Starter Guide to PlanarAlly

This guide will teach you how to setup a local PlanarAlly server on Gameboard and how to connect your computer to your Gameboard so you can create and manage your battle maps.

GETTING STARTED WITH PLANARALLY

STEP 1: Power on your Gameboard

STEP 2: Navigate to your Game Shelf screen (if not already there)

STEP 3: Download and install the PlanarAlly application to your Gameboard

STEP 4: Download and install the PlanarAlly server application to your Gameboard

STEP 5: Launch the PlanarAlly app

When starting the PlanarAlly application on the board, you’ll first be greeted by a screen in which you choose the server you want to connect to.

STEP 6a: Connect to a remote server. Here you can fill in the address of the PA server you want to connect to and give it a nickname. On the right a list of servers that were previously entered are shown for easy access.

STEP 6b: Connecting to your local server. If you'd like to connect to a local server, instead tap on "Setup Local Server" which will allow you to start up and run your PlanarAlly server directly on Gameboard and allow you to play without an internet connection.

This section shows you the IP address and port that will be used by PA, allowing other devices (e.g. a DM laptop) to connect as well. If devices/players from outside your network want to join, you’ll need to forward the correct ports on your router like you would for a traditional non-gameboard server.

STEP 7: Log into your server (or create a user if none exists)

NOTE: To use PlanarAlly on Gameboard you will need 2 account, 1 for the DM and 1 account for logging in on the board. The DM is then responsible for creating a campaign and inviting all the players (or the board account).

These accounts are server specific and are thus not shared between servers.

CONNECT YOUR COMPUTER TO GAMEBOARD'S LOCAL PLANARALLY SERVER

Connecting your laptop to your PlanarAlly server on Gameboard will allow you to manage your TTRPG campaigns: upload custom maps, create/manage player tokens and monster tokens, etc. Here's how to connect your computer to your PA server:

STEP 1: After starting your local server, you will see the IP address and port number to your server. You can use those in a web browser on a computer connected to the same wifi network to login and manage your campaigns using this format: http://ip.address:portnumber (ie http://192.168.0.21:8008)

STEP 2: Log in using your dungeon master login credentials (or create a new user)

STEP 3: Create a new game (or launch a previously saved game)

HELPFUL TIPS

• When uploading maps and player/tokens as assets, add the dimensions of the maps or tokens in the file name because PlanarAlly will automatically scale the art assets to match the dimensions so that it will match the proper grid size so you don't have to align the grid / tokens manually when dragging them to a scene (ie map-name-20x20.jpg, player-token-name-1x1.png, large-monster-token-2x2.png, etc)
• If you use the gameboard companion app, it will automatically show a dice roller when you join a game. Dice rolls initiated from the companion will appear and roll on the board!
• To learn more about uploading and setting up maps, creating player tokens (including vision), setting up walls for line of sight, and using minis with PlanarAlly, check out the tutorial video at the top of this article