How it works — Campaign Guide

Website, app, and your data

Same model as the player app: this site is the manual; the app at /app/ is where you build and run. Campaigns, NPC catalogs, zones, and imported characters live in this browser's local storage until you export them.

PWA install, offline cache, and the “clear data = gone” rules are covered once on Player Guide » How it works — it applies to GMs too.

Sharing with players

Receive from players button with wifi tether icon — In the party editor **Players** panel — live receive is the outlined button; clipboard import is the filled button at the bottom.

Import (clipboard) button with clipboard icon — In the party editor **Players** panel — live receive is the outlined button; clipboard import is the filled button at the bottom.

Two paths for getting player characters into a campaign party:

Live party exchange (recommended): in the party editor, tap Receive from players, share the 5-letter code, and Import each incoming submission. Players use Send to GM on their campaign row. Requires network and the same website. Details: Parties.
Clipboard (fallback): players use Export for GM, you use Import (clipboard) in the party editor. Same collision rules either way.

NPCs, encounter templates, and zones still travel by clipboard between GMs or devices — see below.

Clipboard hand-off (NPCs, zones, co-GMs)

For catalog content and co-GM sharing, export JSON to the clipboard and paste on the other side. The app does not send those for you.

Sharing NPCs or zones with a co-GM: use Export all on the NPC list, per-row export on templates, or Export zone (clipboard) on the zone editor. Zone exports bundle the zone, its encounter references, templates, and the NPCs they need.
Import on the other side: Import (clipboard) on NPCs, encounter templates, or zones. Bulk overwrites ask for confirmation before replacing existing catalog entries.

Step-by-step: NPCs · Zones.

PC to tablet: moving a campaign to the table

Building on a widescreen is faster. Running on a tablet is nicer than squinting at a phone. The clipboard is your USB cable.

On your PC, open the campaign and finish the heavy lifting — NPC catalog, templates, zone graph. Hit Save campaign (and Save zone on each zone you've edited).
Export zone (clipboard) for the zone you'll run tonight, or Export all on the NPC list if you're travelling light on map data.
Paste the JSON into a note, email, or chat you can open on the tablet.
On the tablet, open the same app (or a fresh campaign), use Import zone (clipboard) or Import (clipboard) on the NPC panel. Confirm overwrites if prompted.
Import the player party via Receive from players at the table, or Import (clipboard) if players sent JSON earlier. Tap Play on the campaign row when the players arrive.

You don't have to sync the entire world every session — one zone and tonight's encounter templates are often enough.

Build big, run lean

Not every note needs to live in the app. Index cards, a paper map, and a dramatic voice are still valid GM tools. What the app is good at:

Reusable NPC stat blocks and attack lines.
Encounter templates you can fire from Play with a tap.
Initiative, rounds, and damage during a fight.
Player character sheets imported for reference during combat.

Minimum viable campaign in the app: NPC catalog + templates + party. Zones are wonderful; they're also optional if you're narrating travel yourself.

Known limitations

No campaign duplicate button. Export zones and NPC lists, then paste into a new campaign.
No live sheet sync during play. Player rolls and edits stay on their devices; you keep reference copies. Live party exchange only relays import JSON while the GM is receiving.
Mobile clipboard can need a long-press or a fresh copy before import (fallback path).

Symptom-by-symptom fixes: Troubleshooting.

Open the app

Open the Campaigns list

New here? Try the Quick start next.