A few questions from newcomer to RPG'S and Fantasy Grounds.

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Hello everyone, I am very pleased to meet you.
I recently got into the Mansions of Madness board game and the whole Arkham, Cthulhu scene.
I am really enjoying learning about the lore and reading novels, both the original Cthulhu and the Arkham Horror novels.
I am now wanting to dig a little deeper and noticed FGU has modules for not only Call of Cthulhu but also Vampire the Masquerade, which I would love to try :)
Now for a few questions.
Are there any game systems that are based on the Victorian period, especially anything to do with occult sects?
A Penny Dreadful type game would be amazing :)
What content do you get with the standard license?
Will I be able to edit my characters etc while not connected to the GM?
If I purchased the Cthulhu modules could I practice making my own maps, character sheets, and scenarios, etc?
Many thanks :)

[LordEntrails]

Welcome :)


Are there any game systems that are based on the Victorian period, especially anything to do with occult sects?
Yes, "Call of Cthulhu" is a game system, or what we call a ruleset. There are numerous editions (versions) of the rules. I believe the most current is 7th.


What content do you get with the standard license?
Not too much content, you get lots of rulesystems, which includes the character sheets and the mechanics for the game (i.e. what data fields does an item have? or a spell etc).
You do get System Reference Documents for the games that have them, and with D&D you get the Basic Rules. See the section on Data Libraries on teh "See Details" link on the store page underneath the license types.


Will I be able to edit my characters etc while not connected to the GM?
Yes, but you will be editing a copy of the character, not the GMs version. So you will need to re-import your character next time you join their server. Simple, but necessary step.


If I purchased the Cthulhu modules could I practice making my own maps, character sheets, and scenarios, etc?
Yes, but you can make maps without purchasing any content/DLC. The Demo lets you do that, as well as create characters etc. But it doesn't let you host games. Download the program, install it and just pass by the enter license screen. Then you can start it up and see for yourself. BUT, be aware, some people do not find FG intuitive. It's very powerful, so I strongly suggest you watch some videos, read the manual, or take a free class through www.fantasygroundscollege.net (https://www.fantasygroundscollege.net).

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Many thanks for the reply sir.
The collage looks really interesting :) Just the simple coat of arms and the well drawn images for the class resource etc, it already has good vibes :)
Does the collage have a motto?
Just had a quick nose and is crammed full of information.

[LordEntrails]

Motto? not that I know of. But they do have a mission statement;

Our Mission StatementFantasy Grounds College is committed to providing the highest levels of support and instruction for all members of the Fantasy Grounds Community.

[Granamere]

Welcome

You might also want to look at D&D Ravenloft for the gothic vibe. In 5th edition it would be Curse of Strahd. Earlier editions had much more to the domains of dread hopefully WOTC will be expanding the realms in the 5th edition.

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Welcome

You might also want to look at D&D Ravenloft for the gothic vibe. In 5th edition it would be Curse of Strahd. Earlier editions had much more to the domains of dread hopefully WOTC will be expanding the realms in the 5th edition.

Many thanks, sir.
I did not realize that D&D had a non-standard fantasy ruleset.
My interest is piqued, and I shall investigate further :)

[dragonheels]

Concerning the Penny Dreadful type, I would recommend 'Rippers resurrected' which is a setting for the ruleset 'Savage Worlds'

[Sorontar]

Concerning the Penny Dreadful type, I would recommend 'Rippers resurrected' which is a setting for the ruleset 'Savage Worlds'

I was just about to suggest this and will second Rippers for Savage Worlds as another option - great ruleset and great setting.

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Concerning the Penny Dreadful type, I would recommend 'Rippers resurrected' which is a setting for the ruleset 'Savage Worlds'


I was just about to suggest this and will second Rippers for Savage Worlds as another option - great ruleset and great setting.

