Offline PDF: Use your browser’s Print dialog and choose “Save as PDF” to replace or share a PDF copy. A Markdown source (The_Realm_User_Guide.md) is included for editors.
Getting started
- Open The Realm and choose Enter Realm or Start New Campaign.
- Pick your campaign from the toolbar dropdown. Nothing auto-loads until you choose.
- Set You are to your adventurer so announcements, shared images, and credits show the right name. The DM’s posts use the host name from DM configuration.
- Use Save regularly. Use Export backup to download a JSON snapshot of the whole table state.
Shared tracker
The sidebar holds the live table feed: dice log, map, announcements, shared images, and (for the DM) map image tools.
- Dice log — rolls appear for everyone; adjust Strike for your modifier.
- Map — Enlarge map opens a big modal; token positions stay in sync with the small map. DM can set a custom map via URL or upload when unlocked.
- Announcements — short posts; attribution follows You are or DM mode.
- Shared images — upload or paste a URL; Open/Save uses a safe download path for large images.
- Sections scroll so announcements stay reachable when dice and map are open.
Dungeon Master
- Turn on Dungeon Master with the correct access key. DM preference can persist between visits.
- DM controls live on the host card (lock / panel) so they are not covered by the panel.
- Masquerade campaigns re-mask portraits on each full page load for players; DM tools can reveal or mask during play.
- Soft clear keeps story data (announcements, images, journals, map) and clears light table state. Hard clear wipes shared content and journals but keeps character cards.
Characters and journals
- Each adventurer card can open a Journal with bold, italic, bullets, and color. The DM host card has a journal too.
- Content is stored inside the campaign and syncs with Save like everything else.
Party inventory
- Use Edit Campaign → Party Inventory to add rows (name, quantity, icon emoji, detail). That fills both the Party Inventory list and the Action Bar item buttons.
- In the Party Inventory list, − and + adjust quantity without firing a “use item” log entry.
- The Action Bar item buttons spend one use and write to the dice log (potions can heal if the detail contains a number).
Data, backups, and limits
- The app saves to the server when online, and mirrors to IndexedDB locally for large snapshots. Small metadata may still use browser storage.
- If storage is tight, the UI may trim huge embedded images in the small cache while keeping the fuller copy in IndexedDB.
- Export backup is the simplest “take home” copy of everything in one JSON file.
Tips for a smooth game night
- One person with DM access should set the map and handle masks; everyone else sets You are.
- After big moments, hit Save and consider an Export backup.
- Use the in-app Help console for quick commands documented there.