For a campaign that must work without public internet during play, shortlist virtual tabletops that can run locally, then check what needs internet access before play and which features your group depends on. Foundry Virtual Tabletop documents offline use after online license validation; PlanarAlly describes itself as open-source, self-hostable, and playable offline. Those claims do not establish which is easier or faster, so test your rules system, assets, and player workflow before committing.
Define what “offline” means for your group
Offline can mean no public internet at the table, play over an isolated local network (LAN), or a computer with no network connection at all. These are different requirements. A LAN-only game still uses a network: players connect to the host over the local network, but the connection need not reach the internet.
Write down whether you need local multiplayer, remote players joining over the internet, or solo preparation without a network. Also decide whether the software must be installable and activated without ever going online. That last requirement rules out a product whose first-run activation requires internet, even if ordinary play can later happen offline.
Compare the options against the campaign’s requirements
| Option | What is established | What to verify before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Foundry VTT on a desktop | It can run on the GM’s computer or another computer on the home network, with campaign content stored locally. The host application must remain running while players connect. Foundry says it typically runs offline after license validation. Foundry Installation Guide; Hosting Options Guide; FAQ | Whether the selected game system and modules support the campaign; whether all required assets are local; how you will back up the world and manage updates. |
| Foundry VTT on a dedicated local server | Foundry documents headless Node.js hosting and lists modest minimum server requirements. Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and Pi 5 are among the listed supported models, subject to compatible operating-system and runtime requirements. Minimum Requirements | Server and Node.js version compatibility for your Foundry release; memory headroom; maintenance, backups, power, and whether the server will be LAN-only or remotely accessible. |
| PlanarAlly | Its official overview describes it as open-source, self-hostable, and playable offline. It lists lighting and vision, map layers, floors and locations, assets and templates, and build/play tools. PlanarAlly | Current support for your rules system and the practical installation, access, backup, and campaign workflows. The overview does not establish comparative performance or ease of use. |
| Hosted Foundry service | Foundry describes persistent cloud hosting as an alternative for remote access and avoiding local network setup. Hosting Options Guide | Whether cloud hosting is acceptable at all: it does not meet a strict no-cloud requirement, and it adds hosting cost. |
Use these criteria to decide, rather than treating “offline” as a complete feature comparison:
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- Activation: Can you install and activate the software under the internet conditions you actually have?
- Play topology: Does the group need one host and a local LAN, or public-internet access for remote players?
- Campaign fit: Does the exact game system, rules content, and module or tool set work as needed?
- Data control: Can you keep maps, tokens, notes, and other campaign assets locally and back them up or export them in a usable way?
- Maintenance: Who will keep the host running, manage software updates, and troubleshoot the server?
- Hardware and network: Does the chosen host meet the applicable requirements, and does the network fit the players’ connection method?
Choose a local play arrangement
Run the host on the GM’s computer
This is the most direct local arrangement: the GM runs the application, stores the campaign on that computer, and leaves it open for players to connect. Foundry’s hosting guide describes self-hosting on the GM’s own computer or another computer on the home network, commonly using the packaged Electron app. Foundry Hosting Options Guide
For LAN play, make sure player devices can reach the host on the local network and that firewall rules permit the connection. No public internet is required for that local connection, but the host and player devices still need to be networked together.
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Use a separate local server
A dedicated server can keep the campaign available without tying up the GM’s everyday computer. Foundry documents headless hosting with Node.js; it also says self-hosting can use a computer you already own, so a separate machine is optional rather than a requirement. Foundry Hosting Options Guide
Foundry’s listed minimums for a dedicated server are 1 vCPU, 1 GB of storage, and 2 GB of RAM; it recommends 2 vCPUs and 4 GB of RAM. More demanding systems and content-heavy modules can need additional memory. The requirements page specifies an operating system supporting glibc 2.28 or later and a compatible Node.js runtime. Its installation guide gives version-dependent Node.js guidance: Node.js 22 for Foundry V13 and below, and Node.js 24 for V14 and above. Follow the requirements for your installed Foundry version rather than relying on a single generic runtime number. These are Foundry’s vendor requirements, not a performance benchmark. Minimum Requirements; Installation Guide
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Plan for activation, updates, and offline limitations
Foundry’s installation instructions require an internet connection to validate the license key and accept the software license. Once that initial step is complete, Foundry says it can typically run entirely offline. Downloading the software and updates also involves online access, so arrange installation and any needed updates before moving to a location without internet. Foundry Installation Guide
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Offline operation does not make every convenience feature local. Foundry’s FAQ identifies update checks, module and system search results, and public IP identification as functions that use external services. The FAQ says manually providing a package manifest can still allow a module to be installed, and that ordinary operation after activation is not designed to depend on external servers. Foundry FAQ
Foundry describes its license as a one-time purchase and says only the host needs a license for a group; check the current licensing terms and price directly before buying. PlanarAlly’s official overview makes open-source, self-hosted, and offline-play claims, but those claims alone do not establish every installation detail or campaign-system feature. Consult its current documentation and test the campaign workflow. Foundry FAQ; PlanarAlly
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Decide whether remote internet play is necessary
If everyone is at the same location, keep the design LAN-only and avoid adding public access unless you need it. If players will connect from elsewhere, the host must be reachable over the internet. Foundry documents remote IPv4 access using port forwarding and firewall rules; the default port is TCP 30000. Your ISP or router may prevent inbound IPv4 connections, including when the connection uses carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT). Foundry notes that IPv6 may avoid IPv4 port forwarding when both the host and players can connect over IPv6. Port Forwarding; Minimum Requirements
For a host sending images, video, or audio to internet-connected players, Foundry recommends an upload speed of 1.5 MB/s (12 Mbps). It says 6 Mbps may be workable with careful asset optimization and S3, but initial loads may be very slow. These are vendor recommendations, not guarantees; performance depends on the host’s connection and the size of the content served. Minimum Requirements
A hosted service is an alternative when remote access matters and local networking is impractical, but it changes the model: it uses cloud hosting and does not satisfy a strict no-cloud requirement. Foundry Hosting Options Guide
Protect the campaign before changing versions
Keep a backup of campaign data before changing Foundry versions. Foundry’s installation guide warns that a world migrated by a newer version may not launch in an older one; reverting may require restoring a backup. Decide who owns the backup routine and where the copy is kept before the campaign depends on the server. Foundry Installation Guide
Run a small test before moving the campaign
- Confirm the access model. Have each player connect from the kind of network they will use in normal play: LAN for in-person sessions, or an external connection if remote play is required.
- Test the actual campaign system. Create a small test world using the intended rules system, modules, maps, and assets. Check that essential content remains available when public internet access is disabled after any required setup.
- Test the host’s real workload. Keep the host application running, connect the group, and load representative scenes and media. A server’s published minimum specifications are not a promise about a particular campaign’s performance.
- Practice recovery. Make a backup, confirm where it resides, and know how you would restore it before updating or migrating a campaign world.
This test is especially useful when choosing between the documented Foundry offline workflow and PlanarAlly’s product-level offline claim: the available official descriptions do not provide a controlled comparison of setup effort, usability, or performance.
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