# Fantasy Grounds - Port Forwarding and a "transparent" OpenVPN setup

{% hint style="info" %}
This document, initially written in June 2019 for FG "Classic", is now being updated (September 2020) for :

* **simultaneous** GMs/games through a **single VPN server for FGC/FGU/FGC+FGU**
* **FG "Unity" hosting games in LAN mode**

For these use cases, specific sections have been added before appendixes.
{% endhint %}

**FGU = Fantasy Grounds Unity** vs. **FGC = Fantasy Grounds Classic :**

With **FGU**, hosting a game in **"Cloud" mode** should be **ok for all GMs**, whatever their specific network situation, **without needing any kind of VPN**.

However, if for any reason (platform unavailable, broken Internet routes, privacy concerns, whatever...) you want to host an **FGU** game in **LAN mode** :

* it is the same kind of networking topology and constraints as FGC
* the **default** protocol/port for **FGU** is **UDP** 1802 while **FGC** uses **TCP** 1802

{% hint style="info" %}
Most of what I wrote in this document for **FGC = FG "Classic" (and the TCP protocol)** can be transposed to **FGU = FG "Unity"** hosting in **LAN mode (and the UDP protocol).**
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**FGU** game hosting in **CLOUD mode should** be totally straightforward in all networking situations and **not require any kind of port forwarding or VPN** (except if some countries block traffic to the Unity servers...)
{% endhint %}

This document will describe a solution for GMs (Game Masters) to publish their Fantasy Grounds virtual table to remote players through an ad-hoc "GM-only" VPN, hosted on a small AWS (Amazon Web Services) Linux server.

***But first...***

## Do you *really* need a VPN for <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Lhux9XvuEJbeUH4l9Dr%2F-LhuxHlumVaJRYKa19gU%2FFG35.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4e4df5de-97b7-49d0-811d-42639ab8af9c" alt="" data-size="line"> Fantasy Grounds "Classic" <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Lhux9XvuEJbeUH4l9Dr%2F-LhuxHlumVaJRYKa19gU%2FFG35.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4e4df5de-97b7-49d0-811d-42639ab8af9c" alt="" data-size="line"> ?

{% hint style="success" %}
**Most GMs do not need to use a VPN** to successfully share their virtual table for players
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Players generally do not need to use a VPN**
{% endhint %}

There are however situations where **a VPN may be needed on the GM's side** :

1. **temporary connection from a "public" internet facility** (hotel room, etc)
2. country/ISP setup makes a **unique public IPv4 address unavailable**
3. **proper port forwarding not possible** for one (or more) router(s)
4. **upstream "closed" firewall**

{% hint style="warning" %}
Also : **if you are a player and your GM is using a "closed VPN" offer like Hamachi, you will have to be a member of the same VPN as the GM to join the game.**
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
This document presents a **"transparent" VPN solution**, where :

* **only the GM** uses the VPN
* the VPN is used to **forward FG traffic only** (TCP 1802)
* the **players do not have to install/use any kind of VPN** or custom IP routing software
  {% endhint %}

## More help

To find out about **everything you ever wanted to learn about Fantasy Grounds, and more**, go visit :

### <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li86S8Gt9QySp2p3CUz%2F-Li86WCx6a9MegdE8hru%2FFGC-Banner_w40.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c0ae8f2b-d572-4470-b828-672232fef6d4" alt="" data-size="line"> **Fantasy Grounds College** <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li86S8Gt9QySp2p3CUz%2F-Li86WCx6a9MegdE8hru%2FFGC-Banner_w40.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c0ae8f2b-d572-4470-b828-672232fef6d4" alt="" data-size="line">&#x20;

<div align="center"><img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li77GsU_W_AGp1utlT4%2F-Li7RT-qQcINhQrH2XeJ%2FFGC-Banner_w200.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4f0d0ad2-f89b-4740-b121-1ffd78d0bd36" alt=""></div>

FGC is a fantastic group of FG fans (GMs and players) providing voluntary help and training about FG, and can be joined :

* on Discord : <https://discord.gg/Ew6nYyw>
* on the website : <https://fantasygroundscollege.net/>
* the Knowledge Base : <https://fgc-kb.fantasygroundscollege.net/>

### <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li86S8Gt9QySp2p3CUz%2F-Li86aYXs-x7jHLuTHwX%2FTeamEUtransition40.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5a6a30d9-5cad-4ecf-8a54-2ad45674f613" alt="" data-size="line"> FGC Team EU Lair at ZeFerby's <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li86S8Gt9QySp2p3CUz%2F-Li86aYXs-x7jHLuTHwX%2FTeamEUtransition40.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5a6a30d9-5cad-4ecf-8a54-2ad45674f613" alt="" data-size="line"> :

![](https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li77GsU_W_AGp1utlT4%2F-Li7WloZ1VflwkLMy5Sd%2FTeamEUtransition200.png?alt=media\&token=85532602-af97-43ad-bc14-c599b26a28a1)

We are a fan-driven Fantasy Grounds help and gaming place created by FGC offsprings (especially from EU-like timezones).  You'll find us on Discord here : <https://discord.gg/6s6WCuZ>

### Official <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Lhux9XvuEJbeUH4l9Dr%2F-LhuxHlumVaJRYKa19gU%2FFG35.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4e4df5de-97b7-49d0-811d-42639ab8af9c" alt="" data-size="line"> **Fantasy Grounds** <img src="https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Lhux9XvuEJbeUH4l9Dr%2F-LhuxHlumVaJRYKa19gU%2FFG35.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4e4df5de-97b7-49d0-811d-42639ab8af9c" alt="" data-size="line"> from **SmiteWorks** USA LLC :

![](https://681104499-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LhjKavWMofrik61tHfB%2F-Li77GsU_W_AGp1utlT4%2F-Li7V_V_2X4wC7u4F5Q7%2FFantasy%20Grounds.png?alt=media\&token=12e8b559-a4d1-4965-896a-054715407634)

* Website and Forums : <https://www.fantasygrounds.com/>
* Discord server : <https://discord.gg/dbuQvgG>
* Steam discussions : <https://steamcommunity.com/app/252690/discussions/>
