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Table of Contents

Foundry Virtual TableTop

Preface

This document outlines how to use Foundry as both a player and as a DM. To avoid repeating the work of others, many things are not fully explained in writing here because they are better explained in videos or on the official documentation. Like Photoshop/GIMP, Foundry is one of those softwares that you will spend a LOT of time figuring out how to get it to do what you want, but once you do, it's such a powerful, extendible program for (virtual) tabletop gaming.

Should I be using FoundryVTT?

However, before you drop 2-6 hours in setting up FoundryVTT and another 10+ looking at modules and figuring those out, make sure FoundryVTT is actually the best solution for you.

  • Here is a massive VTT comparison chart/document – Cyanomys' Guide to Playing RPGs Online v.2.1.0
    • very well organized with lots of comments
    • pros/cons of each available option
    • pricing and intuitive-ness ratings
    • GO LOOK AT IT ALREADY!

Some highlights from the document:

  • Astral — intuitive UI, easy-to-understand character sheets, fancy map features, supports only importing or building maps from assets, RTS-style Fog of War only, well-supported long-term by developer

    All of it’s core features — including Dynamic Lighting! — are available at the Free tier, with 1GB of free storage. It supports numerous games right out of the box, but adding any new RPG actually requires no coding knowledge because character sheets are just PDFs with changeable text and die rolling buttons plopped on top of them.

  • Foundry — absolutely the VTT for power users, tinkerers, developers, etc. The head developer is active and communicative, and the community puts really good modules out at a surprisingly rapid rate.
    • from me: scaling/aligning the grid in images is so much better than roll20's terrible interface

What is Foundry?

  • fully-featured Virtual TableTop (VTT) software handles:
    • maps
    • combat tracker
    • character sheets
    • dice rolling
    • journal + compendia entries
    • audio chat
    • animated dynamic lighting
    • with extension modules:
      • video chat via jitsi module
      • soundboard
      • location-dependent background sounds
      • 3D animated dice rolling
      • animated background
      • weather effects
      • animated spells
      • worldbuilding integrations
      • combat automation
      • DnDBeyond character integration
      • adventure import from:
        • PDF (PF2e)
        • DnDBeyond (DnD5e)
      • and MORE!

Foundry Walkthrough

You chose a great time to get into FoundryVTT, there is a giveaway happening in the community subreddit and a sale on the main site.

User Interface

As a Player

  • no application download/install needed, FoundryVTT runs in a browser window
    • use Chrome
    • Safari WILL NOT WORK
    • Firefox and others will act weird
  • Absolute best way to learn about using FoundryVTT:
  • player public demo world https://demo.foundryvtt.com/join
    • password: foundry
  • you will login to your DMs world in a browser window using a link that they will send

Interacting with the map

  • right click + drag == move the map
  • left click a token to select
    • left click + drag an empty selection to deselect
      • you and your DM may change this in configure settings > "Left-click to release objects"

Your character/actor

  • from Actor sidebar tab, you can see actors and open those you have permission to view/edit
    • permission levels set by the DM

As a GM

Congratulations on choosing Foundry! Prepare to learn a lot!

Installation

Setting up FoundryVTT application

  • pick your system(s) to install
    • probably DnD5e
  • Getting Started with FoundryVTT offical tutorial page, this a basic tutorial but does include lots of helpful official links
    • naming explanations
    • link to hosting guide
    • basics of world setup + player configuration
    • including player levels
    • in-world menu names + tools
    • creating scenes
    • VERY basics of running a game

Setting up hosting

Application Admin Setup

create a world

  • name
  • path (same as name)
  • assign game system
    • must be a pre-installed system
  • background image
    • this is what your players will see when they load your gameworld
  • refer to documentation in Player Configuration in FoundryVTT offical tutorial page

In-world setup

Players Setup

  • in settings, "Configure Players"
    • refer to documentation in Player Configuration section in the FoundryVTT offical tutorial page
    • will want to have a password on the gamemaster account so players don't accidentally login as the gamemaster
  • can create actors after players are configured

Characters/Actors

  • by selecting a token, you will be restricted to the map view of that token (with grey instead of black fog of war bc GM)
  • these are the character sheets + tokens for NPCs and PCs in your game
  • Encounter Library Character Sheets, Equipment, Class Levels, and Enemies
  • there are a many UI modules that change the look of char sheets from default core experience

Setting up a session

Maps/Scenes

Typical Scene Settings (refer to scenes documentation ^above^)
  • scene name (required)
  • journal entry
    • this is where you can store information for yourself and/or your players relevant to this scene
      • notes
      • images
      • NPCs
      • locations
      • etc
  • Background Image (required)
    • put the image file you want to use as a map within your scenes folder inside Data ( default C:\Program Files\FoundryVTT\Data\worlds\<world-name>\scenes )
    • can also use a .webm video file
Scale background (fix the grid)
  • ease of this is what made me LEAP off of Roll20.
  • granular shift + scale using mouse + keyboard
  • change grid scale
Dynamic Lighting
  • dynamic lighting is a great feature, but walls and light sources must be prepped in the scene ahead of gameday if DL is desired
  • two aspects to this, Walls + Lights
Walls
Lighting

Combat

Roll Tables

Modules

  • modules are community-built extensions for FoundryVTT
    • This is the power of Foundry and why power-users (including myself) love it so much
    • can add or change just about anything you could think of
  • again, I do not recommend installing modules until you understand the core software
    • add modules one at a time afterwards
  • can install from native FoundryVTT app setup screen
    • "Add-on Modules"
  • a large collection of modules will typically impact performance, especially on older/slower machines
  • you can get quick help, sometimes from the actual module authors by using the community links

Module Categories (not exhaustive list)

  • analytics
  • audio improvements
  • automation
  • chat log
  • combat enhancements
  • content packs
    • maps
    • music
  • dice rolling
  • content importers
    • free importing of ANY legally obtained Paizo PF2e pdf
    • import characters, adventures, items, etc. from DnDBeyond
  • character/actor sheets
  • visual effects
  • audio chat
  • video chat via Jitsi server

Module Lists

My favs not in other lists (I think)

Shortcuts + Keybinds

Resources not otherwise listed

Foundry resources

Other resources

tags: VTT documentation tutorials features FoundryVTT DnD D&D
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