R20 Transitioning Questions

[Apshai]

Howdy all,

So - my OSRIC/AD&D group recently decided to transition to Fantasy Grounds from Roll20. The main reason was because we were running the Slaver Series of modules, and the already built ones are just a great way to save time (vs. importing map by map into Roll20).

However, I'll admit we've hit a number of snags in the learning curve which has frustrated us. We've got a few questions we're hoping the community might be able to help us out with :)
Thanks for any assistance.

1. How do we share PCs so they are still available in player's absence?

2. is there any way to have the campaign notes available if the DM (me) isn't running the program? Ie, with Roll20, my players could always prep beforehand by logging and reviewing our Loot/Quest tracker. With FG, it seems like they can't access our campaign without logging in. Is there a way around that?

3. I'm the one who owns the Ulimate License - and I bought the 2E PHB so that items could be imported (which I wasn't thrilled with since we don't even use 2E) - since none of my players have a license or any of the books, when they look at their characters all of the data definitions become broken. Is there any way to fix that, short of each player buying the PHB (which isn't feasible)?

We're liked most of what we've seen from FG (love the party order and language interpreters) but my players not being able to access their PCs and prep for sessions is a bit rough.

Thanks again for any help with these issues -
Apshai

[viresanimi]

1) Only way to let one player, look at another's is to clear the owner. Right click and select in the character selection screen.
2) No
3) Since they don't own the module, they can't access it, as far as I know. You do. So if they log in, it should be good. It's a licensing thing, I am sure.

Can't say that prepping as a player has mattered to me... Ehm. Leave a copy of FG running? Only thing I can think off.

[LordEntrails]

1. As the gm in the character selection window right click on a pc and select clean ownership.

2. No. Players can access read only versions of there characters, but can not edit them unless they export them, import into manage characters or their own campaign then export them again for the gm to import to the play campaign. Stories and notes, party inventory etc are only available when connected to the gm.

3. Did they load the PHB via Library > Modules? They should not have any problems while connected to your campaign, but wont have access to it via Manage Characters.

If you are playing 1E, not sure why you had to buy the 2E book, but I'm not sure proficient in AD&D anymore.

[Zacchaeus]

A good extension to try is the Message of the Day (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?22369-Message-of-the-Day-%28MOTD%29-Extension) extension which allows you to write a story entry which pops up when the players join your game. You can use this to summarise the previous session's key features and/or note the state of quests or whatever. You can alos link things to it like the current map they are on and other things so that they can quickly see what's going on.

Players can access their characters via Manage characters. They should select the name of the campaign when doing so and they'll be able to view their character. They won't be able to edit it however. Only when they are connected to your game can the players edit things.

As for the handbook as others have said make sure that you have shared it in Library > Modules > Green Cross and that your players have loaded the module via Library > Modules > Load.

[JohnD]

Welcome! You have great taste and made the right switch.

There is a 1e extension that you can download and use... not sure where the link is located but if you do a little stumbling around you'll find it. :)

[Apshai]

Welcome! You have great taste and made the right switch.

There is a 1e extension that you can download and use... not sure where the link is located but if you do a little stumbling around you'll find it. :)

Unfortunately - the Slavers modules don't work with any rule set *other* than 2E, unless I'm doing something wrong - am I? We use OSRIC and I found the OSRIC extension and installed it, and, it wouldn't allow me to load in the Slavers modules.

[Apshai]

A good extension to try is the Message of the Day (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?22369-Message-of-the-Day-%28MOTD%29-Extension) extension which allows you to write a story entry which pops up when the players join your game.

This doesn't solve the problem that they can't access the current game notes/loot/quest tracker/storyboard unless I'm running it on my PC.

Since we're an OSR group, one of the things the group loves doing is tactial planning during off-time: managing equipment and loot, tracking XP and training costs, changing up party order, setting up tactical positioning. Not being able to do that when the game isn't being played is...a big problem for us. Right now, I'm understanding the only option is to keep that information on another application like Obsidian Portal (or Google Docs). I don't think the group is going to go for managing two applications.

This is very frustrating - I was enjoying the FG UI, and the Slavers Modules loaded in!

[LordEntrails]

Is it possible for you to leave FG running? Dont know what your computer situation is, but that would mean your players could access it at any time. Just put a password on your campaign for added security.

[ddavison]

Hello Apshai,

It sounds like your other questions were answered, but just in case: For players to access links and the PHB, the GM should make sure it is marked as Shared in the GM's Library. Then the players can go to Library > Modules and open it. Once opened, it will remain opened whenever they re-connect.

For persisting the game between sessions or when the GM is not there, the GM has to launch the game and leave it running and then the players can connect and disconnect at their leisure. Many GMs will open the table up 1-2 hours before a game for this sort of thing, leveling up, shopping for equipment, etc. There is also a chatlog saved on the GM's computer for each campaign. Look for chatlog.html. You can upload this somewhere for players to view offline. It is a running history of everything that has happened in the campaign so far. I don't know if they are still current and up-to-date with all the available rulesets, but some users wrote a tool called the Chat Log Scrubber that extracted and reformatted some of this info to make into nicer to read blogs. https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?8133-Chat-Log-Scrubber-released

[JohnD]

For opening modules in another ruleset there is an extension - it won't give you the NPCs/monsters obviously since those are different across the board, but you'd get the maps, story entries etc....

