GM's machine barriers

Applies to : FGC (+ FGU in LAN mode)

Default ports : FG "Classic" = TCP 1802, FG "Unity" = UDP 1802

These first 3 points relate to the configuration of the GM's machine/OS.

Breaking these barriers should be enough to successfully host a game for players located in your own home network, even if you are in a no-go situation for remote player access.

If you have a third-party protection software installed, it may "take over" some settings from Windows 10 itself : you may then find them in the third-party software settings.

Barrier 1 😡 : Windows 10 "public/private" network setting

Windows 10 has a setting to classify each network it is connected to as :

• either "pubic" (read : "not safe")

• or "private" (read : "safe")

Windows 10 will prevent incoming connections from "public" networks, including Fantasy Grounds, so be sure to 👍 tag your current W10 network connection as "private", or else... 👎

How to change your Windows network connections between "Public" and "Private"

TODO : W10 screenshots needed here

Barrier 2 👿 : OS-managed firewall

Be sure to 👍 allow incoming communications to your TCP 1802, or better yet 👍👍 to your Fantasy Grounds executable program in the operating system firewall, or else... 👎

Here is an example of Windows 7 firewall rules authorizing any kind of incoming connection to the Fantasy Grounds program, with TCP+UDP protocols and the "ALL" value for networks, adresses and ports parameters (W7 Firewall "advanced" view) :

W7 "All Incoming" rules example for F.G.

TODO : W10 screenshots needed here

I would advise authorizing the Fantasy Grounds program ("Classic" and/or "Unity") for ALL incoming connections, instead of specifically TCP 1802 (FGC) or UDP 1802 (FGU).

That will enable using alternate ports for use cases like "multiple FGC+FGU games with 1 VPN server" - see Lifting the "1 GM at-a-time" restriction and following sections.

Barrier 3 👹 : Third-party protection software

If you are using any kind of third-party anti- malware/virus/threat protection software, chances are that you also need to 👍 enable incoming communications for FG in these, or else... 👎

TODO : Other screenshots needed here ??