Skip to main content

Run Your First Session

This guide walks through the simplest end-to-end DM flow for running a live session in SDMT.

Goal​

By the end of this guide, you can:

  • start a session
  • open initiative and maps
  • bring players into the session
  • run one encounter with confidence

Estimated Time​

10 to 15 minutes

Before You Start​

Have these ready if possible:

  • one campaign
  • one session
  • one map
  • at least one PC or NPC entry

If you do not have all of that yet, you can still follow the structure below and fill in the missing pieces as you go.

1. Open the Campaign​

  1. Sign in.
  2. Go to campaign selection.
  3. Open the campaign you want to run.

2. Start or Select the Session​

  1. Open the Sessions tab.
  2. Create a new session or select an existing one.
  3. Start the live session.
  4. Confirm the live session indicator appears.

3. Prepare Initiative​

  1. Open the Initiative tab.
  2. Add or review the combatants you need.
  3. Confirm turn order makes sense.
  4. Leave the tab ready for quick access during play.

4. Open the Map​

  1. Open the Maps tab.
  2. Load the map for the current encounter.
  3. Confirm token visibility and grid settings.
  4. Open the token sidebar if you need to adjust hidden, fogged, visible, or defeated states.

5. Bring Players In​

  1. Share the live session code.
  2. Ask players to join.
  3. Confirm they connect to the correct live session.
  4. Verify at least one player can see the expected session state.

6. Run the Encounter​

  1. Use initiative to control turn flow.
  2. Use the map to move tokens and manage visibility.
  3. Update notes or session context only when needed.
  4. Keep the session focused on the minimum tools required.

Add Combatants Mid-Combat (Quick Reference)​

Want the condensed version? See Quick Start.

If combat has already started and someone joins late or a new enemy appears:

  1. Open the Initiative tab.
  2. Add the combatant with Add PC, Add All Active PCs, or Add NPC/Monster.
  3. If a battle map is active, enter an insertion slot when prompted: 1 is top of initiative and N+1 is end of initiative.
  4. Confirm the new entry appears in initiative where you expect.

What to expect:

  • current turn tracking is preserved
  • if a map is active, tokens are added for the new entries only
  • existing tokens on the map are preserved (not wiped)

7. Reuse Prep When Possible​

If you expect to run a similar setup again:

  1. Save the encounter token layout as a preset.
  2. Label it clearly.
  3. Reuse it instead of rebuilding the encounter by hand later.

8. End Cleanly​

When the encounter or session is done:

  1. End or switch the session cleanly.
  2. Leave notes for next time.
  3. Keep maps and initiative in a recoverable state for the next session.

Common Problems​

Players cannot join​

  • confirm the session is live
  • re-check the session code
  • verify the player is logged into the correct account flow

Player cannot see a token​

  • check whether the token is hidden or fogged
  • confirm the player is on the right map/session state

Initiative or map feels too heavy for first use​

  • narrow the first session to one map and one encounter
  • avoid trying to use every tab on day one