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Here I want to answer the most common questions Fantasy Map Generator (FMG) users may have. Ask additional questions in Q&A discussions.

I have issues with the Generator, what should I do?

Search existing issues, then use the bug report form. Include the FMG version, browser/OS, steps, expected and actual results, and the affected .map file in a ZIP archive when relevant. If practical, try a private window or another browser and mention the result. You can also use the Discord assistant's /bug command when available; a moderator reviews the report before GitHub submission. See reporting instructions and examples.

How do I suggest a feature or follow development?

Search Ideas discussions and the FMG dev board. Upvote an existing idea or submit a new one, explaining the problem and your use case. In Discord, /idea opens a report form when available; moderators review it before submission. Votes help maintainers assess demand but do not promise a release date. Ordinary chat and assistant questions do not file reports automatically.

The map performance is poor, how can I improve it?

The performance mainly depends on the number of visible elements and visible map area. The optimization strategies are:

• Toggle off unnecessary layers. Be mindful of the Relief Icons layer in particular – it’s the most resource-demanding one.
• Open the Generator in a separate browser window, make it much smaller (about 900 x 560 pixels) and re-generate the map. Then, zoom in to see the map in detail. It will reduce the rending area and drastically improve the performance.
• When generating maps, set Points number to 10K. Points (cells) number highly affects performance.
• Toggle off map and element filters.
• Close all irrelevant browser tabs and applications.
• Use a leading edge browser (fresh versions on Chrome or Edge). Firefox is reported to be slower.
• Set the Performance preset in the Options tab to Speed, or open its settings and set Redraw on zoom to After zoom: labels, icons and relief are redrawn once per gesture instead of on every frame. See Performance settings for the preset comparison.

Who owns the maps created?

You. The Generator is licensed under MIT license and derivative works such as maps are free of charge. You can sell them or make them available for free.

My saved map is not working properly. What should I do?

If there is no version conflict, please report the problem with the affected file and the versions used to save and load it. Compatible older maps are auto-updated when loaded. Maps older than 0.70.0, maps from a newer version, and invalid files require the matching Generator version or a repair/recreation. The tool is under development and version conflicts are inevitable.

Can I export a created map?

Sure, there are a number of available options:

• Save to machine: save file can be directly loaded to the Generator.

• Save to Dropbox: save file can be directly loaded to the Generator.

• Save to storage: save map data to the browser's internal database. File will be loaded automatically on page refresh. Bear in mind that saving to desktop is safer since browser storage can be accidentally cleared

• Export .svg: save a full map as a scalable vector image. You can open the file in a browser or edit it using a vector graphics editor.

• Export .png or .jpeg: save the currently displayed map fragment as a raster image, at up to 8× resolution. You can edit the file in any raster graphics editor.

• Export to tiles as .zip: split map on .png chunks and save them all as a single .zip file. it allows to save giant raster images once chunks are combined.

• Export to GeoJSON: save cells, routes, rivers, markers or zones to be used in GIS software (see GIS data export).

• Export to JSON: save the raw map data (full, minimal, pack cells or grid cells) for your own tooling.

How can I open a saved .gz or .map file?

Open the generator, click on Load and select the file. Or just drag and drop the file onto the Generator window.

Can I manually edit a save file?

.map files are plain text, so yes, you can edit them in any text editor. .gz files are gzip-compressed and have to be decompressed first. However, if you break the formatting the file won't be loading. The common error is that most text editors automatically split embedded svg into separate lines.

Can I use the Generator offline?

Yes. The easiest way is the desktop app: download the installer for your system and it works offline out of the box. The web version can also be installed as a PWA — open it once with a connection so the files get cached, after that it works offline. Fonts and textures loaded from external URLs still need a connection.

You can also run the tool from the source code, which needs node.js 24 or newer: download the source code, unzip all files, run npm install and then npm run dev, and open the URL printed by Vite (normally http://localhost:5173/Fantasy-Map-Generator/). See Run FMG locally for details.

Is there a desktop version?

Yes. Since v1.149 the Generator ships as a desktop app built on Electron. Installers for Windows (.exe), macOS (.dmg, Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux (AppImage and .deb) are attached to every release. It is the same Generator running in its own window, works offline and checks GitHub for new versions (Windows and AppImage builds install updates themselves, the others open the download page). The builds are not code-signed yet, so the system warns about an unknown developer on the first launch: on macOS right-click the app → Open → Open, on Windows More info → Run anyway. Nix users can build the same app from the flake, see Install with Nix.

If you prefer not to install anything, Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, etc.) offer an Install button that adds the web app as a PWA, which opens from the desktop or app launcher.

Which browsers are supported?

The Generator targets modern browsers. Chromium browsers are the primary tested environment; Firefox and other browsers may differ in performance or feature support. Internet Explorer is not supported. Browser behavior can change with browser and FMG versions, so report reproducible compatibility issues.

Can I use the Generator on mobile?

You can, but I doubt you will enjoy the experience. The Generator GUI is not suitable for mobile devices and performance is subpar. In general, I would say mobile devices are not supported.

What about non-English localization?

There is no hand-written localization yet. As a workaround, the Options tab has a Language row with an Init Google Translate button that loads Google Translate and lets you pick a language. Automatic translation can break some of the page functionality — if that happens, use the reset icon to go back to English or refresh the page.

Can I embed the map to my website?

Yes, you can and it's easy to do. Please follow the guide here.

What does Azgaar mean?

It's my nickname, it has no meaning. The name of the tool is Azgaar's Fantasy Map generator, pointing to me as creator. The short form is FMG.

You've mentioned a Medieval Dynasty simulator. What is it?

It's my meta-project. A CK2-style genealogical game focused on genetics. Generally a wedding/dynasty breeding simulator (see the screenshot). It's in pre-alpha and currently on hold, so no demo is available.

How can I help to improve the Generator?

Use it, report bugs, and suggest or upvote ideas. See examples and Discord reporting options. Share the Generator link within your community!

We need a good video-tutorial. Please contact me if you have a video-blog and want to help.

Professional help from coders / UI designers is highly appreciated.

We also accept donations on Patreon.

What is the team behind the project?

There is no team, but there is a Community. The tool is created by me, Azgaar. The community is based on our Reddit and Discord servers. Thanks for contributors, Community moderators and all our community members.

Do you accept donations?

Yes, you can support the project on Patreon. If you don't want to pay monthly, you are able to decline the donation at any moment in time. Other donation platforms are not supported.

Is there a place where I can discuss the Generator, share created maps and so on?

Yes, we have a dedicated Discord server and Reddit community. Both have a very active and supportive community.

How can I contact you directly?

Please PM me on Discord or send me an email.