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VTT Quality of Life & Feature Improvements

Roll20’s virtual tabletop rebuild (originally codenamed = Project Jumpgate) was the largest overhaul and modernization of our VTT platform since launch. Alongside reworking the engine that powers our Tabletop, we took the opportunity to lean into the recent UI improvements that we’ve been making over the past year (such as the new Measure Tool and Page Folders).

We extended the effort to improve Roll20’s Interface, and are going to continue making improvements based on user feedback for years to come. This article details a comprehensive list of new features and quality of life improvements that we released on the new version of the tabletop, leading up to it becoming the sole way to create new games on Roll20 starting in November 2025! 

Note: We are no longer posting new features to this page. To view ongoing updates, please see our Change Log. 

  • Map Pins have been released to Early Access beta for Pro and Elite subscribers!
    • Pins are a versatile tool to mark places on the Tabletop for a wide variety of uses, and link from the Tabletop to handouts.
    • You can even link to sections within a handout, reveal and hide pins from players, and more!
    • Learn more on ourblog! 
  • GMs can now set tooltips on tokens that only they can see from within Token Settings. 

  • The recently refreshed window icons now also have the ability to draw curtains, giving GMs the ability to block light/sight for their players without blocking movement. Curtains on open windows will allow movement but block vision; and curtains on closed windows will block vision and movement.

  • Token Bars/Nameplates now appear below Doors/Windows configuration box and measure tooltip so that relevant information is visible to players

  • When using the Draw Tool, drawing type icon now updates to reflect the drawing tool type you're using (pen vs brush vs rectangle)

  • The Frame Rate Limit now defaults to 60 instead of Unlimited.
    • This should reduce unnecessary CPU & GPU Usage.  You can still set your limit to Unlimited if you have a high refresh rate monitor.
  • Added a new "Experimental Performance Enhancement" option in Jumpgate which can dramatically improve performance, especially on pages with many tokens. (Since this change makes a somewhat major alteration to how we are rendering graphics, it'll be opt-in for now until we're sure it's stable.)

  • "Automatically Measure Token Movement" is now a toggleable setting in the Measure Tool.
  • Brand New Doors and Windows icons are fresh out of the oven in Jumpgate! Their more modern iconography should fit in more nicely with the rest of the VTT, be less intrusive in games, and provide more clear visual indication of the various states (open, closed, hidden, etc.)
    • We also added a dynamic minimum for doors and windows based on the grid size, so if you have smaller grids, the new doors and windows should much more nicely fit inside them.

  • Improved performance of Drawings by removing unnecessary supersampling.

  • Added the ability to select Use Range Scale in Page Settings for the Measure Tool.  This causes the measure tool to display imprecise range increments based on those suggested by the Daggerheart Game System (Melee, Very Close, Close, Far, etc.), rather than exact units.
    • You can apply this setting in your Game Defaults from the Game Settings page outside of the VTT, and then use "Apply Default Settings" under "Miscellaneous" in the Settings menu to apply the setting to all of your game's pages!

  • Added the ability to define Maximum Token Bubbles/Bars as either 3 or 4 bubbles in the Game's right-hand settings menus.

  • Added a "Define Party" and "Place Party Here" functionality to the right-click context menu:
    • This moves the Players banner to the current page, and assembles tokens for characters that are in the party around the cursor location.  It also focus pings to move player cameras to that spot!  For more on how to use this feature, check out the documentation here.

  • Added an "Automatically Sort New Entries" Option (Enabled by Default) to the Turn Tracker:
    • When enabled, when a sheet performs a roll (like initiative) that is sent to the turn tracker for a token, the Tracker will attempt to insert the token in the appropriate place in initiative based on numerical sort, rather than at the bottom.

  • Fallback to a Static Image on the Tabletop when animations cannot be displayed due to browser limitations, such as on iPads and iPhones.
  • Added a "High Contrast Scrollbars" option to the Settings in the VTT under "Personalization & Display" to help with visibility.
  • We've totally revamped the Page Settings menu to resolve performance issues, as well as allow future UX improvements and tweaks.
  • Reactions have been expanded from Foreground Layer only to be available on any object, regardless of the layer it's on.
    • Currently, the only available Reaction, "Conditional Fade," is available to Roll20 Plus and Pro subscribers.
    • A toggle has been added ("Foreground Only") to control whether Conditional Fade Reactions trigger only when the graphic is on the Foreground Layer

  • Added a quality-of-life feature to enable users to "Raise Hand"
    • /raisehand or /rh common in chat will initiate a toast at bottom of your VTT screen indicating to the group that a hand is raised, and by which player.
    • It disappears after 10 seconds, and can also be dismissed any time.

