The Connection tool (K) links two hexes that are not next to each other: stairs from the surface down to a cave, a mine shaft between two Underdark layers, or a pair of portals on the same layer. It is a Pro tool, like layers, and it works in the Hex and Combined views.
Connection or path?
A path is a line you draw across the map, such as a road or a river. It stays on one layer and follows the hexes between its ends.
A connection skips everything in between. It is not drawn as a line: each end gets a small marker on its hex, a triangle pointing up or down for a link to another layer, and a circle for a portal on the same layer.
Create a connection
Click or tap a hex. A popup asks for:
- Connect to: the layer the other end is on. Pick the current layer for a portal.
- Target hex: Same coordinates puts the other end directly above or below this hex. Different hex… lets you pick it yourself: Hexer switches to the target layer, hides the toolbar, and a banner asks you to click the target hex. Cancel in the banner stops.
- Bidirectional (up & down): links both ways. It is on by default. Switched off, the link only works from this hex.
With Same coordinates, the hex on the other layer must not be empty. Unpainted Underdark rock counts as ground; on a Space map, the hex must be painted.
Some POIs connect themselves when you place them with the POI tool. A Cave, Mine or Dungeon Entrance asks for a second one on another layer, and a portal POI asks for its twin.
Use and remove connections
With any other tool, click a connection marker to jump to its other end, switching layer if needed. Pointing at a portal makes both of its ends glow. Drop the party marker on a marker and the party goes through.
The Travel tool routes through connections between layers and through POI portals. A same-layer link you made with the Connection tool is not used for travel.
The Connection tool’s panel lists every connection on the current layer, grouped by where they lead. Click a row to go to it. Point at a row for the buttons to go to the other end or remove the connection; on a touch screen, press and hold the row. Removing a connection removes both directions. Erasing a hex removes its connections too.
What players see
Players see connections on a shared map while Connections is switched on in the Share dialog. With fog, a player sees a connection only where they would see a POI on its hex; see who sees which POI. A portal also needs its far end revealed. Stairs and other links between layers show on their own, but where they come out stays hidden until that hex is revealed. See sharing with players.
PNG and SVG exports draw the markers too. An SVG in Player View follows the same rules as a shared map.