lost and wandering--need HELP

[dmagain]

It may be true that all who wander are not lost but I clearly am. I purchased FGII in 2012 but never spent the time to learn it. Today however I gave it an honest try. I spent 8 hours watching vids, reading user guides etc. I might be able to manage as a player but that's not the idea. I bought the tool to host games for my players in between our face to face games (we live all over the US). The game we want to play is 4E. I've read all about the parsers and so on. I think I've actually used the parser to create quite a few 'mods'...For all the good that does me.

Many things with my FGII seem different than in the demos. For instance--I did not have a modules (little book icon) as an option when I start a campaign. If fact I checked in my FG application data folder (took lots of time on forums to even know such a folder existed) and I didn't even have a modules folder. I created one and saved in the stuff I'd parsed. Still no little book icon in my 4E ruleset campaign that I'm trying to create. I can use the large library and can see the modules I've parsed--can't do anything with them though as I don't understand it.

So here's my question in a nutshell. Is there a way that a very non-computer savvy TOTAL beginner can learn how to host games on FG?? At another stage of my life I would have started slow by jumping in an online game as a player and working up to hosting but with job/kids, etc. I just don't want that time commitment. The problem with all the tutorials and guides I've found so far is they all assume there is a bunch of info (mods, characters pre-loaded, etc.) you can call on. FOr some reason I can't find any of that stuff--not even the demo's that supposedly came with the game. I need a beginner user guide that literally tells you how to do it. Click on this...navigate to that...rename this and put it here and so forth.

My ultimate goal is to use FG to run sessions of a 4E Rise of the Runelords campaign so any guidance that both teaches and gets me moving in that direction is wonderful.

Thanks from a DMagain

P.S. I posted once or twice 16 months ago and then was off the boards until now. I'm sorry if you started to help me then and I backed out. It's not a good excuse but it's true--life got in the way of RPGs for me for a while.

[kdietri]

Hello,

My suggestion would probably be to not worry about parsing and creating Mods at first.

I can't say enough good things about FG, but there is a learning curve.

I'd personally start with the basics, figure out what your first session will involve and start entering it in manually.

Once you've learned the basics of inputting npc's organizing encounters, adding tokens, inputting maps, making story entries. Everything else in terms of mods and other things will come.

If you need help with those specific things just drop a line.

[dmagain]

kdietri : Thanks for your advice. Some of those things you say though aren't so straight forward at least to me...

"Once you've learned the basics of inputting npc's organizing encounters, adding tokens, inputting maps, making story entries."

Some of this I'm fuzzy on too. For instance--in the campaign management demo the narrator shows how to make story entries BUT--he pulls in text from a dungeon module. Links to maps he's loaded from "somewhere", etc. I've never used a virtual table top (or a computer as anything more than a calculator really) to play RPGs. I'm not at all clear how and where things I create in the categories you mention will be saved--if at all given my propensity to screw up. Is there a demo anywhere that walks you through something like say--creating a room with an orc, a chest and a pie? But literally hand holds all of it, from opening the software to where to click and so forth?

[Nickademus]

Is there a way that a very non-computer savvy TOTAL beginner can learn how to host games on FG??

The most important thing I can tell you is this: Fantasy Grounds has a lot of bells and whistle which take time to become comfortable with using, but none of it is required to play or host a game. The bare minimum features you need are the dice and the chat commands. Don't be afraid to start with the minimum and tackles each new block of features (battle maps, the combat tracker, targeting, spell classes, etc.) one at a time at your own pace.

I did the same thing at the start. I got FG and started watching a bunch of old videos. It helped a bit, but what really got me familiar with all the automation and optional features was to just pull up the sample campaign, connect with a 2nd instance via localhost, and just play. I started running an adventure for myself with the bare features and slowly experimented with each area, adding levels of detail to the things I did in the game.

[damned]

Ok questions one at a time:

Modules - Click on Library Icon, Click on Modules Button - you should see modules listed there. They should have 2 icons beside them - drag the book open and then if you need to share the module with players (maybe it has equipment or spells in it - dont share adventures or monsters with them!) drag the green tick or green lightning bolt on to the red cross icon. Ok so not intuitive but makes sense after you do it once.

Maps - make, borrow,buy or steal a map (image). Open windows explorer and in address bar or in search bar type %appdata% and hit enter. double click Fantasy Grounds (II) and then campaigns and then images. Place your image here and it will then be available instantly to you in the FG environment. If you want to share it with players - decide if you need to mask it first (right click image, 4 oclock - layers, enable mask) and share it by right click 9 oclock and then 9 oclock again. You can share with one player by dragging the image icon from the images list on to the players portrait.

