Player Display Setup

This tutorial walks you through setting up and using the Player Display - a second window that shows your players what their characters can see while you maintain full DM control.

Time to complete: 5 minutes

What you’ll learn:

• Set up a second screen for players
• Open and control the Player Display
• Understand what players see vs. what you see
• Use Blackout mode for dramatic reveals

Prerequisites

• Completed Tutorial 3 (Play Mode basics)
• Ideally: a second monitor, TV, or projector for players

The Two-Screen Setup

The Player Display creates a two-screen experience:

This lets you manage everything behind the scenes while players see only what their characters would see.

Step 1: Connect Your Second Screen

Before opening the Player Display, connect your second screen:

• TV or Monitor - HDMI/DisplayPort connection
• Projector - For tabletop projection
• Extended Display - Not mirrored (each screen shows different content)

Display Arrangement

On your computer:

1. Open display settings
2. Set to “Extend” (not “Mirror”)
3. Arrange screens to match physical layout
4. Note which screen is secondary

Step 2: Enter Play Mode

1. Open your campaign
2. Go to the Modules tab
3. Select a module and click Play
4. Make sure a map is active (click one in the sidebar)

Step 3: Open the Player Display

In the Play Mode header:

1. Click the Player Display button
2. A new window opens
3. The button changes to show “Display Open”

Position the Window

Drag the Player Display window to your secondary screen:

1. Click and hold the window title bar
2. Drag to the player-facing screen
3. Maximize the window (or press F11 for fullscreen)

Tip: On macOS, you can use Mission Control to move windows between spaces. On Windows, use Win+Shift+Arrow keys.

Step 4: Understanding the Views

What You See (DM View)

Your view shows everything:

• All tokens (visible and hidden)
• Monster names and quantities
• Full toolbar and controls
• Line of sight visualization (debug mode)
• Session notes panel

What Players See

The player display shows:

• The map image
• Fog of war based on PC positions
• Visible tokens only (no hidden enemies)
• Token images without names
• No controls or UI elements

Step 5: Controlling What Players See

Fog of War

Fog of war updates automatically based on:

• Where PC tokens are positioned
• Their vision radius (including darkvision)
• Active light sources
• Walls and obstacles (UVTT maps)

Move a PC token and watch the fog update in real-time on both screens.

Reveal Map Toggle

For situations where you want to show the whole map:

1. Find the Reveal Map toggle in the toolbar
2. Enable it to bypass fog of war
3. Disable it to restore fog of war

Use this for:

• Area maps without exploration
• Post-combat wrap-up
• Location reveals

Ambient Lighting

The ambient light level affects visibility:

Change this to match the in-game environment (dungeon, night, etc.).

Step 6: Using Blackout Mode

The Blackout button (eye icon) appears when the display is open:

1. Click Blackout to hide everything from players
2. The player screen goes completely black
3. Click again to restore the view

When to Use Blackout

• Before the session - Set up tokens without revealing
• Dramatic reveals - Build anticipation
• Breaks - Bathroom/snack breaks
• Map transitions - Switch maps without showing the change
• Plot moments - Describe what happens before showing it

Step 7: Syncing Views

Control whether players see your exact viewport:

Auto-Sync (Default)

• Your pan and zoom are mirrored
• Players see what you focus on
• Great for guided exploration

Manual Sync

1. Click the Sync button to disable auto-sync
2. Navigate freely on your screen
3. Click Push View when ready to update players

Use Cases

Step 8: Closing the Display

When your session ends:

1. Click Player Display button again, or
2. Close the player display window directly
3. The button returns to its original state

The main Play Mode continues - you can reopen the display anytime.

Physical Setup Tips

TV/Monitor Setup

• Position so all players can see
• Adjust brightness for room lighting
• Consider a TV mount or stand

Projector Setup

• Project onto table or wall
• Calibrate for grid accuracy
• Consider ambient light levels

Virtual Setup

• Share the player window via screen share
• Use a separate browser window for remote players
• Consider latency for viewport updates

Quick Reference

Troubleshooting

Display Opens on Wrong Screen

• Drag window to correct screen
• Maximize after moving

Players See Hidden Tokens

• Check token visibility settings
• Ensure “visible to players” is off for hidden tokens

Fog Not Updating

• Verify PC tokens are marked visible
• Check that PCs have a token on the active map
• Confirm UVTT wall data loaded (for wall occlusion)

No Second Window

• Check popup blocker settings
• Try clicking the button again
• Restart Play Mode

Next Steps

You’ve completed the tutorial series! You can now:

• Create and manage campaigns
• Build adventure modules with maps and encounters
• Run sessions with fog of war
• Use a second screen for players

Explore the How-To Guides for specific tasks, or check the Reference for detailed documentation.

Return to: Tutorials Overview