{"id":466,"date":"2026-09-18T13:08:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T18:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/?docs=about-this-guide\/swpf-rules-vs-fantasy-grounds-automation"},"modified":"2026-09-18T13:30:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T18:30:30","slug":"swpf-rules-vs-fantasy-grounds-automation","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/?docs=savage-worlds-for-pathfinder-fantasy-grounds-guide\/about-this-guide\/swpf-rules-vs-fantasy-grounds-automation","title":{"rendered":"SWPF Rules vs. Fantasy Grounds Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most important concepts in this guide is the distinction between a <strong>game rule<\/strong> and <strong>Fantasy Grounds automation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A rule can exist in Savage Worlds for Pathfinder even if Fantasy Grounds does not automatically enforce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Likewise, Fantasy Grounds may automate a calculation behind the scenes that players normally perform manually at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the difference can prevent a great deal of confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Savage Worlds for Pathfinder rulebooks determine how the game works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the rules determine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How Trait rolls work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Raises are calculated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Size and Scale affect combat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Armor and Toughness interact with damage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Powers are activated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Conditions affect characters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How Tests and Support work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fantasy Grounds does not define these rules. It attempts to implement them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Automation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fantasy Grounds can perform many of the calculations required by those rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the situation, Fantasy Grounds may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply modifiers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine success or failure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Detect Raises<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compare attack rolls to Parry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compare damage to Toughness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply Armor Piercing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track Wounds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track Conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Manage initiative<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Track Power Points<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply Effects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, not every rule is fully automated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some rules require the player or GM to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply a modifier manually<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add or remove an Effect<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose the correct target<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change a character or NPC value<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interpret a situational rule<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resolve an unusual interaction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fantasy Grounds should therefore be thought of as an <strong>assistant to the tabletop rules<\/strong>, not as the rules themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Three Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When something unexpected happens, ask these questions in order:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What does the Savage Worlds for Pathfinder rule say should happen?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How is Fantasy Grounds supposed to implement that rule?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Did Fantasy Grounds behave as expected?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That simple process can usually determine whether you are dealing with a misunderstanding, configuration issue, limitation, documentation problem, or software bug.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":460,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_is_vendor_doc":"0","footnotes":""},"doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-466","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=466"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":485,"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/466\/revisions\/485"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturaltwenty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fdoc_tag&post=466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}