If it helps ask a couple of specific q's at a time and we will try to answer.

[dmagain]

Nickademus--you suggest "to just pull up the sample campaign, connect with a 2nd instance via localhost, and just play" I will try that tomorrow. How do I find the sample campaign. For some reason when I go to "load campaign" I only see the "test" campaigns I've launched and aborted. When I go to "create campaign" I don't see any samples to load. I REALLY appreciate the help here though. I'm getting a feeling that I might figure it out--because of all the help! I've only got a few minutes tonight but will play more tomorrow.

damned--sorry it's your user name...I'll get some specific questions as I run into more pitfalls. Here's one to start--on the map import you describe in your post...Do I dump the map files right into the Fantasy Grounds II folder? At the same level as the campaigns folder and the console log? Or should I make folders? If I need to make a map folder why isn't there one there already from say the demo campaign--the one I can't seem to find. One last related and specific question. Does a PDF file work as a map image that will eventually work to accommodate things like tactical movement? thanks to you as well. I'll play with your ideas tomorrow!

[Nickademus]

Hmm. There should have been a sample adventure that came with FG. If not, go to the Downloads page of this site. In the left-hand column, second section, is a link to get the sample campaign.

I'm not sure if it is compatible with the new version of Fantasy Grounds, now that I think about it. If not, we'll need to get someone to update it.

[kdietri]

Go ahead and create a campaign.

Open Fantasy Grounds, hit create new campaign, select the game you want to play, call it Test or something and hit Start.

Now, when you open the FG app data folder there will be a file in there named campaigns, in there wil be one named test, and in there a folder named images.

This is where you put your maps.

No pdf's don't work, but jpeg, png's do. I'm sure others do too.

Now close the folder, re-open FG and click on the images icon on the right, your map should be there.

Now play around with it, set a grid, mask it, unmask it, practice with pointers...

[damned]

First you as DM Create a Campaign. This will create the base folders for your campaign and setup some XML files to start tracking your campaign.

In Windows Explorer open %appdata%\fantasy grounds ii\campaigns\[campaign name]\images
Drop your images here.

Supported images are jpg, png and gif. (possibly there are others but they are more byte hungry so dont use them). PDFs not supported. You can use tools like the windows Snipping Tool to grab an image from the PDF and there are tools to export all images from a PDF file.

There is also a Fantasy Grounds Application Data Folder shortcut in your windows start menu.

For creating a test campaign to play with - start a new 3.5E campaign and go to modules and load Well Met in Kith'takharos and then you click Story Icon you will see 3 new flags at bottom of Story Window - click these and see the story entries, in Images there is one new flag, same in NPCs and Items. For NPCs you can also then click thru to Encounters.

[damned]

Now close the folder, re-open FG and click on the images icon on the right, your map should be there.

No need to close/open FG for new images. Only I think for modules...

[Nickademus]

I also recommend the Campaign Management (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/filelibrary/tutorial/4ECampaignManagement.wmv) video by Xorn if you haven't already watched it. It's for 4E but almost everything is relevant for any ruleset. It's just good organizational practices.

[dulux-oz]

OK, my $0.02 worth.

This is exactly the situation I and my players found ourselves in when we first started - and its exactly the reason I created my Tutorial Videos - yes, they start out very "beginner-ish", but that's what some people need/want. They are also the most up-to-date (in terms of which version of FG they cover) that I am aware of - they cover 2.9.3 & 2.9.4 and will soon (very, very soon) cover 3.0.2.

Xorn's videos are great, but the slightly older interface can throw some people off.

So, my suggestion is if you haven't already, give my Tutorial Videos a go and, if they don't answer exactly the question(s) you have, then at THE VERY LEAST will give you a solid foundation to FG which you can use to then check out some of the other people's Tutorials - and I continually (although slowly) add to my series all the time.

The link's in my sig.

Have fun, and welcome to the fantastic world that is FG.

[damned]

yes - watch these videos!

[dulux-oz]

damned => not having a shot, are we? :p

No, sorry, that's unworthy of me.

[Moon Wizard]

Many of there instructions are specific to rulesets updated for v3.x of FG, in which some of these steps were simplified from earlier versions. If you are using a community-based ruleset or older store-bought ruleset, some of these links may not exist. Please let me know if you are running something other than D&D or Pathfinder.

