An overview of BattleMaps

What is it?

“A tool for presenting, documenting and animating military actions.”

It is easy to use, quick to learn and quick to produce meaningful maps of battlefield actions, either historical, fictional or hypothetical.

How does it work?

It works on a set of layers, sequentially superimposed onto a background map, each containing drawn objects representing military units and other cartographical items, each representing a phase or stage of the battle itself. These layers or phases can then be 'played back' in slideshow format, effectively animating the battle:

First, create the background map containing the non-moving features, such as terrain, buildings etc.

Then create a new, empty phase representing a particular point in the battle upon which to add units.

Now add, move and adjust the military units, arrows showing intention etc.

Then, to create the next phase of the action, simply duplicate the first phase, and adjust the unit objects to represent the change in the situation.

The map phases can also be produced as separate digital image files for incorporation into publications, websites, powerpoint slideshows or other applications.

Printable handouts can also be created, containing all the additional annotations which can be attached to the battle itself, each phase and even each unit.