Fantasy Grounds

Fantasy 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.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 814 reviews

story4 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

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 and tutorials for new users to get accustomed to the software.
The ability to host games for players using the free demo version is a significant advantage, making it accessible for groups without requiring all players to purchase the software.

The software has a steep learning curve, and the user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new users to navigate.
Many essential features and content require additional purchases, leading to a high overall cost for users who want a complete experience.
Connectivity issues, such as the need for port forwarding, can complicate the setup process and frustrate users trying to host games.

story
39 mentions
10 % positive mentions
82 % neutral mentions
8 % 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 immersion rather than mechanical details. Users appreciate the pre-built adventures and integrated tools that facilitate quick access to maps, NPCs, and story elements, making it easier to craft and manage campaigns. Overall, the software enhances storytelling by minimizing preparation time and automating complex calculations, enabling a more engaging and fluid gaming experience.
- “Playing solo gives me the confidence to understand the basic mechanics, setting up the character sheets, and then just forgetting about them while I focus on the story.”
- “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.”
- “Creating a campaign or game story is faster and very streamlined with the tools and tables.”
- “The story is subdivided into very small parcels, which sometimes overlap.”
- “Moral of the story: I feel completely ripped off.”
- “Same story - no modules available.”
graphics
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The graphics of Fantasy Grounds receive mixed feedback; while some users appreciate the overall aesthetic and functionality, others criticize the outdated visuals reminiscent of the 1980s, especially given the software's price point. Many players find the platform effective for enhancing tabletop RPG experiences, particularly for geographically dispersed groups, but suggest that improvements and additional graphical assets could elevate the experience further. Overall, the graphics are functional and support gameplay, but there is a desire for modernization and refinement.
- “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.”
- “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.”
gameplay
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Gameplay in Fantasy Grounds is praised for its ability to streamline the mechanics of tabletop RPGs, allowing players to focus on storytelling rather than getting bogged down by rules. While there is a learning curve for new users due to varying features across different rule sets, mastering the software can significantly enhance the gaming experience. Users appreciate the automation of calculations and the integration of rules, although some express a desire for improved visual elements like 3D miniatures.
- “Playing solo gives me the confidence to understand the basic mechanics, setting up the character sheets and then just forgetting about them while I focus on the story.”
- “Although it takes a little bit of learning, the UI and program mechanics are fantastic for automating mundane calculations, which speeds up gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Just like any VTT, if you want to use the built-in, in-game mechanics and scripting in the engine, you need to buy the books, the same as you have to buy them in other VTTs, not just Fantasy Grounds.”
stability
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-22 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The stability of Fantasy Grounds Unity has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes and significant bugs that hinder usability. Many find the software to be unreliable, often requiring extensive troubleshooting, while a few note that it can function adequately at times. Overall, the consensus is that the program remains a "buggy mess" despite its long presence in the market.
- “Runs great!”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
- “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.”
grinding
7 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 detract from the overall experience. While the automation features of platforms like Fantasy Grounds help alleviate some of this tedium, the initial investment and the need for players to purchase materials can be a barrier for casual groups. Overall, while some appreciate the automation, many feel that the setup and character creation processes could be improved to reduce the grind.
- “This is tedious and could have been done better - the competition comes to mind.”
- “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.”
- “Making a character on paper is kind of a tedious process of writing a lot of stuff down, and rolling a lot of dice involves a lot of tedious adding.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has seen significant improvements over the classic version, with enhanced features and user-friendly interface. However, users report persistent performance issues, particularly on the Unity version, including memory leaks and frequent freezing, even on high-end machines. Active updates are being made to address these performance concerns.
- “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.”
- “Only real difference being line of sight being a Unity thing and a portion of the performance matters.”
music
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the variety of tabletop audio products available for enhancing gameplay with battle music and sound effects, highlighting the importance of starting with basic options. Many express a desire for built-in music features, while noting that tools like R20's jukebox facilitate easy integration of background music and audio, significantly elevating the gaming experience. Overall, the incorporation of music and sound effects is seen as a valuable enhancement to tabletop role-playing games.
- “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.”
- “I'd love it if they included built-in music.”
- “You can also download some free extensions and software to make it so the game can do basic things such as sound effects (based on what happens in the chat) and music.”
- “Adding background music and effects with the slick presentation really takes D&D to the next level.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization model has been criticized as exploitative, with users feeling that they are paying for basic templates that require additional purchases to be functional. Many describe it as a cash grab, highlighting misleading advertising and the prevalence of microtransactions, which contribute to a frustrating user experience.
- “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.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % 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.
- “Additionally, there are countless player-created content options available, which add even more games, themes, tokens, and maps to explore.”
- “The variety of choices and player-generated content ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “With so many different strategies and paths to take, the game offers endless replayability.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % 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 use of eye-rolling suggests a sense of disbelief and mockery towards the company's motives.
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing and hilarious character interactions that keep me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with witty dialogue and funny scenarios that make every quest enjoyable.”
- “The comedic timing in the cutscenes is perfect, and the absurd situations the characters find themselves in always leave me in stitches.”