Getting Started

Welcome to DM Hero - your ultimate D&D campaign companion! This guide will have you managing your campaigns like a pro in no time.

What is DM Hero?

DM Hero is a local-first campaign management tool designed specifically for Dungeon Masters. It helps you:

• 📝 Organize NPCs, Locations, Items, Factions, Lore, and Sessions
• 🔗 Create connections between everything in your world
• 🔍 Find anything instantly with powerful fuzzy search
• 🗺️ Track locations on interactive campaign maps
• 📅 Manage your in-game calendar and session history
• 🤖 Generate names and images with AI (optional)

Best of all: Your data stays on YOUR machine. No cloud, no subscriptions, no data mining.

Installation

Option 1: Desktop App (Recommended)

The easiest way to use DM Hero:

1. Download the latest version from the Downloads section
2. Extract the ZIP file (Windows)
3. Run DM Hero.exe
4. Done! Your data is automatically stored locally

Tip: Pin DM Hero to your taskbar for quick access during sessions!

Option 2: Docker (Self-Hosted)

For tech-savvy users who want to run DM Hero on a server:

# Pull the latest image
docker pull ghcr.io/flo0806/dm-hero

# Run with persistent data
docker run -d \
  --name dm-hero \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -v dm-hero-data:/app/data \
  ghcr.io/flo0806/dm-hero

Then open http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

First Launch

When you first open DM Hero, you'll see an empty dashboard. Let's fix that!

Step 1: Create Your Campaign

1. Click the + button or "New Campaign"
2. Enter a name (e.g., "Curse of Strahd" or "My Homebrew World")
3. Optionally add a description
4. Click Save

Your campaign is now active and ready for content!

Step 2: Add Your First NPC

NPCs are often the heart of any campaign. Let's create one:

1. Click NPCs in the sidebar
2. Click the + button
3. Fill in the details:
   • Name: The NPC's name (e.g., "Gandalf the Grey")
   • Race: Elf, Dwarf, Human, etc.
   • Class: Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, etc.
   • Description: Use Markdown for formatting!
4. Click Save

Pro Tip: You can upload a portrait image or use the AI image generator!

Step 3: Create a Location

Every NPC needs somewhere to be:

1. Click Locations in the sidebar
2. Click the + button
3. Enter:
   • Name: "The Prancing Pony"
   • Type: Tavern
   • Description: Describe the atmosphere, smells, sounds...
4. Click Save

Step 4: Link Them Together

Here's where the magic happens! Let's say Gandalf frequents the tavern:

1. Open the NPC "Gandalf"
2. Go to the Relations tab
3. Click Add Relation
4. Select "The Prancing Pony" as the target
5. Set the relation type (e.g., "frequents" or "lives at")
6. Save

Now when you view either entity, you'll see they're connected!

The Dashboard

Your dashboard shows:

• Active Campaign: Switch between campaigns easily
• Recent Entities: Quick access to recently viewed/edited items
• Quick Stats: How many NPCs, Locations, etc. you have
• Recent Sessions: Jump back into your session notes

Navigation

Sidebar

The sidebar gives you quick access to all entity types:

Global Search

Press / (forward slash) anywhere to open the global search. Type anything and DM Hero will find it - even with typos!

Tips for Success

1. Start Small

Don't try to document your entire world at once. Add entities as they become relevant in your sessions.

2. Use Entity Linking

In any description field, type {{ to link to other entities:

The {{npc:Gandalf}} was last seen at {{location:The Prancing Pony}}
carrying the {{item:Staff of Power}}.

These become clickable links with hover previews!

3. Add Images

Visual references help tremendously:

• Upload character portraits for NPCs
• Add maps for locations
• Include item illustrations

4. Use the Chaos Graph

Click the graph icon on any entity to see all its connections visualized. It's incredibly helpful for understanding how your world fits together.

5. Regular Backups

Your data is stored in a SQLite database. The file location:

• Windows: %APPDATA%/dm-hero/data/dm-hero.db
• Docker: In your mounted volume

Copy this file periodically for backups!

Keyboard Shortcuts

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these guides:

• Entity Types - Deep dive into each entity type
• Features - Discover all the powerful features

Happy DMing! 🎲