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Many effects are created automatically for you in the 5e ruleset by dragging and dropping from the source material such as the Player's Handbook. For example dragging spells into the actions tab will in almost every case create an effect. Where an effect is not created via this method the probability is very high that either the spell doesn't require an effect or Fantasy Grounds doesn't have a built in way to handle whatever the spell is trying to do. For example the spell 'Animal Messenger' doesn't require an effect since this spell and others like it are simply 'Theatre of the Mind' spells. As another example the spell 'Counterspell' won't create an effect either because Fantasy Grounds can't know what the difficulty class of the incoming spell might be. For more information see the 5E Character Sheet
In the case of NPCs effects appear on the Combat Tracker when the NPC is placed there either from the NPC list or from an encounter. This action causes Fantasy Grounds to attempt to parse the information contained in the NPC sheet and create the effects. Most of the standard NPCs from the Monster Manual will, when dragged to the Combat Tracker, create any necessary effects so that the DM can use them. Again, not everything will create an effect either because one isn't required or Fantasy Grounds doesn't have a way to create one. For more details see the 5E NPCs and Encounters and the section below on the wording used to create NPC effects.
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When an effect is applied to an actor in the combat tracker, some additional fields are available to the DM. See the 5E Combat Tracker for more details.
Active State: By default, an effect is set to always be active (i.e. On). The active state can be toggled to Skip or Off. If set to Skip, the next application of the effect will be skipped, and then the effect will be set to On again. If set to Off, the effect will no longer be applied to rolls, but will remain in the CT.
Duration: When the main duration field is set to Start/End Turn values, an additional field will be shown to track the initiative number when the duration should start/end.
Applied By: The active actor will be used as the source actor of an effect, and shown in the lower right of the effect entry. If no actor is active, then this field is hidden. To set the source actor of an effect, drag the name field of a CT actor onto the label field of a CT effect entry. The source is usually just informational, but may occasionally be used to support advanced effects (such as Marked). Click on the Applied By field to clear the source actor.
Targets: By default, effects are applied to relevant rolls for all targets. However, some effect components can be targeted (such as attack and damage modifiers). A targeting button is shown next to each effect entry, and can be dragged onto a CT entry or CT-linked token to specify that the effect is targeted to a specific actor or set of actors. Additional options to target all allies or enemies are available by right-clicking on the targeting button. The Targets field is hidden unless targets are defined. Click on the Targets field to clear the targets.
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The following are the conditions from Appendix A of the Player's Handbook which Fantasy Grounds can handle. These are built into the code and can be applied to a character or NPC either via an effect from the character sheet or Combat Tracker or by applying it from the effects button in the UI.
Not case-sensitive.
Effects do not stack. So, for example, if a character suffers from Blinded and Frightened they will not suffer a double disadvantage to attack rolls.
Condition | Modifiers Applied | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Status | ||
Blinded | GRANTADVATK, DISATK | |
Charmed | ||
Deafened | ||
Encumbered | DISATK, DISCHK: strength, DISCHK: dexterity, DISCHK: constitution, DISSAV: strength, DISSAV: dexterity, DISSAV: constitution | |
Frightened | DISATK, DISCHK | |
Incorporeal | RESIST: all | |
Intoxicated | DISATK, DISCHK | |
Invisible | ADVATK, GRANTDISATK | (T) |
Paralyzed | Prone, GRANTADVATK | Automatically fails STR and DEX saves |
Poisoned | DISATK, DISCHK | |
Prone | DISATK, GRANTADVATK: melee, GRANTDISATK: ranged | |
Restrained | GRANTADVATK, DISATK, DISSAV: dexterity | |
Stable | When dying, actor makes death rolls unless it has Stable effect. (option) | |
Stunned | GRANTADVATK | Automatically fails STR and DEX saves |
Turned | Applied to a creature that has been turned. Does nothing mechanically. | |
Unconscious | Prone, GRANTADVATK | Automatically fails STR and DEX saves |
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(T) = Effects can be targeted to only apply to conditions against certain opponents |
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Format: [tag]: [dice/number] [descriptors]
Case-sensitive
If colon missing, assume no dice, numerical modifier or descriptors.
Modifiers stack as long as their bonus type is blank or unique. If two modifiers have the same bonus type, only the larger value will be used.
