: Rooms, Corridors and Torchlight in Minutes
Make a 3D dungeon map in the browser: drag rooms with the Dungeon kit, paint corridors with the tile brush, add doorways, torches, a treasure chest and a skeleton, then play on it.
Battle Map Maker: Build a Map in Minutes
A fast battle map maker in the browser: drag a room, paint tiles, drop props and lights, then play on the same map with miniatures, a ruler and initiative.
Build with AI
Scene recipes, and how an assistant writes them.
Dungeondraft and Inkarnate alternative
An alternative to Dungeondraft and Inkarnate for battle maps: build a realistic 3D scene in the browser and run the fight on it, with minis, ruler and initiative.
Arkenforge alternative
An Arkenforge alternative for in-person D&D on a TV or projector: a 3D battle map with real light and height on the table, free, in the browser, on any OS.
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Ready to put a map on the table?
Open the builder and start, no account needed. Sixteen starter scenes are on the welcome screen; sign up free when you want to save one or play it with your group.