Re: [Aslx] FW: How to get ASL VASL going?

- Yes, either player can move any of the pieces on the board.   Indeed, 
even a third observer not playing the game can move them.....but this is 
considered incredibly worse than just bad manners.  Thankfully, it does 
not happen often, and the few times somebody does (losing awareness of 
the fact that it is a live game in progress) they get dope-slapped.  As 
the the opponents, just like in a FtF game, everybody can move all the 
units.  Again, manners would strongly suggest that you ask what you can 
see in an opponent's stack/hex rather than (electronically) pawing 
through them yourself.

- The game is not playable without some form of verbal communication 
between players. There needs to be a channel of verbal communications so 
that a player can indicate when/who  is prep firing,  who is moving and 
what MP/MF they are expending, when to stop for D-Fire, need to go to 
the bathroom, etc..... Before Skype, this was done through the chat 
window on the control screen....a bit cumbersome, but workable.  Now 
that free Skype is available, that is the verbal communication channel 
of choice. It does make it difficult for subsequent non-playing 
observers to understand what is going on...small price to pay for what 
is very close to a FtF experience.

- You roll the dicebot (on the control window), verbally agree on the 
result, and make the electronic pieces reflect those results. Some 
question the true randomness of the various dicebots.....<shrug>....play 
someone you trust or get a video camera to show a physical dr/DR?  Seems 
a lot of trouble for a game based on cardboard pieces?   Just my 
opinion.....

- If you have a stack of units.....select the stack, right click, that 
will expand the stack and you can select and move/manipulate individual 
counters in the expanded stack.  You can select multiple units within 
the stack by holding down the shift key as you select them.  Select the 
expanded stack and right click again to unexpand.

- There is (used to be?) a bug where if the stack was on a hex that 
spanned two boards (half in one, half in the other) where the stack in 
the shared hex was actually 2 stacks administratively on two boards.  I 
*think* this may have been solved, but if not, you just move all the 
units that are supposed to be there to a hex that is unambiguously on 
one board, create/organize  your stack, and move it back to the shared 
hex it needs to be on.  Not unlike taking a physical stack to an empty 
area of a board, putting it in order, and putting it back.

- Something else that has happened in the past (not sure if it still 
does) but from time to time, stacking order seems to have been changed 
for saved games.  Something to be aware of.

- As mentioned above, you verbally communicate with the other player 
constantly.

- VASL is really nothing more than electronic cardboard.  If you look at 
it that way, many of the answers to these questions/issues become 
self-evident.

Jazz

On 12/07/2013 07:39 PM, Matthew Evans wrote:
> Great, thanks!
>
> OK, I have two accounts setup so I can play myself live (for practice).  I put a few Russian and German troops and figured out how to "join" into a live game.
>
> 1) Create a new game; User-Russian is now in that game room.
> 2) User-German double clicks on User-Russian and is joined into that game room.  Sync'd up...cool.
>
> Now it seems either guy can move either chits...is that correct?  I understand if that is the case, but for accident reasons, I wouldn't hoped one couldn't move the others' units (unless I'm doing something wrong).
>
> Next, how does User-Russian indicate he wants to PrepFire?  Does he drop a PrepFire counter on his stack and then click the dice roll?  How does User-German handle the outcome?  Assuming we're playing live, does he watch the dice roll output and checking the IFT knows it is a MC so then does User-German just "know" to roll the dice to see if he breaks?
>
> Another issue...once I drag two units into the same location, how do I get them apart?  I.e., how do I move them separately if I want to?
>
> Do you chat with each other to say, "I'm done Prep Firing...I'm gonna move now?" etc., for each phase?
>
> Thanks for the feedback...I'm getting there!
>
> Matt
>
>
> On Dec 7, 2013, at 6:11 PM, Jackson Kwan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Hello Matt,
>>
>> Congrats on your recently plunge into VASL and your AP9 order!
>>
>> First of all, in the small chance that you haven't found these yet I find these to be excellent guides to VASL use -
>> http://wargamecenter.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/vasl/
>> http://home.comcast.net/~keith.todd/PBEMInstructions.pdf
>>
>> While one can use VASL on one computer for solo play by just using it as a simple electronic set of maps and counters.  I find that doing the PBeM sequence with oneself allows for a better separation between your two "opposing" minds.
>>
>> The best thing of course is to find someone to show you!
>>
>> I hope this help.  Good luck!
>>
>> Warm regards,
>> Jackson Kwan
>>
>>
>> On 8 Dec, 2013, at 6:45 am, Marty Snow <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matthew Evans
>>> Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2013 2:56 PM
>>> To: ASL Discussion List
>>> Subject: [Aslml] How to get ASL VASL going?
>>>
>>> OK, after years of thinking about it, I'm thinking of joining the VASL group!  =)   Ker-sploosh!
>>>
>>> So I've done the following:
>>> 1) Installed:
>>> 	a) Java
>>> 	b) VASSAL 3.2.8
>>> 	c) vasl-6.0.1.vmod
>>> 2) Downloaded v5boards.zip into a folder "v5boards"
>>> 3) Downloaded "overlays" folder and stuck that into the "v5boards" folder.
>>> 4) Run VASSAL, open the vasl module, it does tiling and stuff...<whir>...<whir>....
>>> 5) Select "Start new game offline", click NEXT
>>> 6) Select board 1 and click FINISH
>>> 7) I have the "VASL Controls" window with board 1 on the bottom.
>>> 7) Uhhh...now what?
>>>
>>> So, it looks like things are working.  I have two computers and was going to play myself just to learn the ropes, but I also read you can play yourself on the same machine.
>>>
>>> Basically, I can't figure out what to do next.  I thought I found an ASL-specific tutorial years ago when I tried, but it has been years.  Google isn't finding anything that is helping too much.  The VASSAL User Manual is more for getting going and logging in.  I'm there.  I need to know how to setup an ASL scenario--both sides--and perhaps some sample clicks to prep fire and do a simple turn.
>>>
>>> Is there any VASL-specific tutorial/replay online to assist?
>>>
>>> Any assistance would be appreciated!  Heck, I might even get up and running by Christmas break and do some real VASL with someone!
>>>
>>> Thanks a bunch!
>>>
>>> Matt
>>>
>>> Oh, and yes, I've already pre-ordered AP9!  Heh... =)
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Aslml mailing list
>>> [email protected]
>>> http://lists.aslml.net/listinfo.cgi/aslml-aslml.net
>>> To unsubscribe, visit the above website, or email [email protected]
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Aslx mailing list
>>> [email protected]
>>> http://lists.aslml.net/listinfo.cgi/aslx-aslml.net
>> _______________________________________________
>> Aslml mailing list
>> [email protected]
>> http://lists.aslml.net/listinfo.cgi/aslml-aslml.net
>> To unsubscribe, visit the above website, or email [email protected]
> _______________________________________________
> Aslml mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://lists.aslml.net/listinfo.cgi/aslml-aslml.net
> To unsubscribe, visit the above website, or email [email protected]
>

_______________________________________________
Aslml mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.aslml.net/listinfo.cgi/aslml-aslml.net
To unsubscribe, visit the above website, or email [email protected]