Maps

Maps are the spatial layer of Storyteller Suite. They can be simple image maps for fictional settings or real-world maps backed by tile layers.

Two map modes

Image maps

Use image maps for:

• world maps
• city plans
• dungeon layouts
• battle maps
• floor plans

You provide an image and place markers on top of it.

Real-world maps

Use real-world maps when you want latitude / longitude navigation with tile servers or OpenStreetMap style behavior.

Opening the map system

• Command palette: Storyteller Suite: Open map view
• Dashboard: Maps tab

Creating a map

A map note can define:

• display name
• map type (image or real)
• base image or tile layer
• default zoom / bounds / center
• parent map
• linked location
• custom fields

Marker sources

Storyteller Suite supports more than one way to get markers onto a map.

1. Manual placement

Place locations and other entities directly from the map UI.

Best for:

• quick setup
• one-off markers
• maps you edit mostly by hand

2. Frontmatter-based markers

Notes with marker-compatible frontmatter can be scanned into a map.

Best for:

• keeping map placement attached to the entity note
• reusing the same location on multiple maps
• syncing map state with location notes

3. Marker files / marker folders

A map can scan specific files or folders for marker data.

Best for:

• large map projects
• splitting marker data across regions
• map maintenance by folder conventions

4. Code block markers

A map note can also include marker definitions inside a code block.

Important: code block markers are useful for authored layouts, but they are effectively note-driven content. If you want to change them, edit the source note rather than expecting full in-map editing.

Linked child maps and portals

Maps and locations can form a hierarchy.

Typical pattern:

• world map -> region location -> region map
• region map -> city location -> city map
• city map -> building location -> interior map

When a location is linked to another map, that marker acts like a portal and can jump to the child map.

Linked entities on maps

Maps are not limited to locations. They can also reference:

• characters
• events
• items
• groups
• cultures
• economies
• magic systems
• scenes
• references

Use this when a map is more than just geography and needs to reflect story state.

When to use which approach

Use manual placement when the map is still changing quickly.

Use frontmatter markers when:

• the entity note should stay the source of truth
• you want properties-pane visibility
• you want the same entity to appear on multiple maps cleanly

Use code block markers when:

• you want the map note itself to define a static layout
• you are documenting a reference map rather than interactively editing it

Related settings

Map behavior is also affected by settings such as:

• internal Leaflet processor
• frontmatter marker support
• marker scanning
• child-map navigation from location pins

See Settings.