  • Made the following animated assets work in chat: 
    • WEBP
    • SVG
    • AVIF

  • Increased maximum file upload size for Audio files
    • free users: 20mb
    • Plus subscribers: 50mb
    • Pro subscribers: 100mb

  • Updated GM notes & text input sections in handouts by 3x to make editing and writing easier.
  • Demiplane & Roll 20 Integration Beta is live! Demiplane character sheets can be used in ongoing games alongside existing Roll20-native character sheets, giving players options to upgrade to the Demiplane sheet or continue to use their Roll20 sheet for the following games:
    • Alien RPG
    • Candela Obscura
    • Cyberpunk RED
    • Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game
    • Pathfinder 2e
    • Vampire the Masquerade 5e

  • Incorporated an update to center map on player tokens when first loading into a map - a top 15 Suggestions and Ideas Forum item. Players will notice the following updates when loading into a map:
    • With 1 controlled token, a player’s view will center at the player token
    • With multiple controlled tokens, a player’s view will centered at group of player tokens
    • Page zoom will vary for players initial load into page based on token and map size to ensure token(s) are visible and have a buffer of about 10 cells visible around them to maintain location context.
    • “Center View” button or Home Key will now take players to their controlled token; holding Shift while pressing “Center View” button or Home Key will also adjust the zoom to fit the token.
    • And for a bit more context, players continue to have the option to “Zoom to Fit” in the top right Zoom bar. GMs will experience no changes in their view experience: “Center View” will continue to center their view on the map, and reset zoom to 100% when used with Shift Key.
    • Toggle on/off in VTT Settings > Graphics section

  • Toolbar menus and Advanced Character Sheets now fade for added visibility during: 
    • panning
    • token movement
    • token transformation

  • Token Enumeration: selected tokens can now be enumerated, making it easier to keep track of enemies! (select token, right click > Advanced Transform, Enumerate tokens)

  • Now available in games created by Plus/Pro Subscribers: the Foreground Layer adds depth and dynamic interactions to your games.
    • This GM-accessible layer renders above the Token Layer, allowing foreground objects like roofs, treetops, and overlays to obscure the map and tokens in your campaign.
    • Customize fade actions of foreground objects triggered by token interaction to create hidden surprises, dramatic reveals, and more.
    • GMs can designate if a grid line should show above a foreground layer object (available in square grids only for now). This is a per-object setting accessible in right click menu of token while on Foreground Layer > Foreground Object Options > "Show Grid." This aims to address user-reported feedback of spoiling surprise interactions, as a lack of grid revealed the presence of an object, and foreground objects obfuscating large portions of the grid, making it challenging to navigate maps
    • Control how Foreground objects interact with Darkness:
      • “As Darkness” (more in this thread) allows Foreground objects to be revealed by a token’s vision, and is great for situations where you want players to explore a building or area without seeing the entire layout up front.
      • "Above Darkness" allows Foreground objects to stay visible even in darkness (example: roofs that disappear when entered)
      • "Below Darkness" allows Foreground objects to be hidden by darkness (example: decorative elements like cobwebs, rafters, or overhanging vines)

  • The GM hamburger menu has been updated to make it easier to access settings and features at the click of a button:
    • Adjust GM Darkness, Foreground, and GM Layer opacity
    • Toggle the Foreground Layer on and off for players
    • And as always: quickly preview your map as a selected token, copy your game link, turn Dark Mode on and off, report a bug, access the help center, and exit your game

  • Exciting improvements have been made to the upload process for animated graphics:
    • Faster upload speeds for animated graphics
    • Increased maximum file upload size (from 10MB to 20MB for free users, from 20MB to 50MB for Plus users, and from 20MB to 100MB for Pro users)
    • A more intuitive file upload interface with multi-file selection for batch uploads
    • The ability to multitask, allowing you to keep working while your uploads process
    • For more information, please read our Blog and Help Center

  • Dungeon Scrawl can now be connected to Roll20, bringing new drawing tools to the VTT!
    • Whether planning ahead or improvising on the fly to accommodate a party going off-script, this feature lets you create and edit maps without having to manage files or impact your storage.
    • In Roll20 Tabletop, use the new drop-down menu when creating a Page to either begin a new connection or connect an existing map.
    • Page Menu was updated to separate creating a blank page from creating/connecting a Dungeon Scrawl map. The latter options are now under a "Build a Map" button.
    • For more information, check out our Blog, Help Center & FAQs, and join the conversation in our Forums.

  • New Dynamic Lighting tool in Left Toolbar, letting you focus on gameplay and vibes, not troubleshooting:

    • Subscribers now have access to a fully revamped Dynamic Lighting tool accessible in Left Toolbar, which consolidates all relevant settings in one place.

