Can I run FG twice on same computer - switching from GM to Player and back ?

**Lonewolf** · October 11th, 2014, 02:02

I was thinking of using FG offline as a gaming tool recently. Running both player and GM modes from the same computer. Then using an external projector for the player screen.

I am not sure how to do this. Do I simply create a separate copy of the application folders. Is this even possible?

**JohnD** · October 11th, 2014, 02:07

Yes you can do this.

**Trenloe** · October 11th, 2014, 02:08

It's very easy. No need to copy/install anything extra. Open up a second instance of FG on the same computer, with the GM already running and "Join game" but use a host address of localhost - this is a special setting that allows a player instance on the same computer to connect without license issues.

Only do this once - don't run more than one player instance on the same computer.

**damned** · October 11th, 2014, 02:48

and then drag that second screen on to your external display.

**seycyrus** · October 11th, 2014, 13:34

Originally Posted by Trenloe

...
Only do this once - don't run more than one player instance on the same computer.

Out of curiosity, why only once? I think I've done it for more than one player instance at a time in the past. When I was testing to see if the GM (me) would see the whispers from one player to another (both me as well)

**Nylanfs** · October 11th, 2014, 13:52

FG is a Resource hog.

**Dakadin** · October 11th, 2014, 15:22

Originally Posted by seycyrus

Out of curiosity, why only once? I think I've done it for more than one player instance at a time in the past. When I was testing to see if the GM (me) would see the whispers from one player to another (both me as well)

I've encountered weird errors when testing things with 2 clients running. If I remember correctly the cache was having issues because both player connections were trying to write to the same cache file and it was in a locked state.

**damned** · October 11th, 2014, 15:45

yes you will have cache corruption issues.

**Trenloe** · October 11th, 2014, 16:20

Originally Posted by seycyrus

Out of curiosity, why only once? I think I've done it for more than one player instance at a time in the past. When I was testing to see if the GM (me) would see the whispers from one player to another (both me as well)

What Dakadin and damned say is correct. The player side of FG is constantly using and updating files in the campaign cache directory. Having 2 *player* instances of FG running on the same computer can cause FG to crash or corrupt the player cache which will cause all sorts of unexplained issues. This might not happen immediately, but it will happen sooner or later.

**Bidmaron** · October 11th, 2014, 17:14

Dulux, your videos have multiple player instances running. You might want to modify the videos to warn your audience not to try it at home?

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