Trouble uninstalling/reinstalling

[GamerDude]

I'm trying out FG with a heavy interest in buying the $145 version. When I installed FG and ran it the first time I got some nice stuff like a tour around FG. Since then I can't get it to show up.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the program but now all I have is it not listed in the "Programs and Features" and I don't have an uninstall program/shortcut.

I'd like to get FG removed and reinstalled as a clean first time install and see that nice tutorial/tour again.

Any ideas?

Thank you
Al B. [B-)

[Tiqon]

I dont remember any tour... but you can always look at the Library where you can read all that FG2 has to offer :)... here https://www.fantasygrounds.com/library/

[GamerDude]

I dont remember any tour... but you can always look at the Library where you can read all that FG2 has to offer :)... here https://www.fantasygrounds.com/library/Thanks Tiqon. I have that page linked just not the time yet to read it all.

"Tour" is what I'd call it, but I didn't get to see enough to give a better description.

I think I'll just install FG on my backup computer (12" Tablet PC running Win7) and see what I get.

[Tiqon]

I assure you the time spend, reading a user guide while running FG2 to try the things out they write about in the guide, is well worth it! that's how I made my decision if I wanted to buy the program. I'm a happy owner now ;) and I aprove very mcuh of how you are able to the test it first!

[Trenloe]

Some of the videos on the "Downloads" page are worth a look too - better to have Fantasy Grounds running and step through the videos (play-pause-play) while checking how "stuff" works in FG as you go along.

[Tiqon]

Some of the videos on the "Downloads" page are worth a look too - better to have Fantasy Grounds running and step through the videos (play-pause-play) while checking how "stuff" works in FG as you go along.

ABSOLUTLY! I cannot accept I didn't mention it! (/facepalm to myself) I used them too to make my decision!

[GamerDude]

I appreciate the help folks.

I've also followed Trenloe's signature banner and made a $50 pledge in the Kickstart. Bring on dem graphics! :D

[Moon Wizard]

The example campaigns are located on the Downloads page (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/downloads/). (left hand side) Just unzip, and place in the FG2 application data folder under the campaigns subfolder.

Also, FG uses the existence of the FantasyGrounds.exe file to determine whether to install completely from scratch (i.e. including example campaigns), or just to update the core files. To have the installer do a full install with example campaigns, just delete "C:\Program Files (x86)\Fantasy Grounds II\FantasyGrounds.exe"

Regards,
JPG

[GamerDude]

Thanks all for the help.
Unfortunately nothing gives me what I am looking for: Operating during a game.. fog of war etc. From what I've seen FoW is just "blank map - unblank as they get to an area" I want what maptools has, I set up FoW/LoS barriers, assign light sources to objects/tokens, and tah-dah! true FoW.


The "library" is about either playing D&D 3e/4e or a very technical treatment of modifying actual rulesets.

The videos on the "downloads" page are a mess.. nothing generic they all focus more on how to use a ruleset than anything else and the quality varies greatly in the "not good" area. Some the voice sounds like its been run thorough a crappy sythesizer with it shoved down into the Base range, or the person didn't really plan things out and the video is more about how the narrator "loves making modules as well as adventures".

Oh, drop the Dungeon Master intro... the "lets snag some audio and then insert some other voice snippet that does not fit at all is like, well Senior High School stuff.

[Moon Wizard]

Sorry to hear that FG did not meet your needs. FG concentrates more on doing a great job bringing the face-to-face tabletop experience online. A simple fog of war is essentially what you get at a face-to-face tabletop game, and that is what FG provides.

A lighting and vision system is on our wish list, but I want to make sure it is something very simple for users.

Most systems I have seen require extra GM prep time to place all the lighting, set light ranges, outline walls to denote LoS, define vision for characters, provide option for vision vs. darkness types, etc. Also, since we build solutions for multiple game systems, we have to provide something that works for multiple systems.

The videos are provided by our community, and all previous feedback from people actually using the product have been very positive.

I think you will find that most virtual tabletop systems out there (either free or paid) are run by people in their spare time, and your mileage in certain aspects will vary. Personally, I tend to focus on moving our feature set forward, and leave the videos to our community and documentation when I have time.

Regards,
JPG

[GamerDude]

Sorry to hear that FG did not meet your needs. FG concentrates more on doing a great job bringing the face-to-face tabletop experience online. A simple fog of war is essentially what you get at a face-to-face tabletop game, and that is what FG provides.I never said FG doesn't meet my needs. I said the videos don't (because of various quality issues) and that I can't find the info I want. So many others like d20 Pro, Screen Monkey, iTabletop (to which I purchased a lifetime 11 user license two years ago) and the *free* Maptools have online information that quickly told me what I needed to know.

I've been working with Maptools as I had time and like it, but there are a few issues that made me think a commercial product might suit me a bit better, and after having a nice conversation at the FG Gencon booth about making certain FG frameworks, I began investigating FG.


