The Measure Tool tool allows you to measure distances on the table by clicking and dragging. You can share the measurement line with other players for discussion or limit visibility to yourself and the GM.
Measure Tool Options
To access the measure tool, simply locate and click the Measure Tool icon on the left side toolbar. This will open the measure window which can be moved around.
The Measure Tool has options to make play easier and faster than ever before. There are areas where you can customize how the Measure Tool looks and behaves. When you are actively using the Measure Tool , the toolbar window will disappear. Once you release the Measure Tool it will return.
You will also notice that there is a small information window that appears as you use the Measure Tool providing you key information.
Snapping
Snapping changes where your Measure Tool anchors its starting and ending points.
Snap to Center - Measurement starts and ends at the center of the grid cell nearest your cursor. Measurements are given in whole grid units.
Snap to Corner - Measurement starts and ends at the grid corner nearest your cursor. Measurements are given in whole grid units.
No Snapping - Measurement starts and ends at any point, and measures the exact distance of the line.
Broadcasting
The Broadcast setting allows you to decide if others in the game can see what you are measuring.
When it is enabled, it will show your measurements to all other players and GM. This option will also display a green eye icon in the lower right of the measurement info tooltip.
When it is disabled, it will hide your measurement line from other players. The GM can still see your measurement. This option will also display a red crossed out eye icon in the lower right of the measurement info tooltip.
Color Options
To change the color of your measure tool, you will need to change the color you use on the VTT. You can do this by first finding your avatar or your name in the play area. You will notice a square with a color to the right of your name.
Clicking this color square will bring up a color picker window that you can use to change the color of the measure tool.
Shape Options
You can choose a few different shapes or templates for use in general measurement or in determining areas of effect.
Line - Creates a straight line from point a to point b
Square - Highlights a square shaped area on the page
The square tool can also measure from the center, the edge, and the corner.
Circle - Highlights a circular shaped area on the page
The square tool can also measure from the center and the edge.
Cone - Highlights a cone shaped area based on angle and distance.
The cone tool has unique options compared to other tools as it allows you to determine the angle of the cone. There are three ways to choose the shape of the cone
- Lock width to height - This sets the angle of the cone to 53.13 degrees so the width matches the length.
- Preset - Choose from a few quick options.
- Custom - Set your angle to any value. The cone shape determines maximum values for this option.
The cone tool offers Flat or Rounded versions as well. Be mindful that there are maximum values for the custom angle field.
- Rounded - 359 degrees maximum.
- Flat - 179 degrees maximum.
Below shows some of what you can do with the rounded version of the tool allowing you to create areas for large sweeping effects.
The flat cone tool can also be used with a variety of angles as well. The widest angle of 179 will result in map wide horizontal area being highlighted perpendicular to the direction you are creating the shape.
Keyboard Shortcuts
The following Keyboard Shortcuts are available by default in all games
- Pressing Q or a secondary click while measuring will add a waypoint to your measurement line
- Pressing Shift while measuring will keep the measurement line visible until you dismiss with a secondary click or by making a new measurement
- Pressing X will recall your last measurement line after it has been dismissed
| Option | Advanced Shortcut |
|
Select measure tool |
Q |
|
Snap to Center |
Q then 1 |
| Snap to Corner | Q then 2 |
| No Snapping | Q then 3 |
| Show to others | Q then S |
| Hide from others | Q then H |
Changing Measurement Style Settings (GM only)
You can modify the default grid settings which affect the Measure Tool behavior in the Game Default Settings. Additionally, each page of the campaign can have its own unique settings, which can be accessed and changed in Page Settings via the Page Toolbar.
Besides changing the Measure Tool and grid settings, you can change the scale, the distance units (feet, meters, etc.), and how measurements are calculated.
There are two grid types, Square (default) and Hex, and the grid can be disabled. Your choice of Grid changes the options you have. Hex Grids have the option to show the grid label in each space.
Square Grids have four options for measuring:
1. D&D 5E/4E Compatible is the default setting. This measures a diagonal move as 1 unit. This simplifies the counting of squares at the expense of realism.
2. Pathfinder/3.5E Compatible measures a diagonal move as 1.5 units (rounding down). Thus, when 1 unit equals 5ft, diagonal moves alternate between 5ft and 10ft increments (i.e. 5ft, 15ft, 20ft, 30ft, etc.). This is slightly more complicated to count, but models reality more closely.
3. Manhattan measures a diagonal distance as the sum of its horizontal and vertical distances. Effectively, a diagonal move equals 2 units using this method. This is also called "Taxicab geometry" or "rectilinear distance".
4. Euclidean measures diagonals using the Pythagorean Theorem. A diagonal move equals about 1.414 units using this method. This is also called the "real distance" or "as the crow flies."
Hex Grids have two options for measuring:
1. Hex Path measures a diagonal via the shortest path to the destination, adding one unit for each hex a token would have to pass through to reach the endpoint.
2. Euclidean measures diagonals using the Pythagorean Theorem. A diagonal move equals about 1.414 units using this method. This is also called the "real distance" or "as the crow flies."