Adding Images to a Campaign
Image files are specific to a particular campaign, and do not support subfolders. There are 2 ways to add images to a campaign in FG:
1. Drop an image file on the campaign images list. (create/load campaign, click images sidebar button, drag image file(s) from File Explorer onto campaign images list)
2. Add file to campaign images directory. (create/load campaign, click images sidebar button, click on the Folder button at the top of the campaign images list, add image files to the Windows file folder just opened)

Adding Tokens to FG
Token files are shared across all rulesets, and can be organized into subfolders. There are 2 ways to add tokens to FG:
1. Drop and image file on the token bag (create/load campaign, click on tokens sidebar button, drag image file(s) from File Explorer onto token bag) (The files will be added to the GM-only tokens folder.)
2. Add files to tokens directory. (create/load campaign, click on tokens sidebar button, click on GM or Shared button at the bottom of the token bag, add image files to the Windows file folder just opened)

Additionally, there are a number of token modules which can be activated by selecting the Modules button from the token bag, and activating the modules.

FG Data Folder
The FG data folder can also be accessed via the folder button in the upper right hand corner of the FG launcher screen where you Load and Create campaigns. This will shave off a couple steps in finding the FG data folder.

The data folder can contain multiple subfolders:
cache = Where campaign data for players is saved. (Each campaign has its own folder.)
campaigns = Where campaign data for GMs is saved. (Each campaign has its own folder.)
characters = Where character data is saved for Manage Characters mode. (Each ruleset has it's own file/folder.)
docs = Where any ruleset specific docs are found. (Only for some of the rulesets bought through the FG store. 3.5E/4E are online in the Library section of this web site)
extensions = Where extensions are stored. (Extensions are FG code packs which modify rulesets, such as themes.) (Can be stored as folders or files with .ext extension)
modules = Where modules are stored. (Modules are FG data packs which can be loaded in the appropriate ruleset.) (Can only be stored as files with .mod extension)
portraits = Where portraits are stored. (Portraits are graphics used to represent PCs on the desktop once they are logged in.) (Can be any valid image format (PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF, ...) (Can be assigned by GM or player)
rulesets = Where rulesets are stored. (Rulesets are the FG code packs that define the look, feel and behavior of each game system.) (Can be stored as folders or files with .pak extension)
tokens/host = Where GM-only tokens are stored. (Tokens are graphics used to represent people or objects on a map.) (Can be any valid image format (PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF, ...) (Only visible in GM token bag until visible to player during game.)
tokens/shared = Where campaign tokens are stored. (Same graphic types as above) (Always visible in GM and player token bags during game.)
utilities = Where FG utilities are stored. (Currently only the FG Character Converter, which converts PCGen, Hero Lab and DDI output files to FG character data files for the 3.5E, PFRPG and 4E rulesets.)

There are also a couple files in this directory:
console.log = Where FG program notices and errors are stored. Starts empty each time you launch FG.
install.log = Where FG tracks which files were installed by the updater.
update.log = Where FG updater window is mirrored.
GlobalRegistry.lua = Where rulesets can store global data for users. (Not used by most rulesets.)

Campaign Data Folder
The campaign data folder rarely needs to be accessed directly, and stores all the files for your campaign.

There are several folders used to store data for a campaign (on the GM machine only):
drawings = Where FG stores campaign drawing layers for images.
images = Where FG loads images from. Any files added here will automatically add an entry in the campaign images list.
maskedimages = Where FG stores mask layers for images.
moduledb = Where FG stores any changes made to module data.
portraits = Where FG stores campaign-specific portrait selections.
usersettings = Where FG stores GM user settings for this campaign (token bag shortcuts, hot keys)

There are also several files stored in the folder to define the campaign data:
campaign.xml = Stores initial campaign data (ruleset, GM id)
CampaignRegistry.lua = Stores user-specific ruleset settings outside of the campaign database.
chatlog.html = Stores a log of all chat window activity for the history of this campaign.
db.xml = Stores all of the campaign data. (This is all of the data for your campaign records.)
extensionstate.xml = Stores which extensions are used by this campaign.
modulestate.xml = Stores the state of modules for the campaign (accessibility and local opened/closed status).
windowstate.xml = Stores the last position of windows opened in the campaign.

There may also be a number of other db.*.xml files for backup during errors or migrations.

I think I'm going to need to make this into a reference doc. ;)

Regards,
JPG

[Moon Wizard]

Also, make sure to review the 3.5E and 4E user guides in the Library section of the web site (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/library/), if you haven't already. Plus, make sure to review the left-hand column as you go through the user guides, since there are subsections within each section.

