You'll probably add some more text, but I wanted to answer the question inside the thread title itself.
I think Fantasy Grounds should be proud to serve the D&D community in an official way, and that this honor will propel them to much greater success down the line. I'd like to see less emphasis on 5th Edition, of course, and more on previous editions of D&D, too, and also a more welcoming environment for play-by-post games that don't have to use the technology they have.
Looks like he edited his own post since its in the forum heading what he started to type. hopefully this isnt the start of another bashing WoTC and any company that is linked to 5E products like most of the OP's threads, we can hope that anyway!
I've seen it on being used on Twitch and I must say it looks realy polished and easy to use VTT. I hope it turns out well for them but as far as knowing how well its doing is difficult to say with the limited information we have.
I love using it. As soon as they sell Princes of the Apocalypse I'll buy it since I'm using it for my current campaign. Right now I have my own hand input monsters and pcs.
Felt expensive to me. I'm curious but not willing to dive in and pay for it without trying it out first.
I've run about six online campaigns using it, starting in 4th edition. Its a great piece of software. Much better than most of the "free" tables out there. However, when it comes to money - many people don't want to pay anything so thats its one negative - that it costs money to use.
However it has been well worth every dollar i spent on it all those years ago.
Auticus wrote:
I only ever had to buy the software once. I can't speak to what the 5e modules run or cost in addition since my groups are all local now and I haven't run FG for 5e yet.
XunValDorl_of_HouseKilsek wrote:
You get updates to the base engine for free. Same with updates for rule sets you already bought. However you don't get new rule sets for free, unless the rule set happens to be a free one (e.g. 3.5e OGL).
So if you have bought the 5e PHB module, you'll get any updates for the 5e PHB module for free. However if Wotc releases a 5e PHB2, that'll be a separate module you'll have to buy again.
All in all I am not very impressed with the 5e module for FG, there are too many things missing (e.g. resistance from heavy armor master, re-rolling from great weapon style, bonuses from feats in general, etc.)
If you're a DM that uses a fair bit of house rules or even optional rules from the DMG, FG2 can be a bit cumbersome out of the box. You'll end up not using many of the features provided or programming them in. Personally, I'd rather just use a system like roll20 that's a bit more free-form.
Tabletop Connect will be my VTT platform of choice. In beta now but fun to play with. We don't use it to play over the internet but rather use it to project the 3D maps onto our table and mainly use it for usual aid / stimulus.
Mistwell wrote:
...looks at video game industry...
...look of confusion sets in...
Yeah, I think the issue for me is that it requires you to buy it to find out if you might get value from it, and that initial investment is too much of a barrier for me. I'm totally OK with paying for software. I pay for a sub to Obsidian Portal, GitHub, WoW, and I was a DDI subscriber from day zero to long after WotC decided to keep the price the same but drastically reduce the value we got from it. So paying for this stuff isn't a problem. As far as I can tell, it's a hundred+ dollars to get rolling, and I'm not going to spend that money as a trial.
Even Microsoft Word is free to try now. That's just the world we live in.
RCanine wrote:
XunValDorl_of_HouseKilsek wrote:
So what do you actually get for your money anyway? One of my players wants something like PDFs or what Dungeonscape was offering and he has asked about the functionality of this and money doesn't seem to be a problem for him.
Zardnaar wrote:
XunValDorl_of_HouseKilsek wrote:
Zardnaar wrote:
Where is Fantasy Grounds' presence on this site?
They are over on Enworld chatting away and trying to answer people's concerns over the price but you don't see them here.
XunValDorl_of_HouseKilsek wrote:
XunValDorl_of_HouseKilsek wrote:
ChrisCarlson wrote:
If I were creating content for the rpg community, I would be reluctant to step foot in these forums.
Enworld is just as active, and vastly friendlier.
XunValDorl_of_HouseKilsek wrote:
Just to be clear the DM can buy the Ultimate license that lets his players join, play, and use the book he has bought for no cost to them. Also for those wantint to try it out why not find a game in FG's LFG section with a Ultimate license? Alternately there's a couple of GM's that have a monthly "Getting started GMing in FG" session where they run new users through a LOT of the program.
I had no problem switching my group over from roll20 in the middle of Rise of Tiamat. I purchased the ultimate license so it cost them nothing. Once they started playing not a single one would ever go back to roll20. The built in features and automation is second to none. Shortly there after they started buying their own license and modules to play with it outside of my game.
As for roll20 it is not truely free for a DM without severe limitations. If you want more than 100mb for art/maps its not free, if you want api its not free, if you want nice tokens to match every monster its not free, if you want dynamic lighting (one thing FG doesnt have yet) its not free.
If you are unsure as I was you can buy the montly ultimate license and the basic 5e ruleset which will cost you $9.99 (I was paying this for roll20) for the ultimate 1 month license and $2.99 for the ruleset (1 time cost). This allows all the player to play for free and you have access to everything in the basic rules including basic mosters (note basic rules version doenst include token pictures just like actual pdf).
You can then watch https://youtu.be/V-zeGC3e8Ss?list=PLePiBJtKmjLn5IzhpakEcVqAHoYfezZbe which walks you through creating an expedition adventure step by step. The key to FG is to remember you are paying for your time above anything else. You are not required to buy any module if you are willing to spend the time putting that info in, which is what you are required to do in Roll20. However once you see how well most of the stuff is imported in, its hard to pass us having a linked and draggable item PHB right in the software.
So for $13 bucks you and your players can try it out for a month. I find that extrememly reasonable.
Or for people that create their own content?
OoftaMeg wrote:
