D&D Beyond’s Maps VTT Gets a Huge Upgrade: Encounter Tracking

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D&D Beyond’s Maps VTT Adds Combat Encounters
D&D Beyond’s Maps VTT just leveled up, moving from Alpha to Beta with the introduction of integrated combat encounters. Now, Dungeon Masters can prep and run full-fledged encounters directly in Maps without leaving the app.
Let’s take a look at the official D&D VTT now allows you to drag in tokens from your D&D Beyond library, track Initiative, manage turns, and handle combat.
Building Encounters on Maps
Setting up encounters in Maps is quick and easy. Just drop in tokens for monsters and players, click “Add All Tokens,” and instantly see your encounter’s layout. Maps’ Combat Encounter menu will automatically categorize party members and enemies, and you’re set to roll Initiative and get combat rolling!
Want to plan a multi-step dungeon crawl or stagger your enemies’ entry? You don’t have to add all the tokens at once.
The token context menu lets you add creatures on the fly—simply click “Add to Encounter” from the map, or grab multiple tokens using the Select tool to bring them into combat when the party triggers their appearance.
Maps even provides an encounter difficulty rating, based on the updated 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide. This new rating system is based on XP per encounter, rather than XP per day, which is useful when you’re not going to be running a typical adventuring day (5-6 encounters) before a Long Rest.
Track and Change Initiative
After setting up, you can click “Start Combat” to activate the Initiative Order menu, allowing you to track player and creature turns live. Your players will also see the Initiative order on their own screens, and Maps even keeps hidden creatures invisible until they’re revealed in-game.
In addition, DMs can dynamically adjust the encounter on the fly, adding or removing creatures as needed. You can drop in a new enemy or remove a fallen foe without disrupting the flow of combat.
Combat Encounters Limitations
Currently, the Initiative dashboard is relatively static. You can’t adjust a monster’s Hit Points, see their stat block, or roll any dice. Also, asking your players to roll Iniaitive might fall somewhat flat, because their character sheet’s don’t currently talk to the Intiaitive tracker, so you’ll need to manually input each entry (or just automatically roll Initiative for each of them on your end, but that’s less fun).
Seeing as Maps still is in Beta, it suggests that the combat encounter functionality will be fleshed out in a future release.
What’s Next for D&D’s Maps VTT?
D&D Beyond has removed the roadmap from Maps’ Alpha homepage, so we’re not sure what they’ll be working on next. Suffice it to say, if the progression of Maps continues in the direction it’s heading, it will be a top contender as a VTT.