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Introduction | Installation | Preferences | Environment | Getting Started | Setting Up a Scenario | Playing Tools | Appendices | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Step 1 - Creating a RoomIn order to start a new game it will be necessary for you to create a Scenario Room for you and your opponent to play. In the Server window. type the name you wish your room to have into the "New Game" field and press Enter on your keyboard. You should now be the sole occupant of that room. If you enter the same name as a currently-ongoing scenario, you will join that room instead. While connected to a scenario chat room, all moves are broadcast to all players and maps are updated automatically. You can save and restore the game to files on your local machine. If your map and your opponent's map appear to differ (e.g. due to lost moves during a broken connection), synchronizing by right clicking on your opponent's name and selecting "Synchronize" will update your map to coincide with your opponent's. |
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Step 2 - Loading the ScenarioFirst, check the VASL scenario setup archive for the scenario you want to play. Many official scenarios have been compiled by volunteers. Download the file, then from the VASL controls window choose File - Load Game and select the scenario file, and you'll have both sides' OB in front of you, ready for the Defender's setup. (If you're not setting up a scenario from scratch, proceed to the instructions on placing your counters.) If the scenario you are playing doesn't exist in the archive, you can create the setup yourself. Choose File - New Game. The Choose Boards window will appear asking you to select the maps you will use in the game. Step 3 - Mapboards![]() Select the mapboard you are going to use for the scenario from the drop
down list. Only mapboards which you have downloaded beforehand from the
Board Archive will appear
in the list. Occasionally, new versions of board files will be issues
to correct artwork errors or add features. The version number of the board
appears with the name of the board after it has been loaded (e.g. "Loaded
board 2 (version 1.3)"). To add another board, select whether it will be placed horizontally (Add Row) or vertically (Add Column). If the map needs to be reversed (rotated), check the Reverse checkbox. If you made a mistake setting up the maps. you can click the Clear button, to reset the window so you can start again.
Once the maps are correctly placed you also have the ability to crop the maps. To crop a map, click on the Crop Boards button. A new window will appear. Enter the board number to be cropped (if there is more than one) and then enter the coordinates to be removed (leaving the fields blank will leave the height or width untouched). Press the Crop button to complete the operation and finish by pressing the Done button. To un-crop a board, type in the board number, and press Crop. Without any coordinates, it will restore the board to its original condition. If you desire, you can create extra space around a board by cropping to offboard coordinates. Negative numbers and negative letters are valid (for example, cropping coordinates -3 to 10 will add 3 hexes of blank space above the board, while cropping hexrows -d to gg will add 3 hexes to the left of the board). ![]() Overlays are available by typing in the overlay name and hexes as they appear on a scenario card. You don't need to specify a board number if there is only one board. Some overlays, such as E1 and 4, require no coordinates. You should see the overlays on your Choose Boards window as they are added. Overlay files have version numbers in case they need to be updated. The version number is displayed when the overlay is added. ![]() Add ocean and beach overlays as though they were ordinary overlays, using hexes xx01 and xx02 as the "1" and "2" hexes. As with cropping, negative numbers and negative letters are legal for offboard placement hexes. Since Beach and Ocean overlays often extend off the edge of a board, you will need to either add space by cropping (see above) or place a blank board under the overlays. With respect to Cropping and Overlays, follow the scenario card. For example, in scenario A59 "Death at Carentan", it says only hexrows I through GG are playable. These are the letters that should be entered in the crop fields for hexrows. The overlays for this scenario as per SSR are: O1 17o7, O2 17o2 - p1, O4 17L4 - M4, O5 17w3 - w4. When you enter these overlays on to the map, enter them as follows:
If you make a mistake, entering an overlay with both Hex 1 and Hex 2 blank will delete that overlay. Terrain changes are alterations to the mapboards according to special rules that comonly appear in scenarios. They allow you to completely alter the look of the geomorphic boards by putting down ground snow, removing grain or roads, applying PTO terrain, etc. ![]() ![]() ![]() Press the Terrain SSR button, use the controls to make your selection and hit the Apply button. Hit the Done button when finished.
