Well I've taken the plunge and picked up a copy of the full client (not the ultimate). Just had the chance to play around a little bit, but holy moly is there a pretty steep learning curve.
I'm very interested in seeing what can be done with it. Even if there is no way of my being taking part in anything that you manage to get up and running, I will be a keen spectator (and no doubt will chip in with gratuitous comments/advice).............
As mentioned previously, we did look at this last year and as a result, panzerde did buy it, although I can't remember which version he brought.
Well besides a $120 dollar difference. The major difference is that the full client allows you to be the player/DM with others who own the full/ultimate client or host 1 demo, but the demo has no save features. The ultimate client allows for unlimited number of demo clients to join and save to the hosts game files. I'm sure there is a bunch of other stuff but that's the jest of it.
Full comes with basic core rulesets for 3.5/4/5 D&D and Pathfinder. I'm still messing around with it so I really don't know much beyond that right now.
I bought it in a sale a while back. Like you, I was was surprised at the learning curve. I also thought I would create a Gamma World ruleset for it. Then I saw the learning curve to do that. :o
Well the plan is to get a Grogheads RPG group together for a Pathfinder or maybe 5e D&D campaign. What I do know is that the Pathfinder/3.5 and 4e rulesets have more limited automated features than the 5e D&D but you pay a premium for it.
I'm hopefully going to be able to link up Double Deuce to get some hands on training. Otherwise there are a ton of youtube videos and the FG forums for tips and advice.
FG could become a full fledged hobby. /smh/ Just what I need is another distraction in life. But I guess it's easier than my plan to take up painting minis and much less messy.
I think FG now comes with the newly released 5e D&D SRD so you can drag and drop a lot of stuff to the character sheet from there. I have the ultimate license so if we can arrange times, I would not have limits on the number of connections, even those who just have the demo. The biggest obstacle will be in scheduling compatible connection times.
I messed around with creating characters for both Pathfinder and 5e D&D. I'm not going to lie I might end up cracking and just going with 5e. It's just so much easier to deal with in FG. The price is painful since I'd basically have to double buy the books. 1 for FG and 1 for the actual table. /sigh/. I thought I'd broken away from WotC since I have bought or played MtG in a few months.
MD and I spend a couple of hours muddling through the FG UI. Hell we even did a combat encounter that was only half half-assed!
We both might need to read the 5e rules better. :P
Just spent a couple of hours playing around with Bison. Got some combat in, too. Looks really good.
Quote from: Bison on March 05, 2016, 12:08:15 AM
MD and I spend a couple of hours muddling through the FG UI. Hell we even did a combat encounter that was only half half-assed!
We both might need to read the 5e rules better. :P
I'll be a pro by the end of tomorrow night!
Quote from: bbmike on March 04, 2016, 02:14:04 PM
I bought it in a sale a while back. Like you, I was was surprised at the learning curve. I also thought I would create a Gamma World ruleset for it. Then I saw the learning curve to do that. :o
I saw someone did a Gamma World to D&D 5e conversion but haven't looked at it. You could create a custom library and then use the 5e ruleset?
I have used FG for about a year once our group ended up scattered around the country.
I like the system very much, but as its quite powerful the learning curve is rather big. Basic functionality to start playing is easy to learn though.
You will broaden your skillset by playing.
If you are more interested in a play- by-email kind if setup (which you could also use FG for as a campaign management system) www.tavern-keeper.com is a very nice setup.
Quote from: Double Deuce on March 05, 2016, 01:24:07 AM
Quote from: bbmike on March 04, 2016, 02:14:04 PM
I bought it in a sale a while back. Like you, I was was surprised at the learning curve. I also thought I would create a Gamma World ruleset for it. Then I saw the learning curve to do that. :o
I saw someone did a Gamma World to D&D 5e conversion but haven't looked at it. You could create a custom library and then use the 5e ruleset?
I didn't see that. I was actually going to create the Gamma World 1st edition set. :D
I'm learning how to create adventures, which a challenge in itself. I wouldn't even dream of trying to convert and entire gaming system.
