Waterdeep: City Encounters

[Skillkoil]

I just saw this on DMsG and was wondering if it was going to be ported for FG? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[LordEntrails]

This is not a WotC product. It is put together by (mostly?) Guild Adepts. Just like all the other unofficial stuff on the Guild, it's up to the individual authors to determine if they will provide FG formats or not.
You can ask in the comments section of the product page, but it has already been answered;

Hi there, we have no plans at present to convert this to Fantasy Grounds.

[Skillkoil]

Thanks for the info LordEntrails!

[damned]

It looks like Raddu was involved in that project.

[Nyghtmare]

So the only option for someone that wants this for use in Fantasy Grounds would be to buy the product and then put it into FG yourself.

You cannot share copyrighted stuff, but are allowed to use them for your own use (obviously, you need to own the product too).

[rob2e]

WotC and DMs Guild ADEPTS have weird rules about FG conversions. They are not as keen on having those titles in FG for whatever reason, and if they DO, they cannot be sold separately like other titles.

Adventurers Leauge and Guild Adept titles MUST package FG modules TOGETHER with the PDF. This is (imo) a bad practice because it discourages developers like me to seek that work. Most developers are interested in commissions in perpetuity, but an AL or GA author is not going to give that up, and since the FG mod cannot be sold separately, the only thing left to do is for the author to convert it themself, or pay another developer a flat fee. Believe me, I have researched and pursued this with vifor, but I am simply not willing to spend my time to convert a PDF to FG for $1.00 a page and be done with it. Few are.

This is why we don't see more AL and GA titles in the Fantasy Grounds format. It's sad, but that's a WotC move, not a SMiteWorks/Fantasy Grounds policy.

[LordEntrails]

So the only option for someone that wants this for use in Fantasy Grounds would be to buy the product and then put it into FG yourself.

You cannot share copyrighted stuff, but are allowed to use them for your own use (obviously, you need to own the product too).
Yep :( Just like the other 99% of stuff on the Guild/OBS that doesn't have FG formats.

As part of the Guild Creator's Circle, this lack of FG modules is because most authors just don't know...
- How to make an FG module
- Don;t know they can sell it as a separate product
- How big the market is
- If it's worth their time

So, I suggest if you like something and want it in FG, then add a comment/discussion asking about it and encouraging them to consider it.

Rob2e does many of the FG conversions for products that are on the Guild, but, he can't do them all. So if you have the skills, do a conversion and offer to show the author how it works in FG and then that the two of you can put it on the Guild as it's own product and split the revenues. That way they don't lose out on anything from their regular/PDF version and get a whole new market.

EDIT: And I totally forgot the issue about not allowing separate products for AL stuff. Didn't know it also applied to GA stuff too.

[LordEntrails]

... but I am simply not willing to spend my time to convert a PDF to FG for $1.00 a page and be done with it. Few are....
Seriously $1/page? They don't know what it takes to convert do they!

Well, hopefully the FG market on the Guild will continue to grow and then eventually WotC/OBS will see the money and change their policies. Even if it hurts in the meantime.

[rob2e]

Seriously $1/page? They don't know what it takes to convert do they!

Well, hopefully, the FG market on the Guild will continue to grow and then eventually WotC/OBS will see the money and change their policies. Even if it hurts in the meantime.

The saddest part about it all is that 95% of DMs Guild customers AND creators have no clue what's up with FG. And it's really sad because FG has a specific agreement with the DMs Guild to create these titles. I have almost 90 titles on the DMs Guild and fully half of those are collaborations with other creators. Unfortunately, the BIGGEST requests out there are for the AL/GA titles which no decveloper is going to take the time to do for pennies.

Those AL/GA titles that DO have FG mods were done by the authors themselves or by an excited/hungry developer who was paid $30 or something.

I've never gotten a straight answer from OBS/DMS Guild or WotC as to why this is the policy, but I'm sure they have some reason.

