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Sinister DM Tools Quick-Start Tutorial

A practical guide for getting from login to your first playable session quickly.

Who this is for​

  • New DMs
  • New players
  • Beta testers

Goal​

By the end of this tutorial, you can:

  • Create or select a campaign
  • Start or join a live session
  • Open the map and initiative tools
  • Run your first encounter flow

Estimated time​

10 to 15 minutes

1. Sign in​

  1. Open Sinister DM Tools.
  2. Select Log In or Sign Up.
  3. Enter your credentials and continue.

2. Select or create a campaign​

  1. From the campaign selection screen, choose an existing campaign.
  2. If needed, create a new campaign first.

3. Choose your role​

  1. Select DM if you are running the session.
  2. Select Player if you are joining a session.

4. DM flow: start a live session​

  1. Open the Sessions tab.
  2. Create a session or select one that is ready.
  3. Start the live session.
  4. Copy the session code for players.

Confirm the live state​

Check that the live session indicator is visible in the app.

5. DM flow: open map and prep encounter​

  1. Open the Maps tab.
  2. Choose a map and open it.
  3. Verify grid visibility and scale.
  4. Open Tokens to manage token state.

6. DM flow: run initiative​

  1. Open Initiative.
  2. Add or review entries.
  3. Set turn order and start the round.

7. Player flow: join session​

  1. Log in as a player.
  2. Open the join flow and enter the session code provided by the DM.
  3. Confirm you are connected.

8. Player flow: use map and initiative​

  1. Open the player map view.
  2. Verify tokens and visibility behavior.
  3. Open initiative to follow turn order.

9. First 5-minute success checklist​

Use this as a fast confidence check:

  • You can log in
  • You can open a campaign
  • A live session is active
  • DM map is open
  • Initiative is visible
  • At least one player has joined

Troubleshooting quick hits​

  • Session not visible after refresh: refresh once more and confirm user is logged in before opening the session.
  • Player cannot see token: verify token visibility state is not hidden.
  • Initiative not updating: wait for sync or switch tabs once and return.

FAQ​

Do I need heavy setup before first use?​

No. You can get to a live session with only login, campaign selection, and session start.

How long should setup take?​

Most tables can reach a usable first session in about 5 to 10 minutes.

Do players need accounts?​

Use your current project auth rules. If player login is required, have players create accounts before game time.