The “razor and blades” strategy begins in earnest as the veteran VTT releases a wave of content alongside its shift to a free-to-play model.
The recent pivot by SmiteWorks to make Fantasy Grounds completely free to play was a significant shake-up for the virtual tabletop (VTT) market. Now, we are seeing the immediate fruit of that strategy: a coordinated release of substantial content bundles from heavy hitters like Modiphius Entertainment and Goodman Games.
For two decades, Fantasy Grounds operated behind a premium barrier, requiring a license fee of up to $50 (or a subscription) before a Game Master could even begin to host a session. That barrier has been removed. The core application is now free to download, and users can host unlimited players without a subscription.
As Adam Bradford, Chief Development Officer at SmiteWorks, noted during the announcement, the goal is to shift the cost from the tool to the content:
By removing the software costs entirely, we’re making it possible for someone to simply buy the box set module and start playing for around $20 to $30 instead.”
This week’s release of a wave of major bundles suggests that publishers are eager to test these new waters.
The New “Starter Sets”
With the software cost removed, these bundles effectively become the new “starter sets” for the platform. The strategy relies on Fantasy Grounds‘ historic strength: automation. Unlike competitors, where setting up a complex system can require hours of configuration, Fantasy Grounds sells itself on a “load and play” promise.
Modiphius Entertainment has deployed a significant portion of its 2d20 catalogue in this initial wave. The new bundles include Fallout: The Roleplaying Game, the space opera epic Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, and Star Trek Adventures.
Interestingly, the Star Trek offerings appear to cover significant ground, with imagery suggesting support for both the original 1st Edition and the broader Adventures line, ensuring captains can run games spanning the timeline from the original series to the Discovery era.
On the other side of the aisle, Goodman Games is catering to the “gonzo” and old-school renaissance (OSR) crowd. Their bundles feature the erratic and lethal Mutant Crawl Classics, the modern-classic Dungeon Crawl Classics, and their 5E Fantasy line, which injects old-school sensibilities into the current edition of the world’s most popular roleplaying game.
Beyond the Tabletop: The Online Reader
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this news isn’t just that the bundles exist, but how they can now be accessed. Coinciding with the free-to-play launch and these new bundles is the beta release of the Fantasy Grounds Online Reader.
Previously, buying a digital book on Fantasy Grounds meant you could only read it inside the VTT application—a clumsy experience if you just wanted to check a stat block on your phone or read lore on a tablet. The new Online Reader allows users to access their library via a web browser, a move clearly designed to compete with the utility of services like D&D Beyond.
While the team is still converting their massive back catalogue of 4,000+ products for the reader, these new bundles are prime candidates for this feature, adding value beyond the virtual tabletop session itself.
A Direct Challenge to the Status Quo
This influx of high-profile content at the exact moment of the free-to-play switch signals a rare aggressive move in the VTT space. By undercutting the entry price of Foundry VTT and matching the “free” tier of Roll20, while offering attractive automation, Fantasy Grounds is positioning itself to capture a new wave of GMs.
The success of this strategy will likely depend on these bundles. If players feel they are getting a premium “box set” experience digitally for the price of a PDF and a VTT asset pack, the gamble may pay off.
Available Bundles
The following bundles are among those released as part of this initiative:
- Star Trek Adventures Bundle
- Dune: Adventures in the Imperium Bundle
- Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Bundle
- Dungeon Crawl Classics Bundle
- Mutant Crawl Classics Bundle
- Goodman Games 5E Fantasy Bundle