[Mortar]

The saddest part about it all is that 95% of DMs Guild customers AND creators have no clue what's up with FG. And it's really sad because FG has a specific agreement with the DMs Guild to create these titles. I have almost 90 titles on the DMs Guild and fully half of those are collaborations with other creators. Unfortunately, the BIGGEST requests out there are for the AL/GA titles which no decveloper is going to take the time to do for pennies.

Those AL/GA titles that DO have FG mods were done by the authors themselves or by an excited/hungry developer who was paid $30 or something.

I've never gotten a straight answer from OBS/DMS Guild or WotC as to why this is the policy, but I'm sure they have some reason.

Without knowing the "why" of their decision, on the surface it looks like greed.

[LordEntrails]

Without knowing the "why" of their decision, on the surface it looks like greed.
I don't think so, cause if they wanted greed they might have stayed with paying authors a flat fee rather than letting them get commissions. Plus, why would they prevent another very sellable product from being made?

I think it's simple ignorance on the realities of the VTT market. I think that though JC, MM etc have probably played on a VTT at one time or another, I doubt they understand the realities of DMing on a VTT or making products for one.

I suspect their desire is to not "split" the AL/GA market. It might also have to do with concerns about multi-platform support. Because as far as I know, Roll20 and DDB don't have a market for third party content using the DMsG content agreement like FG does.

[Skillkoil]

I will definitely be commenting much more on DMsG about wanting content for Fantasy Grounds. All my games use FG as a resource.(even home games) So, I would like to see much more content from there be available here. Especially, since SW has the agreement with them. Thanks for the info from everyone on this thread. I have learned a lot reading what you all wrote. I encourage others to place comments/discussions as well like LordEntrails instructed. Happy Gaming!

[Mortar]

I don't think so, cause if they wanted greed they might have stayed with paying authors a flat fee rather than letting them get commissions. Plus, why would they prevent another very sellable product from being made?

I think it's simple ignorance on the realities of the VTT market. I think that though JC, MM etc have probably played on a VTT at one time or another, I doubt they understand the realities of DMing on a VTT or making products for one.

I suspect their desire is to not "split" the AL/GA market. It might also have to do with concerns about multi-platform support. Because as far as I know, Roll20 and DDB don't have a market for third party content using the DMsG content agreement like FG does.

I can agree with that assessment, however both DmsG and the White Wolf Vault take 20%, on top of the 30& OBS does. You technically own what you create - but can't do anything with it outside those platforms, plus other people can use your creation freely, without the requirement of attribution. With the way those two are limiting what can be used it still feels to me that "more profit for us" in their decision making chain somewhere.

I don't think the idea of DMsG or Storytellers Vault or the upcoming Savage Worlds Adventurers Guild are fantastic ideas. Great for people who are interested in getting into the industry for them to do that. All three companies are being cagey with what IP can be used. Trickier with PEG as their licenses with some IP (Flash Gordon, RIfts) doesn't allow them to open them up.

[Myrdin Potter]

I occasionally convert AL content to FG for use in my own campaign. Since I do development work for the store occasionally, I make a little extra effort and do my personal conversion and then offer the file for free to be added to DMs Guild. I do actually get a few takers (look at my thread on the 5e forums).

I personally suspect that WoTC does not want to officially offer FG files on DMs Guild when they have licensed 2 other VTT programs.

The issue the authors have is that they get absolutely zero feedback on if their offering the FG mod gives them extra sales.

If you go to this thread, you can find a few conversions I did. You want more, thank the authors in the comments and buy them if you want them:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?36047-Myrdin-Potter-s-DMs-Guild-Offering

[LordEntrails]

To add a bit more there have been some related discussion to the AL/FG on the DMsG Writer's group on FaceBook. Some points made there;
- AL products on the DMsG are not allowed to have a separate products by format. So if they do an FG conversion, they have to sell it with the PDF.
- Most AL writers do not see/think/believe their are many sales of FG products. (I suspect because so many FG DM's end up converting from the PDF, because that's what they usually have to do, so the difference between sales of PDF only and PDF/FG AL modules is not very different).
- FG is a market most AL authors are not familiar with, and they don't see a reason to invest in paying for an FG conversion if it won't pay for itself. (And as I said, they don't think it will).