Super Noob (who needs help)

[NeedMoarPikachu]

So my group just recently got on the FG train. Everyone in the group has a standard license (including me, the GM). I bought the Kingmaker module (Book 1) and tried to have our first session on FG today. We previously played on Roll20 so this is a big change for me.

Anyways, today was an absolute disaster. No one was able to see anything I was putting up in the app. I made our map visible to everyone. I added everyone’s tokens to the map (because another thread had mentioned that). Then I exited and made the Kingmaker book available to load for players, which I didn’t do at first since I thought a GM is supposed to keep that secret from the players. So that second time the players loaded it up and the book icon was open for KM Part 1. And I made sure to turn on line of sight stuff on the map. Still nothing. And every time I googled “how to share map on fantasy grounds?” I didn’t see anything other than how to share a specific image with another player by dragging it to their icon. Not actually seeing the same dynamic map being visible to everyone in real time.

So, I’m feeling quite stupid right now to be honest. Would really, REALLY appreciate someone helping me out here. Even a snarky link to some obvious part of the manual I missed will be much appreciated. As long as I can get this thing running the next time my group plays.

Many thanks in advance

[Zacchaeus]

Welcome to FG.

Firstly any modules which show a green tick in the module activation window (click library then modules) is automatically shared with your players when they join your game. If it has a Red Cross then generally that isn’t a module that should be shared. You can change the status (as you probably figured out by clicking on the tick or cross). I’m not familiar with Kingmaker so I don’t know if that’s a module for DMs or players. In many cases where there is a mixture of player and DM material in a book then the data will be split into two modules, one for players and the other for the DM. If Kingmaker is an adventure then the module should not be shared with players (for obvious reasons). If it is a reference then it may be that you want to share it if it contains info you want your players to see, or us otherwise needed in order that they create characters.

to share an image (or anything else) with your players right click on it and select the share option from the radial menu. It isn’t clear to me whether you are saying your players couldn’t see the map that you shared or that they could see the map but not the line of sight. If the latter then you need to make sure you add the player tokens firstly into the Combat Tracker. Drag their portrait icons either from the top left of the screen or from the PCs window and drop onto the CT. then drag the tokens from the CT and place them on the map.

If that doesn’t help, then can you give us more details of what you were trying to do and what you did and what actually the players couldn’t see.

[NeedMoarPikachu]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Based on what you’re saying, it makes it sound like I shouldn’t need to share the Kingmaker module. I had thought this and only did that as a possible solution to the problem.

No one was able to see the map at all even with tokens on it. But, I don’t remember any radial menu thing on that to share it. So, this might be the problem. I’ll try to get one of my players in there and test to see if that was indeed the issue.

[LordEntrails]

IMO, don't try to figure out FG on your own. Take a free class (www.fantasygroundscollege.net), watch a few videos (YouTube) or read the manual. Or best, do a little of all three.

[NeedMoarPikachu]

Yeah, it seems like I’ll need to do that. I’ll definitely have a look since this stuff seems a bit overwhelming.

Also, it was as stupid as the radial menu thing. I swear I had tried it when we were attempting to play today but nothing was popping up.

Now I have to figure out why all the fog of war is disappearing when I add the tokens to the map. I’m sure other issues will continue to arise. Hopefully this college thing is as awesome as it sounds (I can’t believe such a thing exists).

[damned]

Ive never done a class with FG but Ive been using the software a along time.
For me it was quite easy to pick up - also this was before FGU which added some complexity to images - but I suspect that a big part of that was not having used any other VTT previously so I wasnt expecting it to work how something else worked.
It will totally get easier but it does suck to have a complete show stopping session 1.

For me the most important things to learn are -

1. Character Generation - how to do characters in Fantasy Grounds can be fairly specific. I think its a lot less so for Pathfinder 1.
2. Combat. Tokens to CT and from CT to map. Use targeting. Players work from Charsheets and GM works from the CT.
3. Images. Now images are somewhat more complex now...
4. Story - following story, using Index, using next/prev buttons and most importantly using pins on map.

For me everything else can wait.

[DMReckless]

Hey, NeedMoarPikachu, if you've got some time tomorrow night or Wednesday night, I can pop in and walk you through a few things. I'm in Eastern time zone and could do something with you at 6pm tomorrow or anytime in the evening on Wednesday.

Send me a pm if you're interested .

I'm pretty familiar with using Pathfinder in Fantasy Grounds.