Regards,
JPG

[Blacky]

I think I'm going to need to make this into a reference doc. ;)
Wiki wiki wiki :p

[Targas]

One more note from my side. I found a couple of pretty helpful videos on youtube dealing with FG (4e) specifics.
I think this is quite helpful, as the vids are quite detailed, enthusiastic and straightforward. Give it a try:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28aaaoJTPwc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PUVm9OD7vQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yFW3_izigE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QAJzGKMEZA

[damned]

Adding Images to a Campaign
Image files are specific to a particular campaign, and do not support subfolders. There are 2 ways to add images to a campaign in FG:
1. Drop an image file on the campaign images list. (create/load campaign, click images sidebar button, drag image file(s) from File Explorer onto campaign images list)
2. Add file to campaign images directory. (create/load campaign, click images sidebar button, click on the Folder button at the top of the campaign images list, add image files to the Windows file folder just opened)


Man! How long has drag and drop for images been around for?
I just tried in Castles&Crusades and it worked :)

[Griogre]

It's an FG3 feature that's new.

[Trenloe]

As has been mentioned above by Nickademus and damned, having a look through one of the sample campaigns is a good way to see what is possible - either download the sample campaigns from the downloads page: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/downloads/ or activate the Well met in Kith'takharos module in a 3.5e campaign.

For when you game, how much work within Fantasy Grounds is involved for you to create your campaign in advance depends on whether you will be using voice communications or typing in the chat box. I'd recommend for your first few games you use voice communications - this is not included in the Fantasy Grounds application but there is a free to use community TeamSpeak3 server: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?17071-Voicechat!-Community-TeamSpeak3-Server Using voice will allow you to sort out any issues using FG and also to run your game without having to have most of your "boxed text" entered into Fantasy Grounds. Once you and your players get more familiar with Fantasy Grounds you can use the text chat more often if that is what you'd like to do. Personally, I use voice for all my in-game and out-of-game communications - it allows my games to go quicker, my prep time is reduced and I can do silly voices! But, voice comms for role-playing is not everyone's cup-of-tea and you may prefer a more slower paced, immersive game that can result from using text chat.

If you are using voice comms you can get away with preparing NPCs, Maps and tokens ahead of your session - once you get more familiar with FG and the modules you may even be able to run a lot of things on the fly.

Tokens: There are some good tokens that come with Fantasy Grounds. Click the "Tokens" icon in the bottom right of the desktop, click the "Modules" button and activate the token modules you require (double-click on the image so that the closed book icon opens. Some other tokens (particularly letter tokens) can be found in thread on this forum. Devin Night has a good selection of free tokens available at this site: https://immortalnights.com/tokensite/

Maps: Getting a good library of maps is something you should start doing. There are various threads in this forum where users have posted their own maps or link to good map sites:

The Armory forum: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?44-Armory
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?19800-Map-Resource-Site
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?15833-Tor-s-Maps
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?19778-More-Encounter-Maps
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?20257-Here-are-Maps-for-you&highlight
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?19726-Some-Forest-Encounter-Maps

And many, many more - search for "maps" on this forum and scan through all of the threads that are returned (there are lots) - it is mostly obvious from the titles if the thread will contain maps.

Download the maps and keep them in a easily accessible directory on your PC. Using a folder structure and good naming convention will help you find maps quickly on the fly - then just drag-drop them into the "Images and Maps" window in FG and the map is ready to use.

[dmagain]

THanks to all of you for your help. I spent about 1.5 hours today and feel like I got further than I did in 8 hours yesterday. The replies so far have given me many hours of things to work on. When I have specific questions--which I'm sure I will--I'll post again. Should I start a new thread with the question or add to this one?

Also--Dulux Oz--Your videos are right at my speed...slow lane (even if you down-under types do drive on the wrong side of the road...).

Thanks and I'll be back...DMagain

[damned]

post away in this thread - as youve probably worked out plenty of people will assist...

[dulux-oz]

dmagain => glad you find them useful.

Actually, considered Down-Under tends to be at or near the top of just about every "Best of.." survey in the world, that makes us perfect (or near perfect - let's not be too immodest) so it's actually us who drive on the correct side of the road and you lot who have got things backwards.

Just saying...

:p

[Torgaard]

Actually, considered Down-Under tends to be at or near the top of just about every "Best of.." survey in the world, that makes us perfect (or near perfect - let's not be too immodest) so it's actually us who drive on the correct side of the road and you lot who have got things backwards.

Plus, this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfR9iY5y94s

[dulux-oz]

Ahh yes, the National Anthem (Unofficial).

Nuf said!

