Tile (map square)

A tile, or map square, is the smallest indivisible portion of the game world. On the world map each pixel represents a map square. Each tile occupies a 32x32 pixel space within the viewport at the 100% scaling level.

Each tile has a default state according the server's original map. When a tile sweeps it returns to this state. Sometimes after a major update every tile will return to this state, except for the insides of houses.

Occupants

When a character or monster moves, it moves between map tiles with no inbetween. You're either on one or the other although you appear to be walking between them. Many players and monsters can occupy the same square, which is known as stacking (some abilities are limited when stacked). Certain tiles, like at depots and boss levers, can not be stacked on, even on open pvp worlds.

Depth

Tiles that contain things like trees can overhang the 32x32 pixel space, usually to the left and top of the tile. Everything "leans" that way which creates the illusion of depth. This is known as oblique projection. If you can see the roof of the building, everything on the roof will be offset to the left and top by one tile. Understanding this is important to using the levitate spell effectively.

Items

Each tile can contain at most 1000 items. For this purpose, stacks of items count as one item. The items on a specific tile are in first-in last-out order on the tile. This means the first item put on a tile is "buried" by the items put on the tile afterwards. Only the top 10 graphics can display per tile. This allows burying. Some items are "nailed down", as the name implies they can't be picked up. You can view all of the items on a square like you're opening a container by opening the menu for a tile and selecting Browse Field. Nailed down items don't appear in the Browse Field pane, but they count as one of the 10 graphics a square can display. Players also count towards the 10 graphic limit, as does the graphic of the tile itself, and any additional tile graphics like weeds or gravel pieces. This makes the total items required to bury something 9. If you place 9 items on top of a "nailed down" item it will disappear, like any other item that is buried. If an item that causes a square to blocked, like furniture, is buried it will still obstruct the square, causing you to "bounce off" of it when you attempt to move there. In rare situations the (above mentioned) default state of a tile will have a "nailed down" item on top of a non nailed down item. This makes it inaccessible except through the Browse Field. Because of the first-in last-out behavior, you can not hide items under "nailed down" items.

Fields behave like nailed down items. They're placed in the item stack order like an item is, and items underneath can be accessed with Browse Field.

Obstacles

Each map square falls into one of the following categories:

Open: The tile can be walked on and allows line of sight. Items can be placed here.

Semi-blocked: The tile can not be walked on, but allows line of sight. These are good for running around if you wish to continue shooting your target. They don't block the spread from area of effect spells. Same rules apply to monster's attacks. Items may be placable here, may be destroyed (in the case of water, swamp, trash cans, and lava), or may be not be allowed (windows).

Blocked: The tile can not be walked on nor allows line of sight. These are good for avoiding monster's attacks.

Secret passage: these rare tiles do not allow line of sight but do allow walking.

The world map has a 'list' of all open and non-open tiles, viewable by pressing the Cost button. Each Open tile has a movement cost, which is colorized on the world map. Gray squares are Open, darker squares are allow faster travel than lighter squares.

Safe zones

Safe zones, also known as protection zones, or pz, are squares where it is impossible to target anything or be targeted by anything. It prevents the spread of aoe damage. Those that have taken aggressive PVP action can not enter safe zones. You are not however completely safe, you can still be harmed by damage over time effects. Safe zones do not block shooting however, your arrows or runes can travel through a safe zone to the other side, so long as the target is not in the safe zone. You can find safe zones all throughout tibia. All large towns have a depot and a temple for which the entire room or building is a safe zone. Most boats are safe zones. Some safe zones are a single square, often around boats or teleports. These are usually placed in such a way that it prevents a killer from traveling freely.

Effects

Some squares trigger effects when stepped on. For example stepping on stairs or on a hole will move you between floors. Stepping on a teleport may move you far away or bounce you back, usually depending on whether you've completed a certain quest. Some squares are "buttons", standing on them will trigger some effect that's usually reversed when you step off.