How to put a D&D map on a TV (and what it costs)
A screen on the table is the biggest upgrade an in-person group can make, and it is cheaper than a shelf of terrain. This is the practical guide: which hardware setups work, what drives them, how to scale the grid to your miniatures, and how to run the fight on a free 3D map in a browser.
Three setups that work
In order of cost and commitment:
- A laptop or a monitor on the table: zero build, works tonight. A 27-inch monitor lying flat under a sheet of acrylic is the sweet spot for a four-player fight.
- A TV in the table: a 40- to 43-inch TV flat in a frame or a cut-out, with tempered glass or acrylic on top so minis and elbows are safe. The classic digital game table.
- A projector: mounted above the table, pointed down at a white mat. Any table size, minis cast no shadows on the map from below, and the room lights need to be low.
Drive it from anything with a browser
TerrainTale runs in a browser tab, so the computer can be whatever you have: the DM's laptop over HDMI, a Chromebook, a mini PC velcroed under the table. There is nothing to install and no launcher to update. The renderer picks a quality tier from the GPU, so integrated graphics still get soft lighting and animated minis; a discrete card adds shadows at 4K and ambient occlusion.
Match the grid to your minis
Switch to the top-down view, turn the grid on, and zoom until one square measures one inch on the screen (a ruler against the glass takes ten seconds; note the zoom for next time). Physical 28 mm minis now sit in their squares on a lit, textured map, and the digital ruler still works for distances. Groups that mix real and digital minis put the players' painted figures on the glass and use library minis for the monsters.
Light the room, not the screen
A screen at full brightness under a bright ceiling light washes out; a screen at moderate brightness in a dim room glows like a painted table. A scene's torches and hearths do the mood; the room's lamps do the reading of character sheets. A matte acrylic top reduces glare and fingerprints.
Run the fight
Press P for play mode and the editor disappears: the map, Move and Measure, the grid toggle, the top-down view and the initiative tracker are all that is left, so a player leaning over the table cannot bump the scene. Names and HP sit beside the minis in large type, and a double-click pings a spot. Between fights, switch to the perspective camera and let the table look at the place they are standing in.
Questions
What size TV for a D&D table?
40 to 43 inches flat gives a roughly 30-by-20 square grid at one inch per square, which covers most encounters. Bigger is nicer; a 27-inch monitor is fine for four players.
Do I need a touchscreen?
No. The DM moves minis with a mouse or trackpad; there is no mini detection, and a touchscreen adds nothing the table needs.
Does it need an internet connection?
The app loads from the web, then runs in the tab; scenes are stored in the browser. A phone hotspot is plenty.
Can I use physical minis on the screen?
Yes. The top-down view with the grid on is a lit battle mat; scale one square to one inch and set the minis on the glass.
What does the software cost?
Nothing. TerrainTale is free with every feature included; the hardware is whatever screen you already own.
Keep reading
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