Many thanks, chaps, very much appreciated :)
I will check it out.
After doing some investigation, I have also found a few rule systems that look very interesting.
Leagues of Adventure is a late Victorian steampunk, low magic setting. Reading through the info, it has modules that introduce, arcane cults, black magic, and dark secrets :)
This sounds amazing :)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/103275/Leagues-of-Adventure--Core-Rules
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/177744/Leagues-of-Gothic-Horrorhttps://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/177744/Leagues-of-Gothic-Horror
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/180057/Leagues-of-Gothic-Horror-Guide-to-Black-Magic
And then there is Through the Breach RPG. Based on the Malifaux universe this also sounds wonderful :)
I have never played Malifaux but I have always wanted to and know quite a bit about the universe.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/222583/Through-the-Breach-RPG--Core-Rules
I wonder if anyone runs these systems via FGU?
I shall ask in LFG :)

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Concerning the Penny Dreadful type, I would recommend 'Rippers resurrected' which is a setting for the ruleset 'Savage Worlds'


I was just about to suggest this and will second Rippers for Savage Worlds as another option - great ruleset and great setting.

I have just watched an intro to the Ripper's setting and rules on youtube.
He had me at "Think Van Helsing"! With the rippertech and different factions, the game sounds just my cup of tea :)
Is it a popular system on FGU?

[Trenloe]

Is it a popular system on FGU?
It's supported and there are some products on FG for it. I don't know how many people play it though... I've played a few one-shots at conventions and always enjoyed it. The whole Savage Worlds ruleset is very well supported on Fantasy Grounds - very, very well supported.

Rippers is a really good gothic-tech setting. There's the original "Rippers" and then "Rippers Resurrected" (moves the timeline on from the first plot-point-campaign in Rippers). If it sounds like your cup of tea then go for it. FG has a 30 day no questions asked refund policy. Check it out, ask some questions in the Savage Worlds forums, have fun...

[Victor Von Wulfen]

It's supported and there are some products on FG for it. I don't know how many people play it though... I've played a few one-shots at conventions and always enjoyed it. The whole Savage Worlds ruleset is very well supported on Fantasy Grounds - very, very well supported.

Rippers is a really good gothic-tech setting. There's the original "Rippers" and then "Rippers Resurrected" (moves the timeline on from the first plot-point-campaign in Rippers). If it sounds like your cup of tea then go for it. FG has a 30 day no questions asked refund policy. Check it out, ask some questions in the Savage Worlds forums, have fun...
Many thanks, sir.
So if I wanted to run a game, not that I am contemplating this but I like to understand how things work. I would need these products plus at least a standard licence?
Savage Worlds Adventure Edition ruleset
And
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWADE

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=S2P10005FG2

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWRR

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWRRP

[Trenloe]

Many thanks, sir.
So if I wanted to run a game, not that I am contemplating this but I like to understand how things work. I would need these products plus at least a standard licence?
Just these as a minimum if you want to run Rippers Resurrected:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWADE

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWRR

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWRRP

Just these as a minimum if you want to run Rippers:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWADE

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=S2P10005FG2

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Just these as a minimum if you want to run Rippers Resurrected:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWADE

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWRR

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWRRP

Just these as a minimum if you want to run Rippers:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=PEGFGSWADE

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/product.php?id=S2P10005FG2

Many thanks, sir.
Would you suggest starting with Rippers?
What is the main difference between Rippers and Rippers resurrected?

[Trenloe]

Would you suggest starting with Rippers?
Yeah, I like the PPC (plot point campaign) in that a little bit better than the one in RR (Rippers Resurrected)


What is the main difference between Rippers and Rippers resurrected?
RR take place after the events of the PPC in Rippers. It has a little bit of updated mechanics, a little more in line with the more recent rules (but before SWADE).

You can use either with SWADE, there may just be some minor tweaks you may need to make. For example, here's the RR SWADE conversion doc: https://www.peginc.com/store/rippers-conversion-for-adventure-edition-pdf-swade/

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Yeah, I like the PPC (plot point campaign) in that a little bit better than the one in RR (Rippers Resurrected)


RR take place after the events of the PPC in Rippers. It has a little bit of updated mechanics, a little more in line with the more recent rules (but before SWADE).

