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<blockquote data-quote="Griogre" data-source="post: 5281028" data-attributes="member: 21138"><p>So you know where I'm coming from I've now used FG for a couple of years now. However prior to using FG I used and researched a variety of VTTs. I first started playing online with a program that was just a battlemap that rolled dice. I next tried ScreenMonkey, Klooge, MapTools, Battlegrounds, Fantasy Grounds and what was then called OpenRPG. I've also tried a few others, Hecuva has a great list on his Battlegrounds site.</p><p></p><p>Excluding cost, where VTTs are different is what each one emphasizes. The major difference between MapTool and FG is their focus. </p><p></p><p>With a name like MapTool it should not be a surprise that MapTools' focus is on the map. It is very map-centric with a lot of development time focused on Fog Of War, LOS and other features that make the map shine. The last game I played on MapTool was an Aliens Vs. Marines Savage Worlds game and it was awesome. But it was awesome because it played to MapTools Strengths - Fog of War, Monsters not being displayed if they were not in Line of Sight, Limited range light sources etc. The downside was all the character where pregens and the character sheets were images.</p><p></p><p>Fantasy Grounds is <strong>character sheet</strong>-centric the emphasis is on the character sheet and most things revolve around the information on the character sheet. It is also has an unusual interface in that instead of the standard Window GUI, it simulates play around a table in face to face RPG. It has dice you throw, it has a battlemap that looks very much like a battlemap and tokens you can put on the battlemap. It has a very low learning curve because it so closely simulates the way you play around a table in a real game. People who play RPGs know what a character sheet is and how to fill out one for a game they play, they know what dice are for and they know how a battlemap works. As FG uses mostly a drag and drop or right click radial menu interface the learning curve is very low to any experienced RPGer.</p><p></p><p>Most VTTs shine in some area for me MapTools is a great VTT if you want your scenario to revolve around the map. If I ran a Space Hulk or other tactical combat game I would use MapTools or maybe Battlegrounds. On the other hand if your game revolves around the character sheet like many RPGs do, I prefer Fantasy Grounds. Part of this is a style issue about what you are trying to emphasize in a particular campaign.</p><p></p><p>I run several games and play in another online. My experience is that from the player's side of the screen any good VTT used by a GM who knows what he is doing is a good experience. One of the big differences between VTTs is on the other side of the screen. As a GM how much prep time is required to run your online game? Given the player experience is about the same with any decent VTT the one the GM wants is the one that has minimal prep time just for the software, and matches the style of the group and the campaign. For D&D 4E FG has minimal prep time. Not as good as 3.5 where all the resources were freely available but still the least once you have your resources.</p><p></p><p>Personally I think the top VTTs out there at the moment are FG, MapTools, Battlegrounds and what ever OpenRPG became. The software is important but so is the community that has built itself around that VTT. That is where you will often find replacement players or people to help you if you have a problem with the software.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Griogre, post: 5281028, member: 21138"] So you know where I'm coming from I've now used FG for a couple of years now. However prior to using FG I used and researched a variety of VTTs. I first started playing online with a program that was just a battlemap that rolled dice. I next tried ScreenMonkey, Klooge, MapTools, Battlegrounds, Fantasy Grounds and what was then called OpenRPG. I've also tried a few others, Hecuva has a great list on his Battlegrounds site. Excluding cost, where VTTs are different is what each one emphasizes. The major difference between MapTool and FG is their focus. With a name like MapTool it should not be a surprise that MapTools' focus is on the map. It is very map-centric with a lot of development time focused on Fog Of War, LOS and other features that make the map shine. The last game I played on MapTool was an Aliens Vs. Marines Savage Worlds game and it was awesome. But it was awesome because it played to MapTools Strengths - Fog of War, Monsters not being displayed if they were not in Line of Sight, Limited range light sources etc. The downside was all the character where pregens and the character sheets were images. Fantasy Grounds is [B]character sheet[/B]-centric the emphasis is on the character sheet and most things revolve around the information on the character sheet. It is also has an unusual interface in that instead of the standard Window GUI, it simulates play around a table in face to face RPG. It has dice you throw, it has a battlemap that looks very much like a battlemap and tokens you can put on the battlemap. It has a very low learning curve because it so closely simulates the way you play around a table in a real game. People who play RPGs know what a character sheet is and how to fill out one for a game they play, they know what dice are for and they know how a battlemap works. As FG uses mostly a drag and drop or right click radial menu interface the learning curve is very low to any experienced RPGer. Most VTTs shine in some area for me MapTools is a great VTT if you want your scenario to revolve around the map. If I ran a Space Hulk or other tactical combat game I would use MapTools or maybe Battlegrounds. On the other hand if your game revolves around the character sheet like many RPGs do, I prefer Fantasy Grounds. Part of this is a style issue about what you are trying to emphasize in a particular campaign. I run several games and play in another online. My experience is that from the player's side of the screen any good VTT used by a GM who knows what he is doing is a good experience. One of the big differences between VTTs is on the other side of the screen. As a GM how much prep time is required to run your online game? Given the player experience is about the same with any decent VTT the one the GM wants is the one that has minimal prep time just for the software, and matches the style of the group and the campaign. For D&D 4E FG has minimal prep time. Not as good as 3.5 where all the resources were freely available but still the least once you have your resources. Personally I think the top VTTs out there at the moment are FG, MapTools, Battlegrounds and what ever OpenRPG became. The software is important but so is the community that has built itself around that VTT. That is where you will often find replacement players or people to help you if you have a problem with the software. [/QUOTE]
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