Playing LFR or Pathfinder? Get the Full version

[Matt12]

I've been seeing a lot of new people joining and playing LFR (and I'm assuming Pathfinder) games. If you're one of those folks and haven't purchased your FGII yet. Do yourself, and the GMs a favor and get the Full version of FGII.

The big difference between the Full and Lite version (besides hosting a game) is you being able to create and store your character ahead of time and then with a simple click of a mouse, transfer that character over to the GM server.

With only the Lite version, just about every single game you play, you'll have to create your character over and over again. So by the time you've joined and played 10+ mods, you'll have created that character 10+ times. This takes around 10 to 15 minutes, each time. So breaking down and buying a Full version starts looking awfully tempting.

Then there's also the fact that the groups hosting the LFR & Pathfinding games are always looking for more judges. As there's always more players then judges. So helping to judge a few games, usually means it's easier to get in and play games when others are hosting those games. Which brings up this point: You can not host a game on the Lite version of FGII, only the Full version.

[Zeus]

With only the Lite version, just about every single game you play, you'll have to create your character over and over again. So by the time you've joined and played 10+ mods, you'll have created that character 10+ times. This takes around 10 to 15 minutes, each time. So breaking down and buying a Full version starts looking awfully tempting.


You shouldn't have to re-create your characters for each module? The characters are stored in the hosts campaign db.xml file.

If your the DM simply copy the character XML element and its children nodes from the db.xml file to the new campaign (you need to ensure each character has a unique identifier e.g. id-00099).

If you feel uncomfortable editing the campaign db.xml file by hand, you can use the FGII Campaign Tools tool (found here: https://zgp.eugenez.net/FGII%20Campaign%20Tools%20v2%20Beta) to export/import characters from one campaign to another.

If your a player you can use the tool to export your character to an XML file which you an then email to your DM who can import it into the campaign (again using the tool or manually by hand).

Either way you can get around the need to re-create you characters.

[Griogre]

The problem in the RPGA games is that the DMs for each session are different a good deal of the time - which is different from most campaigns. That's why you have to constantly recreate a character something that doesn't really happen in normal campaign.

[Zeus]

The problem in the RPGA games is that the DMs for each session are different a good deal of the time - which is different from most campaigns. That's why you have to constantly recreate a character something that doesn't really happen in normal campaign.

Aha - I see , my bad.

Still you could use the tool to export your Character to a file which you could send to the DM ahead of the game (assuming you know who the DM is that is.)

At the end of the module, request the DM send you the char back as a file.

[Griogre]

I don't deny you could do it that way and that its a great tool. It's still a bit of a hassel and assumes the DM is savy techincally (and timely). Its also a bit of a hassel because it usally takes three RPGA modules to level so usually the only difference to the character after a session is XP, gold, and about every third module a magic item - something that takes a few seconds to update in local mode if you have the full version.

I strongly agree with the OP that *if* you are going to play Living Forgotten Realms online a lot you will kick yourself for not spending the extra 10-12 bucks to get the full version. Online RPGA is really the exception that proves the rule. The hassel free update and tansfer of the characters is worth it.