Upgrading to Pro

Hi all Long time Plus sub and have been using Firefox with an extension because it gave me game improvements I felt Roll20 was handling poorly.  However, Roll20 has made such massive leaps recently with the UI, page and layer management that I really feel I want to up my sub.   APIs would be the main attraction ( I know, shock, horror eh?) and I have looked around, watched videos and read various posts, so am asking for a little clarification before I pile in. Am I right in thinking that there is no "I want these APIs to run in every game, make it so Number 1"? ie, I need to add the APIs to each game at creation.  Not the end of the world since I enjoy putting stuff together as much as I enjoy playing Automatic damage - I see there is a combination of APIs that allow the group select naming I love so much, the automatic opening and addition to the turn tracker and, where a group is subject to an AoE effect, a semi-automated deduction of damage from the affected tokens.  Is there a way to apply damage similarly in regular combat (eg 1 on 1, perhaps by selecting target)? Visual effects - the examples I have seen for fx don't really float my boat, can we use others?  Always thought my players were more "nah, we're good mate, it's all in the mind"  A recent conversation revealed they would like some pretty things to look at The main question I guess is around how much this speeds up gameplay.  I don't care how much time and effort I put in pre-game, this is an addiction I have lived with for 40+ years, but I really want to concentrate on the story and being with my players now rather than messing around deducting HP, faffing about when the druid goes in to wild shape AGAIN etc.  Honest feedback would be a boon, I spoke to one of my players who is also a DM and he went back to Plus as he didn't get anything from it, but I feel I may be different... Thanks all, I know this kind of thing has been asked many times before, but so much of what I found was many years out of date

For me, I probably wouldn't be using Roll20 anymore if it wasn't for the API and the customization options it provides at the Pro level. That's how much I value the API to keep me at Pro. I have a mix of players of various levels of experience with ttrpg's so some are brand new and some are old tactical players that want that grid and token system like their old minis in wargames. The API mods allow me to help speed things up for all of my players so they can focus on the fun and not messing around with the boring admin stuff. When my players struggle with something, I can come up with a macro to help speed that process along and automate the accounting and let everyone focus on the fun parts of the game. To me that's why I keep myself pro. As for how much this speeds up gameplay, I automate a great deal. For example, in my one of my d&d5e games I use a token marker for when a character is concentrating on a spell, then when that character takes damage, I have a trigger that checks if the token has that marker and then whispers to the DM (me) and the player, they need to make a CON save complete with a button to roll the save. This was the players first session of D&D5e ever and didn't really know what concentration was or what save needed to be made but they were prompted and automation reminded both of us in case we forget in the middle of a chaotic combat. Also you can have damage automatically applied in a variety of ways.  TokenMod ,  ChatSetAttr , and  ScriptCards  are just a few of the modules I install in every one of my games now. They are so flexible and allow for so much customization regardless of system being played that they just are immediate installs when I create a new game. I do wish that process could be automated as well but it's a small matter really and I'm glad Roll20 is tackling much bigger problems currently than automating the Mod installations. So I think the main point that I would give is that if you are willing to do some research and upfront cost to find or build automation for your players, then the API is incredible for both you as a DM and your players. Also the tech skills required are not super high to use pre-built things but if you have tech skills then you will be able to create and extend things to meet your tables needs better. I wouldn't say Pro is required for everyone but at this point it would be tough for my players to go back to free or plus Roll20 after all the quality of life improvements we enjoy now.

I agree with Joshua, there's plenty I use in my game to speed things up, both in my prep and in-game with my players. In addition to the three mods he mentioned, I am using AutoButtons for deducting hitpoints, WildShape for the druid, and Paladin Aura for anyone nearby who needs a reminder about the saving throw bonus.  Also SmartAOE, GroupCheck, GroupInitiative, PageNavigator, the MacroMule mod to speed up the process of creating all those abilities... I could go on.  It was worth it to me to upgrade for simplifying (and allowing me to geek out, possibly complicating) game prep and play.  My players like that I have all these tools, too.

Another Pro perk is the Transmogrify tool. Being able to move pages, characters, handouts and jukebox tracks around from one game to another is huge.

Thank you all, your suggestions and opinions are very much appreciated.  I also read somewhere there was cake? Entering rabbit hole now...

I just passed my tenth year here and have been using APIs for about nine. I am addicted to the automation they provide, but would caution you, they can be a lot of work and take some time to adapt to. The community is extremely helpful, again if you read some of the forums you will begin to wonder if they are speaking English at times. You can set up Scriptcards with Alterbar or Tokenmod to deal out damage. I wanted this because I felt some players were "forgetting" to deduct damage often. Matt's Doorscript and a few lighting tricks will amaze your players. For a little more than a burnt coffee at Starbuck's you can really improve your game and remove the remainder of that free time you have.

thanks al e, I do need to look at lighting tricks as I think they bring a nice touch - giving one of our players the ability to control the bullseye they carry and have it show on the token (using Mount ?) would be so good.  Door knocker - I am playing catch up here and so may have glossed over important info, but that's seems relevant to DL line doors and windows rather than the newer icon based ones that players can already interact with?  Unless there is something there that sets a lock pick DC? These are what I have so far - had a wee bit of bother with autoButtons as a 1-click, but the forum fixed that and I have KJaeger's 5e menu scriptcard, which seems very nice.  If there is anything here anyone can see as duplication/ unnecessary I'd appreciate an early pointer.  Also, is there any load order thing to worry about?

Hi Simon! Looking at your list, I can see a couple of recommendations to make. When using Aura/Tint Health COlors, I would strongly recommend looking over the config menu carefully. It makes several settings changes you might find unexpected (like nameplate visibility) that can confuse players who are baffled why these settings don't "stick" when they do them manually. If using the D&D 5th Edition by Roll20 Sheet, I would recommend Token Action Maker . Huge time saver (if I do say so myself). Dynamic Lighting Tool can also quicken common tasks (again, caveat, this is one of my scripts).

Seems like a decent enough list to start with. You can add or subtract as you and your game needs. While I don't use a lot of those Mods, they should be good for you to investigate if you like their setup. A couple other options you might want to keep in mind for the future, timmaugh's  MetaScript Toolbox , particularly  SelectManager  which can "select" tokens in macros using other mods, and David M's  SpawnDefaultToken  which is pretty cool for things like summoning. I also use it for spell templates but you have SmartAoE for that but still if you have a summoner it can be pretty handy. Oh and I use ScriptCards probably more than most and a nice addition for the players to individualize their ScriptCard outputs is Keith's  Supernotes . None of these are must-haves but they all bring something useful in my games. I have a test game setup with an assortment of characters and tend to do all my work there. Most of this take time to play around and experiment with what setup works best for you and your players. So try things out and see if they fit. 

Thanks Keith and Joshua! I was just looking at Supernotes and the DL Tool as it happens and am already seeing benefits from what I have installed.  Sort of wondering what took me so long now

Once you get used to Mod Scripts and Transmogrifier, it's very hard to go back.