    • You’ll see real-time updates to your map as you adjust things, with updated tooltips providing additional clarity. This eliminates the need to navigate to and switch between tabs in page settings.

    • Dynamic Lighting will also include Explorer Mode (formerly “Explorable Darkness”), enabling a map area to become and stay revealed to a player – in a neat sepia color – once their token has seen it. Explorer mode is still editable, but in a new context, so that users don’t get confused between explorer mode and hide/reveal! Learn more here.

    • To help troubleshoot lighting issues quickly, we’ve added a diagnostics section to the footer of the Dynamic Lighting tool (helping callout tokens with vision, and light sources on the map). When users mouse over the footer, "tokens with vision" and "light sources" are highlighted on the map to help diagnose and troubleshoot setup issues quicker.

    • Added animated darkness effects, such as Dark Fog or Pale Mist to create a more immersive experience.
    • “Preview as Token” tool now located in the DL tool footer for ease of access.
    • You can now multiselect tokens and toggle vision on for them via the right click context menu. As a GM, when you're on a page which has Dynamic Lighting turned on, you will see a new option when you right click on the token > Token Vision Light, and have the ability to turn on "vision" and "light emission" for multiple tokens. Note: you can only increment/decrement distance values with arrow keys, that scale off of grid cell distance

  • Updated Hide / Reveal Mask tool to make GMing smoother and more intuitive:
    • All users can enjoy a simpler and clearer interface for hiding and revealing areas of the map during game play with Hide / Reveal Mask tool. Previously called “Permanent Darkness” within Fog of War, this tool allows for quick hide-and-reveal actions to manage map visibility on the fly.
    • We simplified the language and instructions to make things clear and more accessible, removing ambiguity around terms like “add” and “subtract.” We’re also retiring references to Fog of War, Permanent Darkness and Explorable Darkness to remove perceived overlap with Dynamic Lighting – just hide or reveal some stuff! Learn more here.

  • Play with Both D&D 5E Character Sheets in Your Game:
    • You can now use both D&D 5E (2014) and D&D 5E (2024) Character Sheets on Roll20 when using the latest tabletop engine - pick your preferred sheet for characters & NPCs! Learn more here

  • Copy Mods (API) scrips on game copy:
    • We added a new capability to copy Mods (API) scripts when copying any game

  • Character Sheets (and Characters in your Journal) are easier to use: 
    • Using shortcut shift+double click on PC/NPC tokens now opens up their character sheet
    • Sheets that were minimized now re-maximize when accessed from the right-click menu or journal, making keeping track of sheets easier.
    • Sheets written with Beacon SDK advanced sheet infrastructure (including Dungeons & Dragons 2024, Candela Obscura, Coyote & Crow, and Marvel Multiverse RPG character sheets) now have enhanced usability and performance.
    • Duplicating a character or a handout via right-click of that item in your Journal Tab is now easier: reduced from 5 clicks to 2!

  • Effects (FX) Tool  has uplifted UI and effects and is available to all users!
    • The Effects (FX) tool, previously exclusive to paid GMs, is now available to everyone as part of Roll20’s improved tabletop experience.
    • This update includes a revamped pre-built Effects Library featuring and updated UI, enhanced visuals, new Effects, and a better interface featuring quality-of-life improvements like more precise click-and-drag gesturing and measurement. Pro subscribers can access advanced customization options, allowing for unique particle effects tailored to any scenario

  • Zooming is overall smoother and more refined:
    • Zooming will now zoom to the location of your cursor
    • Radial menus will remain in the correct position while zooming
    • You can hold down the Shift key while zooming to do precision zooming

  • Panning is more performant, smoother, and unrestricted:
    • Freely pan beyond bounds of the page, to focus attention anywhere and positioning your game however it suits your setup

  • Re-Center Map feature allows you to easily re-center your map view:
    • When pressing the new “Center the Map” button by the Zoom control, all it does is center the map.

    • If you hold Shift while clicking the button, it also resets to 100% zoom.

    • If you press the “Home” shortcut, it only resets the map.

    • If you press “Shift + Home”, it resets the map and resets to 100% zoom.

  • Place objects outside the bounds of your maps:
    • Objects that you place outside the page boundary will be visible to only the GM
    • Place objects outside the bounds of your maps, keeping enemy tokens, quick sketches, and more to the side, ready to bring in when needed.

