Lite upgrade to a Full version available to existing users [Archive]

Goblin-King

November 14th, 2008, 16:07

With 2.3.5, we're giving our existing Lite users the much requested possibility to upgrade their Fantasy Grounds to a Full license. The upgrade is only available to users who purchased their Lite license prior to the release of 2.3.5.

The price for the upgrade is $19.95, and it can only be purchased by clicking on the upgrade button in the Fantasy Grounds launcher. This button will be available only to eligible users. You can only have one upgrade in your shopping cart at one time. If you have multiple Lite licenses you wish to upgrade, please do so in separate purchases. The offer is available to Lites bought as parts of a bundle regardless of the payer of the original bundle.

Upon making the purchase, you will receive the upgrade key and be able to download an installer that will do the actual job of setting it up. You will need to be able to connect to our update server to retrieve the necessary files for running the Full version.

This is a one time offer, i.e. we do not have any plans to make a running upgrade product available. I'm not saying we won't ever do it again, but probably not for at least a couple of years. I am mentioning this in case prospective new users are reading the message to avoid giving the wrong impression of the intent of the opportunity.

If you need to do a fresh install of Fantasy Grounds after you upgrade, you will need both the original Lite license key as well as the upgrade key. After upgrading, be sure to store both keys in a safe place.

Finally, I want to thank all the Lite license holders for the feedback regarding this issue, and congratulate all prospective new Gamemasters.

Dragonstar

December 2nd, 2008, 17:51

When will this offer expire? I've had questions about "Christmas presents"! :)

Ged

December 3rd, 2008, 21:13

The "one time offer" refers to it being restricted to the current Lite Licenses. In other words, licenses bought when 2.3.5 is no longer the most up-to-date version will not have the upgrade option, but licenses bought before 2.3.5 will continue to have this option in subsequent versions.

I was about to answer the offer does not expire, but to be on the safe side, unforeseeable things might bring this offer to an end, and thus the perpetualty of the offer cannot be guaranteed.

Thanks for asking for this clarification, I bet others have wondered as well.

Dragonstar

December 4th, 2008, 01:58

Thanks for the update, Ged!

Arazmus

December 5th, 2008, 15:22

Why isn't the upgrade a full-time offer? Someone over on Yog-Sothoth has mentioned that they can't justify a full license this close to Christmas (for an upcoming game), but that they won't buy a Lite license because they want to run games in the future. It seems as though you might be losing some trade by locking people into one or other of the purchase options.

Another option might be to offer a demo version that can link to proper games, but either drops out of the game after 10 minutes or brings up a full window nag-screen for two minutes out of every 15.

MeepoSose

December 6th, 2008, 04:46

I agree. I know several of my in person players are considering FG but really wanted the option to buy the Lite and eventually be able to upgrade it to full. The simple act of splitting the payment into two halves makes it more palatable to them.

Angloson

January 10th, 2009, 12:36

This is the only thread I've found so far that seemed to address this issue. I've got the full license version and I'm trying to convince my friends to play by buying the Lite version.

I thought they could just download the demo and play for one session to see how it is, then maybe they'd buy the lite. But from this thread I see that it is not possible??.

How can the demo version help me? Is there a way to connect with others and do a little demonstration of an online game session without them needing to buy a Full or Lite version. [I think all the versions are cheap, but not everyone wants to buy something without testing it first.]

I'm not slamming any of the versions. I love this software. But I am struggling to find a way to do a playability test online with potential players.

Thanks.

Spyke

January 10th, 2009, 13:04

How can the demo version help me? Is there a way to connect with others and do a little demonstration of an online game session without them needing to buy a Full or Lite version. [I think all the versions are cheap, but not everyone wants to buy something without testing it first.]

I'm not slamming any of the versions. I love this software. But I am struggling to find a way to do a playability test online with potential players.It's perfectly possible to do a playability test online using the demo software, you just have to accept that the features have to be demonstrated within the sample adventure and the d20 ruleset. It's easy to extrapolate the experience to playing within a different adventure and your chosen ruleset.

What SmiteWorks don't provide is a demo that can connect to a licensed version, the demo only connects to the demo. I do agree that it would be a great help if they were to change the demo so that it could temporarily connect to a Full host, and work with custom rulesets.

Spyke

Angloson

January 10th, 2009, 13:10

It's perfectly possible to do a playability test online using the demo software, you just have to accept that the features have to be demonstrated within the sample adventure and the d20 ruleset. It's easy to extrapolate the experience to playing within a different adventure and your chosen ruleset.

What SmiteWorks don't provide is a demo that can connect to a licensed version, the demo only connects to the demo. I do agree that it would be a great help if they were to change the demo so that it could temporarily connect to a Full host, and work with custom rulesets.
Spyke

Wow, thanks Spyke for the quick answer. So, I guess I'll just download the Demo and ask them to do the same. That'll be good enough, I think. I'll try to upload some of my maps, images and tokens at least temporarily for the session and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

Spyke

January 10th, 2009, 13:51

Wow, thanks Spyke for the quick answer. So, I guess I'll just download the Demo and ask them to do the same. That'll be good enough, I think. I'll try to upload some of my maps, images and tokens at least temporarily for the session and see how it goes.

Thanks again.Sadly you won't be able to load your maps and other resources into the demo, that's one of its limitations, but it comes with an adventure built in with maps and tokens to play with. You can also only have two players connected at a time with the demo, but that should be sufficient to test the software.

Spyke

Angloson

January 10th, 2009, 15:34

Yes, thanks Spyke. I just read that I could not use my own images. No problem though. I can't wait to try this.

Spyke

January 10th, 2009, 15:54

Remember that as GM you'll need to forward port 1802 to your computer if you're behind a router, so that your players can connect. See the various posts on this forum for help with that if you're stuck.

Spyke

Angloson

January 11th, 2009, 17:44

Thanks. At the risk of sounding like a complete computer idiot.... How do I open port 1802 and forward it as well? I have a Belkin router.

EDIT: I figured it out. Just had to think back to the old days when I actually hooked it up.

Spyke

January 11th, 2009, 20:12

Good. If you're trying to convince your players to buy licences then I strongly suggest you try out your connection with someone else first. Nothing will turn them off quicker than connection woes! I'm also in Europe and around most evenings this week if you want me to try to connect to you.

You can use www.pcflank.com to check that your port 1802 is open.

(Note that your players don't need to open any ports. FG will work fine for them as long as they can see the internet.)

Spyke

Oberoten

January 11th, 2009, 21:56

https://oberoten.dyndns.org/fgwiki/index.php/Networking

Should cover the basics of how and why.

- Obe

forsaken1111

February 20th, 2009, 11:18

Someone earlier voiced a question as to why the option to upgrade is not a full-time offer. Has any thought been given to this matter? I know that my players are unwilling to pay out the money for a full license right now, but should they wish to run a game in the future I seriously doubt they would be happy paying full price for a full license and letting their lite license essentially go to waste.

Enforcer84

March 21st, 2009, 23:17

Oh! Oh! I have a question.
If I have a lite license currently, and I purchase the full license to run games can I turn my light license over to one of my players?

unerwünscht

March 21st, 2009, 23:48

Oh! Oh! I have a question.
If I have a lite license currently, and I purchase the full license to run games can I turn my light license over to one of my players?

This has been a very touchy subject on the forums at least once before. The end result was according to the EULA no, you may not give away a used license, however legally in the United States it would technically be covered under the Doctrine of First Sale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine).

I kinda see both sides of this argument, and can understand the arguments for each. I still think the best solution to said situation would be floating license keys, but I don't think Smite Works will ever include floating licenses.

Enforcer84

March 22nd, 2009, 02:06

Not a problem. THanks for the response!
So I just upgrade my lite license to full and buy another light for my players?

Enforcer84

March 25th, 2009, 00:41

New Problem. Went ahead and got the full license but it doesn't seem to actually be updating. I run it and it stops.

willow

July 21st, 2009, 08:54

I don't see the upgrade button in the launcher. My version is v.2.4.4 Lite. What to do ?

Griogre

July 21st, 2009, 21:10

I don't see the upgrade button in the launcher. My version is v.2.4.4 Lite. What to do ?

With 2.3.5, we're giving our existing Lite users the much requested possibility to upgrade their Fantasy Grounds to a Full license. The upgrade is only available to users who purchased their Lite license prior to the release of 2.3.5.

The upgrade was only available to customers with versions 2.3.5 or lower. They may offer it again in the future though.

Should I decide to go for a lite license at first, could I upgrade to full license later on?

We do not generally offer upgrades, and if you are pondering this issue right now, there is no upgrade path available. However, if you have purchased a Lite License of Fantasy Grounds earlier, you might be eligible for purchasing an upgrade; more information here: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9296

If you or your group requires more than one license, you can take advantage of the bundle pricing in the Fantasy Grounds Store.

armlocks101

August 21st, 2009, 00:42

Are there any talks or anything in the works for another offer of lite to full upgrade?

Griogre

August 21st, 2009, 03:38

Not that I've heard. They may only do it every few years.

Neve12ende12

October 25th, 2009, 06:46

Well it has been almost two years. I must say I am new to Fantasy Grounds and I love it. I hope perhaps you weren't kidding when you mentioned offering an upgrade from Lite to Full in about two years because I got the lite not knowing just how inconvinent it was for Living campaigns.

unerwünscht

October 25th, 2009, 08:58

LOL.... This thread was started on 'November 14th, 2008' how is that almost 2 years? Its not quite 1 year......

But onto the topic at hand, I would like to see the opinion of the new owners on this topic. I had honestly forgotten that it was even an option, and I have some lite licenses that just might need an upgrade soon.

Leonal

October 25th, 2009, 09:15

It was mentioned not to long ago.

The lite license will remain the same price-wise for the time being. I have no plans to change that although I may look to provide a permanent lite to full upgrade path.

Link (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showpost.php?p=79914&postcount=117)

unerwünscht

October 25th, 2009, 19:08

Oh... not sure how I missed that.

ddavison

November 16th, 2009, 20:40

Lite to Full upgrade should now be active and available for all users. You need to check for updates and make sure you are running the build 2.6.2 or later.

LilCthulhu

January 7th, 2010, 03:09

Ok where can I redownload the lite to full upgrade... the problem is that i have latest FG updated with my lite license on a new computer and need to install the full version but i can't figure out how to put that license key without the lite to full exe file that i can no longer install...

Matter of fact, why does FG is unable to recognize my lite to full license key as a full license key ? Withouth that damn exe...

As someone who's developping a ruleset on multiple pc and now a laptop, I find this irritating... As a lite to full upgrade, I am not a full user ?

Remind me of Orwell's the farm :) All are equals but the pig are more equals :)

LilCthulhu

January 7th, 2010, 03:10

ps the order history does not allow me to redownload the file I already bought withouth paying for it again ;)

LilCthulhu

January 7th, 2010, 03:15

Found the file... but none the less, availability to d/l FG and put the upgraded license key would be nice...

LilCthulhu

January 9th, 2010, 22:21

Hmm,

So any official response ? Any chance the upgraded license key be recognized as a real full license key ? That would be real nice ;)

ddavison

January 10th, 2010, 00:01

LilCthulhu

January 10th, 2010, 00:13

We will look into it if we start looking back into the upgrade code. The way the license keys are generated, it actually is not as straight-forward as changing the status of the license. That would be nice though.

Thanks for the quick reply, my only concern really is that I/we can't download the license-upgrade exe file anymore...

So what would happen if we lost this file ? And without this file, the "upgraded" key is not accepted ? As a developer myself, I can understand why the upgrade key is not a full key per se... (as you don't want the lite key that was generated upon to be available to another user)... but it would be nice ;)

The other thing worth thinking about would be to allow two full key or two upgraded key to be able to be connected at the same time to the same host... for testing purposes (one as gm-host, the other as a client) ... just for testing purposes.

CoachClark

February 10th, 2010, 01:18

I just purchased the upgrade. I followed the instructions and installed the upgrade in my Lite folder(done automatically).

