LANCER: "Should I Use FoundryVTT?"

A lot of people suggest Foundry as an option for new Lancer GMs, but everything has a catch.

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Every single new GM for Lancer, I imagine, has asked some variation of the following: ”What VTT should I use for Lancer?”

The answer should be simple, but with the options available, that question can lead you into a rabbit hole if you’re not careful. I’m going to take this opportunity to break down my most often used VTT for Lancer, Foundry, and offer some potential alternatives as well. We’ll also be doing deeper dives on other VTTs in future articles.

FoundryVTT

The most common VTT option that I have seen for playing Lancer, Foundry is an extensively customizable (perhaps even infinitely so) VTT that offers options galore.

The Best For Automation

It has thousands of modules and automation options, and can truly wow players when set up correctly. Additionally, it removes a lot of in-game headaches with calculations and look up tables, as items like structure rolls and attacks are calculated automatically. A built in turn tracker built for Lancer helps keep track of enemies and players alike on the field, and alleviates the headache of playing Elites and Ultras with multiple turns in a round.

An Excellent Community

It should be noted that most if not all of the content for Lancer in Foundry is open source and community created, even if some modules that GMs use are not. The level of support that Foundry play has is incredible, with entire resource docs dedicated to helping GMs of all skill levels get set up.

COMP/CON Friendly

One excellent point in Foundry's favour is the integration with COMP/CON, which allows direct importing of character sheets for ease of setup. Unfortunately, this does not extend to GM content just yet.

Immersive and Impressive

Foundry also has plenty of immersion options. Built in ambient effects, visual effects, lighting, audio players, and modules for automating all of those are nearly guaranteed to amaze players. The feeling of seeing an actual missile fired at a target and exploding never gets old if you get Lancer Weapon FX installed.

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The Downsides

However, Foundry also has some significant drawbacks, the first of which is upfront cost. I paid approximately 50 Canadian dollars for a Foundry license, which, granted, is valid for a lifetime. However, this can be an immediate hurdle for some. That said, Foundry requires no payment on the side of the players, so if you’re all willing to pitch in, you can divide the cost of the VTT license amongst your group.

Foundry is also far from the easiest option on this list to work with. “With great power comes great configuration bullshit,” is a saying I like to adapt both to IT and working with Foundry. You can easily spend hours configuring the VTT itself, but luckily this is usually a one time investment of time. Future adjustments are generally much quicker once you get the hang of things.

Additionally, Foundry is a self-hosted option, meaning that Foundry themselves does not provide hosting options. With this in mind, you will have to do one of a few things:

• Pay a hosting service to host Foundry for you (potentially expensive, especially over long periods, but much less hassle)

• Host Foundry yourself on a server in the cloud (more configuration + sysadmin + domains + SSL + server fees + file storage + did I mention more configuration? That said, this also gives you plenty of flexibility)

• Learn how to port forward your router (exposing your home network to the internet is a fun time)

• Use a local tunnel solution, such as ngrok (the easiest and safest free solution, but not intended for many connections at the same time)

Finally, Foundry is by far one of the most finicky systems I have worked with. Some players and Foundry simply do not get along. Foundry is prone to breaking between versions, as well as not being the most reliable with backups. Connection and loading issues, as well as things sometimes straight up breaking mid game like the ability to roll certain attacks, can become irritating. Of course, this likely lessens with fewer modules, so try to pick a good balance that works for your table. Remember, if you’re just playing with friends, you don’t need pro GM levels of razzle-dazzle.

That said, if you are a pro GM, you’re likely making back the hosting costs every month, so this is the option I’d pick.

TL;DR on Foundry

• Pros:

  • Wonderful automation and community support

  • Impressive immersion

  • Direct integration with COMP/CON

  • Ideal for Pro GMs and content creators

• Cons:

  • Upfront license cost

  • Not the easiest thing to configure in the world

  • Hosting can be a challenge and/or expensive

  • Instability can be unsettling or irritating

• Verdict: If you’re looking to impress, make money and/or content playing RPGs, or you just don’t mind a license paywall and a challenge, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re looking for an easy option, look elsewhere.

Comparing and Contrasting

Of course, Foundry is far from the only option out there. You also have:

• Roll20

• Owlbear Rodeo

• Tabletop Simulator

Until I have actually set up and run a game in each, I do not feel comfortable writing an article about them. That said, Pilot NET, the official Lancer discord server, has folks who have run games in them. Each has their own considerations, and may get an article of their own in the future.

Conclusion

Foundry is one of the heaviest hitters in terms of sheer power given to the GM for VTTs, but it’s also the hardest and/or the most expensive to set up. That said, if the pros outweigh the cons for you, I say go for it.

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