Offline Character Viewer?

[RexCelestis]

It seems like this is a thing in a couple of other supported systems, so I wanted to ask. Is there a way for players to review their characters when the game is not running?

My group is really missing this after our switch from Roll20.

[Skellan]

I think if the players create a campaign they can upload their characters

[Zacchaeus]

You don't say whether you are using Classic or Unity. IN Classic players can click on manage characters and select the campaign the character is in and load that up to view their characters. In Unity players can create a new campaign and then click on the PC buttono and then on the blue import arrow. they will then be able to import any character from any campaign and view the character.

[kronovan]

I think what the OP is asking about, is whether there's a stand alone app or website that can display an exported XML character file. Personally, the suggestions that have been made wouldn't work for my players, as they're hosted via my Ultimate license and don't have their own standard licenses, or the MGT2e ruleset. It'd be terrific if there was a website or stand alone app that could read a Traveller PC XML file. I have no illusions that such an app or web page is just wishful thinking though, but we call all dream. ;)

[RexCelestis]

I think what the OP is asking about, is whether there's a stand alone app or website that can display an exported XML character file. Personally, the suggestions that have been made wouldn't work for my players, as they're hosted via my Ultimate license and don't have their own standard licenses. It'd be terrific if there was a website or stand alone app that could read a Traveller PC XML file. I have no illusions that such an app or web page is just wishful thinking though, but we call all dream. ;)

Thank you for answering one of my questions. My players do not have an Ultimate license and I don't believe are able to create a campaign.

I noticed that their is an XML reader for D&D. There's nothing like that for Traveller (or Vampire)?

[Zacchaeus]

Thank you for answering one of my questions. My players do not have an Ultimate license and I don't believe are able to create a campaign.

I noticed that their is an XML reader for D&D. There's nothing like that for Traveller (or Vampire)?

Again you don't say if you are using Classic or Unity. In Unity demo users can in fact create a campaign and as noted in my post above this is how they would access their characters off line. In Classic it's done via manage characters.

[kronovan]

Again you don't say if you are using Classic or Unity. In Unity demo users can in fact create a campaign and as noted in my post above this is how they would access their characters off line. In Classic it's done via manage characters.

Wow that's cool, I didn't know that the FGU Demo client would allow that. I'm still relatively new to FGU having only migrated form FGC about 4 months ago.
Do the players need to own the MgT2e ruleset in order to build a campaign with the Demo client?
I ask, because due to my countrys $'s poor exchange rate with the USD, the MgT2e ruleset is anything but inexpensive..

[Zacchaeus]

Players can't build a campaign using the demo version; but they can view their characters in a campaign that they have created.

[kronovan]

Players can't build a campaign using the demo version; but they can view their characters in a campaign that they have created.

OK, well you have me confused there. How is it possible for a user to create a campaign without at least a Standard license? Or can they possibly download a copy of the campaign created by the GM's Ultimate or Standard license and treat it as their own? Sorry if these are obvious questions, but if they can't create a campaign with the demo client, it sounds like there's some license purchase required.. Or is it the case, that with FGU there's a difference between "create" and "build" a campaign?

[Jiminimonka]

OK, well you have me confused there. How is it possible for a user to create a campaign without at least a Standard license? Or can they possibly download a copy of the campaign created by the GM's Ultimate or Standard license and treat it as their own? Sorry if these are obvious questions, but if they can't create a campaign with the demo client, it sounds like there's some license purchase required.. Or is it the case, that with FGU there's a difference between "create" and "build" a campaign?

Create the characters on the GM table and then the players can view their character "offline" using their demo version whenever they like.

[kronovan]

Create the characters on the GM table and then the players can view their character "offline" using their demo version whenever they like.

Well I'm aware you could to that with the FGC client (did it myself a few times), but I'm using FGU and from what Zacchaeus is saying, it reads like you need to create a campaign 1st. Which again, if you can't build &/or create a campaign with the FGU demo client, how are you supposed to view a character sheet without owning at least a standard license?

[Jiminimonka]

Well I'm aware you could to that with the FGC client (did it myself a few times), but I'm using FGU and from what Zacchaeus is saying, it reads like you need to create a campaign 1st. Which again, if you can't build &/or create a campaign with the FGU demo client, how are you supposed to view a character sheet without owning at least a standard license?

I dont use Classic anymore. Zacchaeus is saying just what I am saying.

[Zacchaeus]

Well I'm aware you could to that with the FGC demo client (did it myself a few times), but I'm using FGU and from what Zacchaeus is stated, it reads like you need to create a campaign 1st. Which again, if you can't build &/or create a campaign with the FGU demo client, how are you supposed to view a character sheet without owning at least a standard license?

