Using ZeroTier to Host a Fantasy Grounds Game

[damned]

It works fine on Mac and PC but if your wife is on the same network as you she can just connect to your LAN address while everyone else uses teh ZeroTier method.

[DnDExplorers]

Good evening, everyone. As some of you know, I've been on a quest to help folks be able to run a Fantasy Grounds game as a GM when they are having trouble port-forwarding, are traveling and want to host a game, etc... I setup AlgoVPN and it worked great. Only caveat is it took me quite a while to set up. It was a pretty involved process.

Well, today I found ZeroTier. ZeroTier bills itself as a virtual networking layer that works the same everywhere. Pretty ambitious statement! So, without a huge expectation, I decided to test it. So, I went to www.zerotier.com, clicked on "Try Zero Tier" and downloaded the program. After setting up a network in a couple minutes, I was ready to test things. First off, it automatically assigns you an internal ip address that I believe is outside of the range of your current internal ip range (at least it did for me). That is the ip address that players will use to join your game. I remembered this after reviewing Damned's instructions on using Hamachi. I tested ZeroTier myself using a hotspot to make sure I wasn't on my home network and I connected just fine from a second laptop. Then I had a player I know download the software and connect. He connected to me just fine as well.

I suppose I need to do some speed testing, test if this will work from a hotel, etc.. Bottom line, though, I can't believe how simple it was to setup and get a connection! The players will have to download a program (like Hamachi I guess), but there is absolutely no adware, etc.. and it is very simple. And yes... absolutely free!!! So, rather than typing out a how-to, I made a quick video (9 minutes long) and posted to youtube. Sorry for some of the quality when I scroll. I was still on my hotspot. I was too excited, though and had to share. Please let me know if you try it and it works for you! This could be another great option for folks.

Here is the link to my youtube video:

https://youtu.be/Os1jjbQAFao

Thanks man this totally saved my bacon i was pulling my hair out and i do not even have hair.

[Gwydion]

Awesome! Love hearing from people that some of these solutions help.

[JimElder3]

Your first video was great. Did a second one for players ever get made?
Jim

[billyorkfellz]

Firstly I wanna thank you for sharing the option. As for the issue, I did the procedures and my test players couldn't connect. We use windows notebooks and I'm not sure I got zerotier free from firewall blocking, as well as my players. Could it be the problem?

[Gwydion]

Firstly I wanna thank you for sharing the option. As for the issue, I did the procedures and my test players couldn't connect. We use windows notebooks and I'm not sure I got zerotier free from firewall blocking, as well as my players. Could it be the problem?

That definitely could be the issue. I would make sure all of you have “whitelisted” the zerotier executable. Also, sometimes it gets confusing which connection is which within zero tier. Make sure they players are trying to connect to the internal ip assigned by zero tier and confirm it is in fact your machine. Keep me posted.

[billyorkfellz]

Keep me posted.

Well, just checked on the whitelisting and they're checked as permited. ZeroTier and also Fantasy Grounds. Shall I add an exclusion for the program's specific folders on windows defender? Also the boxes for private and public network on the apps, some are checked and some aren't and I didn't do anything. They were already set up that way by default. Anyways, thanks for the quick response. I'm about to give up and just wait for the Unity update.

[damned]

Make sure GMs ZeroTier interface is set to Public

[Gwydion]

Well, just checked on the whitelisting and they're checked as permited. ZeroTier and also Fantasy Grounds. Shall I add an exclusion for the program's specific folders on windows defender? Also the boxes for private and public network on the apps, some are checked and some aren't and I didn't do anything. They were already set up that way by default. Anyways, thanks for the quick response. I'm about to give up and just wait for the Unity update.

If you want to jump in my discord and post some screenshots of what zerotier looks like I can see if I can troubleshoot a bit. Here is a link:

https://discord.gg/ERJg3Es

Can’t jump in voice tonight but I can text chat a bit and see if I can see anything amiss if you’re interested.

[billyorkfellz]

If you want to jump in my discord and post some screenshots of what zerotier looks like I can see if I can troubleshoot a bit. Here is a link:

https://discord.gg/ERJg3Es

Can’t jump in voice tonight but I can text chat a bit and see if I can see anything amiss if you’re interested.

I'll do that as soon as possible, thank you for your disposition towards helping!