Animated token stutters as GM, but not as player.

I both play in and run my own games. Last session my gm used an animated weather token and I loved the visual effect. It was resized to fit the entire map and placed on the map layer. The effect was seamless, and with 5 other players, about 15 npc tokens, and several prop tokens, the animated effect ran perfectly.  So I purchased the exact same animated token pack. However, when I set up a map, regardless of complexity, the animation stutters. I'm using the same computer, browser, token, etc. So my question is: Why would the animated token work flawlessly when I'm playing on my own computer and a different computer is hosting the animating, but when I set up the same scenario on my own computer, the animation stutters?

My guess would be that as GM, your machine is rendering more info than the machine of a player will be.  You will be rendering all dynamic lighting, vision of all tokens, etc.  Players will only be rendering what is in view of the character and only their own vision.

Would you assume this means the animated token would run smoothly for my players, just not for me?

I would say you should get some players involved to test it and see if it works out that way.

You can test the player experience with a  Dummy Account . It's also possible that the GM had downloaded the image and re-uploaded it into their own library. It shouldn't make a difference, but I've never tested.

keithcurtis said: You can test the player experience with a  Dummy Account . It's also possible that the GM had downloaded the image and re-uploaded it into their own library. It shouldn't make a difference, but I've never tested. I'm not certain I understand this. I've uploaded my own assets before but this is my first purchase from the marketplace. I didn't think you could download assets from the market place. I thought anything purchased was hosted directly to the account? And thank you for the link to your Dummy Account post. Excellent idea I will be certainly using!

Erik said: I'm not certain I understand this. I've uploaded my own assets before but this is my first purchase from the marketplace. I didn't think you could download assets from the market place. I thought anything purchased was hosted directly to the account? You can't download modules or addons.  Everything else usually can be.  I have bought a lot of "build your own" type packs, download them, and then use them as assets in Wonderdraft, or use the pieces to put something together in GIMP or Inkscape.  Go to the marketplace page of assets you have bought, and see if there is a blue button on the page labeled: "Download Complete Set". Alternatively, you should be able to add purchased art items to your art library in-game by going to the marketplace purchases area, right clicking on the item you want, and select "Copy to Library" from the menu.

Thank you Kraynic.  Do you know if items purchased from the marketplace and listed under the UI "Premium Assets > Marketplace Purchases" -and- the same asset copied to "My Library", using the 'Copy to Library' command are treated identically by roll20? Meaning: I can drag and drop an asset from either location (Premium Assets / My Library) to a created page, but is there a system / function difference between the two?

Hmm, I can think of four functional differences off the top of my head. Assets existing solely within the marketplace: 1) Do not take up any of your storage quota 2) If they are new enough, may contain metadata allowing you to drag and drop them at the creator-intended size. 3) May have gone through different optimization (probably more likely with animations) 4) cannot be affected by the API.