Bring your adventures to life
Dynamic Dungeons is a growing library of handcrafted animated battle maps for tabletop roleplaying games.
Play them on a TV laid flat on your gaming table, or project them from above to create a living battlefield for your players.
See it in action
Perfectionism, passion
and creative freedom
Dynamic Dungeons is a one-man effort to make tabletop gaming look as immersive and atmospheric as possible. My name is Tamas. I’m a Hungarian 3D designer, musician, dungeon master, and father of three.
The roleplaying experiences of my youth made D&D an unforgettable part of my life. I returned to tabletop gaming a few years ago, first as a player and later as a DM. In 2018, I started creating living maps, and in less than two years, a supportive community of thousands of patrons grew around the idea, turning it into my full-time work.
I’m incredibly grateful to the generous patrons who made this possible.
Why Patreon?
Patreon is fundamentally a platform of support that puts a great deal of emphasis on creative freedom. Join to the community and help me to remain an independent creator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to play on the TV screen with minis?
Playing on the Tv screen is easier than you think. Simply lay flat your TV. You can protect the screen with a cheap plexiglass sheet, and use dry or wet erase markers on it, so miniatures and dice rolls won’t damage the surface of the Tv. You can also project down the video onto a physical table with a projector.
How can the grid be displayed precisely as a 1” grid?
The gridded maps are optimized for 40” and 50″ TVs, where the size of the squares is exactly 1”.
If you have a smaller or larger screen, I suggest playing the gridless versions of the maps with the Dynamic Dungeons Editor and Player app where you can set custom hexa and quad grid overlay. The program also has a grid calculator.
TV or projector?
Although both solutions are possible, TVs are more widespread and it’s what I would recommend as well. Let’s look at the pros and cons of the various forms of display: Horizontal or table-installed TV Pros:
superb brilliance and contrast even in bright surroundings at an affordable price
The TV remote controller offers fast access to detailed color settings, which can effectively modify the display
HDMI audio is available through the speakers of the TV
Cons:
the screen has to be protected with Plexiglas against scratches
The use of metal dice should be avoided on Plexiglas surfaces and it should be protected against spills from drinks (unless the display is installed under a closed protective surface)
Projector Pros:
No need to protect the projected surface from spilled drinks or scratches
Play surfaces of varying sizes can be projected depending on the positioning of the device
Cons:
Designing a suspension system and mounting a projector on the ceiling can be difficult and troublesome
Only the most expensive devices offer the contrast and brilliance of a TV set in bright surroundings
The hands of players cast a shadow on the table
produces heat and noise
Most projectors don’t feature speakers or in a lower quality than TVs.
What kind of TV should I use?
Nowadays 4k TVs are getting relatively cheaper, so you probably will choose a 49 or 50″ UHD TV if you buy a new one for gaming. A cheaper, used 40” full HD resolution LCD device is still a good choice. If you are planning to buy a TV for gaming purposes, I recommend choosing a device with HDMI ports on the side and not the back. Avoid using TVs with an installed glass surface significantly distanced from the screen surface. (This was typical of older models. Due to the distance between the glass surface and the screen, you might experience a floating effect when viewing the figures placed on the screen from the side).
A 30” screen is fine, yet it will result in a smaller play surface, and you should consider buying the Dynamic Dungeons Editor to zoom and apply 1″ grid on the videomaps.
Will it harm my TV if I lay it down on its back and put miniatures on top of it?
You can use plasma, lcd or Led Tv (wich is basically an LCD screen, but with LED backlighting), but which type TV it is doesn’t really matter for this predicament, as no flat screen is filled with floating gasses or millions of drops of anti-gravity techno-color liquids :). Nothing is going to settle at the bottom of your screen no matter how many years it stands on your table or hangs on your wall.
No, it’s not going to harm your TV internally to lay it down.
Special ventilation is only suggested if you have a built-in tv enclosed in the table.
How can I play the motion maps?
All media players are suitable, yet I recommend using the Dynamic Dungeons Editor and Player which can loop the videos smoothly. Additionally, it offers the advantage of playing videos with quad and hex grids, fog of war settings, tokens, and particle effects. (You need a dedicated video card in your computer to run this app)
What is Dynamic Dungeons Editor?
Dynamic Dungeons Editor is a local tabletop tool that was developed for game masters who use a TV or projector to map different premade backgrounds, videos, and images. Animations and particle effects, tokens, and audio files can be used to immerse your players.
Import Dynamic Dungeons maps or your own images or video files into the storyline and make a playlist, cover and reveal areas with the fog of war tool, apply custom size hex or quad grid overlay.
The Dynamic Dungeons Editor will help you to adjust the color of the video and static maps, import png tokens to represent the players and their foes. You can play various ambient sounds and use particle effects to pimp up static or animated maps.
(Although there are many customization options available and custom 2D maps can be created with the application, be aware that Dynamic Dungeons maps are not made with this app, but in various 3D software.)
Get it here.
Can the maps be purchased separately?
Yes, there is also a shop on Patreon, so if you don’t want to become a monthly subscriber, you can browse there too. But I recommend membership, considering that for the price of one product, you will have immediate access to hundreds of maps and 8 years’ worth of catalogs. Patreon Shop
How much does it cost to be a patron per month?
Support starts at just $5/month, but with the $15 tier you’ll unlock everything: the full 8-year Dynamic Dungeons map catalog plus 3–6 brand new animated maps every month. You can cancel anytime.
How do I become eligible for exclusive rewards?
If you want to ensure you get all the maps, and exclusive rewards choose the Chaotic Good or Better tier.
Am I charged $5 for every map I download?
No, once you join as a Patron, you’ll have immediate free access to the back catalog. You can even freely download more than 600 animated maps. As a Patron, you choose a donation tier for the future releases. You can cancel your patronage anytime, but I hope you’ll be satisfied and keep supporting me. Join here.
Is there a list of the previously released maps?
Yes, there are archive catalogs and many other search options for my maps on Patreon.
In the so-called collections I have arranged the maps thematically, you can find them here: Collections
If you scroll down on the same link, there is a tag cloud where you can search for keywords.
Not only can you find recent posts here, but there’s also a search box if you want to search for a keyword.
Archive Catalogs:
PATREON ARCHIVE CATALOG 2023-2024
I am a Chaotic patron, yet are there any posts I have no access to?
If you can’t access something as a Chaotic Good or Chaotic Better patron, it’s most likely an error on our side. Please let us know via Patreon message, email, or on our Discord channel.
If I decide to become a supporter, will I have access to previously released maps?
Yes, you will have free, instant access to all (more than 600) previously released maps, which you can download without making any additional payments. When joining, you can choose a donation tier for the future.
What is a map pack?
A reward consists of more than a single map and instead involves at least two or even more designs. I make a number of map variations so the scenes can be used in multiple ways. I will strive to provide an increasing amount of content for future rewards.
Can I request themes?
Yes, I’m happy to hear your suggestions and I’ll do my best to satisfy the requests that inspire me.
Do you also make maps to order?
That depends on how much time I have left in the month apart from the works through Patreon. Should you have any questions, get in touch through the tamas@dynamicdungeons.com address.
Am I allowed to use the maps on a roleplaying live stream?
Yes, I’m happy to see my maps in action. Please mention or give credit in the description to Dynamic Dungeons. The preferred citation is the URL to my Patreon page, which is: https://www.patreon.com/dynamicdungeons