How to Add and Remove Temporary Marks on a Shared VTT Map

Use a temporary mark to communicate one idea: a route the group is considering, the edge of an area, a location to inspect, or a reminder that should disappear after the conversation. Match the mark to that idea. A line or freehand stroke can trace a route; a circle can call out a location; a short text label can explain an abbreviation. Foundry’s drawing tools include freehand, rectangle, circle, polygon, and text options, and its selection tool can move existing drawings. Foundry VTT: Drawing Tools

If you only need to direct attention briefly, prefer a pointer or ping when your platform offers one. Roll20’s Pointer is visible to everyone while held and fades after the user stops moving the cursor, so it can serve a quick “look here” purpose without leaving a persistent drawing. Roll20: Tabletop Overview

Confirm that you are on the intended scene and can use its annotation tools. In Foundry, the Drawing Controls open from the pencil icon; the documentation says drawing-tool permissions are configurable, and players do not have access by default. If you cannot find the tool or a test mark is not visible to the group, ask the game master to check permissions before switching to another layer or trying repeated actions. Foundry VTT: Drawing Tools

Keep marks visually distinct from game objects. A token usually represents a character or creature, and a wall can affect movement or vision in systems that use those functions. A simple drawing is the appropriate choice for an annotation. In Foundry, drawings are managed through their own drawing controls; walls are a separate canvas layer with separate tools. Foundry VTT: Canvas Layers

1. Open the drawing controls and choose the simplest shape for the job. For a route, use a line or freehand stroke; for a zone, use an outline; for a point of interest, use a circle or short label.
2. Pick a color that stands out against the map without obscuring its details. Use a thin line for routes and borders, and reserve filled shapes for areas where coverage itself matters.
3. Add only the words needed to explain the mark. If your group uses shorthand, write the key once in chat or say it aloud so others can interpret it consistently.
4. Draw near the relevant map feature, then pause and check at the group’s normal viewing scale. If the line crosses a token, label, or important terrain detail, move or redraw it before discussion continues.

Foundry allows users to configure line width, stroke color, opacity, fill, and text appearance. Those settings can help make a mark legible, though the best choice depends on the map’s colors and zoom level. Defaults are specific to each user, so do not assume another player has the same drawing appearance settings. Foundry VTT: Drawing Tools

When drawing more than one mark, use a simple visual convention: for example, one color for a proposed route and another for a hazard under discussion. Tell the group what the colors mean, and avoid letting conventions multiply during play. If another player adds a mark, ask what it represents before moving or deleting it.

A useful test is whether a player joining the scene late could tell which marks are current and which are ordinary map features. Short labels such as “possible route” or “check door” are clearer than a line with no context. If the annotation is not needed after the decision, remove it promptly so it does not look like a permanent map element later.

In Foundry, switch to the drawing selection tool, select the particular drawing, then move it or delete the selected object with the Delete key. The official controls list Delete for selected canvas objects, while the drawing guide explains selecting and moving existing drawings. If a mark is only misplaced, move it rather than clearing the full scene. Foundry VTT: Drawing Tools, Foundry VTT: Game Controls

Foundry also provides a Clear Drawings control, but it clears all drawings on the scene that you own and asks for confirmation. Treat that as a session cleanup action only after checking that the marks belong to you and that no one still needs them. It is not the right choice for removing one route while preserving other annotations. Foundry VTT: Drawing Tools

Before deleting a mark made by someone else, check with its creator or the game master. Ownership and permissions may affect what you can select or remove, and a shared map can contain annotations that another player still relies on. If the platform’s controls differ from these steps, consult its current help pages rather than assuming that keyboard shortcuts or clear behavior match Foundry.

When the party settles on a route or resolves the question, remove marks that have expired. Leave only annotations the game master intends to preserve, such as a discovered landmark or a group-agreed note. If a conclusion needs to be available in a later session, record it in the group’s normal notes rather than relying on a temporary sketch to remain on the scene.

A quick end-of-scene sweep works well: inspect the map at a useful zoom, identify marks that still have a purpose, delete only expired objects, then confirm with the group that the remaining annotations are intentional. This keeps the shared map readable and prevents temporary discussion aids from being mistaken for map rules or permanent features.

Temporary map marks work best when they are deliberate, readable, and reversible: choose an annotation tool, check permissions, make one clear mark, and remove it once its job is done. Use a transient pointer for a momentary cue, and reserve persistent drawings for information the group needs to see while discussing or navigating the scene.

• Drawing Tools — Foundry Virtual Tabletop
• Game Controls — Foundry Virtual Tabletop
• Canvas Layers — Foundry Virtual Tabletop
• Tabletop Overview — Roll20 Help Center