Fantasy Grounds
- May 9, 2014
- SmiteWorks USA, LLC
- 27h median play time
Get on SteamFantasy Grounds is a virtual tabletop platform that supports various rule systems, including D&D and Pathfinder. It offers customizable digital character sheets, dynamic dice rolling, and tools for managing initiative, combat, and other game mechanics. Players can enjoy a more organized and immersive RPG experience, with optional add-ons and modules available for purchase.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Fantasy Grounds offers a robust platform for running tabletop RPGs online, with excellent automation features that streamline gameplay.
- The community is very supportive, providing helpful resources, tutorials, and a welcoming environment for new users.
- The software allows for extensive customization and integration of various rule sets, making it versatile for different tabletop games.
- The user interface is outdated and not intuitive, leading to a steep learning curve for new users.
- The cost of the software and additional content can be prohibitively expensive, especially for those who already own physical copies of the books.
- Connectivity issues, such as the need for port forwarding, can complicate the setup process and frustrate users.
- story78 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is highly praised for its ability to streamline gameplay, allowing players and DMs to focus on narrative and immersion rather than mechanics and number crunching. Users appreciate the pre-built adventures and tools that facilitate quick access to maps, NPCs, and story elements, significantly reducing preparation time and enhancing the storytelling experience. Overall, the software is seen as a valuable resource for both solo and group play, making it easier to craft and manage engaging campaigns.
“I love that it gets out of the way, handles the 'hard' stuff of crunching numbers and modifiers, and lets me focus on the plot and scene in front of me.”
“In short, all of the hours of tedium for a GM to prepare an adventure has been done for you and you can quickly hop into playing with little more than a quick read through the story.”
“Creating a campaign or game story is faster and very streamlined with the tools and tables.”
“Moral of the story: I feel completely ripped off.”
“The story is subdivided into very small parcels, which sometimes overlap.”
“I wish they would let me keep the 'cool stuff' like a map for example in the campaign but turn off the story.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of Fantasy Grounds receive mixed feedback; while some users appreciate its aesthetic and functionality for tabletop RPGs, others criticize the outdated visuals reminiscent of the 1980s, especially given the software's price. Despite these concerns, many find the platform visually appealing and effective for enhancing gameplay, particularly when combined with additional graphic assets. Overall, it performs well even on low-spec hardware, making it accessible for various users.
“If you want the best features, most complete interface and graphical options then use what the good online DMs use: Fantasy Grounds.”
“I've run two sessions of Lost Mine of Phandelver and my players are convinced that it's a better experience with more integration of the ruleset, gameplay, and better aesthetics.”
“They can brighten up the graphics, they can polish here and there (because Fantasy Grounds is by no means ugly at all. It has quite a nice look to it).”
“While graphics are not important, it hurts my eyes to look at graphics from the 1980s, and while this is not really a problem, it is for the price asked.”
“You have to open the 'library', making sure you've selected the right 'modules', then drill down to classes, and finally drag and drop something that looks like a graphic decoration but is actually an essential part of the UI.”
“They can brighten up the graphics; they can polish here and there (because Fantasy Grounds is by no means ugly at all. It has quite a nice look to it).”
- gameplay38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Gameplay in Fantasy Grounds is praised for its ability to streamline the mechanics of tabletop RPGs, making it easier for players and DMs to focus on storytelling rather than getting bogged down in rules. While there is a learning curve, especially for new users, mastering the software can significantly enhance the gaming experience, with automation features that speed up gameplay. However, some users note that the mechanics can be cumbersome and that additional visual enhancements, like 3D miniatures, would further improve the overall experience.
“Once you learn how to use Fantasy Grounds (with the support of a great community), it will streamline your gameplay much more than at an actual table.”
“Although it takes a little bit of learning, the UI and program mechanics are fantastic for automating mundane calculations, which speeds up gameplay.”
“I've run two sessions of Lost Mine of Phandelver, and my players are convinced that it's a better experience with more integration of the ruleset, gameplay, and better aesthetics.”
