Poll: VTT Users - Do you prefer self-hosted or cloud-based VTTs?

[Thomas Shey]

Method 3 - Directory service: The cloud device is only a startup connection; the GM logs in, the cloud device notes the external IP and port numbers, and when players log in, passes their client the current IPort data to directly connect to the GM.

Maptool technically has one of those; its slightly more convenient than doing a direct connect so its usually what's used. I'm not sure who's paying for it.

 

[LordEntrails]

Then why does my server type say "cloud"?

Cloud is not Cloud hosted, Cloud is cloud brokered connection.
The user manual will help: Hosting a Game: Loading and Creating Campaigns - Fantasy Grounds Customer Portal - Fantasy Grounds
Specifically this part:

Server Type

Cloud - A cloud-based server that bypasses the need for port forwarding. Also has a lobby showing hosted games LAN - Allows you to connect directly via IP, either internally or externally. (See Note below concerning Server Types)

 

[Doc_Klueless]

Could you dumb that down a bit more? Sorry. I'm not sure I'm entirely following.

As I understand it, if I'm the DM, I, say, share a map image to the players. That image is sent to the central cloud server and then the players receive that image from that cloud server. They never directly connect to my PC. On the very rare occasion that Fantasy Grounds has had server issues (off hand, I think I've had this happen exactly once in the past several years), I cannot host games.

Back before they upgraded FG, I used to have to use Hamachi to host games in order to do an end run around that port forwarding issue. But, again, and this is my VERY uninformed opinion, I was under the understanding that when they went to the new version of Fantasy Grounds, games were hosted by FG's servers.

Or, am I just woefully uninformed? That is entirely possible.

Sure! So... by using FG's 'cloud,' it's basically a connection service to let your players talk to your computer without having to worry about port forwarding and other such things. So the server is still on your computer and FG's cloud is a way for the player's separate computers to talk to the server on your computer.

No games are actually hosted on FG's servers.

 

[chuckdee]

Could you dumb that down a bit more? Sorry. I'm not sure I'm entirely following.

As I understand it, if I'm the DM, I, say, share a map image to the players. That image is sent to the central cloud server and then the players receive that image from that cloud server. They never directly connect to my PC. On the very rare occasion that Fantasy Grounds has had server issues (off hand, I think I've had this happen exactly once in the past several years), I cannot host games.

Back before they upgraded FG, I used to have to use Hamachi to host games in order to do an end run around that port forwarding issue. But, again, and this is my VERY uninformed opinion, I was under the understanding that when they went to the new version of Fantasy Grounds, games were hosted by FG's servers.

Or, am I just woefully uninformed? That is entirely possible.

I had the same problem. As I understand it, this is not true cloud hosting, it's just a way to get around port forwarding.

 

[Toe Knee Nose]

Thanks folks. That's actually really helpful. I learned something new today and that's always a good thing.