It still shows the licenses as Lite and there's been no change. Please advise me on what I need to do to make this work.
Thank you.

ddavison

February 10th, 2010, 01:27

I am not sure what you mean. You have a lite license installed and then you run the LiteToFullUpgrade.exe and supply it your upgrade key and it will update it for you. Are you saying that when you launch FG again it says Lite and not Full?

If you need further assistance, you can typically get a faster response response by sending an email directly to [email protected]

djzombie

June 5th, 2010, 08:09

I checked out the demo software and I am also watching a few tutorial videos.

The software looks really amazing for what I want to do. I'm responding to this thread because my problem is similar to what is mentioned here already.

I would love to buy this software, I would definitely pay for a lite license right now if I knew I was able to upgrade to full in the future.

Right now I would be content with just joining other people's campaigns with a light license. However I have a group of friends I'd like to DM for, so that is why I would want a guarentee to upgrade.

All in all I may just break down and buy the full license if I have the money some week. It seems there is a pretty active community here with many campaigns to choose from, and all locally here on the site.

It's really what I've been looking for in terms being able to play dnd online that has an active community.

A guarentee I'd be able to upgrade in the near future would just seal the deal for me.

Sorry if I just wrote this long post for nothing, I was just reading back through the thread and found this quote:

Lite to Full upgrade should now be active and available for all users. You need to check for updates and make sure you are running the build 2.6.2 or later.

If I can get confirmation that an upgrade to full is possible at any time in the future, I will be purchasing a lite license this tuesday.

Moon Wizard

June 5th, 2010, 18:33

The Lite to Full upgrade is definitely available. There is also a Full to Ultimate upgrade available as well.

Regards,
JPG

Griogre

June 7th, 2010, 05:56

As Moon said the upgrade is definitely available, you will save a bit of money if you can buy the full version right away as you seem to be sure you are going to DM because the lite + the upgrade to full costs more than just buying a full license.

orien45

September 2nd, 2010, 00:38

I have a Lite license and wish to upgrade, however clicking on the Upgrade to Full' button does nothing and I see no links anywhere else to direct me a a place in the store to purchase an upgrade. Am I missing something?

*edit: I am asking this for one of my players, personally I have 2 Full licenses and 3 Lites.

ddavison

September 2nd, 2010, 01:27

Clicking on the upgrade button should launch the web-browser and compute a special code based on your lite license key.

orien45

September 2nd, 2010, 12:21

It does nothing. The button changes color for a moment, showing that you did, indeed, click on it, but nothing more.

The Lite license is one I bought for my players, is that a reason? They have not been used by/for anything else, they still have that 'new license smell' and everything.

Kalgor

September 2nd, 2010, 23:25

hello, Im the person that Orien45 bought the lite license for and when I try and click the upgrade button nothing happens.

Griogre

September 3rd, 2010, 00:24

You will probably get a faster response if you e-mail [email protected]

Send them your license key and let them know you are trying to upgrade from lite to full.

ddavison

September 3rd, 2010, 05:54

I checked your license and it looks fine. We get a fairly regular group of upgrades and have received several of the last week. What is set as your default browser? Maybe it is having a problem launching your Internet Browser.

I will send you some follow-up info via email as well.

mfitzi

March 19th, 2011, 05:35

So, just to confirm. If I buy a full license and my friend buys a lite. If he decides to upgrade to full, will he still be able to? Also, what is the cost of each upgrade? lite - full, full - ultimate?
Thanks!

ddavison

March 20th, 2011, 03:20

Correct.

Lite to Full is 19.99

Full to Ultimate upgrade is $115

It is slightly cheaper to buy the version you want up front, but you can spread it out and ease your way into things if you prefer.

mfitzi

March 20th, 2011, 06:29

Correct.

Lite to Full is 19.99

Full to Ultimate upgrade is $115

It is slightly cheaper to buy the version you want up front, but you can spread it out and ease your way into things if you prefer.

Great, thanks for the reply!

Last question. In order to get a bundle, does one person need to buy all the license or can they be purchased individually?

Thanks!