Quote from: bbmike on March 05, 2016, 08:48:19 AM
Quote from: Double Deuce on March 05, 2016, 01:24:07 AM
Quote from: bbmike on March 04, 2016, 02:14:04 PM
I bought it in a sale a while back. Like you, I was was surprised at the learning curve. I also thought I would create a Gamma World ruleset for it. Then I saw the learning curve to do that. :o
I saw someone did a Gamma World to D&D 5e conversion but haven't looked at it. You could create a custom library and then use the 5e ruleset?
I didn't see that. I was actually going to create the Gamma World 1st edition set. :D
It wasn't a ruleset but was a conversion document for the pen and paper version. From that you can build the data libraries.
Hmm, I need to check that out. Thanks! :)
I haven't read through it yet, but here is the link Dungeons and Dragons GAMMA FIVE! (http://araknophobia.deviantart.com/journal/Dungeons-and-Dragons-GAMMA-FIVE-561426013)
I was just searching for it to no avail. Thanks again!
DD if you build a campaign can you go back and edit to add new content without losing player character data?
Yes, you can edit stuff unless you export it to a library, iirc you cannot edit the library itself after doing that. As long as you do not delete the campaign itself you can access and edit the data but the exported data library you cannot. The way to fix that is to update your campaign and the export it with the updates to overwrite the previous library file.
What I do is create a campaign named something like 'Module Creation" and build the each individual module there rather than in my live game campaign. Then for the game session I activate the 'module' to have it accessible.
Hmm...interesting. I'm just starting to play around with how all of the various information boxes are linked together. I made a very, very simple module that linked the story, encounter creatures, map, and loot parcel. It seemed to work well enough but next I'm moving up to linking several encounters in a mini story arc.
So here's my first fully self created encounter. It's just a very simple encounter with 3 kobolds at their campfire along the side of a path in the forest. The images have much better resolution in game. Not too shabby for a n00b, I think.
Self Made Kobold Tokens
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi830.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz227%2FBison36%2FKobald%2520Tolken_zps2u2q177v.png&hash=f8dd8efe1e838aaa44e8492bbf47ed7662cd747a)
The full FG view from the DM screen
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi830.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz227%2FBison36%2FFG%2520Kobald%2520Encounter%2520Full_zpsh8pzctea.png&hash=282c4bfe8c0b944a98a8954971c6a3ac917968ce)
The self made map close up with tokens.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi830.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz227%2FBison36%2FFG%2520Kobald%2520Encounter_zpsuimnbfgt.png&hash=c880f9429c9bd76346108d8a15fe6e056be095bf)
And my beta fish :)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi830.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz227%2FBison36%2FIMG_0178_zps04v7szzc.jpg&hash=71458d7b42ec85a8154d32ad4f101095c3b381e9)
I might have a serious addiction to this program developing....I'm going to start work on converting a module to a full blown FG one. /sigh/ There goes the little free time I have left in life. :(
It is addicting, I probably spend more time building stuff and working on 5E conversions than I do actually playing.
Spent 4 hours last night text chatting and RPing with an old friend. It was the first time in decades that we'd played an RPG together. Needless to say he's going to upgrade from the demo client at some point. I'm not sure why I didn't explore this program earlier. Sure going to bed at nearly 3 AM isn't as cool as it once was after a night of RPGing, but it was fun. We mangled the 5e rules too. /sigh/ I need to upgrade my rules knowledge above the basic rule book level.
Quote from: Double Deuce on March 06, 2016, 02:05:55 AM
It is addicting, I probably spend more time building stuff and working on 5E conversions than I do actually playing.
I'd be interested in seeing some of your work. I know sometimes there is licensing issues, but if you have something simple you could share that'd be awesome.
I think I have 2 5E modules done. I'll see if I can upload one depending on the size. The rest is mostly a HarnMaster to D&D 5E conversion of races, classes, backgrounds, etc.
Have you guys done any Savage Worlds stuff with FG?
I have finished reading through the hardcopy rulebook and have the SW ruleset for FG but haven't had the chance to actually play the system yet.