Star Trek Adventures VTT Modules: Fantasy Grounds Setup

Quick answer

To play Star Trek Adventures online with Fantasy Grounds, buy the Fantasy Grounds module, redeem the emailed product key in your Fantasy Grounds account, and load the module in a new or existing campaign. Then open the Eight Layers Deep mission, review its ethical dilemma and Prime Directive pressure points, and invite your crew. The key step is activating the module before your session so Fantasy Grounds can sync the content to your players.

What you need before you start

You need a Fantasy Grounds account, a Fantasy Grounds license that supports the ruleset, and the Star Trek Adventures Fantasy Grounds module you plan to run. The module is delivered as a product key by email after purchase. You do not need to install a separate Star Trek Adventures app; the content loads inside Fantasy Grounds.

Check that your players have Fantasy Grounds installed and can connect to your campaign. If you are using a demo license, confirm it supports the ruleset and the number of players you expect. A quick pre-session connection test saves the most common first-night delay.

Understand what the Eight Layers Deep module adds

Eight Layers Deep is a Star Trek Adventures mission in which a routine inspection of a Starfleet research project turns into an ethical dilemma. The crew must make difficult decisions to save lives, and the scenario may test the limits of the Prime Directive. In Fantasy Grounds, that means the module gives you the mission text and reference material inside the VTT, not a separate PDF workflow.

Because the dilemma is built around command pressure and moral tradeoffs, prep your opening scene and the key decision points rather than scripting every outcome. The module supports that style of play, but your table still decides how the crew responds.

Set up Fantasy Grounds for Star Trek Adventures

Create or open a campaign using the Star Trek Adventures ruleset, then activate the module key through your Fantasy Grounds account. Once activated, enable the module in the campaign's module screen so the mission content appears in your library. Build a test player character or open a pregenerated one to confirm that rolls, stats, and the character sheet behave as expected.

If you plan to use voice chat, start it before the game and keep the Fantasy Grounds window visible for dice rolls and handouts. Avoid running the session from a laptop with the module closed; reopening it mid-scene interrupts flow.

Prep the mission without over-preparing

Read the mission once for the dilemma, then note the three or four moments where the crew must choose between saving lives and upholding protocol. Those are the scenes to pace carefully. Prepare a short list of non-player characters and the information they can reveal, but leave room for the crew's solution.

A common mistake is treating the Prime Directive as a single correct answer. The scenario works best when the crew can argue different interpretations and face consequences either way.

Run the session and manage the VTT

Open with a clear briefing so players understand the inspection's stakes, then let them investigate. Use Fantasy Grounds to share handouts, track momentum and threat, and keep the mission text at hand. When the ethical dilemma arrives, slow down and ask each player what their character prioritizes.

Keep a visible timer or scene marker for any countdown in the mission so the table feels pressure without confusion. After the session, note which module sections you skipped; that tells you what to prep for the next outing.

Step-by-step Fantasy Grounds setup for Star Trek Adventures

1. Buy the module and locate the key email: Purchase the Star Trek Adventures Fantasy Grounds module and check the email address you used at checkout for the product key. If it has not arrived, check spam before contacting support. Checkpoint: you have the key in hand before you open Fantasy Grounds.
2. Activate the key in your Fantasy Grounds account: Sign in to Fantasy Grounds, go to the activation page, and enter the key. You need a Fantasy Grounds account for this step. Checkpoint: the module appears as owned in your account.
3. Create or open a Star Trek Adventures campaign: Launch Fantasy Grounds, choose the Star Trek Adventures ruleset, and create a campaign or open your existing one. Then enable the module in the campaign's module screen. Checkpoint: the mission content is visible in your library.
4. Load Eight Layers Deep and review the dilemma: Open the Eight Layers Deep mission and read the setup, the inspection premise, and the ethical decision points. Note where the Prime Directive may be tested. Checkpoint: you can name the central tradeoff the crew will face.
5. Test the player connection: Have one player connect to your campaign and open a character sheet. Confirm that rolls and shared handouts work before the session. Checkpoint: a test roll appears in the chat log.
6. Run the session with the module open: Keep the module open during play for reference, and use Fantasy Grounds to share handouts and track the scene. Pause at the dilemma to let each player state their character's priority. Next step: after play, note which sections you skipped and prep only those for next time.

Fantasy Grounds modules for Star Trek Adventures and Dune

• Star Trek Adventures: Eight Layers Deep - Fantasy Grounds (VTT): This is the Fantasy Grounds VTT module. Upon purchase you will be emailed a product key to activate on Fantasy Grounds. A routine inspection of a Starfleet research project leads to ethical dilemmas for the ship's crew. Buy the module, watch for the key email, and activate it before your session; the mission's ethical dilemma is the core prep target.
• Dune: Core Rulebook - Fantasy Grounds (VTT): This is the Fantasy Grounds VTT module for the Dune: Adventures in the Imperium core rules. Upon purchase you will be emailed a product key to activate on Fantasy Grounds. If your group also plays Dune online, the same key-activation workflow applies, so you can reuse your setup routine.