Players stuck at "Initializing" not able to join

We are trying to make sure our setup will work for our first session this coming week, but 2 different players in my group tried to join the server today, and got stuck after joining. Instead of loading the content, they just get the word "initializing". Both show up on the GM side as connected players in the game log, but neither ever actually makes it in or can answer the chat. I'm sure I'm missing something simple... any ideas?

 

I'll try again with a blank campaign / no maps and see if they connect, so we can narrow it down. Thanks!

 

It worked with a blank campaign, so apparently it was just the lag from the new connection method. I tried to use the old method with port forwarding, and they all got the error "A Judge Server was not found", even though the forwarding was set up and the port checking site could see 10101 open.