Battle maps you build in 3D and play on directly
Dungeondraft and Inkarnate are well-loved 2D map makers: Dungeondraft a desktop app for battle maps, Inkarnate a browser tool known for world and region maps as well as battle maps. TerrainTale builds battle maps in 3D and is also the table you run them on.
Side by side
| Topic | TerrainTale | Dungeondraft and Inkarnate |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | 3D scenes | 2D, top-down art |
| Install | Browser | Dungeondraft: desktop app; Inkarnate: browser |
| World and region maps | Not the focus | Inkarnate's specialty |
| Battle maps | Room tool, tile brush, terrain and water brushes | Detailed painted battle maps |
| Running a fight | Built in: minis, ruler, initiative, HP | Export the image to a VTT |
| Lighting | Live lighting and shadows during play | Drawn in, or handled by the VTT |
| Asset style | Realistic PBR models | Illustrated asset packs |
| Pricing | Free plan with one saved scene; Premium $6/month | Dungeondraft: one-time; Inkarnate: free and paid plans |
Dungeondraft and Inkarnate are trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with TerrainTale. Feature notes describe the other products in general terms as we understand them at the time of writing; check their sites for current details.
From map maker to table
With a 2D map maker, the map is drawn in one tool and played in another. In TerrainTale the scene you build is where the miniatures stand, the ruler measures and the turn order runs.
Realistic rather than illustrated
The library uses realistic materials and scanned models, lit in real time. It is a different look from hand-painted map art, closer to a painted miniature table.
Where Dungeondraft and Inkarnate are still the better pick
Printable maps, world and region maps, an illustrated art style, and image exports for a VTT your group already uses. TerrainTale does not draw continents and does not export map images.
Moving across
There is no importer for Dungeondraft or Inkarnate files. Rebuild battle maps with the room tool and brushes, or import a scene recipe as JSON. Keep using your world map for the overview and open TerrainTale when the fight starts.
Questions
Can TerrainTale make world maps?
No. It builds battle-scale scenes; a 2D world map tool remains the right choice for continents.
Can I import Dungeondraft maps?
No. There is no importer; rebuild the room in 3D or use a scene recipe.
Can I print maps from it?
It is built for screens, not print.
Is there a free plan?
Yes, it keeps one saved scene. Premium keeps up to 200 for $6 a month or $48 a year.
Keep reading
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.
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.
A Realistic 3D Asset Library for D&D Maps
A free library of realistic 3D battle-map pieces: PBR-generated floors and walls, Poly Haven photoscanned props, and D&D minis and furniture made in Meshy.
Dungeon Alchemist alternative
A Dungeon Alchemist alternative that builds 3D maps and runs them in the same place: no export step, real miniatures, a ruler with height, initiative and HP.
The library
Realistic, CC0/CC BY, and all on one grid.
From the blog
Lair actions in 5e: what changed in 2024, and how to use the map
How lair actions work in 5e, what the 2024 Monster Manual changed about initiative count 20, and how to write three lair effects that use the terrain on your battle map and move the party.
· 5 min read
Moving through allies and enemies in D&D 2024
Can you move through an ally's space in 5e, or past an enemy? The 2024 rules for creature spaces, the size exception, why it costs double and where you cannot stop, square by square.
· 5 min read
Throne room battle maps: the audience chamber as an arena
How to build a throne room battle map for D&D: the dais, the columns, the long approach, guards at the doors and where a fleeing monarch goes, with sizes in 5-foot squares.
· 5 min read
All articles on battle maps, grid rules and running the game
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.