“There is a learning curve to using Fantasy Grounds as it may not be as intuitive to new users, as each supported ruleset has different features and mechanics.”
“But the mechanics are so terrible.”
“What I do have to note though, is that this is only the software for the game mechanics.”
- stability18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The stability of Fantasy Grounds is widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes and numerous bugs that hinder usability. Many find the software to be a "buggy mess" that often requires extensive troubleshooting, despite some users noting that it can function adequately at times. Overall, the consensus is that the software feels unfinished and unreliable, detracting from the user experience.
“Runs great!”
“Runs great!”
“I have this version and the Fantasy Grounds Unity (ultimate license) and I have to say after using it for months, unfortunately, it's too buggy a piece of software to have been released.”
“It's buggy as hell and crashes frequently, and the UI is awkward and difficult to use.”
“Fantasy Grounds, even after all these years, is still a buggy mess that only functions by sheer luck.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in tasks like setting up line of sight and managing character sheets, which can be cumbersome without proper automation. While the game offers some automation features that alleviate traditional gameplay burdens, the need to purchase physical copies again and the challenge of getting casual players to invest in the game adds to the overall tediousness. Dedicated players may find the investment worthwhile, but the initial setup and character creation processes are often seen as unnecessarily laborious.
“This is tedious and could have been done better - the competition comes to mind.”
“I only have one copy of the player's handbook and everyone has to crowd around and share it. Making a character on paper is a tedious process of writing a lot of stuff down, and rolling a lot of dice involves a lot of tedious adding.”
“My recommendation for this is to have players do their character sheets and give you the information for you to type up rather than just tediously looking through the many sections.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it shows significant improvements over the classic version with enhanced features and user-friendly interface, users report persistent performance issues, particularly on the Unity version, including frequent freezing and memory leaks. Despite ongoing updates aimed at addressing these problems, many players experience subpar performance even on high-end systems.
“It's a vast improvement on classic in nearly every way, with more features, easier connectivity, and improved performance.”
“The interface is fairly user-friendly and it is actively updated to improve performance issues.”
“Performance, as mentioned, can be very poor, especially on the Unity version where memory leaks come every few updates.”
“The performance is quite poor, freezing often on a powerful machine with an overly fast connection.”
“The interface is fairly user friendly and it is actively updated to improve performance issues.”
- music10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the integration of music and sound effects in tabletop gaming, highlighting tools like R20's jukebox for easy background music and audio effects. While many suggest sticking to basic audio features initially, they express a desire for built-in music options to enhance the gaming experience further. Overall, the addition of music significantly elevates the atmosphere of games like D&D.
“You can also download some free extensions and software to make it so the game can do basic things such as sound effects (based off what happens in the chat) and music.”
“R20 has the jukebox which allows easy integration of background music, audio, and sound effects.”
“Adding background music and effects with the slick Fantasy Grounds presentation really takes D&D to the next level.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization model has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling misled by advertising that promotes a product requiring additional payments for basic functionality. Many express frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and the necessity to pay for individual components, leading to a perception of the tool as difficult to use and not worth the investment.
“Literally paying for something that is just a blank template in which you have to put more money into to actually do anything, just another D&D cash grab for a third party.”
“It looks like a cash grab for modules just to create a session for people to play!”
“Bad tool/difficult to use interface...and they make you pay for individual base classes and there are these kinds of microtransactions everywhere.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, enhanced by a wealth of user-generated content that introduces new themes, tokens, and maps, significantly expanding the variety of gameplay experiences available.
“The game offers endless replayability with a variety of player-created content, including new themes, tokens, and maps that keep the experience fresh.”
“With so many player-created options available, the game feels like it has an infinite number of playable scenarios to explore.”
“The addition of user-generated content significantly enhances the replayability, providing countless new games and experiences to enjoy.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the reviews highlights a sarcastic tone, particularly regarding Smiteworks' justification for their engine switch, which is perceived as a thinly veiled attempt to protect their financial interests rather than a genuine concern for players. The repeated use of eye-rolling suggests a shared skepticism among users about the company's motives.
