Fantasy Grounds 2 module #1 now available

[EugeneZ]

If anyone here is using the Fantasy Grounds 2 virtual tabletop software, I have developed an FG2 module for War of the Burning Sky #1. EnWorld has graciously agreed to distribute it on the Burning Sky page and you can download it from there any time. However, it is password protected. I sent Morrus a PM to add the question to the WotBS page but until then or simply for reference, the question to be answered is: "Who is the Shahalesti spy?" in lowercase.

The answer to that question will open the zip. Out will come a .mod file, which you can place in the Fantasy Grounds 2 Application Data directory's "modules" folder. Once you've done that, start up your campaign, open the modules manager in the top right, and drag open the book for the module. Then click the tab in your Story, Personality, Encounter, and Images scrolls to access the data. Start with the (Table of Contents) entry under Story for easy access!

Feel free to post any feedback about the module here. I will fix any reported mistakes.

EDIT: Modules 1, 2, and 3 are all available for download on the WotBS page.

[Talysian]

Most Awesome!

[Tanek]

That's incredible, Eugene! Thank you so very much for doing this.

[catsclaw227]

I am assuming it is the 4e version, right? And what additional items do you need to download to run it in FG2 for 4e? Isn't there a framework that can be downloaded?

[EugeneZ]

Yes, the module is for the 4e version of Burning Sky. It's based on the 4E_JPG ruleset, which neither myself nor, I presume, EnWorld, can distribute for legal reasons. I'm not even sure I'm allowed to link to it. However, if you own the Fantasy Grounds 2 product, finding the 4E_JPG ruleset should be pretty easy, either on Google or their own forums. Sorry I can't help more than that.

Edit: However, I can help with anything BUT finding the ruleset. Once you have it, unzip it into the rulesets folder of your FG2 data dir. Feel free to post here or in the FG2 forums if you are having trouble or don't know what to do next.

[EugeneZ]

Someone asked about token resizing, an important issue considering I left all the maps in the original scale (the cleaned up maps were actually kindly provided to me by a fellow DM, whose credits are in the module).

Here's the answer I gave him, in case anyone find it useful:

Here is what you should do:

1) When you open up a map for the first time, drop any token onto it.
2) Use your mousewheel to zoom into the map. You should see that the map zooms, but the token does not.
3) Keep zooming until the token fits neatly into a grid square or whatever size you want it to be.
4) Right click on the token, select the "Lock Token Scale" option. I believe it's on the bottom left. It's similar but functionally different from the "Lock Tokens" button which prevents players from being able to manipulate the token.
5) Zoom back out and you should see that the token now shrinks along with the map.
6) Other tokens dropped onto the map also use the same scale.

The letters use a 50x50 format. If your player tokens are larger/smaller, that may clash with my tokens, even if you are using the system above. If yours are for example 100x100, even if you use the steps above, your tokens will be twice bigger.

There are two ways to avoid that:

1) Resize individual tokens. Depending on if there are more PCs or enemies, simply place the token down on the map by dragging it from the combat tracker. Then use your scrollwheel (possibly while holding Ctrl, don't remember) on the token *in the combat tracker*, not on the map. The token is on the left side. you should see a small number, indicating the relative size of that token, and you should see the token resize on the map.

That method may either be too annoying or impossible if you don't use the combat tracker tokens or some other reason.

2) Use your own tokens. The Fantasy Grounds forums has a number of them available. It's usually best to just use the same type of tokens you are using for your players. The fastest way to replace my tokens is if you use the Encounters scroll. This assumes most of the time, you use the Encounters to populate enemies into the combat tracker. If you drag'n'drop personalities, you have to go through them one by one.

Either way you do it, open up the encounter or personality entry, and drag'n'drop tokens from your token box onto the old token. When you populate the combat tracker, your tokens will be used. Then use the steps above to lock the tokens to the map's scale.

As an aside, I am hoping to resize the maps in #2 to a 50x50 scale so they are uniform. I'm not sure if everyone prefers them that way or if people prefer the original size. After all, you can just do the resizing in FG2. The main benefit would be that it's easier to figure out how to grid each map, since they will all be 50px.

[camelon75]

Hi I just downloaded it and entered the password but it does not accept it, I have a subscription tot he 4E path and was a subscriber to the 3.5 path also.

Must be doing soemthing wrong but I could Pm you what I am typing to see if I am doing soemthing wrong?

[EugeneZ]

I sent you back a PM. In retrospect, our choice of question was rather poor. I'll send Morrus a PM to see if we can improve the situation for the second adventure (which I am in the middle of converting now, BTW).

[Talysian]

Did you do all lowercase? Reason I ask I skimmed it and missed that key point!

[Morrus]

Yeah, as EugeneZ says, our choce of question isn't the best.

For clarification: it's the FIRST name only of the Shahalesti spy who resides at Gabal's school and has a solon familiar, all in lower case.

[Blurr]

Thank you so much for this!

I own a hard-copy of the compiled 3.5e version of WotBS, and seeing as I'm planning on running it in the 4e setting, I wasn't sure if I should just convert it myself or buy the updated 4e pdfs. I figured I'd give it a go and bought module 1 anyways. I also plan to run it through FG2, so I had the arduous task of entering all this info myself as well. This module you've released has saved me a good deal of work and made me feel better about re-buying the adventure to support the site. My gaming group thanks you as well, as they'll be enjoying the adventure much sooner.

As far as the 4E_JPG ruleset, I'm pretty sure it's a free-use addon. It's developed by a group over on the Four Ugly Monsters site, which offers a free download and support. If there were any questions about whether it can be freely distributed, there should be a group board over there and I believe the creator is a guy named moon_wizard. Hope this helps!

[EugeneZ]

No problem. I am glad the module is being used.

As for the 4e_JPG ruleset: Indeed. Moon_wizard is actually JPG, the primary developer, though Tenian, the developer of the parsers, also has done some ruleset work. Tenian was also instrumental in the development of this Burning Sky module. Without his parsers, doing an adventure this size would be a ridiculous amount of work.

4e_JPG is certainly free, but because of Wizards' restrictions on how 4e rules cannot be automated, that puts it in questionable legal water. It's not a big deal for smaller sites or individuals but if Smiteworks (makers of FG2) or EnWorld started hosting the ruleset, it would make them an easy target. Better not test the water, so I felt it was safer not giving too many details about it.

[EugeneZ]

Module #3 "Shelter From the Storm" for Fantasy Grounds 2 is now available

Download it from the WotBS page. I also realized that I never posted an update here when I released #2 about two months ago. I did post over at the FG forums and at FUM, so I hope everyone who is using the modules was able to locate them.

Sharp-eyed DMs might notice that player items, rituals, paragon path powers, etc are all missing from this module. It's not very useful to have this sort of stuff in the DM module, as I discovered during actual use of module #1 and #2. I will be updating all three modules as well as adding a Player's Guide and DM's Guide module sometime in the future. The updated modules 1-3 will contain TWO modules, the DM module as before (with updates, corrections, better maps for #1, etc) and a player module which you should distribute once your PCs obtain some of the goods inside. You probably don't want to distribute the player modules if it's not neccessary since the players will be able to see the contents, which could spoil upcoming items, rituals, etc.