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I've just discovered FG2 (I know, don't gasp!). I was wondering how easy it is to import and use CC3 creations (whether overland maps, dungeons, what have you) into the FG2 system. Before my group and I drop $140 or so on FG2, we want to understand how useful it'll be at displaying the maps we create in CC3. Anyone have experience?
Much thanks!
Facie
If you can export it as an image, maps should display without any problems inside FG2.
The only real consideration is file size, like Stitched said you can just drop pngs and jpgs into the campaign's image folder and the GM can display then display the images to the players.
CC3 can make production quality maps for printing and that's far to high a quality for web/monitor display so you will probably want to de-rez and lower the bit depth of the colors or you will spend time transferring high rez pics the monitor won't show any different from a 256 color image.
All the maps I've used with FG have been CC3 with Dungeon Designer. Honestly the Fantasy Grounds part of the process is the easier part, I'm still learning CC3!
That's the question I'm struggling with. I don't have CC3 or any add-on. I had CC (the original) many, many years ago. I've watched the CC3 videos and the interface is cumbersome. How easy is it to make dungeon/rooms that are visually appealing in FG2? I may be better off using my DDI subscription to download maps and then tweak my encounters to match the maps I obtain.
Hello, I have CC3 and DD3. They are very powerful and can be complicated (with the power comes the complexity).
However, using CC3 & DD3, I was able to follow the DD3 tutorial video on You Tube and was creating dungeons with shadows, etc, after only an hour.
They look great, and it doesn't have to be too complicated.
Just my 2 cents
I couldn't agree more, the tutorials on YouTube are FANTASTIC!Quote:
Originally Posted by bradbdavis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekhz1CICTkM is the first one. They've all helped me a lot. It's still complex enough that I have to watch them again when I get to the next map, but I don't mind as long as the reference is there.
Wow, those videos make it look so easy. Applying the sheet function to add shading makes it look 500% better. So when you're done and you export the finished product for FG2, does it export the entire dungeon or just the portions that have rooms actually built? I imagine it exports the unused areas as well in one big file. In other words, in the tutorial, he created a space that was just the temple, but the base map (grids) was much larger. Does it export the entire thing or just, in his example, the temple. Hopefully that makes sense.
One other question. Once I build a dungeon in the program, do I need to make individual battlemaps of the encounter rooms for FG2 or can I just zoom in on the portion of the total map that matters to the encounter? Hopefully that makes sense.
Thanks for your help!
That all depends on how you DM/GM your games. I myself make battlemaps. and use theater of the mind for the general exploration. I have seen others detail the main map so well that zooming is a perfect option.
FG2 accepts any png,jpg file to use as a map, so simply you export your map as an image file and place it in your images folder and that is it the rest is up to how you choose to run your games. keep in mind though that when you have people logged onto your FG server you are forming a network and thus the larger the image filesize the more strain you are placing on the network. ( the evil lag monster enters and he can be a formidable enemy).
I have used CC3 in the past (awesome program) and I remember being able to export only what I wanted. I could be wrong though.
I've never done a dungeon crawl in FG, but I don't think I'd like using the full map. It would feel too much like a board game then. I'd be more apt to make maps of specific rooms.
That sheet function thing is awesome isn't it? I don't know diddly and even I can make a map look good with that!