Your original question was could the players build a campaign - which I took to mean could they actually add in maps, encounters, NPCs etc. They cannot do that. But they can create a campaign and use that campaign to view their characters. Now your other question was about rulesets and that is certainly an issue if you are using a ruleset which isn't one that comes free with the demo version of FG. Since you need to select a ruleset in order to create a campaign then you would need to be able to access that ruleset. So in your particular case your players would probably not be able to view their characters off line.

[kronovan]

I dont use Classic anymore. Zacchaeus is saying just what I am saying.

OH OK. But what's the create a campaign requirement, that Zacchaeus and another forum member posted about?

One of my challenges is that unlike FGC, I've never run anything but FGU Ultimate edition. I do run additional instances of FGU on my 2 other monitors and locally join my Ultimate Server as players. Those additional client connections no doubt still use my Ultimate license though. Wish I had a 2nd PC to test this Demo client character sheet viewing with, but unfortunately I don't.

[kronovan]

They cannot do that. But they can create a campaign and use that campaign to view their characters. Now your other question was about rulesets and that is certainly an issue if you are using a ruleset which isn't one that comes free with the demo version of FG. Since you need to select a ruleset in order to create a campaign then you would need to be able to access that ruleset. So in your particular case your players would probably not be able to view their characters off line.

Ahah! OK, now I understand. And yes, in regards to MgT2e, 13th Age and Call of Cthulhu 7, that's going to be very cost prohibitive for my players. As an example; the MgT2e ruleset costs roughly $72 in my Canadian currency. It's cheaper in a sale (especiallly if bought from Steam, as they're better at costing in discounts resulting from the USMC free trade agreement), but even at that it typically discounts to a sale price of about $50 CDN. TBH I don't have any players who'd pony up that amout just to view a PC sheet.

[Edit] I'd love it if there was an offline app or web portal where a Traveller PC sheet could be viewed, but I've worked in enough software development enironments to know that isn't a simple task.

[kairos]

OH OK. But what's the create a campaign requirement, that Zacchaeus and another forum member posted about?

One of my challenges is that unlike FGC, I've never run anything but FGU Ultimate edition. I do run additional instances of FGU on my 2 other monitors and locally join my Ultimate Server as players. Those additional client connections no doubt still use my Ultimate license though. Wish I had a 2nd PC to test this Demo client character sheet viewing with, but unfortunately I don't.

I believe that in FGU, players can create a campaign (call it "Characters") using the demo version (you could not do this in FGC). In that "Characters" campaign, they can manage their character. When they connect to your FGU Ultimate campaign, they can bring in their character from the "Characters" campaign.

FGC has a "Manage Characters" feature that FGU lacks, but FGU does allow demo versions to create campaigns -- you just can't run games out of it.

[kronovan]

FGC has a "Manage Characters" feature that FGU lacks, but FGU does allow demo versions to create campaigns -- you just can't run games out of it.

True enough, but it probably should be noted that this is the Traveller ruleset forum and therefore the OP was no doubt inquiring about Traveller PCs. As Zacchaeus pointed out, you need to own the MgT1e or MgT2e ruleset in order to create a Traveller campaign. For sure I can now see where a D&D 5e or Fate Core PC sheet could be viewed by the FGU client without incurring any additional costs. Different situation though for rulesets that are not freebies.

[GregRex]

There is an official Wish List that the Fantasy Grounds team looks at here: https://fgapp.idea.informer.com/

Currently at 107 and 97 votes are Mobile App Companion and Printable Character Sheets respectively. Might be worth giving a vote to get your voice heard. *edit they already started climbing up

[kronovan]

Cool, thanks for pointing that out GregRex - I voted. Printable Character Sheet would be my priority, but a mobile app would be handy too.

[Edit] I also added my own wish list item to 'Allow Tables to Add to an Existing Story or Encounter' to the list.

[Jiminimonka]

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?27390-Universal-Character-Sheet-Printer-for-FG

[kronovan]

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?27390-Universal-Character-Sheet-Printer-for-FG

Yup, already have that app. Which is why I didn't include Savage Worlds in the rulesets I mentioned above. Note though, that despite being called "universal", that app doesn't provide a way to display and print Traveller PC sheets.

[Vayne187]

this would be neat to have for when the world opens up and say I wanted to use my FG products while playing in person. This would be really cool!

[kronovan]

Yep, for me that's the one area where I could see myself getting some mileage out of a FG mobile app that could run on my tablet. I do already have PDFs for most of what I own for FG, but there's a few I don't and at times it can be a awkward to tab between PDFs on my viewer. Of course with such a mobile app, I wouldn't need to continue buying PDFs, so it could save $. As well, except for a few rulesets that are supported by the FG printer applet, I don't have any way to view a FGU PC sheet on my tablet. I wonder though, if Smitheworks would be willing to develop an applet that embraces/enhances real-world tabletop play, and that in a way competes with their VTT product?

[RexCelestis]

I want to thank everyone for better articulating my request than I could. Indeed, my players are free users of FGU for Traveller MGT2 and Vampire. I'm bummed there's nothing available for them.