Another convert

[Stormhound]

After doing some comparing with other VTT systems, and prompted a bit by the lovely GM's Day sale, I've finally made the plunge and bought myself an Ultimate license along with some nice 5e goodies. I thought about a subscription, but since the outright purchase is just so much cheaper...

A bit about me. I've been playing various games, including most editions of D&D, since 1979. My path in this hobby was set when I first looked at a copy of the blue-book basic rules that a new friend and enthusiast had brought over to show me, said "Hey, this looks cool, I'd love to make up a dungeon", and he replied "Great! We'll get together next week to play it!". I haven't looked back, and I absolutely love GMing (far more than playing, as it turns out). Something about the creation process combined with the lights in peoples' eyes when they really get something I've set up for them. Okay, and perhaps the chance to throw my mean, callous, heartless exterior into sharp relief. :ninja:

Anyhow, it's gotten increasingly difficult to gather players around a physical table over the years, as people (including me) don't have the free time they used to...but I hope to find a whole new audience around here to terror...er, entertain. Now to see how well this old dog can learn some new technological tricks...

[damned]

Welcome Stormhound hope to hear you barking soon!
The world needs more GMs!

[Ellspeth]

Hi Stormhound, and welcome to Fantasy Grounds
Unlike most here, RPG's are relatively new to me, I wasn't introduced to them until I was all ready semi-retired, and I was introduced through Fantasy Grounds. This was just 4 years ago. (Time does fly when you are having fun. :).)
Just 4 years later I have tried at least a dozen different rulesets here on FG as a player, I have met amazingly creative people, and more recently have started running games myself. I have learned to build Savage World modules and have a few in the store I have built. It all has been quite an adventure, especially if you realize that when I was in high school we weren't even allowed to have calculators, they were sure we would never learn maths with them.
The point? If this little old grandmother in the backwoods of Michigan can do this stuff, learn and have fun, anyone can. I am sure playing on Fantasy Grounds will bring you as much fun and relaxation as it has for me.

[Zacchaeus]

Jolly good and welcome to the community.

[JohnD]

Welcome. Great choice.

[LordEntrails]

Another welcome! Check out the u coming FG Con for an onlikne convention, to either play or GM. And if you want to be mentored, look at the FG College for more free help. Also, there is the wiki, the user manual and of course the forum here.

[Stormhound]

It's been great exploring, and the more I get into it the more all the options grow on me. In fact, the hardest choice right now seems to be what to run...perhaps I'll just cobble together something simple to practice GMing using the software before I tackle anything major.

[damned]

It's been great exploring, and the more I get into it the more all the options grow on me. In fact, the hardest choice right now seems to be what to run...perhaps I'll just cobble together something simple to practice GMing using the software before I tackle anything major.

What game system?
For 5e running Lost Mines of Phandelver is a good choice for GM and Players.

[Trenloe]

I'll just cobble together something simple to practice GMing using the software before I tackle anything major.
Definitely don't try and do everything in your first few games - learn to use the system and FG with your players over a few sessions. Get in and play - but make sure everyone involved is aware you're learning. Enjoy the gaming aspect first and foremost!

As damned mentions, if you're playing D&D 5E Lost Mine of Phandlever is a great intro mini-campaign. There are also plenty of FG modules ready to go on the DMs Guild or in the store. If you're running another system, let us know and we can recommend some ready-to-play products. These will get you playing quickly! :)

[Stormhound]

I'm definitely going to go with 5e for now, I may branch out later. I've heard lots and lots of positive comments on LMoP for 5e, and perhaps this is an attitude rooted in my ancient face-to-face origins, but I'm actually somewhat reluctant to run modules where I figure everyone has "been there, done that". I have historically tended not to run many modules anyhow...I like the taste of my home cooking better, and I generally run sandbox campaigns that most modules just won't drop into easily anyhow, rather than doing the "adventure path" stuff.

Though, as you say, it's also a matter of learning to use FG smoothly so that when I do write my own content I'll know what to look for...and avoid doing. Guess I can shop around a little...

[damned]

If you start with LMoP you can change it up as much as you like.
It will just give you a good idea of how things are presented and run from the FG perspective.

[LordEntrails]

I'd also be happy to send you a complimentary copy of my adventure Balance Disturbed that has an FG module and is on the DMsGuild. It's the first in a long campaign (that I have yet to publish). It's about 3-4 sessions to get through it, has a set of backgrounds if you want to use them, and probably will give you enough ideas on how to use FG as well it's not much more than an intro to a campaign. So you could take it in a thousand directions from there.

Check out the link in my sig, and if you think you might like it, PM me your email address and I'll send a copy.

[Caelen]

Welcome to the party, Stormhound!