When applying effects from PC sheet powers, bracketed ability tags ([STR],[DEX],...) can be added to the modifier dice and numerical portion to adjust by current PC attribute modifiers. The ability tags can be set to negative ([-INT]), half ([HWIS]) or double ([2CHA]). Two additional tags for level ([LVL]) and proficiency bonus ([PRF]) are also supported. Character Classes can also be used and will evaluate to the level for that character in that class. The full name of the class all in capital letters is needed eg. [BARBARIAN], [CLERIC], [WIZARD] etc.
Modifier | Value | Descriptors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Combat | |||
INIT | (D) | Initiative rolls | |
ATK | (D) | [range], opportunity | (T); Attack rolls |
AC | (N) | [range], opportunity | (T); Armor class |
CRIT | (N) | [range] | (T); Critical range (minimum of all effect values and 20) |
DMG | (D) | [range], [damage type]*, critical | (T); Damage roll; If critical keyword, only applies to critical damage rolls. |
HEAL | (D) | - | Healing rolls |
SAVE | (D) | [ability] or [concentration] | Saving throws |
SKILL | (D) | [ability], [skill] | Skill checks |
Abilities | |||
CHECK | (D) | [ability] | Ability checks |
STR | (N) | [bonus] | Strength modifier |
DEX | (N) | [bonus] | Dexterity modifier |
CON | (N) | [bonus] | Constitution modifier |
INT | (N) | [bonus] | Intelligence modifier |
WIS | (N) | [bonus] | Wisdom modifier |
CHA | (N) | [bonus] | Charisma modifier |
Damage | |||
DMGTYPE | (-) | [damage type] | (T); Adds damage type to all damage rolls. |
DMGO | (D) | [damage type]* | Damage (Ongoing) |
REGEN | (D) | [special] | Regeneration. Use and/or clause to specify damage types which can overcome regeneration. |
IMMUNE | (-) | [damage type], all, [condition] | (T); Immune to damage type; Assumes all if no [damage type] descriptor. If condition specified this will prevent the condition from being applied to the actor |
RESIST | (N) | [damage type], all | (T); Resistance to damage type; Assumes all if no [damage type] descriptor. |
VULN | (N) | [damage type], all | (T); Vulnerability to damage type; Assumes all if no [damage type] descriptor. |
Situational | |||
COVER | (-) | [range]* | (T); Cover; (ATK: -2) |
SCOVER | (-) | [range]* | (T); Cover (Superior); (ATK: -5) |
Advantage and Disadvantage | |||
ADVINIT | (-) | Advantage on initiative rolls | |
DISINIT | (-) | Disadvantage on initiative rolls | |
ADVATK: [range], opportunity | (-) | (T), Advantage on attack rolls | |
DISATK: [range], opportunity | (-) | (T), Disadvantage on attack rolls | |
GRANTADVATK: [range], opportunity | (-) | (T), Grant advantage on attack rolls made against actor | |
GRANTDISATK: [range], opportunity | (-) | (T), Grant disadvantage on attack rolls made against actor | |
ADVSAV: [ability] or [concentration] | (-) | Advantage on all saving throws (or a specific saving throw, if specified) (must be lower case) | |
DISSAV: [ability] or [concentration] | (-) | Disadvantage on all saving throws (or a specific saving throw, if specified) (must be lower case) | |
ADVCHK: [ability] | (-) | Advantage on all ability checks (or a specific ability, if specified) (must be lower case) | |
DISCHK: [ability] | (-) | Disadvantage on all ability checks (or a specific ability, if specified) (must be lower case) | |
ADVSKILL: [skill] | (-) | Advantage on all skill checks (or a specific skill, if specified) (must be lower case) | |
DISSKILL: [skill] | (-) | Disadvantage on all skill checks (or a specific skill, if specified) (must be lower case) | |
ADVDEATH | (-) | Advantage on death rolls | |
DISDEATH | (-) | Disadvantage on death rolls | |
Misc | |||
EXHAUSTION | (N) | On value of 1-2, applies DISCHK. On value of 3+, applies DISCHK, DISATK and DISSAV. | |
(C) | (-) | This modifier is attached to a spell effect. It triggers a concentration roll if the source actor for the effect takes damage. | |
Magic Resistance | (-) | When present on an actor this effect will automatically roll saving throws against magic with advantage | |
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(D) = Dice and numbers supported for value attribute |
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[range] = melee, ranged |
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Taken together the testing components and the conditions which they can test for mean that extremely powerful effects can be set up and these are particularly apposite to magic item creation and use. See examples below.