  • Right-click context menu has been redesigned:
    • We surfaced many menu actions that were previously only available to players via keyboard shortcuts
    • You can now perform actions on groups of objects all at once with the right-click menu, including locking their position
    • Players now have ability to flip tokens vertically and horizontal
    • Users now have the option to independently Disable Grid Snapping and Disable Token Menus

  • Page Folders has additional features: 
    • "My Page" title in the top left corner of Page Toolbar is replaced by the user's current page, making it easier to identify where you are and access page settings
  • Fog of War and Dynamic Lighting systems has been closer integrated and improved to provide a more cohesive light and darkness interactions:
    • There's a new UI for the Fog of War tool that should make it more clear what it is that you're able to do with adding and removing fog
    • The basic Fog of War system is now integrated into the overall Dynamic Lighting system. So basic Fog of War and Permanent Darkness for Dynamic Lighting are now the same functionality
    • The Legacy Dynamic Lighting system has been removed and is no longer available
    • *Upcoming: we are working to further refine the Interface of Permanent and Explorable Darkness in response to user confusion, so be on the lookout for more updates!

  •  Undo & Redo is updated and applies to a wider variety of actions:
    • We’ve added Redo! The Ctrl+Y/Cmd+Y shortcut will now Redo if you Undo something and want to revert your Undo
    • There’s now support for undoing and redoing a wider variety of actions; we’ll continue to add more
    • Undo and Redo are now page specific – so if you change to a different page and press Undo, you won’t have something weird happen

  • Ping system had a facelift:
    • The default ping look & feel has been improved when you click and hold on the tabletop
    • We now have a new system for pings in the backend, opening the possibility to customize ping images in the future

  • Align/Snap to Grid works with resizing:
    • Snap to edge for all grid types works
    • We also improved snapping when resizing, and you’ll now see that tokens will snap at half and quarter size inside of a grid cell

  • Tablets & Touch Devices have improved support:
    • The performance is majorly improved
    • Panning and zooming now work well, long-press to bring up the context menu works better, etc
    • Multi-gestures are possible (i.e. start a marquee select, zoom or pan, keep selecting)
    • We’ll continue to work on making this a better experience, but this work is still in early development.

  • Hex Grids have been updated, enabling precise setting and measuring of distances:
    • Measurement distances when using hex grids should now work properly
    • Improved keyboard movement for hex and iso/dimetric grid types
    • We made update to grid labels to increase the maximum number you can have on a map
    • Hex Grids have the number of rows and columns consistent with Page settings where you specify the number of cells

  • Doors & Windows are easier to set up and maneuver for game preparation:
    • You can now Copy and Paste doors and windows
    • We’ve also enabled you to multi-select doors and windows alongside other objects by pressing Shift and clicking on doors and windows on Lighting Layer
    • On Token layer, you can now multi-select to open/close multiple doors & windows at the same time
    • On Lighting layer, you can Shift Click to multi-select and more multiple doors & windows at the same time

  • Objects Multi-Selecting & Pasting have been improved:
    • Pasting multiple times in a row will now spread out the objects you have pasted so you can easily see them and move them
    • When dragging to select multiple objects with the marquee tool, you will now see immediate feedback on what you’re selecting
    • When a group is a member of a multi-select, you can hold down the Shift key while clicking a group member to remove all group members from the selection. (You can hold down Shift + Alt to remove only a single member of the group from the selection)
    • You can now apply all actions (e.g. lock placement, bring to front/back, add turn, etc)  from the right click context menu to all of the objects in a multi-selected group

  • Token Extras, Token Movement, Token View have improved handling:
    • Token tooltips are more responsive to hovering and are easier to see
    • Auras resize dynamically with token and isometric circle auras are more accurately sized
    • Pressing X to show previous token movement toggles into a mode where all previous moves will persist until deselected
    • You can use the V shortcut on your keyboard to view the tokens you control on top in the moment! If you would like to view your tokens consistently on top, you can also enable "Always display controlled tokens on top" in Graphics sections of your Settings. Players should expect to see only their name plates and token bars if darkness appears on the page, and can use the V shortcut or the settings update to view their token art on top
    • The Token Marker interface has been uplifted, now offering a button to clear all markers, as well as a search bar and a larger view area to find graphics.

  • Rotating & Resizing and dragging objects, maps and tokens is much easier:
    • Rotation resizing handle are always visible and easier to grab at any level of zoom
    • Token bars, nameplates, markers and auras smoothly and consistently rotate and resize with objects 
    • Token bars and nameplates now scale to half-cell and quarter-cell size
    • Users are now prompted to switch to the map layer when an image above 1750x1750px is dragged onto the VTT, making it easier to upload to the correct layer

  • System Performance Improvements:
    • We’ll now automatically choose a default Frame Rate Limit for you based on the quality of your detected graphics card, enabling higher-end computers to see much smoother animation experience. You can override this setting and change it manually still under the Settings tab, in the Graphics section.
    • For Mac users, the CPU usage when joining a video call inside the Roll20 VTT using our Integrated Voice and Video platform has been greatly reduced, so you should have a better game experience. 
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