[dulux-oz]

A quick note: I've updated the entire series of my Tutorial Videos. See the link in my sig below or the new thread at https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?20345-TADAAAAA!!!-Brand-New-3-x-Tutorial-Videos&p=166824#post166824

Cheers

[dmagain]

Dulux--On the Aussie pride thing...I admit you've got something there. My parents spent a year living in Ballarat and it was one of the most amazing years of their lives. I only spent a month in your country while they were there (the whole annoying job thing) but travelled a ton and really enjoyed it. Hit everything from the Great Barrier Reef to Wineglass Bay and Hobart, Tasmania. On to more important things like RPGs though. Thanks for the link to your new videos. What is your story? Are you professionally into RPs or do you just do this for a hobby? If the later--it's amazing. I love RPGs (like you playing since about 1979 (I was ten when I got my blue-book basic set), but can't imagine the kind of time you must spend. What's the deal? Regardless of your answer thanks again...DMagain

[dulux-oz]

What's the deal? How long have ya got? :)

In September, 1968, Mr & Mrs. Black gave birth to a 6.5 pound bouncing baby boy. He was a healthy lad and... To much information? Oh well...

No, I'm not a professional RPGer (I wish); I'm a professional ICT/Business Consultant and Programme Manager/Senior Project Manager (the next best thing, by the slimmest of margins). I tend to specialise in Infrastructure and Security, but have PM'd all sorts of projects from Software Development to putting all the ICT into a new hospital.

Along the way I've picked up a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Information Technology (DataComms) and an MBA, not to mention a plethora of Cisco, Microsoft and other industry based Certifications.

So yeah, I'm a smart-@rse! :p

As far as the time I spend on our amazing hobby - its not that much, relatively. I don't watch a lot of TV so you'd be amazed at how many hours a week that frees up - and the fact that I'm trained to organise "projects" efficiently, etc, means that I've gotten quite adapt at churning things out (relatively) quickly.

Plus it helps that I'm single so I don't have that "complication" in my life - not to say I wouldn't mind a little "complication", but have you every tried to find a drop-dead beautiful gamer-girl geek with a PhD who ISN'T already complicating someone else's life?

So if you know of one, send me her email address - pleeeeeaaaaassssse!

And I'm glad you like the videos. There's more coming, so hang in there.

Cheers

[dmagain]

Plus it helps that I'm single so I don't have that "complication" in my life - not to say I wouldn't mind a little "complication", but have you every tried to find a drop-dead beautiful gamer-girl geek with a PhD who ISN'T already complicating someone else's life?

Reminds me of the old adage about getting a job done...You can pick two but never three of (fast, good, cheap). You are asking even more (looks, gamer, PhD, unattached)--it would be pretty darn hard (as in 2 consecutive double 0s on d100s) to satisfy 3 of 3. 4 of 4 is maybe unreasonable. Keep up the quest though--you never know when the Holy Grail might be found.

Quick question about your vids--how many of the A series would you suggest going through (I've thoroughly learned through A4 at this point)--before going to your B series?

Thanks again...

[dulux-oz]

The series is designed for the GM to (eventually) watch ALL of the A Videos and the B Videos. The B Videos will "track" the A Videos, but not exactly, as sometimes the GM part of a subject may take 2 videos where the Players' part only took 1, and vice-versa. For example 01-B0-1 covers the Launcher from the GM's Point of view, while 01-B-02 covers the GM's view of the Desktop - this "tracks" with 01-A-02 (01-B-01) and 01-A-03 & 01-A-04 (01-B-02) respectively. The information common to the Launcher (for eg) as well as the Players' info is covered in the Players' Video (01-A-02) while the GM's Video on the same topic (01-B-01) only covers what the GM needs to know, so 01-B-01 probably won't make much sense without watching 01-A-02 first.

Having said all that, watch them in any order you like.

Also note that I'll be replacing the Version 2.9.3 and 2.9.4 videos (the old ones) with new v3.0.2 videos as I finish (re-)doing each one. The information in the old videos is still mostly relevant, but things HAVE changed, hence the reason for the (re-done) new series.

So, to answer your question - do you intend running FG only as a Player or as a GM?

"How much of the DnD Player's Handbook do you need to read before reading the DM's Guide?"

Cheers

[Laramie Wall]

Thanks for this guys.
Dmagain, I've been running FB for maybe two months, I've run 5-6 sessions.
I am JUST NOW getting into the combat tracker and things like that. I started out just using dice roller, maps, and player sheets. I did everything else on paper, like I was GM on a real table top. Those things seem that they will speed things up, but I'm working up to it. As some mentioned, I've found success with team speak for VOIP.

That said, thanks to everyone on this thread, as I'm chewing up all this info to improve my players games. Thanks.