# Smart Combat Board

A hybrid TTRPG board for Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and Call of Cthulhu — with smart
miniature tracking and a light-up grid that syncs to online players.

The Smart Combat Board (also known as Barbarian Boards) keeps the tactile joy of painted
miniatures while keeping remote players synced in the same fight. It is being developed by
an Australian National University Engineering Honours team in Canberra, Australia.

- Website: <https://smartcombatboards.com>
- Email: ttrpgcombatboard@gmail.com
- Waitlist: <https://smartcombatboards.com/mailing-list>
- Blog: <https://smartcombatboards.com/blog>

## What it does

A hybrid TTRPG combat surface that bridges in-person and remote play:

- Play with painted miniatures at the table while friends join online and see the same
  battlefield in real time.
- Moves made in person and online stay in sync, so the whole party shares one game.
- Works with your existing miniatures, plus a web GUI with a map designer, dice roller, and
  initiative tools.

## Compatible games and systems

- **Dungeons & Dragons 5e** — Supported. Tested with D&D 5e parties and the core combat loop.
- **Pathfinder 2e** — Supported. Works out of the box for square-grid Pathfinder 2e encounters.
- **Call of Cthulhu 7e** — In development. Atmospheric lighting scenes and investigator
  tracking are being added.
- **Warhammer** — Request a build. Contact us and we will work with you on a Warhammer build.

## FAQ

**Can I play with friends both in person and remotely?**
Yes — that is exactly what the board is built for. Friends at the table play with physical
miniatures on the board, while remote friends join through the GUI and see the same
battlefield, with movements syncing both ways in real time.

**Can I have a board on my end and my friends have one on theirs?**
Yes — once multi-board play ships in a future release, two groups can each have their own
board and play the same session together.

**Can it attach to my special figurines?**
The token bases clip onto standard miniature bases. For special or custom figurines, contact
us and we will help work out the attachment.

**Can I play chess or checkers on it?**
Yes — currently through the GUI only, with on-board chess and checkers in development.

**Is it compatible with Warhammer, Call of Cthulhu, and other systems?**
The board is built around Dungeons & Dragons today. Contact us to discuss compatibility for
your system. We are happy to release updates over time based on feature requests.

**Does it work with hex maps?**
Not yet — the current board is a square grid. Hex-compatible boards are planned for the
future.

**Can the board be expanded beyond 8×8?**
Yes — a future release will let multiple boards connect together to scale beyond a single
8×8 grid.

**How much will it cost?**
Pricing is being finalized. Join the mailing list to be the first to hear it.

**When will it be released?**
Our aim is a release later this year. Join the mailing list for release alerts and early
playtest opportunities.

## Team

The Smart Combat Board is being developed by an Australian National University Engineering
Honours team:

- Miyu Bansal — Technical Lead
- Lachlan Knoke — Software Lead
- Sam Cahill — Design Lead

## Reserve your spot

Limited first run — sign up to the mailing list to be one of the first 100 to reserve a
board when it launches: <https://smartcombatboards.com/mailing-list>

Last updated: 2026-06-13