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How to Play · Chapter 15

GM Controls

The GM's session screen: every location in play, the controls for characters, NPCs and monsters, searchable objects, fog and the log.

  • For the GM
The GM's session screen in Black Hollow Village during Free Play: Active Locations on the left, the map in the middle, action buttons below and GM controls on the right.
GM Session: Core Controls
  1. 1Active Locations Each location in play, its mode, turn order and Start encounter.
  2. 2Free Play or Combat The location shown and its current mode.
  3. 3The map Tokens, objects and exits in the location shown.
  4. 4Action buttons Act for the character you are controlling, or Request Roll.
  5. 5GM controls Send Message, and who controls each character and NPC.
  6. 6Searchable objects What can be searched here and what was found.
The GM's session screen with the right panel scrolled down to the Fog of War switches, reveal and hide tools, Preview Player Fog, Snow Footprints and the Session log.
GM Session: Fog & Session Log
  1. 1Fog of War Fog, Remember Explored Areas, Share Party Vision and Darkness.
  2. 2Reveal or hide Reveal Entire Map, Hide Entire Map, Reset Fog, and a brush to reveal or hide by hand.
  3. 3Preview Player Fog See the map exactly as one player does.
  4. 4Snow Footprints Who leaves tracks, and for how long.
  5. 5Session log What happened so far, and who saw it.

How to use it

  • Active Locations (left) has a card for every place with characters in it, with Start encounter and Roll initiative below.
  • GM controls (right) has Send Message, the party, the NPCs and monsters here, and the searchable objects.
  • The action bar at the bottom acts for whoever you are controlling, with REQUEST ROLL added.
  • On a phone these are in the GM sheet and the sidebar.

Step by step

  1. Tap a location name to show its map.
  2. Tap a character in GM controls for Set HP, Move to Location, Place on map, Request roll, Set money and control options.
  3. Use the walk button beside an NPC to move it.
  4. Answer anything listed under Pending.

Active Locations For the GM

  • Each card shows who it is waiting on, anything pending, or FREE PLAY.
  • Tap a location name to show its map. Use the arrow to expand or collapse a card.
  • Every location advances on its own; Next Turn on a card moves only that location on.

Controlling Characters, NPCs and Monsters For the GM

  • Players control only their own characters. Every NPC and monster is yours.
  • Act as ... now lets you act for someone out of turn. Take control is for an absent player; Return to their player gives it back.
  • The control button on an NPC or monster can lend it to a player until you take it back.
  • The eye button hides or reveals a monster.

Moving Characters Manually For the GM

  • Place on map, then tap any open space. Movement is not spent.
  • Move to Location sends a character elsewhere; their player's view follows at once.
  • When a space is out of reach, the move panel offers Allow Movement.

Changing HP For the GM

  • Tap a character or monster in GM controls and choose Set HP.
  • The change is recorded as a GM override.

Resolving Other Actions For the GM

  • Other actions and Talk appear under Pending with the player's words.
  • Accept, Reject, or Request roll.

Searchable Objects For the GM

  • Searchable objects lists everything on this map that can be searched and how much has been found.
  • A failed search can be overridden with Reveal Anyway.

Sending Messages For the GM

  • Send Message writes to everyone, the party at this location, or one player.
  • Messages appear on the players' screens and stay in the Session log.

Separate Locations For the GM

  • Characters can be in different locations at once; each has its own turn order or Free Play.
  • Locations that need you are marked Waiting for GM.

Private Information

  • GM notes, hidden monsters, hidden traps, secret doors and spawn markers never appear in a player's view.
  • Private discoveries and messages to one player reach only that player; the others learn only that something was found.
  • A player only receives what their character is allowed to know.
  • Switch the view menu to a player to check exactly what they see.

Footprints in Snow Advanced For the GM

  • Creatures walking on snow leave tracks that follow their path. Flying and swimming leave none.
  • Hidden creatures leave tracks only you see; players just see "Tracks".
  • Snow Footprints in the GM panel turns them on or off for players, NPCs and enemies and sets how long they last.

Important rules

  • The GM can act for anyone at any time; turn limits apply only to players.
  • Overrides are always available and always recorded.

Common questions

A player left. Can their character keep playing?

Yes: Take control, play them yourself, then Return to their player.