> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.4thewords.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Building Your Map
> Place items, choose templates, use the HUD toolbar, share your map, and design your hideout.
> **Where to find it:** Left sidebar → **Hero** → **My Maps** → open any map → **Edit map** [Open in 4TW ↗](https://app.4thewords.com/hero/my-maps)
When you open a map, you're in view mode. Click **Edit map** to start editing. You'll see the full 1920×1080 canvas with your HUD toolbar.
## The Canvas
Your map is a large drag-and-drop space. Click and drag items to place them wherever you want. Items can overlap, stack, and be layered to create depth.
## Templates
Your map's background and layout are set by its **template**, the overall theme. Some templates have **variants**, alternative visual styles that change the look of the background without affecting your placed items.
Browse and apply different variants in the "settings" tab of the map editor.
## Elements
Elements are the decorative and functional items you place on your map. You earn them by:
* Defeating monsters and building mastery
* Completing quests
* Crafting them in Markets
* Purchasing them in the **Store**
Some elements have **variants**. Alternative skins or visual styles you can switch between. Click an element on the canvas to see its available variants.
Unlike Wardrobe items, Map items do have a stock amount you own. As you place elements across your maps you are using up the items in your inventory. Remove an item, or delete a map, to add the items back to your inventory.
## Element Functions and Power-Ups
Some Doors and windows have **a** **power-up** that allow you to create a Portal that connects to another map (yours or another public community map).
Click on a Door you've placed in map to bring up the Portal option and select the map you want to link to.
When visiting other maps click on doors to see if they are connected somewhere.
## HUD Toolbar
While in edit mode, the toolbar on the right gives you quick access to:
| Button | What it does |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Store** | Browse and purchase new elements |
| **Snapshot** | Capture a screenshot of your map |
| **Reactions** | See emoji reactions left by visitors |
| **Map Info** | View map details: name, creator, creation date, background, and item count |
| **Settings** | Map-level settings including access control |
| **Portals** | Manage connections to other players' maps |
| **Turn on/off grid** | Toggle a placement grid to help align items |
| **Turn on/off visual helpers** | Toggle alignment guides and snapping helpers |
## Saving Your Work
When you're happy with your edits, click **Save map**.
Changed your mind? Click **Discard changes** to revert everything to how it was before you started editing.
## Sharing & Social
### Access Control
By default, new maps are private, only you can see them. To open your map to the community, go to **Settings** in the HUD toolbar and toggle it to public. Public maps appear in Community Maps browsing and can be nominated for the Lookbook.
### Primary Map
You can mark one of your maps as your **Featured** map. This is the map shown as your showcase on your profile. In your My Maps listing, use the star icon on any map to set it as featured.
### Reactions
Visitors to your map can leave emoji reactions. As the map owner, click **Reactions** in the HUD toolbar to see what your visitors have left.
### Portals
Portals let you link your map to another player's map, creating a direct connection visitors can use to travel between hideouts. Click **Portals** in the HUD toolbar to add or manage your portal connections.
When you add a portal to another player's map, visitors to your map can travel directly to theirs.
## Frequently Asked Questions
Elements come from several places. Defeating monsters builds mastery and can unlock themed items, quests sometimes reward decorations, buy and craft them in Adventure Markets and the **Store** (accessible from the HUD toolbar while editing) sells a wide range of elements for Coins and Crystals.
The template or skin is your map's background and overall theme. It sets the look of the environment itself. Elements are the individual items you place on top of the canvas to decorate it. You choose a template when you create the map; elements are placed and moved freely after that.
Yes. You can switch template variations from the map settings. Click on the variant to preview how it looks. Your placed elements stay where they are when you change variants.
Your featured map is the one shown on your hero profile. Your signature space. You can change which map is featured at any time from the My Maps listing using the star icon.
You've reached your **Map limit**. Click **Upgrade capacity** to increase the number of maps you can have at once, or delete a map you no longer need to free up a slot. Please note Free accounts can't create Maps.
Elements stay on the canvas when you change templates, but some elements may shift position if the active placement area changes between templates. Check the edges of your canvas. Your items are likely still there.
Portals need to be placed visibly on your canvas and the map needs to be public. Open **Portals** from the HUD toolbar to check your portal settings, and make sure the portal element is placed in a visible spot on your map.
**Show it off**
Share your map and browse what other Dust Warriors have built.
Back to basics. What maps are, how slots work, and how to get started.
Customize your hero's look too. Outfits, body types, and the Lookbook.