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.

 

[môrgondír]

Thanks for letting me know that all software has bugs, it's appreciated and will be taken to heart for future criticism(s).

I won't entertain the speculation on what stock I own or not with affirmation nor denial, it's more than entertaining left as an exercise for the reader.

You might try to see if you can find others in addition to the four I listed, just for completeness's sake.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Thanks for letting me know that all software has bugs, it's appreciated and will be taken to heart for future criticism(s).

That was a tongue-in-cheek comment... prompted by the strangely minor complaints you posted. Unnecessarily snarky, you're right.

I won't entertain the speculation on what stock I own or not with affirmation nor denial, it's more than entertaining left as an exercise for the reader.

That was a joke... I couldn't care less what stock you own! Again, poking fun at how small these issues are and the ensuing quixotic crusade.

You might try to see if you can find others in addition to the four I listed, just for completeness's sake.

I'm good, but thanks!

 

[EthanSental]

The online reader is very similar to dndbeyond, nicely done Doug and team! I’m looking forward to the addition of more of the books and adventures I own coming up, mainly cause I won’t have to use my reading glasses like I do with a physical book and can read on my iPad.

 

[ghenxx]

Free dice for people who already owned FG (oh and a bunch of maps and modules from random games)

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store/claimRewards.php

Not sure if the link actually works yet. I don't see it as a "purchase" yet

good through the end of the year. I wish they would make it through Jan 31 though, I bet there's a lot of people out there who won't be checking fantasy grounds until after christmas season is over.

 

[smiteworks]

@môrgondír
While I know you are just trying to cherry pick reports from over a several year period, I think this actually speaks highly of our ability to support our users. A handful of cases out of almost 100K new users since 2024 is pretty good. One was 5 years ago. Yes, you can install to an alternate location. Many users do.

You also posted this on Steam and then disabled comments so other users could not refute your assertions. I don't think we kicked anyone's pet, so I'm not sure where the anger comes from. I'm going to assume this is just a natural reaction to your particular installation failing for some reason. I can understand how that would be frustrating.

On the 7 install issues you linked:

#1 has to do with setting up directory with different user than non-admin user, not related to alternate directory at all.
#2 was resolved on the forums.
#3 was from over 2 years ago; and is not an issue.
#4 was not an install issue; but an issue where Windows 10 and AMD graphics driver did not work with Unity graphics engine. Updating OS or graphics driver addresses the issue.
#5 was from over 5 years ago, and posted as a proactive report on our side to help investigate and address issues.
#6 was from over a year ago, and was caused by some sort of software that was removing files from the install.
#7 was from a long time user with multiple installs; and it was resolved.

If you are having difficulty installing, and your system meets our minimum requirements, you can contact support@fantasygrounds.com and our team will assist you. We would need to know your system OS and specs, and what actions or difficulties you are encountering.

 

[Reynard]

@môrgondír
While I know you are just trying to cherry pick reports from over a several year period, I think this actually speaks highly of our ability to support our users. A handful of cases out of almost 100K new users since 2024 is pretty good. One was 5 years ago. Yes, you can install to an alternate location. Many users do.

You also posted this on Steam and then disabled comments so other users could not refute your assertions. I don't think we kicked anyone's pet, so I'm not sure where the anger comes from. I'm going to assume this is just a natural reaction to your particular installation failing for some reason. I can understand how that would be frustrating.

On the 7 install issues you linked:

#1 has to do with setting up directory with different user than non-admin user, not related to alternate directory at all.
#2 was resolved on the forums.
#3 was from over 2 years ago; and is not an issue.
#4 was not an install issue; but an issue where Windows 10 and AMD graphics driver did not work with Unity graphics engine. Updating OS or graphics driver addresses the issue.
#5 was from over 5 years ago, and posted as a proactive report on our side to help investigate and address issues.
#6 was from over a year ago, and was caused by some sort of software that was removing files from the install.
#7 was from a long time user with multiple installs; and it was resolved.

If you are having difficulty installing, and your system meets our minimum requirements, you can contact support@fantasygrounds.com and our team will assist you. We would need to know your system OS and specs, and what actions or difficulties you are encountering.

For the record, I have always had impeccable customer service from FG anytime I (rarely) have an issue.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

@môrgondír
While I know you are just trying to cherry pick reports from over a several year period, I think this actually speaks highly of our ability to support our users. A handful of cases out of almost 100K new users since 2024 is pretty good. One was 5 years ago. Yes, you can install to an alternate location. Many users do.

You also posted this on Steam and then disabled comments so other users could not refute your assertions. I don't think we kicked anyone's pet, so I'm not sure where the anger comes from. I'm going to assume this is just a natural reaction to your particular installation failing for some reason. I can understand how that would be frustrating.

On the 7 install issues you linked:

#1 has to do with setting up directory with different user than non-admin user, not related to alternate directory at all.
#2 was resolved on the forums.
#3 was from over 2 years ago; and is not an issue.
#4 was not an install issue; but an issue where Windows 10 and AMD graphics driver did not work with Unity graphics engine. Updating OS or graphics driver addresses the issue.
#5 was from over 5 years ago, and posted as a proactive report on our side to help investigate and address issues.
#6 was from over a year ago, and was caused by some sort of software that was removing files from the install.
#7 was from a long time user with multiple installs; and it was resolved.

If you are having difficulty installing, and your system meets our minimum requirements, you can contact support@fantasygrounds.com and our team will assist you. We would need to know your system OS and specs, and what actions or difficulties you are encountering.

As well, this user blocked me because I questioned the seriousness of his/her claim upthread... just so you know what sort of character you're dealing with here.

 

[EthanSental]

Doug and team have always been fantastic to connect with and the community is quick to help when I did have rookie questions. Since Doug is in the thread, I guess my ongoing 3D of Carl’s tabletop connect just doesn’t have the market for a company to pursue since WoTC had to stop Sigil so it stop begging for it in the FG forums (not really beggin but occasionally mentioned tabletop connect)

 

[môrgondír]

While I know you are just trying to cherry pick reports from over a several year period, I think this actually speaks highly of our ability to support our users. A handful of cases out of almost 100K new users since 2024 is pretty good. One was 5 years ago. Yes, you can install to an alternate location. Many users do.

You also posted this on Steam and then disabled comments so other users could not refute your assertions.

You responded to the Steam review that I posted, but your response did not address any of the other questions I raised in that review. Your response to my Steam review mentions 'kicking a pet' which another user on the ENWorld forums also brought up, and which, even metaphorically, has no place in discussion of the issue.

Why not take the simplest of possible steps, and pin a message in the Steam forums explaining that some users have had issues either running it on Steam, or installing to non-default locations, or both?
The "help" I see in the Steam forums has Steam users directing users seeking solutions for their issue(s) to your Discord or your forums - has any customer service person or developer provided a solution on the Steam forum for the product in which the help was sought, and specifically for the "looping"/auto-shutdown issue that users experienced?

The product has been on Steam for eleven years - no one in all that time saw any value in revisiting the updater/installer to correct the "looping"/auto-shutdown problem that several users described?

 

[schneeland]

(Partially) Eliminating the financial barrier to running games via FG is a good start, but the real key to making FG ubiquitous would be to get it on tablets and/or in a browser. Installing software beyond an app seems to be quite the barrier for folks.

I tend to agree. I have used Fantasy Grounds in the past, and it was ok (we played AD&D). Still, it would have been easier if I hadn't needed to install and update the software (there was always some concern whether the update would break anything).