Things about Fantasy Grounds you wished you knew when you first started using it?

[Pinkatron2000]

Hey there. Newbie DM and newbie Fantasy Grounds Ultimate owner. I am a converted Roll20 gal due to the sheer amount of things FG can do that other things I have tried, don't--and the fact that all my D&D nerds live in entirely different states and in some places, countries. The longer I played with setting FG up, the more I new that *slaps roof* this baby wasn't going to be easy to understand at first, despite the fact it was designed perfectly to have almost everything work out of the box. *Slaps roof again.* Can get so many great wiki learning articles out of this baby.

But when you don't understand something, from a completely new comer, until the system CLICKS, it's a lot and overwhelming.

I am currently running my first "Big" campaign, with Storm Kings Thunder purchased module. The last time I DMed anything was taking We Be Goblins and putting it into 5e rules in Roll20 two years ago.

I am learning. A lot. There've been many AHA THAT'S WHAT ITS FOR! moments, and a lot of, "ahhh god so many windows open I don't know what's going on aaaeee," too.

Anyway, too long, didn't read:

If you could get back in your timey-whimey device with the knowledge, short cuts, and system of FG that works for you now....what would you go back and tell your clueless FG new user to do? What shortcuts did you not know, that you wish you did? What means of using the system to give you a linear story ish like line instead of skipping all over trying to find the stories and quests. How did you finally make it work like a smooth tinkerer's clock and not like a baby gnome first discovering tools?

I'm looking for tips, tricks, short cuts, key commands, anything that can make navigation as a DM easy while using FG.

Thanks for reading this! And uh...Hello!

[dulux-oz]

Hi Pinkatron2000, and Welcome! to the Community,

If you haven't done so already, let me encourage you to take a look at some of the great Tutorial Videos available on the Fantasy Grounds Wiki (and on YouTube). Damn's are good, as are Xorn's, and people seem to like mine as well (mine are also available from the links in my sig, below).

Start with the ones on the CoreRPG, because the CoreRPG forms the foundation of just about all the RPGs we play with Fantasy Grounds - so by learning how to use FG with the CoreRPG you'll learn about 80% of what you'll need to know to play any RPG with Fantasy Grounds. Once you've gone through the CoreRPG Videos you can then go on to Videos about your chosen RPG.

When you get familiar with the basic Fantasy Grounds product the next step is to check out some of the Extensions (Plug-Ins) for FG, such as the DOE: Sound (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?31369-DOE-Sound-Extension), DOE: Locations (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?20794-DOE-Locations-Extension), DOE: Weather (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?22142-DOE-Weather-Extension) and DOE: Organisations (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?27169-DOE-Organisations-Extension) Extensions (to name a but a few - and a Shameless™ Self Plug).

You may also want to drop into the FG College (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?40020-Join-Fantasy-Grounds-College-Learn-Fantasy-Grounds-learn-D-amp-D-and-then-play!); a great place for newcomers to get started.

And of course, there's plenty of Twitch Channels where you can watch games in progress (including my own - https://www.twitch.tv/dulux_oz - another Shameless™ Self Plug).

And keep on asking questions - we're a pretty friendly lot here, and we love answering questions.

Cheers

[LordEntrails]

FGCollege. Of course it wasn't around when I learned.

Not particular to FG, but I put together a GM Advice post with good stuff; https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?36014-GM-Advice

Read the stickied threads, for the Tavern, the Commons and the ruleset(s) of your choice. Lots of good info in those.

Use the Site Search, odds are someone else has asked it; https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=010772646014076752437:l_cx3x-oggq
But, if you can't find it, then ask. Don't spend lots of time trying to figure something out, if you can't find it in the Manual, the Wiki or the forums, then ask. Great community here that never minds helping people out.

[Nylanfs]

Also when in doubt. try right clicking.

[greentongue]

I'm new so I can add,
Use the drag and drop functionality as much as possible so that everything gets carried over and you don't have to hand type in hardly anything.

[damned]

Dont try and do.learn everything all at once
start simple
get the hang of maps, story and combat (without effects) and then when you are ready (youll know) start adding some more stuff

[Halfront]

Hey there. Newbie DM and newbie Fantasy Grounds Ultimate owner. I am a converted Roll20 gal due to the sheer amount of things FG can do that other things I have tried, don't--and the fact that all my D&D nerds live in entirely different states and in some places, countries. The longer I played with setting FG up, the more I new that *slaps roof* this baby wasn't going to be easy to understand at first, despite the fact it was designed perfectly to have almost everything work out of the box. *Slaps roof again.* Can get so many great wiki learning articles out of this baby.

But when you don't understand something, from a completely new comer, until the system CLICKS, it's a lot and overwhelming.

I am currently running my first "Big" campaign, with Storm Kings Thunder purchased module. The last time I DMed anything was taking We Be Goblins and putting it into 5e rules in Roll20 two years ago.

I am learning. A lot. There've been many AHA THAT'S WHAT ITS FOR! moments, and a lot of, "ahhh god so many windows open I don't know what's going on aaaeee," too.

Anyway, too long, didn't read:

If you could get back in your timey-whimey device with the knowledge, short cuts, and system of FG that works for you now....what would you go back and tell your clueless FG new user to do? What shortcuts did you not know, that you wish you did? What means of using the system to give you a linear story ish like line instead of skipping all over trying to find the stories and quests. How did you finally make it work like a smooth tinkerer's clock and not like a baby gnome first discovering tools?

I'm looking for tips, tricks, short cuts, key commands, anything that can make navigation as a DM easy while using FG.

Thanks for reading this! And uh...Hello!

Also look at this forum post:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?45418-Useful-shortcuts-and-tips-to-use-in-Fantasy-Grounds

[JohnD]

I wish I knew that the people I was buying the Ultimate license for weren't going to be interested (absolutely their loss).

Everything else is learned with time and use.

[Pinkatron2000]

Thank you all so much! And I have already nabbed a few add ons that are making my life so much easier as a beginner. Practice makes perfect; I'm lucky in that all my players are new to FG as well, so we're all flailing about equally and they're really patient with me. Happy gaming!

[Nylanfs]

So they are still in the "New Toy! Clicky" state? :)

[Pinkatron2000]

So they are still in the "New Toy! Clicky" state? :)

They are, and any time I make a discovery on how FG makes something SO MUCH easier they all OOOOO and AHHHHH with me. In fact, one of my players loved it so much they gifted Ultimate to their spouse! (She's an awesome DM too, did Mines of Phandelver for all of us a few months ago)