How do I use the relationship graph visualization?

The graph view shows your entire campaign as a network, with entities as nodes and relationships as connections. Use it to see the big picture, discover patterns, and find story opportunities hiding in your data.

Accessing the Graph

1. Open any campaign
2. Click Graph in the sidebar

The graph view loads, showing your entities and their relationships.

Understanding the Graph

Nodes

Each node represents an entity in your campaign:

• Color indicates entity type (NPCs, locations, factions, etc.)
• Size may reflect the number of connections
• Label shows the entity name

Edges

Lines between nodes show relationships:

• Color indicates relationship sentiment
• Direction shows which way the relationship goes (for non-bidirectional relationships)
• Hover to see the relationship type

Sentiment Colors

Navigating the Graph

Basic Controls

Filtering

Focus on what matters:

• Filter by entity type - Show only NPCs, or only locations, etc.
• Filter by relationship type - See only ally connections, or only family ties
• Combine filters - NPCs with enemy relationships

Filtering helps you focus on specific aspects of your world.

Finding Specific Entities

If your graph is large:

1. Use the search function (if available)
2. Filter by type to reduce clutter
3. Filter by tag if you have organized entities with tags

What the Graph Reveals

Clusters

Groups of tightly connected entities reveal:

• Factions - Members linked to leaders and headquarters
• Communities - NPCs who know each other
• Story arcs - Entities involved in the same plot

Clusters are natural groupings in your world.

Bridges

Entities that connect otherwise separate clusters are important:

• They link different parts of your world
• Removing them would fragment the network
• They are often key figures the party should meet

Orphans

Entities with few or no connections might be:

• Forgotten content worth linking to your world
• New entities that need relationships
• Intentionally isolated elements

Check orphans periodically. They are often missed opportunities.

Hubs

Highly connected entities are central to your campaign:

• They know many people or are connected to many places
• They are natural targets for plot hooks
• They should be well-developed
• Losing them would affect many other entities

Hubs deserve extra attention.

Using the Graph for Prep

Before a Session

Review the graph around session-relevant entities:

• What NPCs are connected to the location they will visit?
• Who else knows the NPC they are seeking?
• What factions have stakes in this area?

Connections you had forgotten become visible.

Finding Story Opportunities

Look for:

• Unexpected connections - Two NPCs linked who have not been in the same scene
• Potential conflicts - Entities connected to opposing factions
• Missing links - Entities that should be connected but are not
• Interesting paths - How does information or influence flow through your world?

After a Session

Check if the graph reflects what happened:

• New relationships formed?
• Old relationships changed?
• New entities introduced?

Update your data, and the graph updates automatically.

Reading Social Dynamics

The graph reveals your world's social structure:

Faction Analysis

Filter to show only factions and their members:

• Which factions are largest?
• Which NPCs belong to multiple factions?
• How are factions connected (allies, rivals)?

Power Structures

Look for:

• Who has the most connections?
• Who connects different groups?
• Who is isolated?

Power in a world often follows connection patterns.

Relationship Health

Filter by relationship sentiment:

• Red/hostile edges - Where are the conflicts?
• Blue/positive edges - Where are the alliances?
• Green/friendly edges - Where are the close bonds?

The emotional landscape of your world becomes visible.

Tips for Effective Graph Use

Do Not Overwhelm

Large campaigns produce complex graphs. Use filters:

• Focus on one entity type at a time
• Filter to specific relationship types
• Hide less relevant connections

A focused view is more useful than everything at once.

Build Incrementally

The graph is most useful when you have built relationships over time:

• Add relationships when creating entities
• Update after sessions
• Let the network grow organically

A sparse graph reveals little. A rich graph reveals much.

Use It for Planning

The graph is not just for visualization. It is a planning tool:

• "Who could give the party information about X?" - Look at connections
• "What happens if they kill this NPC?" - See who is connected
• "How can I involve this forgotten NPC?" - Find paths to current events

Export for Reference

If your graph reveals useful insights, consider exporting or screenshotting for reference during sessions. The visual map can help you improvise.

Limitations

The graph shows what you have recorded:

• Missing relationships will not appear
• Implicit connections (same location, same backstory era) are not automatic
• The graph reflects your data quality

If the graph seems sparse, the solution is usually more relationships, not a different view.

Related Articles

• How do I define relationships between entities?
• What are entities and how do they work in SwiftPrep?
• How do I create and manage NPCs?
• How do I create and track factions?