Fantasy Grounds Is Going Free To Play

Fantasy Grounds, the Virtual Tabletop (VTT) which launched over 20 years ago in 2004, has always been a premium option for VTT users. That is--until today! Because, effective immediately, Fantasy Grounds is free to use.

Previously an FG license cost $50, and then you had to buy the games and other modules you wanted to use with it. As of today, all users can host and join unlimited games with no purchase or subscription.

The software itself is free, although of course the marketplace contains a massive quantity of official licensed content, and add-ons like art, maps, tokens, and digital dice. Officially licensed material includes Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition, Traveller, Call of Cthulhu, and more, with over 50 game systems and more than 3,000 products.

There's also a new 'Online Reader'--a web-based compendium which enables you to access your Fantasy Grounds library from your browser.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

I just got an invoice saying my usual subscription fee was successful. Not sure how that is free.

Was there a debit on your bank account/credit card? Maybe it was an automated email that someone neglected to disable?

 

[Black Dougal]

Hit my Paypal this morning. I reached out to support. Awaiting a reply but today is a Holiday so probably take a couple of days to get an answer.

 

[Black Dougal]

Monies were refunded but now I have no license.

EDIT: they took care of everything and refunded the monies as mentioned. woot woot. I saw an unlicensed popup message when I booted it up and did not understand why I was seeing it. Customer support got me all straightened out.

 

[Hussar]

Monies were refunded but now I have no license.

EDIT: they took care of everything and refunded the monies as mentioned. woot woot. I saw an unlicensed popup message when I booted it up and did not understand why I was seeing it. Customer support got me all straightened out.

((Really, REALLY not directed at you. Like, not at all. Not even a little. Just using your story here as a really, REALLY good example))

So, you're telling me that you had a problem with payment, contacted customer support, had a bit of a wonky bit with understanding the resolution (totally understand that by the way, been there) and everything was resolved in about an hour.

Wow, what a horrible company.

 

[Black Dougal]

Yes, the confusion was when I booted up I saw a popup that said my product was unlicensed. I am no longer seeing it. I prefer FGU as I can actually create pretty massive homebrew campaigns and sandboxes and make it my own. I do however think some of the communication and software can be a bit wonky for 2025 but they seem to be tightening that up as promised. The web reader is awesome as well. My players of course love the dice improvements.

My current account is 5 or 6 years old but I started using FG in mid 2000s. There wasn't much out there back then in the way of VTTs. But overall for our game it works, especially since I relocated 1800+ miles away and everyone wanted to continue playing.

I didn't expect an answer until the 12th given the holiday but I'd say a couple of hours and everything was straightened out.

 

[LordEntrails]

If blackmail is actually what I'm doing, then I would be engaging in illegal behavior under Federal Law: 18 U.S. Code § 873

So your conscience should probably be telling you to contact the FTC, the DOJ, or some other three-letter federal agency to report it.

P.S. I've made my clarification regarding what I think needs fixed. Whether Smiteworks does or does not act on it beyond whatever they've already done makes no difference to me. I wanted other users, potentially other consumers of their product, to know what I observed. I've done that, and I'm personally satisfied to be completely done with this thread, unless others want to throw more stuff at me personally.

I can't say that I won't eventually tire of people throwing stuff at me, nor that I won't use the ignore function. But please don't misconstrue that as anything other than a tongue-in-cheek response. =)

P.P.S. This post should be included in any discovery process (if needed).

Well, since you are being pedantic. "Blackmail" has more than one definition. The one that I think was more than obvious that I was using is "to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc.." Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words

Talking about what has been made clear is:

• The issue you complain about is not common (7 reports over 5 years with over 500,000 users is basically trivial.)
• Other in this thread have clearly stated that they have done what you want(ed) to do with no issues or problems.
• The proper way to have your problem resolved has been given to you twice, which you refuse to do.
• Instead you give a negative review and state that if you get what you want you will revise your review. aka, an attempt to coerce SmiteWorks into doing what you want.

But hey, if you have no interest in the software, then why would you care if the installer works or not? Reminds me of this thread: Matt Colville's Community

 

[môrgondír]

Well, since you are being pedantic. "Blackmail" has more than one definition. The one that I think was more than obvious that I was using is "to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc.." Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words

You can use whatever definition of blackmail you like, maybe now you should see if you can make a case by contacting the federal authorities as I suggested.

 

[Agamon]

Overall? Yeah, I'd recommend FG. I've used FG and Roll20 recently, and I'd still give the nod to FG.

Agreed here. I use Roll20 for my Marvel Multiverse game, and I really wish I didn't. Just finished my TotV FG session, and it was fantastic.

 

[Hussar]

Agreed here. I use Roll20 for my Marvel Multiverse game, and I really wish I didn't. Just finished my TotV FG session, and it was fantastic.

Heh. Again, trying to be fair and balanced. I've used Rols 20 and had good experiences with it. It ran an Ironsworn campaign on it and it worked really well. And there are some really good things about it. tabbed windows being one of the best features. Not having massive numbers of cluttered crap all over my screen every time I try to run something is great. So, there is lots to recommend Roll20.

I imagine a lot of the reason I still use Fantasy Grounds is that I'm just so used to it.

 

[Umbran]

Mod note:
@LordEntrails and @môrgondír

You two are done in this thread.