A lighting and vision system is on our wish list, but I want to make sure it is something very simple for users.
THIS here, finally, tells me what I've spent the last two months trying to figure out - FG doesn't do FoW.


Most systems I have seen require extra GM prep time to place all the lighting, set light ranges, outline walls to denote LoS, define vision for characters, provide option for vision vs. darkness types, etc. Also, since we build solutions for multiple game systems, we have to provide something that works for multiple systems.While I get your point, and yes other VTTs that provide a good FoW system requires a bit of set up as you've described - but in my book anyone looking to have a highly flexible product able to handle almost any game system will need that level of effort from the GM. The curse inside the blessing.

I'm going to be honest, what you just said to me feels like a huge excuse while cutting down your competitors both free and retail. In particular iTabletop and Maptools both provide excellent FoW tools *IF* the GM wishes to take the time to set them up - and with Maptools the Wiki, documentation, and videos are extremely clear on how to do everything. Lots of clearly marked pictures in the step by step instructions/definitions.

And yet Maptools is 100 percent volunteer coded, volunteer tested and volunteer making of all documentation, wiki, FAQ, and videos.


The videos are provided by our community, and all previous feedback from people actually using the product have been very positive.I appreciate the videos are provided by volunteers - but you don't say you have positive feedback on the videos, just positive feedback on the product (FG) itself - which are two different things

Again go to Maptools and look through their videos. Actually have your volunteers go to them see the vids and then FG put a little effort into better labeling and catagorizing the vids. There is a big diff between a genric tutorial on how to use a feature and someone doing a "ok, here's how you use this 4e framwork - oh and it happens to mention what you want to know but its specific to me" video.


I think you will find that most virtual tabletop systems out there (either free or paid) are run by people in their spare time, and your mileage in certain aspects will vary. Personally, I tend to focus on moving our feature set forward, and leave the videos to our community and documentation when I have time. That's a good thing and true, but no excuse *not* for giving some time and effort into what I've mentioned. Bad or poorly labeled videos are in my book more of a detriment to a product (free or commercial) than a help. Heck why not just bring on a volunteer who is dedicated and enthusiastic on say - organizing the documentation and videos better including overseeing quality and how they are catagorized. You will get a great deal of milelage out of that.


..
Regards,
JPG

Regards, Al B. [B-)

P.S. A small example illustrating my comment on lack of quality/organization. Your last sentence says " tend to focus on moving our feature set forward, and leave the videos to our community and documentation when I have time." If you read it you said that when you have time you leave the videos and documentation to your volunteers when you have the time (to leave it to them).

[JohnD]

Videos are OK but I also found that they didn't really give me what I needed until I watched and had FG open, pausing to repeat what the video had tried to illustrate.

Then I (didn't wait two months) looked around for some nice people who would either let me play in a game, or simply connect and observe.

This isn't driving in the city with the wife nagging about stopping for directions; better to ask earlier rather than later (or not at all).

[Griogre]

GamerDude, FoW isn't an FG strength especially compared to MapTools. Most VTTs have something better than the rest. With a name like MapTools you can bet it focuses on the game map and does it well. MapTools in "map-centric" and if the map is the most important thing in the game you are running its a great VTT. Battlegrounds is similar.

FG's strength is its "character sheet-centric" and it mimics play around the table, down to the dice. If the character sheet is the most important thing in the game you are running, its the best VTT. Because face to face game around a table revolve around the character sheet, dice and a battlemap FG gives that face to face "feel".

Over time MapTools and Battlegrounds have added more character data and FG more automation and that's just competition and a good thing for the users, but you're the only one who can tell what combinations of features are best for you game. If you have other questions, just ask.

[Moon Wizard]

I think that Griogre's post is a good summary of our approach to virtual tabletops.

I can see how you'd view my previous statements as excuses, but they are not. It's a combination of priorities for our product and marketing our approach.

Would I like to see a fully implemented vision and lighting system in FG? Yes, I would. However, given our goals and direction as well as cost vs. benefit to "all" of our users, it has not been implemented yet.

Also, for the videos, the feedback has been positive "for the videos". Of course, those that are responding and using the videos are using them as tutorials to learn new features and are already using the product. The videos were not made to be introductions to the product, but more of examples and walkthroughs. I'd love to have nicer videos specifically to market the product. Would you like to volunteer? ;)

At any rate, if you end up using FG, please feel free to provide your input on our wish list, as well as ask questions to help you use the product better.

Regards,
JPG

[GamerDude]

I want to thank you all for the courteous replies, and taking mine as offered as they were intended - sincere feedback as to how I perceived things in the light that I had seriously high hopes for making FG the vtt for all my games.

So high that when I explained about my chat at Gencon and my wishes to my wife she replied "no go get the $150 license and eliminate people complaining they have to buy it too."

