FG for an in-person game.

[Alric]

I'm currently using "Realm Works" to help run games at my table (in person rather than online). It handles using a second monitor to display player info very nicely. What it doesn't do is allow for a dynamic battle map set-up, with tokens that can be easily moved.

Can Fantasy Grounds be used for this? Basically a virtual battle field for in person gaming.

[Alric]

Another thought. Would it work to open two browser windows on the same system, one for the GM and one for the players view?

[damned]

yes - a number of groups do something similar.
you can run a localhost session to generate the player view and display that on the second screen and keep the GM data on your screen.

[ddavison]

You can run two copies of FG on one machine with the same license. On the 2nd instance, Join the game "localhost" and choose to activate all the players. The GM can then share items like hand-outs, the battlemap and the combat encounter. When I run local face-to-face games, I still let my players roll their own dice and just peek at NPC defenses so I can manually tell if they were successful or not before applying damage. I can, however, use the automation for my NPCs and monsters when I attack the players since I personally prefer that over rolling the dice.

[Trenloe]

You can open 2 FG instances on the same PC - the GM instance and a player instance (connect to the GM using an address of localhost). This will allow you to have a screen showing the info for the players and one for the GM.

A lot of people use Fantasy Grounds for face-to-face games - showing battle maps, tokens, combat tracker, and other information tracking. All of the info is saved and stored for the next time you open the campaign.

[Alric]

Looks like it is time to download a demo... ;)

[Bidmaron]

The demo may scare you off. It has a high learning curve. It would be better to watch the program in use. Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9gjHAoEISw&list=PLBW-SmHnjnPHyCb4fTT3HFMmWhpnlxOpf) are some videos of Pathfinder Skinsaw Murders in progress.

[Mgrancey]

It works especially well if you can set it up as an Extended Desktop on a TV with a wireless mouse and even better if you can run on a 2nd computer as you don't have to worry about the mouse and such. Even without that I found it much, much easier for running in person if you've setup the adventure in FG as you can reference Enemies, Spells/Powers, Items and story much, much easier. I usually use a tablet with a pen, biggest hassle was putting together the combat tracker and initiative for players.

[Kent3205]

You can run two copies of FG on one machine with the same license. On the 2nd instance, Join the game "localhost" and choose to activate all the players. The GM can then share items like hand-outs, the battlemap and the combat encounter. When I run local face-to-face games, I still let my players roll their own dice and just peek at NPC defenses so I can manually tell if they were successful or not before applying damage. I can, however, use the automation for my NPCs and monsters when I attack the players since I personally prefer that over rolling the dice.

I currently run a regular fully online game. However we are looking at having the occasional session where a few are in person and some will be online. I am intending to try the approach discussed here. I note the discussion was over 10 years ago so first wondering if there is a better way now.


Also Doug says “ choose to activate all the players” - can someone explain what this means? I am creating the second session and at the moment logging in as one of the players. However I presume this means I also log into the second session as GM. Just not sure how to then only get the player view for all players?

Thanks

[ddavison]

The 2nd instance of FG you launch will be the "player view" version. In it, you will choose a character. Once you choose your first character, open up the Characters window and choose the 2nd, then the 3rd, etc. You can toggle between which ones you control by clicking on them on the upper left to activate them.

[LordEntrails]

Either the GM or a second computer that is in person can claim all of the in-person PCs. The GM will have to release them first, but once that is done then they can have ownership/control taken by the local second computer. Either one person can run that computer or if it's a laptop it can be passed around as needed.

[Trenloe]

I currently run a regular fully online game. However we are looking at having the occasional session where a few are in person and some will be online. I am intending to try the approach discussed here. I note the discussion was over 10 years ago so first wondering if there is a better way now.
Set the campaign for Cloud connectivity and join using the GM name, whether this is local or remote.


Also Doug says “ choose to activate all the players” - can someone explain what this means? I am creating the second session and at the moment logging in as one of the players. However I presume this means I also log into the second session as GM. Just not sure how to then only get the player view for all players?
Use "Join Game" for the second session and select one of the PCs of the local players. If you want to individually control each of the local player PCs on the second instance, then you can select all of the PCs of the local players and the GM can switch the active PC in the second instance.

[Kent3205]

The 2nd instance of FG you launch will be the "player view" version. In it, you will choose a character. Once you choose your first character, open up the Characters window and choose the 2nd, then the 3rd, etc. You can toggle between which ones you control by clicking on them on the upper left to activate them.

OK. Thanks

So I can see how that gives me (GM) ability to control each of the characters onto say a TV or projector. I presume if I take control of the characters to move them then thd in person players and probably the on line players will lose control if they are looking at their character sheets etc on a laptop.

If that’s right, the alternative might be I use an “accompanying friendly NPC” and log in using a second account. That way if they choose to run their characters locally, and for those online, they can do so and I can still put a non-GM version on the TV.

Hopefully that makes sense.

[Trenloe]

If the local players have laptops, they can join and control their PCs as normal from their laptop.

The GM will have the usual full control of PCs - whether a player is currently controlling them or not. The GM can move tokens, access the PC sheet, trigger actions (attack, damage) as normal from the GM instance - without the need for a second instance.

If you want to display a player view on a local TV, use the second instance as mentioned, but still do your control of PCs from the GM instance so you're not constantly switching between the two. You'll need to do some window management on the player instance on the TV, but that's all.

[Kent3205]

If the local players have laptops, they can join and control their PCs as normal from their laptop.

The GM will have the usual full control of PCs - whether a player is currently controlling them or not. The GM can move tokens, access the PC sheet, trigger actions (attack, damage) as normal from the GM instance - without the need for a second instance.

If you want to display a player view on a local TV, use the second instance as mentioned, but still do your control of PCs from the GM instance so you're not constantly switching between the two. You'll need to do some window management on the player instance on the TV, but that's all.

Thanks

Will set it up and test it.

Cheers

[Booker Grimm]

Can the players use a second mouse and use the TV or Portable monitor to move thier tokens?

[LordEntrails]

Can the players use a second mouse and use the TV or Portable monitor to move thier tokens?
If the instance showing on the TV is from a second computer then yes. If it's on the GM computer, then if the GM computer allows a second mouse to connect yes, BUT their is only one pointer, so if they move their mouse they are going to take focus from the GM and mess up what they are doing.

Ever use a laptop with a touch pad and a mouse and give the mouse to a second person? Doesn't work well because minds are not synched!