Connecting RS232 output of Lattice XP2 Brevia Kit to PC USB (virtual COM port over USB) using a FTDI RS232RL based board
From memory, the Brevia happens to have its connector backwards; it has a female connector, like DCE such as modems, but the wiring is in DTE order. The simple solution is to use the included null modem cable (it looks like an extension cable but swaps pins 2 and 3) with a common USB to RS-232 adapter. 

The FTDI breakout module uses LVCMOS levels (1=3.3V, 0=0V) rather than RS-232 levels which are a much wider range), and is missing the level shifting part (U3 on the Brevia). You could use it with other general I/Os by changing the pin mappings in the FPGA design. Just edit the pin constraints for your FPGA design and map the RS232_[RT]x_TTL signals elsewhere; I/O pins are equal as far as the FPGA is concerned, aside from a few dedicated to clocks, reset signals or configuration.