If I may offer some insight to what I have been working to set up (and am ready to start here by Christmas)... basically using the VTT I choose to:
- Run a face-to-face game of HackMaster 5th at a local game store
- Run a FtF game of WoD/The Hunter immediately following the Hackmaster game
- Run online a home-brewed variation of Firefly/Serenity using Mongoose Traveller
- Run online a Mongoose Traveller game in the 3rd Imperium

Now having been a GM for 30+ years, worked for game companies as a product demonstrator for almost 15 of those I've experienced a wide variety of gaming and personality styles - and so walking into utilizing a VTT I feel I have a very good idea what certain people will need in level of detail, realism etc.

A product which has great FoW features (and I agree this also requires lots of additional setup time by the GM to utilize) can host a game with FoW utilized, and without it. But one without it or just crude bare bones FoW doesn't give someone like me much room to work with.

Let me admit now that besides being retired from the USAF I'm also bipolar (hence being retired and on disability). Part of my particular ailment is laser-focus. I determine what I need to know drill down to the facts with a laser-focus and bam onto the next thing.

That's where I hit the snag - I couldn't easily find a simple feature set that said "FoW simple reveal by grid squares" or something.

I haven't written off FG as possibly the VTT I use, use over a free product and another product I already paid for. It just has to wait until either I can find the info I see more easily or I just decide to bite the bullet and slog through the learning curve.

Again, I do appreciate your responses and the courtesy.
Al B. [B-)

[Trenloe]

That's where I hit the snag - I couldn't easily find a simple feature set that said "FoW simple reveal by grid squares" or something.
9th bullet point in the features list:


Maps and images with additional layers for drawing and grids. The Gamemaster can reveal images gradually to the players by unmasking areas using a paint tool.

But, yes, the documentation for Fantasy Grounds (especially the most up-to-date features) isn't great for a beginner.


I haven't written off FG as possibly the VTT I use, use over a free product and another product I already paid for. It just has to wait until either I can find the info I see more easily or I just decide to bite the bullet and slog through the learning curve.
Another major strength of Fantasy Grounds is it's community. My recommendation to you would be to ask questions regarding the information you are seeking - this will more than likely result in a few responses from GMs who use the product in different ways and will give you a good insight into what can and can't be done and ways of doing it.

[damned]

yeah - just like the strengths of some of the VTT's you mentioned are the community development etc - the community here will definietly try to provide you with answers. yes - it would be simpler and faster if you could find all the answers in the doco but you probably cant as you have discoverred.
in terms of the rulesets you have listed - i dont believe there are any specific rulesets for these - or at least not well deveoped ones with good automation. so that could mean using one of the generic rulesets (there is another current thread that lists several of them) and using the charcater sheets, dice roller and map/image sharing while you do the math. that can probably be achieved just as easily with another vtt so I guess you need to give it a test or join a game to see if THIS vtt is the one for you. if you were playing pathfinder or 4E or savage worlds or castles&crusades there are good rulesets for these (and some others) which i think would show off FG really well.

[sciencephile]

I have tried 3 different VTTs (MapTools, d20pro, and FG2) and I appreciate both sides of the argument. I am also a computer programmer myself and I do know that it is not easy to create applications like this (nor is it easy to make changes to them to add/change features).

I personally would be in paradise if they could merge the best of all systems. I think the Fog of War and dynamic lighting is hands-down the best I have seen of any VTT. At the same token, FG2 has the best character sheet, character-usage, die rolling out there (again in my opinion). D20pro has some features that I like more than these (such as the ability to share an image just to a specific person). Maybe FG2 can share to a specific person instead of just to all players, but I haven't figured that out yet (not really looked hard into it).

In the end, I chose the best player-centric system over Fog of War and dynamic lighting. I think FoW and dynamic lighting is awesome and I will implement it when FG2 comes out with it.

You may have to do the same - determine which of the systems most fits your need/style. I would imagine that if you waited another 5 years, the differences might not be there since they all seem to converging to the same point.

As far as the videos, if cornball and cheesy was not to be allowed, youtube would not exist. I play Pathfiner and almost all the tutorials are based as if you play 4e. Oh well. I for one would rather have some tutorials (even if they aren't totally ideal) than to have none at all.

I'm not sure if this response is really that necessary or constructive but if nothing else, it will let the developers know that I appreciate the product.

[Trenloe]

D20pro has some features that I like more than these (such as the ability to share an image just to a specific person). Maybe FG2 can share to a specific person instead of just to all players, but I haven't figured that out yet (not really looked hard into it).
Yes FG does - see this post: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17456

I must admit, when I was reviewing d20Pro and FG2 2 years ago that was what I thought was one of the few "d20Pro does this better than FG2" features as I also hadn't found out how to share images to individual players in FG.

FG2 actually allows you to share more than just images to specific players - story entries, notes and others.

[Moon Wizard]

We always appreciate any feedback. I just wish there were more hours in the day to add all the cool features that I want to.

Regards,
JPG