Newbie questions for a GM at some point in time.

[Manchine]

As a GM how can I make myself an active character? I have tried a couple different things and it just won't put the portrait on the top right. (All I am doing is testing stuff out.) I have the characters imported and everything. I can minimize them but that not right. =) Although as I just listened to the last https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnUMt7_RVAs&index=12&list=PLXaP4OoFR0gHBt6pNB0TLg2mSNf5deVQN I can't pick characters..... is that right?

Also how do you make do I make the ground so many feet per inch? I finally got to play a game and one of the maps wasn't hexed. How do I make the map check how many feet I go?

Also is there a way to make terrain difficult on the map itself?

Last question is there a way to use lighting or vision for only certain people? Is there Light effects from torches and darkness? (So you can't see the whole map and just see what the light or darkvision shows?)

Manchine

[Griogre]

I'm assuming you mean the top *left* of the FG Desktop. The assumption FG makes is the GM doesn't have active characters, those are for players. There are two ways of working around this if you want to run a DMPC. The first is just to have a player open the character for you. That puts the character up in the top left and is easiest. You can also start a second instance of FG as a player and open the character that way.

If you meant something else ask again.

If the map does not have a "grid" either hex or squares on it then you can't use pointers or the white "movement line" to measure distance.

You mean so difficult terrain it counts extra for movement? No. The map is like a battlemap in a face to face game. The map is just a picture to FG like any other image.

Once again the map is just like a battlemap in a face to face game so not really. If it is really important then you can put the map in twice and share different versions with different people but that is a pain.

[Manchine]

If the map does not have a "grid" either hex or squares on it then you can't use pointers or the white "movement line" to measure distance.

You mean so difficult terrain it counts extra for movement? No. The map is like a battlemap in a face to face game. The map is just a picture to FG like any other image.

Once again the map is just like a battlemap in a face to face game so not really. If it is really important then you can put the map in twice and share different versions with different people but that is a pain.

If I put a Grid on there should it work then?

[damned]

Right click on the map > layers > set grid

Watch this short video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WoIFsYRFbE&list=PLsgd1zJLdiKUrEd85Dqr6UcaaLvD7YlJd&index=3 at around the 1'00 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjtnAhWkaSQ&index=5&list=PLsgd1zJLdiKUrEd85Dqr6UcaaLvD7YlJd at around the 2'10 mark.

[Moon Wizard]

Yes, distances on images don't have any meaning until a grid is defined to specify how far 1 square is relative to the number of pixels on a map image.

Each ruleset then defines the actual distance for each square (i.e. 5' for 3.5E, 1 square for 4E, etc.)

Cheers,
JPG

[Manchine]

Got the tiles working thanks for the help.

The only question that really didn't get answered is the Light question. I have noticed in another program they use light sources that would make areas light up by where the person is at (if they are holding a torch or lantern). In the one game I have been in its just the DM clicks.... you see this room. There is no ability for light sources is this correct?

[Griogre]

That's correct. It is a highly requested feature (that I wouldn't personally use) but you can vote on it here: https://fg2app.idea.informer.com/ under Map Dynamic Light sources.

[Manchine]

That's correct. It is a highly requested feature (that I wouldn't personally use) but you can vote on it here: https://fg2app.idea.informer.com/ under Map Dynamic Light sources.

I just noticed that (the link) in moon wizards signature after I had posted it. =)