Hosting a Game: Loading and Creating Campaigns
How To Begin Hosting A Game
If You Already Have A Campaign Created
Open Fantasy Grounds VTT and click on the My Campaigns tab.
Click on the name of the campaign you would like to load. It will then expand out to show more options.
Once all settings are you would like them to be, click the PLAY button in the upper-right corner of the campaign settings box.
Creating A New Campaign
Open Fantasy Grounds VTT and click on the My Campaigns tab.
The “Create New Campaign” button is conveniently placed along the bottom of the My Campaigns tab.
Here, you’ll choose the name of your campaign, then choose a ruleset to use, then click the white circle-plus button to complete the campaign creation.
Once the new campaign has been created, it will show expanded in the Campaigns list. Click the PLAY button in the upper-right corner to launch the campaign to begin hosting.
Terms and Features
Setting | Definition |
|---|---|
Name | This sets your campaign folder. If you choose to make this game a public cloud game, it will show up in the list with this name. Pick something your players can easily locate. The campaign name is also used to create the local folder on your PC. We recommend that you do not use special characters so that it will work on all operating systems (including your players' systems). |
Game Systems (Rulesets) | Choose a single ruleset. This tells Fantasy Grounds what sort of game you are playing. It adjusts the data types for items, NPCs, spells, etc. and controls the automation that will be available in your game. Most modules are created to work with a specific ruleset. |
Password | Set a password and give this out to your players. This is very important for publicly listed games if you still want to control who can log onto your game. |
Server Type | Cloud - A cloud-based server that bypasses the need for port forwarding. Also has a lobby showing hosted games |
Server List | Public - will display your game for other users to join |
Extensions | Extensions will update based on the ruleset you have selected. These may add additional functionality to your game or they may change the visual theme. |
Note: In Server Types, CLOUD mode is recommended and fully supported by Customer Support.
LAN mode was brought over as a courtesy from Fantasy Grounds' prior iteration, Fantasy Grounds Classic, and has been superseded by CLOUD mode in Fantasy Grounds VTT.
LAN mode is still fully-functional, but is no longer directly supported, may require port-forwarding in your router or firewall, may not support VPNs, and other considerations.
What to Provide your Players
Refer to the How to Join a Game section for more information.
If you set a Password, then all players will be prompted to enter the password before they are allowed to join your game.
Public Cloud Game
Players will look up your game by your Fantasy Grounds username and/or Campaign name. They will select it from the list and then click on Join Game.
Private Cloud Game
Your player will connect by using your GM Name. This GM Name is the username you use to log onto the Fantasy Grounds website. It is not the GM Name that is shown in the chat window for your campaign.
Local Private Game
Players will need the IP address and port (default is 1802) in order to join the game.
LAN - Local game on different networks (over the internet)
You will provide the External IP address.
LAN - Local game on the same network (in the same house, on the same WiFi, etc.)
You will provide the Internal IP address.
Most people use IPv4, but you can use IPv6 if your network supports it.
Please note that you will need to set up port forwarding on your Internet router to use this feature.
Will I Be Notified Of Connections / Disconnections?
Yes, all connection and disconnection notifications will be displayed in the chatbox located on the left side of the campaign window.