[JohnD]

Unfortunately - the Slavers modules don't work with any rule set *other* than 2E, unless I'm doing something wrong - am I? We use OSRIC and I found the OSRIC extension and installed it, and, it wouldn't allow me to load in the Slavers modules.

I'm pretty certain that OSRIC ruleset is something that a community member made quite some time ago, quite possibly very outdated in comparison to what FG offers right now in terms of functionality. I don't think it would work with anything other than something specifically created for it (but I could be wrong).

[damned]

Universal Modules will only work with CoreRPG rulesets Im pretty sure.

The 2E ruleset - either with or without the 1E extension will be several orders of magnitude better than the OSRIC ruleset.

[Apshai]

Thank you to everyone for your answers! It's nice to see such a dedicated fanbase.

At this point, I think we're heading (sadly so, I bought the ultimate license and was all gung ho) back. Having to have the DM shift ownership of PCs without just giving them multiple owners + not being able to access/edit characters/equipment/loot offline is a bit of a game-breaker. Will likely mention this to the FG team, perhaps the Unity version could woo us back. I'm worried our game is a bit too DIY for the current version of FG.

[LordEntrails]

Very sorry to see FG hasn't worked out for you. If you bought via the FG store, their is a 30 day money back policy. Just email [email protected].

Happy gaming and thanks for checking out FG.

[damned]

Thank you to everyone for your answers! It's nice to see such a dedicated fanbase.

At this point, I think we're heading (sadly so, I bought the ultimate license and was all gung ho) back. Having to have the DM shift ownership of PCs without just giving them multiple owners + not being able to access/edit characters/equipment/loot offline is a bit of a game-breaker. Will likely mention this to the FG team, perhaps the Unity version could woo us back. I'm worried our game is a bit too DIY for the current version of FG.

Players can edit their characters offline - just go into manage characters.
How often do you switch characters between players? One or two a session at most? Each one is a right and a left click of the mouse.
I dont think either of those will change under Unity.

[Apshai]

Players can edit their characters offline - just go into manage characters.
How often do you switch characters between players? One or two a session at most? Each one is a right and a left click of the mouse.
I dont think either of those will change under Unity.

1. Because of either our inexperience our the system, when my players try to manage their character sheets all the encumbrance rates/weapon damage info was all askew. We are assuming it's because only i own the 2E PHB (which, as mentioned, isn't even the right PHB for our game). We may be wrong(?).

2. Since it's 1E, a lot - not just with PCs, though, mostly with the hirelings/mercenaries. We have 6 players, but the party is 12-strong. With the other guys, we could have one player have control over 3 characters. For instance, our cleric player has their character, an acolyte and an NPC mercenary they control - but on the fly, we often change control of the NPCs to others, there's also the issue of if a player doesn't show.

I think we're going to try one more session. I was just hoping there might be work arounds.

[Nylanfs]

Players can own more than one character, if they are notable NPC's just make a simple character for them, then assign the owner. The current NPC's setup should only be used for cannon fodder.

[ddavison]

1. Because of either our inexperience our the system, when my players try to manage their character sheets all the encumbrance rates/weapon damage info was all askew. We are assuming it's because only i own the 2E PHB (which, as mentioned, isn't even the right PHB for our game). We may be wrong(?).

2. Since it's 1E, a lot - not just with PCs, though, mostly with the hirelings/mercenaries. We have 6 players, but the party is 12-strong. With the other guys, we could have one player have control over 3 characters. For instance, our cleric player has their character, an acolyte and an NPC mercenary they control - but on the fly, we often change control of the NPCs to others, there's also the issue of if a player doesn't show.

I think we're going to try one more session. I was just hoping there might be work arounds.

Neither of those should be an issue.

1. Inventory in most of our rulesets has a toggle for the status of each inventory piece - carried, equipped or not carried. Click the icon to cycle through the options and the encumbrance should update. Coinage is not calculated for encumbrance -- but I think there might be an extension for that. Alternately, you can add an inventory item for it. There is a group called Fantasy Grounds College that it might be worth checking out to take a free class on how to make the most of FG. There is a lot of functionality. If the actual values are different than expected, that might be due to differences between AD&D 2E and 1E. You can edit existing items by dragging the shortcut for the item into your Items window, unlocking and editing them or opening from the character's inventory, unlocking and editing there.

2. Players should select any PCs they want to control from the character selection window. It will show any previously "claimed" characters, newly built characters and unclaimed characters for the campaign. Once claimed, only that player and the GM can access and modify the sheet. If a player is a no-show or a PC or an ally NPC needs to be re-assigned, the player can right-click and Release the character back to the unclaimed pool or the GM can right-click and choose Clear Owner from the Character Selection window. Then any other player can open up the Character Selection window and claim it.

[JohnD]

None of these things should be an issue - just a matter of learning more of FG's functionality which will come with time.

[hawkwind]

You can find some Osric modules and extensions that should work with the 2e ruleset here https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?37777-Project-AD-amp-D-Core-Ruleset and the extension for first edition here https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?37986-AD-amp-D-Core-1e-Extention

This is a module I made that has Osric paladins, druids Doc https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?48988-OSRIC-Classes-part-2. When I did it it worked fine with the 2e ruleset, no idea if it still does