All of the modules available for FG are easily modifiable, so you could pick up any of them and use them as a kit of parts to build your own entirely unique adventure. You can change things however you see fit. Alternatively, if you're looking for a good drag and drop module to throw into any existing world, Tales from the Yawning Portal is a collection of seven dungeon modules of various levels. They work well as a collective story, and they work as isolated little chunks of content. Playing with the pieces is a great way to learn how to use FG to its fullest.

[Stormhound]

Thanks to you both. With support like this, I suspect I'll be terrorizing players in no time. :bandit:

[celestian]

5E is not my game but I did run Lost Mines in FG and it was very easy to do with the automation and the module. Having all the encounters, items and notes at your finger tips makes things very simple.

I would absolutely recommend it as a "first time" adventure to run. I'd also suggest grabbing the PHB at the very least for your players as well (creation is a breeze).

[Stormhound]

Books, I've got...I duplicated my 5e library of hardbacks in FG, so I have the full array of choices. I've long been a proponent of minimizing the amount of expense my players have to go to in order to be in one of my games...or at least making expenses voluntary on their part. (This was actually another selling point over Roll20.)

[celestian]

Books, I've got...I duplicated my 5e library of hardbacks in FG, so I have the full array of choices. I've long been a proponent of minimizing the amount of expense my players have to go to in order to be in one of my games...or at least making expenses voluntary on their part. (This was actually another selling point over Roll20.)

Well, to be clear I was meaning the PHB FG content. Having the books is great but having them all input into FG makes it a lot easier. There is some "basic" character races/classes already if that is enough.

[Stormhound]

I figured that's what you meant. Already done, and been practicing using them to make up some test characters. Even figured out how to run dual instances of FG so I can see things from both sides of the screen.

[lostsanityreturned]

You made the right choice, I used roll20 for many years but fantasygrounds is just that much better (even if I don't get to fiddle with javascript as much or get dynamic lighting / LoS)

[aribethdm]

"convert" you sound like a religious fanatic which is not good for an introduction

[JohnD]

"convert" you sound like a religious fanatic which is not good for an introduction

Maybe read his post instead of trying to start something. Unless that's your reason for being here. Not good for an introduction.

[Stormhound]

Maybe read his post instead of trying to start something. Unless that's your reason for being here. Not good for an introduction.

Probably either an attempt at humor, or a critical failure on an Insight check. I'm not going to get worked up about it, myself.

[damned]

Well there does tend to be a little bit of zeal involved in hobbies that we spend so much time on :)

[Stormhound]

Well there does tend to be a little bit of zeal involved in hobbies that we spend so much time on :)

Sounds like we've received the Approval of Zeal.

[Valacar]

Welcome Stormhound, looking forward to hearing your adventures!

[Stormhound]

Not quite a month in, and I'm using my (newfound) knowledge of FG and (refound) knowledge of CC3 to put together my first adventure for a campaign I'm working on.

I'll admit, it's been different. I'm used to doing a lot of lightly-planned stuff, sketching battle maps on the fly...but I'm finding it's also cool to be able to pre-plan and pre-position tokens, and exercise some creativity there too, knowing it'll get even better with more practice. Climbing back into the saddle again is fun...

[Trenloe]

I'll admit, it's been different. I'm used to doing a lot of lightly-planned stuff, sketching battle maps on the fly...but I'm finding it's also cool to be able to pre-plan and pre-position tokens, and exercise some creativity there too, knowing it'll get even better with more practice.
The danger here is that GMs sometimes feel that they have to have everything ready at the click of a button. Just because you can do that, doesn't mean you have to try to plan for every eventuality. If the PCs go off base, or you want to throw something at them that you hadn't prepared for, don't be afraid of calling a 10 minute break - find a map on the internet or quickly set a basic one up in FG. GMs shouldn't be expected to have everything at their fingertips and ready to go at the click of a button. Take a break from the game for 10 minutes - ask one of your players about his latest girlfriend/boyfriend/job/car/computer/TV/console/bike/jetski/whatever - let them talk bollocks for 10 minutes while you set up the next situation... ;)

There is a basic battlemaps module that comes with FG and plenty of maps on the forums here and elsewhere. It's worth downloading and keeping your own library on your PC, so you can quickly access generic maps when you need them.

[Stormhound]

That's exactly what I'm going to do for impromptu encounters; I'm planning a sandbox-style game where the PCs will be determining where they go and why...I just figure I need a certain amount of pre-planning to get things started, and it's more helpful to craft a scenario where I can plant the different initial seeds of their future choices. I'm very used to winging it after that, given that my players tell me what they have in mind for the next session. I find it a really fun way of playing, and it encourages player buy-in when there's nary a railroad track in sight. :)

[sturtus]

If that’s your bag, I recommend maps by Gabriel Pickard. He throws together some very fine looking maps for any situation or “biome”.

https://madcowchef.deviantart.com/gallery/

He also sells packs in that other marketplace.

[Stormhound]

Nice stuff, I'll have to give that a very thorough look.