Where’s the best place to ask “dumb, beginner” questions that most will already know?

[Steve Geddes]

I’m spending ages learning the basics and with other forums I’ve found there’s often experienced users who are happy to help out newbies. However, that doesn’t seem to be the done thing here.

I’m talking easy things like how does a player select their PC and add it to the map? How do they get their characters into the campaign?

Google search often leads to YouTube videos from a few years ago (which are presumably out of date).

Is there a place on the forums here where repetitive, beginner-focussed threads would be expected rather than irritating?

[Steve Geddes]

I should add, I’m using the wiki and help files as well which are okay (but generally work better once you’re reminding yourself, rather than learning).

This isn’t a question about “how do I learn FG?” but is rather about how the forums can help with that.

Cheers

[damned]

Ask away. No one here bites. Much.

[Steve Geddes]

In this subforum? (We’re playing starfinder, but questions like “How do my players get their PCs into the campaign?” are probably not system specific).

[damned]

If its ruleset specific ask in the ruleset forum.
Most players make their toons on the GMs server in the campaign.
Are you using FGU or FGC?

[Steve Geddes]

FGU (I didn’t want to learn twice!) - none of my players will spend any money though, they’re all going to use the free version.

Am I understanding right - I log on, they all join the campaign and we then have a kind of “Session zero” where they build their PC all online?

One problem I found is that despite marking all the rulebooks I own available for players, when I tried a dummy run, the player couldn’t see any equipment. Does player visible stuff still default to “not shared”?

(Thanks very much, by the way. You’re very responsive for a Supreme Deity!)

[Steve Geddes]

I have another question about using the cloud server vs port forwarding (?)

I want it to be easy and straightforward, so I’ve steered away from the latter, but I did hear when I tried to setup FG that the servers were struggling with all the extra quarantine related load. Does that mean the cloud server option is going to suffer in coming weeks and we’re not going to be able to seamlessly connect?

If I try setting up port forwarding is that pain I only need to go through once? (I stopped learning about computers back when floppy disks stopped being floppy, so I’m pretty clueless IT-speak wise).

[damned]

Good news or bad news?
Port Forwarding will work much better for you.
You are in AUS you should be able to do Port Forwarding though Im not familiar with your ISP...
Do a Port Forward of UDP 1802 to your computer IP and have your players use the IPv4 address.

Post a tracert 8.8.8.8 please

[damned]

Oh and a good deity responds to devotees.

[Trenloe]

Google search often leads to YouTube videos from a few years ago (which are presumably out of date).
The answers to the general questions you're asking won't have changed in the past 6+ years. The current main version (v3 with CoreRPG functionality) was released at the end of 2013.

Also, FG Classic is very similar to FG Unity for most things. The main differences at this point are map creation and line of sight. Everything else will be the same - even putting PC tokens on the map (put the PC in the CT first, then add their token from the CT to the map).

There's plenty of resources out there - don't be put off by them being a few years old or being for FG Classic.


... with other forums I’ve found there’s often experienced users who are happy to help out newbies. However, that doesn’t seem to be the done thing here.
Hhhmmm, don't know where you're getting that idea from. These forums have always been renowned for welcoming new users and helping them out. We have a massive influx of people on the forums at the moment and a lot of the "old hands" are struggling to keep up with all of the questions. So some of us in this current high pressure situation won't be able to spend the amount of time we usually can with new people, and we may also get a bit short when someone asks the same question that's been asked many times recently.

All I'll suggest is do some research to help yourself first - the "Site Search" button at the top of the forums helps a lot with regularly asked questions, look in the Wiki (or download the user guide) and watch some of the videos. We'll be happy to answer questions, but may take a while to get round to them, and our responses may just be a link to where it's been discussed before - few of us have the time to type out a specific answer, especially when that's covered elsewhere.

[Steve Geddes]

Good news or bad news?
Port Forwarding will work much better for you.
You are in AUS you should be able to do Port Forwarding though Im not familiar with your ISP...
Do a Port Forward of UDP 1802 to your computer IP and have your players use the IPv4 address.

Post a tracert 8.8.8.8 please

Well, now I know how to find the command prompt in new windows, so I'm already learning...Here's my result:

Tracing route to dns.google [8.8.8.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms <1 ms <1 ms mygateway [192.168.0.1]
2 11 ms 11 ms 11 ms adl1-l101.bng.optusnet.com.au [42.241.0.1]
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 31 ms 31 ms 31 ms hu0-6-1-1.22rrpr01.optus.net.au [124.19.61.126]
8 32 ms 33 ms 32 ms 74.125.147.174
9 31 ms 32 ms 32 ms 108.170.247.49
10 32 ms 32 ms 32 ms 209.85.247.127
11 31 ms 30 ms 30 ms dns.google [8.8.8.8]

Trace complete.

[Steve Geddes]

... with other forums I’ve found there’s often experienced users who are happy to help out newbies. However, that doesn’t seem to be the done thing here.

Hhhmmm, don't know where you're getting that idea from.
I didn't say that very well (which is pretty usual for me).

What I meant was there doesn't seem to be a "newbie forum".

I wasn't actually commenting on the other posters, although it sounded that way. I have no interactions beyond this thread to judge the community on and this thread has been extremely helpful!

[damned]

jump onto your router and confirm that the router status page shows the same external IP that FG reports please?

[Steve Geddes]

The FG Internal IPv4 address is the same.

I'm currently connected via ethernet cable, will it matter if I run the game over wifi (to the same router)?

[damned]

The FG Internal IPv4 address is the same.

I'm currently connected via ethernet cable, will it matter if I run the game over wifi (to the same router)?

External
Its external that your players connect to
(at least initially)

[Steve Geddes]

Okay - yes the external is the same too. (It didn't show on the first page).
Cheers.

[Steve Geddes]

Alright...following the how to port forward wiki I'm at the stage "Run Test on the Fantasy Grounds Screen" and I can't for the life of me find that. Any clues?

[damned]

That was written for FGC

You would log onto your router and create a UDP Port Forward.
Forward UDP 1802 to your Computer LAN IP on Port 1802.

Also make sure your LAN connection in Windows Network and Sharing Centre is set to Private

[Steve Geddes]

Thanks. I'm trying it now (seeing if I can login to the campaign from a different FG account).

It brings up another point - when I choose Host campaign it takes around four, five minutes of splash-page before the campaign opens. I had presumed that was due to server load but now I'm using Port Forward, that seems very slow?

[damned]

Share your IP and Ill test your connection

[Steve Geddes]

42.241.37.227

[damned]

Didnt work.
Have a look at the Fantasy Grounds Connections Explained thread.
FGC uses TCP but FGU uses UDP.
Everything else is the same.
Go thru the first post and if you find nothing wrong and you would like me to have a look at your setup remotely then PM me your email address

[Steve Geddes]

Thanks very much for all your help...I'll have a read over the weekend - this is all way over my head, so I could easily have done something stupid.
Cheers.