Like overlays, boards are given version numbers for possible future updates. The version number is displayed when you open the Terrain SSR window. When you connect to the VASL server, VASL will automatically check the version numbers of the boards in play against the latest version. If your copies are found to be out of date, you will be prompted to let VASL download and install the latest versions. Once you are done setting up the boards, press the Done button to begin setting up the counters. (If you wish to change mapboards after having begun setup, you may do
so by clicking the |
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Step 4 - Placement of CountersAfter the maps have been set up, or after you've loaded a scenarios setup, the Overview window and VASL map window will appear on the screen. The Counters window, which allows you to select new counters you wish to place on the map, should already be open. To select from the various information counters, click on the Info tab. To select from the unit counters of the various nationalities, click on the Units tab. All the information and unit counters used in ASL are available in VASL. Click on the drop down list to select the category of information counters that you wish to choose from. All the counters in that category will be shown in the list window to the right. To view the counter simply click on its name in the list window and the counter's image will appear on the left hand side. (You may flip the counter by right-clicking on the counter and selecting "Flip" from the pop-up menu, or clicking on the counter and hitting Ctrl+F) To place that counter on the map, simply click and drag the image from the Counter window onto the map. |
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TIP: Once you draw out all your counters you may HIP them (Ctrl+H) to prevent your opponent from seeing them. Then set up your counters. There is no need for your opponent to leave the scenario room while you set up. Once you and your opponent are ready, conceal the HIPed stacks and then reveal them! Handling the CountersThe key to handling counters in VASL is selecting them. In order to perform any action on any counter placed on the board it is necessary to select the counter to be acted upon. Selecting an Individual Counter: Left-click on the counter, a black outline will appear around the edge of the counter. Selecting a Stack of Counters: To select a stack of counters, left-click on the top counter of the stack. Expanding a Stack of Counters: Stacks are normally drawn compacted, i.e. with only the top counter showing. An expanded view of a stack can be seen by double-clicking on it. (Mac users hold down the apple key) To select individual counters of a stack, hold down the shift key as you click on each counter of the expanded stack. Each counter you select will have a black outline. Collapsing a Stack of Counters: When you wish to collapse a stack in order to return it to its compacted view, simply double-click on the expanded stack. Counter Actions: Once you have selected the counter(s) or stacks you wish to act upon, you may take the following actions by using the corresponding key commands. You may also right-click (Mac users hold down the command [apple] key while clicking) on a counter for a pop-up menu with all available commands for that counter.
Macintosh users may use the Apple (command) key instead of the CTRL key. LABELS: Whereas on a physical board, many things need to be indicated with a counter, in VASL that information can be more convenient if made into a label. For example, labeling a unit "Fanatic," "Berserk," or "Wounded" saves you from having to drag around an extra counter. For vehicles, use the labels for vehicle ID numbers (matched with labels on acquisition counters), HD status on crest lines, optional MG, Gyrostabilizers/Schuerzen, or armor leaders. To label a counter, simply select the counter and press CTRL + L. Type in the information you wish that counter to display and press Enter. To edit the contents of a counter label simply select the counter and press CTRL + L. SPECIAL INFORMATION: Special ammo information for guns and vehicles is not written on the backs of the counters, but can be seen by selecting the counter and typing CTRL +I. Type CTRL +I again to hide the info. While the info is displayed, BU/CE counters are drawn underneath the vehicle counter so that you can read the front. CONCEALMENT: When concealed, your units will appear with a "?" in the upper left corner. To your opponent, all concealed counters look like dummy ("?") counters. It is up to the honor system to keep you from unconcealing your opponent's concealed counters. A HIP counter is invisible to your opponent. Your own HIP counters are drawn on your map in a semi-transparent manner with HIP stacks appearing against a white background. Placing a "?" counter on top of a stack will conceal all of your units beneath it. Removing or repositioning a "?" counter will unconceal units accordingly. Because of special cases that may arise (usually involving multiple Locations in a hex), units may also be concealed and unconcealed individually, so concealed status is not strictly linked to a unit's position in a stack. CLEANING UP: VASL allows you to quickly delete all the phase based information counters. Choose Remove All from the top of the VASL map window. A sub-menu will appear listing all the information counters that can be quickly deleted at once. ![]()
Tips and TricksAt setup, place your entire OB off board (on the grey area outside the map) before putting units on the boards, to more easily keep track of what you have available. To merge concealed stacks, move counters into their destination stack one at a time. Otherwise, your counters will be momentarily revealed when you delete the top concealment counter. When entering units from off board, first place everything into one or two stacks, conceal them, and then split off individual units into stacks for entry. Night scenarios are particularly convenient when using VASL, since the Defender can keep his HIP units on his screen during play. The Attacker can place stacks of HIP units under his cloaking counters to avoid having to using the cloaking display. Be sure to check the VASL scenario setup archive for your scenario first. One of the most time consuming parts of playing ASL face-to-face is setting up, but loading a savefile into VASL takes no time at all, and of course, putting the scenario away is even faster! |
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Introduction | Installation | Preferences | Environment | Getting Started | Setting Up a Scenario | Playing Tools | Appendices | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© Copyright 2002 Rodney
Kinney
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