Special Tag | Notes |
|---|---|
IF: [condition OR conditional operator] | Ignores the remainder of the effect components within the effect label, unless the source actor has the specified condition. |
IFT: [condition OR conditional operator] | Ignores the remainder of the effect components within the effect label, unless the opposing actor has the specified condition. |
Avoidance | If spell targeting creature with this effect allows half damage on a save, then this creature will be marked for no damage on successful save and half damage on failed save. |
Evasion | If spell targeting creature with this effect allows half damage on a save and the save type is Dexterity, then this creature will be marked for no damage on successful save and half damage on failed save. |
Dodge | If not (paralyzed/stunned/incapacitated/unconscious/grappled/restrained), then apply "ADVSAV: dexterity; GRANTDISATK" |
Conditional Operators
Not case-sensitive
Operator | Notes |
|---|---|
ALIGN ([alignment]) | If the creature indicated by the conditional effect has the given alignment, then this operator returns true. |
SIZE ([size]) | If the conditional effect target is of the correct size or larger/smaller based on the size greater/less than operation, then this operator returns true. |
TYPE ([creature type]*) | If the creature indicated by the conditional effect has the given creature type, then this operator returns true. |
Wounded | If the conditional effect target has any wounds, then this operator returns true. |
Bloodied | If the conditional effect target has wounds greater than or equal to half its hit points, then this operator returns true. |
CUSTOM () | Allows for testing of user created conditions, such as in the 'Hex' or 'Hunter's Mark' spells. The condition to be tested for is added in brackets after the CUSTOM keyword. Thus the syntax would be IF: CUSTOM(condition) or IFT: CUSTOM(condition). If the 'condition' is present on the target then the function will return true. |
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[alignment] = LG, LN, LE, NG, NE, CG, CN, CE, lawful, lawful good, lawful neutral, lawful evil, neutral good, neutral evil, chaotic, chaotic good, chaotic neutral, chaotic evil, good, evil |
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When applying effects from the Actions tab of the PC sheet, special tags can be inserted to provide numerical bonuses based on the PC's current attributes.
PC tag | Notes |
|---|---|
STR | PC Strength bonus |
DEX | PC Dexterity bonus |
CON | PC Constitution bonus |
INT | PC Intelligence bonus |
WIS | PC Wisdom bonus |
CHA | PC Charisma bonus |
LVL | PCs total level |
BARBARIAN, CLERIC etc | The level of a given class |
PRF | PC proficiency bonus |
H[other tag] | Half of the other tag bonus |
X[other tag] | Multiply other tag by X where X is 2-9 |
-[other tag] | Negative the other tag bonus (including half and double) |
Examples
General Examples
ATK: 2
SAVE: 1
DMGO: 2d6
DMG: 1d6 cold
RESIST: fire; RESIST: cold
RESIST: 3 slashing, bludgeoning, piercing, !magic
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ATK: [-DEX]
DMG: 2d6+1 [CON]
IF and IFT Examples
Effect Code | Notes |
|---|---|
IF: poisoned; DISSAV: wisdom | This will test to see if the character has the ‘poisoned’ effect on him and if so he’ll roll WIS checks at disadvantage. Any of the conditions recognised by Fantasy Grounds can be tested in this way. |
IFT: intoxicated; ADVATK | If the target of the attack is intoxicated then give the attacker advantage on the roll. |
IF: ALIGN (good); DMG: 1d8 radiant | If the character is good then deal an extra 1d8 radiant damage on any damage roll. Note this will return true for any good alignment (Chaotic Good, Neutral Good, and Lawful Good). You can test for any morality (Good, Evil and Neutral) or any order (Chaotic, Lawful or Neutral) or any combination you want (Chaotic Good, Lawful Evil, etc.). The parameter can also be abbreviated to CG, LE, NG etc. Note however that True Neutral is not supported. |
IFT: TYPE (giant); DMG: 1d8 | If the target of the damage roll is Giant then do an additional 1d8 damage. There is a complete list of what creature types the TYPE conditional operator will accept and you can find a list of acceptable types below. If you want to test for multiple types then you can separate the types by a comma e.g. IFT: TYPE (dragon, aberration, celestial) will return true if any of these types are the target. |
IFT: SIZE(>= medium); ADVATK | If the target’s size is greater or equal to medium then get advantage on the attack roll. You can test for greater or equal (>=), less than or equal (<=), greater than (>), less than (<) or equal (=). The size can be abbreviated e.g. S = small, M = medium, etc.). |
DMG: 1d6 radiant: IFT: TYPE (dragon); DMG: 2d6, radiant | Deal an extra 1d6 radiant damage to any target, and only if the target is a dragon do an additional 2d6 radiant damage (i.e. for a total of 3d6 additional damage). As with other modifiers the IFT statement can be chained. Make sure however that it is the last statement in line since if the testing condition is false it will ignore everything after it. |
Specific PC Ability/Trait Examples
If the Duration, Target, and Expend are not called out, then the default is:
Duration=0 (Zero indicates effect should not expire.)