You can use either with SWADE, there may just be some minor tweaks you may need to make. For example, here's the RR SWADE conversion doc: https://www.peginc.com/store/rippers-conversion-for-adventure-edition-pdf-swade/

Many thanks again, much appreciated :)

[Trenloe]

Many thanks again, much appreciated :)
No worries.

And, to potentially throw a spanner in the works... if you want more gritty Victorian horror role-play (no things like ripper tech, and introducing chance of going insane, etc.). Then look at the Cthulhu by Gaslight era for Call of Cthulhu.

Unfortunately, other than the base ruleset, there's none of these products converted to Fantasy Grounds. But you don't need to add much into FG to play Call of Cthulhu...

Have a look at these products to give a bit of an idea of what's available:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=cthulhu+by+gaslight&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=

This is the main Cthulhu by Gaslight setting book: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/100929/Cthulhu-by-Gaslight

[Trenloe]

I forgot to mention that the Call of Cthulhu ruleset does include the 1890s era as an option (basically has the relevant skills in the character sheet). So you can easily run Victorian era Call of Cthulhu games with the ruleset and add what you need - handouts, maps, story entries, etc. to get playing.

[Victor Von Wulfen]

No worries.

And, to potentially throw a spanner in the works... if you want more gritty Victorian horror role-play (no things like ripper tech, and introducing chance of going insane, etc.). Then look at the Cthulhu by Gaslight era for Call of Cthulhu.

Unfortunately, other than the base ruleset, there's none of these products converted to Fantasy Grounds. But you don't need to add much into FG to play Call of Cthulhu...

Have a look at these products to give a bit of an idea of what's available:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=cthulhu+by+gaslight&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=

This is the main Cthulhu by Gaslight setting book: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/100929/Cthulhu-by-Gaslight


I forgot to mention that the Call of Cthulhu ruleset does include the 1890s era as an option (basically has the relevant skills in the character sheet). So you can easily run Victorian era Call of Cthulhu games with the ruleset and add what you need - handouts, maps, story entries, etc. to get playing.

Many thanks yet again :)
I am already looking into Call of Cthulhu, but more for the investigation aspects. There are so many settings and rule sets available its an adventure reading about them to see which ones I would like to try :)

[Trenloe]

Many thanks yet again :)
I am already looking into Call of Cthulhu, but more for the investigation aspects. There are so many settings and rule sets available its an adventure reading about them to see which ones I would like to try :)
Yeah, there's a lot.

Call of Cthulhu is the original horror role-playing game. But is usually very investigation based. Some will say if you have to go in shooting you've already failed.

Whereas Rippers is very pulp orientated - with fast and furious Savage Worlds action.

Call of Cthulhu brought out more pulpy rules a couple of years ago. But 99% of CoC scenarios you see won't be designed for pulp style play. And there are a sh1t-tonne of CoC scenarios out there. I've been playing on and off since buying a second edition printing from Games Workshop in the mid 80s.

[Victor Von Wulfen]

Yeah, there's a lot.

Call of Cthulhu is the original horror role-playing game. But is usually very investigation based. Some will say if you have to go in shooting you've already failed.

Whereas Rippers is very pulp orientated - with fast and furious Savage Worlds action.

Call of Cthulhu brought out more pulpy rules a couple of years ago. But 99% of CoC scenarios you see won't be designed for pulp style play. And there are a sh1t-tonne of CoC scenarios out there. I've been playing on and off since buying a second edition printing from Games Workshop in the mid 80s.

I just wanted to say thank you for all the help.
I have now purchased FGU full licence and SWADE Core rules, Rippers Resurrected Game Master's Handbook, and Rippers Resurrected Player's Guide, just to get me started.
I would like to start by learning to create a character for RR, is there a specific video guide for this?
Cheers :)