Master of Realms Review Summary

An intuitive tool for large-scale TTRPG maps with 3D printing integration, but weak VTT export and poor developer transparency and support hold it back.

Ideal for large-scale maps: Users frequently highlight the tool's strength in creating expansive world, city, and hex-crawl maps for tabletop games. It fills a gap for large-map creation tools and is visually pleasant.

Promising, high potential: Multiple reviewers describe the tool as showing a lot of promise, with high potential especially as battle map features are added. The core idea is considered strong.

Fun even outside TTRPGs: Users find it cool to play with even without playing TTRPGs, and it is enjoyable for making fun little maps. It is also great for Battletech.

Intuitive and user-friendly: Controls are described as intuitive and pleasant to use, with many calling the software very user-friendly and easy to handle. The learning curve is not steep.

3D printing and STL export: The ability to 3D print created maps and the inclusion of STL files are highlighted as valuable bonuses, especially for those into 3D printing.

Poor VTT export support: Export options for virtual tabletop are lacking, with issues such as blurry maps, unreadable tags, frozen exports, and no proper grid matching. The universal battlemap import is just a JPEG with odd borders.

Developer transparency and support issues: There is a complete lack of transparency from developers, ongoing delays, and no response from multiple support attempts. Early supporters feel overlooked.

Basic and limited features: The software only has bare-bone basics, lacks many options, and is very limited even for early access. It is unfinished and lacks promised features.

Poor placement and building tools: Placing walls and objects is difficult due to free movement only, without snapping. Pre-made tiles with paths reduce flexibility, and creating custom tiles is janky.

Limited tile customization options: Users cannot combine tiles to create complex features like mountains with lakes or half-mountain/half-land tiles. Custom tile creation is janky and often doesn't work.

3D printing integration: The software supports 3D printing and includes a library of high-quality STL files that are fully printable. Users can export their creations for physical terrain and miniatures.

Robust TTRPG map creation: The tool is specifically designed for building maps for tabletop role-playing games, supporting everything from large 100x100 partial world maps to small intimate maps. It serves as a 3D map creation tool for virtual tabletops.

Hex-crawl support: The tool supports hex-crawl pen and paper games and allows TTRPG battlemap creation on a hexagonal base. It is ideal for hex-based exploration and combat.

Town and city creation: The tool can create detailed town and city maps, suitable for various RPG settings. It supports scaling from small villages to entire continents.

Map export options: Maps can be exported in digital, PNG, and JPEG formats, as well as via 3D print export. This makes it easy to share or use maps in other applications.

Crash causes save loss: A crash resulted in the loss of a saved map and days of work. This is a severe issue that can lead to significant player progress being wiped out.

Very poor optimization: Players report the game runs poorly with low frame rates and stuttering. This is a common complaint affecting overall enjoyment.

Crashes on undo action: The game crashes frequently when players press the undo button or use Ctrl+Z. This bug disrupts gameplay and causes frustration.

Aggressive graphics optimizations: Graphical optimizations are applied aggressively even on maximum quality settings. This may lead to reduced visual fidelity despite high settings.

Graphical rendering issues: Players experience graphical rendering issues, such as glitches or artifacts. These problems detract from the visual experience.

Early Access Lacks Content: Many reviewers feel the current feature set is insufficient to justify purchase. They advise waiting until more content and options are added before buying.

Wait for Sale or Full Release: Advice includes waiting for a sale or full release to ensure value for money. Some suggest wishlisting and buying at a low price.

Not Recommended in Current State: Several users explicitly cannot recommend the product due to stability and usability issues. They suggest waiting for fixes and improvements before considering it.

Ideal for 3D Printing Enthusiasts: Reviewers note that the tool is fun and useful for those interested in 3D printing hex tiles. However, without a 3D printer, its value is limited.

Positive for Tabletop DMs: Dungeon Masters for online or tabletop games are encouraged to get this tool. It is seen as a valuable asset for TTRPG players once community terrain generation grows.

Community fair range: $4.00 - $20.00.

Session length: 2.0h.

Linux and Proton: The available Linux-related feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Users report stable performance on Linux and successful launch/play without tinkering. The only negative note is an ambiguous file-opening problem where the user is unsure whether Linux is the cause, so it does not indicate meaningful Linux/Proton friction.

Kickstarter campaign with big promises: The product was funded via Kickstarter, raising a large sum with sweeping promises. Backers expected a finished game but received an early access version instead.

3D printing for tabletop RPGs: A key feature is the ability to build maps and export them for 3D printing, which is highly valued by tabletop RPG players. The developers focus on 3D printing, with STL packs sold separately.

Still in early access: Many reviewers note that the game remains in early access, even after a beta phase. This has led to frustration among backers who expected a full release.

Comparison to Dungeon Alchemist: Reviewers frequently compare it to Dungeon Alchemist, noting that it is better for world maps but lacks features for smaller-scale maps like individual buildings. Some find it less developed than Dungeon Alchemist at launch.

Ongoing delays and missing features: The product has faced ongoing delays and still lacks certain functionalities. Early supporters feel disadvantaged by pricing and the long wait.