Targeting=Targets
Expend=Never
Power [Source] | Effect Code | Duration/Target/Expend | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Totem Spirit Rage (Bear) [Class - Barbarian] | Totem Spirit Rage;ADVSAV: strength;ADVCHK: strength;DMG: 2 melee;RESIST: all, !psychic | Targeting=Self; Duration=1 Min | |
Rage [Class - Barbarian] | Rage;ADVCHK:strength;ADVSAV:strength;DMG:2, melee;RESIST:bludgeoning,slashing,piercing;[SELF] | Targeting=Self; Duration=1 Min | Change “DMG:2” section to 3,4 etc as your rage damage goes up |
Feral Instinct [Class - Barbarian] | Feral Instinct;ADVINIT | ||
Avatar of Battle [Class - Cleric (War Domain)] | Avatar of Battle;RESIST:bludgeoning,piercing,slashing,!magic | ||
Nature’s Ward [Class - Druid (Circle of the Land)] | Nature’s Ward;IMMUNE:poison | ||
Survivor [Class - Fighter (Champion)] | Survivor;IF:Bloodied;REGEN:5 [CON] | Targeting=Self | Must be set up as a power PC actions tab to work with [CON]. Effect must be reapplied in CON bonus changes. |
Improved Divine Smite [Class - Paladin] | Improved Divine Smite;DMG:1d8 radiant,melee | ||
Vow of Enmity [Class - Paladin] | Vow of Enmity; ADVATK | Targeting=Self | Hold shift down while dragging this effect to your target to focus the effect. (Or can implement similar to Hunter's Mark below.) |
Fiendish Resilience [Class - Warlock (The Fiend Patron)] | Fiendish Resilience;RESIST:<type>,!silver,!magic | Replace <type> with damage type of choice (slashing, piercing, bludgeoning) | |
Thought Shield [Class - Warlock (Great Old One Patron)] | Thought Shield;RESIST:psychic | ||
Lifedrinker [Class - Warlock (Invocation)] | Lifedrinker;DMG:[CHA], melee | Must be set up as a power PC actions tab to work with [CHA]. Effect must be reapplied if CHA bonus changes. | |
Inured to Undeath [Class - Wizard (Necromancy)] | Inured to Undeath;RESIST:necrotic | ||
Dwarven Resilience [Race - Dwarf] | Dwarven Resilience;RESIST:poison | ||
Hellish Resistance [Race - Tiefling] | Hellish Resistance;RESIST:fire | ||
Stout Resilience [Race - Halfling (Stout)] | Stout Resilience;RESIST:poison | ||
Heavy Armor Master [Feat] | RESIST: 3 slashing,bludgeoning,piercing,!magic | ||
Bane [Spell] | Bane;ATK:-1d4;SAVE:-1d4;(C) | Duration=1 Min | |
Blade Ward [Spell] | Blade Ward; RESIST: bludgeoning, piercing, slashing | Targeting=Self; Duration=1 Rnd | |
Bless [Spell] | Bless;ATK:1d4;SAVE:1d4;(C) | Duration=1 Min | |
Guidance [Spell] | Guidance;CHECK:1d4 | Expend=Next Roll; Duration=1 Min | |
Hunter’s Mark [Spell] (Self) | IFT: CUSTOM(Hunter Mark); DMG: 1d6; (C) | Targeting=Self, Duration=1 Hr | If multiple hunters, change custom "Hunter Mark" to a unique string. |
Hunter’s Mark [Spell] (Target) | Hunter Mark; (C) | Duration=1 Hr | See above. |
Resistance [Spell] | Resistance;SAVE:1d4;(C) | Expend=Next Roll; Duration=1 Min |
Specific Magic Item Examples
Power [Source] | Effect Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Adamantine Armor | IMMUNE: critical | |
Armor of Invulnerability | RESIST: bludgeoning,piercing,slashing,!magic | |
