So I have it installed.

I got the boosters, and a map pack downloaded.

I've gone into offline campaign and messed around a little bit

But when I tried going online, I see rooms. I joined one, and all I saw was a red background and looked like buddy had a couple of ships and templates laid out.

Big question is how do you find someone online and know if they are ready to play?

What is the proper etiquette for playing with others?

It looks like it takes time if you want to name each pilot and have to input the values.

Can you only do so after finding someone to play or can you do before hand and save on time?

Can you prep before hand and save for future games. Seems like a pain always having to name, and punch in values for each ship.

Is there a point to having the cards laid out? There is no text on them for abilities and I don't think you can input that, maybe you can be of so, I thought it would take to long anyway.

Any other tips or suggestions would be great.

Would love to get inv some games, but I don't want to be rude. Making my opponents wait or accidently quit mid game.

I made a website for these common starting questions, hopefully it helps you out.

The red background is indicative that you probably don't have the same map pack as the game creator. there are 3 map packs used by most people.

only 4 files are needed:

main module 5.0.5

3 map packs 5.0.0

nothing else (all other files are obsolete - all is explained in my website)

Making a bookmark of that page for when other people ask. Thanks for the work you've done for us all Mu0n.

Also when you join vassal and are in the main lobby, there is a "looking for game button" that puts a blue ! next to your name. Just sitting in the main lobby with this on will often get someone else who is looking to play to message you, but do not be afraid to private message someone in the lobby and ask if they would like to play.

Private message > LFG icon

Everyone on Vassal is very friendly, so reach out to them if you want to play.

The rooms below the main lobby are where games are being played, feel free to join unlocked ones as an observer to see what is happening.

If you look into the rooms and you see that there are more than two players and one of the has the blue ! tag next to his name, he may be looking for a game but observing a match; so go ahead and message him to see if he wants to play.

If you see a red background when you are in a room instead of a starmap, try synching with one of the player by right clicking on one of their names in the room and select synchronize. If that doesn't work you may not have all the proper map packs downloaded.

What is the proper etiquette for playing with others?

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/104229-vassal-etiquette/

It looks like it takes time if you want to name each pilot and have to input the values.
Can you only do so after finding someone to play or can you do before hand and save on time?

Can you prep before hand and save for future games. Seems like a pain always having to name, and punch in values for each ship.

Start up a game offline, load up a map, pick player 1. Lay out your squad build cards, ships, and dials at the top of the map. Select them all by making a box over all of them. Go to file->begin logfile, you don't have to enter comments. Then delete everything at once, easy because you have it all selected still. Then click the undo button, so the cards, dials, and ships all reappear. Then end the logfile.

To load the squad in any game, go to file->load continuation-->select the logfile you made of your squad, load it, and then hit the forward arrow two times at the top of the main vassal menu, and bam there is your squad. Then move it to the appropriate player window being careful to not lay it off the small window space available.

Is there a point to having the cards laid out? There is no text on them for abilities and I don't think you can input that, maybe you can be of so, I thought it would take to long anyway.

This is how other players know what you are flying, what your upgrade cards are, and it's typical to lay the damage cards/crit cards on your squad as in a real game. The text is missing so there are no copyright issues with FFG's Ip. Vassal x wing is meant to enhance the x wing experience, not replace it.