Armor of Resistance (Varies) | RESIST: fire | |
Armor of Vulnerability (Varies) | RESIST: bludgeoning; VULN: piercing,slashing | |
Belt of Dwarvenkind | RESIST: poison | |
Boots of the Winterlands | RESIST: cold | |
Bracers of Archery | DMG: 2 ranged | |
Brooch of Shielding | RESIST: force | |
Cloak of Arachnida | RESIST: poison | |
Cloak of Displacement | GRANTDISATK | |
Cloak of Elvenkind | ADVSKILL: stealth | |
Cloak of Invisibility | Invisible | |
Defender (Varies) | AC: 2; ATK: -2; DMG: -2 | |
Dragon Scale Mail (Varies) | RESIST: fire | |
Dragon Slayer | IFT: TYPE(dragon); DMG: 3d6 | |
Dwarven Thrower | DMG: 1d8 ranged; IFT: TYPE(giant); DMG: 1d8 ranged | |
Efreeti Chain | IMMUNE: fire | |
Eyes of Minute Seeing | ADVSKILL: investigation | |
Eyes of the Eagle | ADVSKILL: perception | |
Flame Tongue | DMG: 2d6 fire | |
Frost Brand | DMG: 1d6 cold; RESIST: fire | |
Giant Slayer | IFT: TYPE(giant); DMG: 2d6 | |
Gloves of Swimming and Climbing | SKILL: 5 athletics | |
Gloves of Thievery | SKILL: 5 sleight of hand | |
Holy Avenger | IFT: type(fiend, undead); DMG: 2d10 radiant; | |
Mace of Disruption | IFT: type(fiend, undead); DMG: 2d10 radiant; | |
Mace of Smiting | DMG: 2d6 bludgeoning,critical; IFT: type(construct); DMG: 2d6 bludgeoning,critical | Technically only apply if you rolled a 20 |
Oathbow | IFT: custom(Sworn Enemy); DMG: 3d6 piercing | First effect while wielding Oathbow, Second effect while not wielding Oathbow and sworn enemy chosen |
Oil of Sharpness | DMGTYPE: magic; ATK: 3; DMG: 3 | |
Periapt of Proof Against Poison | IMMUNE: poisoned; IMMUNE: poison | |
Ring of Elemental Command (Varies) | IMMUNE: fire | |
Ring of Invisibility | Invisible | |
Ring of Resistance (Varies) | RESIST: fire | |
Ring of Warmth | RESIST: cold | |
Sentinel Shield | ADVSKILL: perception; ADVINIT | |
Sun Blade | IFT: TYPE(undead); DMG: 1d8 radiant | |
Sword of Sharpness | DMG: 4d6 slashing, critical | Technically only apply if you rolled a 20 |
Sword of Wounding | DMGO: 1d4 necrotic | |
Vicious Weapon | DMG: 2d6 critical | Technically only apply if you rolled a 20 |
Automating Effects on NPCs
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Magic Weapons [Damage Resistances/Immunities] bludgeoning, slashing and piercing from nonmagical weapons
Magic and Other Types [Damage Resistances/Immunities] bludgeoning, slashing and piercing from nonmagical weapons that aren’t silvered
Other Types [Damage Resistances/Immunities] piercing from weapon attacks that aren’t adamantine
Damage Threshold If the damage from a single source dealt to this creature is less than or equal to <X> then the creature will take no damage. Any damage from a single source which exceeds this value will be applied in full' will create an appropriate effect on the CT when this creature is added to it.
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Note: Acceptable types are magic/adamantine/silvered/cold-forged |
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