As round 1 of the tournament is wrapping up, I'll toss out this updated module for you. Its got some major feature updates and a number of overdue graphics updates.

Thanks to all of you who commented with bugs and feature suggestions!

Included in this release is a very rudimentary "how-to" document outlining the interface, how to install the module and a few things about using it.

download here

New Content

• Automated movement - This one is huge, and saves a ton of time. I was unable to get ships to travel directly from the root segment out to the 4th segment correctly, unless there was only a single rotation in the whole template, and it had to be at the end, or you were traveling in a straight line. Basically vassal doesn't like having multiple moves off of one trigger, so the work around is to manually travel from the root, to the first knuckle, then from the first knuckle to the second knuckle. Practically, in order to travel at speed 4, you'll place the ruler, arrange it like you would in reality, notch it, and then hold down CTRL (or ALT, depending on left or right) and hit 1, 2, 3, 4 in succession.

There will be a little bit of a gap in some configurations at higher speeds, about 1-4 px. This is due to a combination of compounded rounding errors (movement is pixel based, so no decimals) and resampling when the images are rotated. This is probably still much more accurate than many of our physical templates due to the amount of play in them. If you'd prefer I stated it this way, 4 pixels over speed 4, approximately 600 pixels along the template, is about a 1% deviation from perfectly accurate.

• Flippable initiative token
• Flagship flag on capital ships to indicate which is your flagship
• Objective flag on capital ships to indicate objective ships
• Objective cards have a back so that you can conceal them from your opponent.

Graphic tweaks

• Selected components on the table have a thin blue line around them to indicate what you have selected
• Selected ships have a rectangular outline rather than whatever that snarly messed up shape used to be there
• Command stacks frames are a dark grey so that they show up against the black background
• Articulated template has a different end piece. Segments also modified so that the background doesn't show up in the gaps in the knuckles.
• Corrected the concentrate fire icon on the command dials. The old one was from when the game was first announced. Now the dial matches the tokens.
• Spent defense token flags (red) are bumped in a bit to add another visual cue regarding unspent/exhausted for any colorblind players.
• Tokens rendered above ships, obstacles and squadrons.

Bug Fixes

• Mouseover on an obstacle or objective token with its distance bands toggled no longer fills up the whole window. Instead it is just centered on the token.
• Squadrons spawn with the blue tab out instead of the orange one

Other

• All instance of "Tie" have been changed to "TIE"
• All components now titled with leading case for consistency(TIE Fighter Squadron vs TIE fighter squadron)

Ship graphics have NOT been updated yet.

Planned features/improvements for future versions, not necessarily the next one:

• More robust "refresh defense tokens" button to include the stand-alone tokens, and exhausted upgrade cards
• Better dice reports
• Updated and cohesive style for ship graphics

As always, please chime in with suggestions, requests etc. If reporting a bug, please try to be as specific as possible, including a screenshot is even better. (ie, instead of saying "my ship flew in the complete wrong direction when i moved" Including that it was your gladiator, not your victory, helps me narrow it down. Including a screenshot of your template configuration is even better)

Thanks!

Sweet! I like having the "physical" command and defensive tokens next to the ship on the "table" so that it is easier to see what they have at a glance and people watching don't need to keep notes or scroll up and down to see both players card setups.

All I need now is a "[starboard/Port/Fore/Rear] zone of [Rebel/Imperial] ship the [ship name here], firing at [starboard/Port/Fore/Rear] zone of the ship [ship name here]". Then the section that fired to be shaded red and maybe have a few green/red line graphics to the defending hull zone

The blue line of sight tool just doesn't simulate turbolaser attacks well enough for me xD

Bump for new Vassal.

Any chance you could update the Set up area 6x3 overlay to include the Fleet Ambush area (distance 5 from all edges of the setup zone)? It's a bit finicky using distance bands since as they don't move until after a ship is dragged.

Are you going to add the card text or will they always remain blank?

I have no issue with using my actual cards, but it would be nice to be able to scroll over and see what my opponent has as I dont remember all of the upgrades and such.

But very nice work so far!

I think Card Text was (orginally) omitted for Copyright Reasons.

that makes sense, what I figured, but still wanted to ask

The automated movement is great, but only works for left-hand side maneuver templates. When you put the maneuver template on the other side, the ship ends up in a different position, and the difference is quite significant.

Any chance you could update the Set up area 6x3 overlay to include the Fleet Ambush area (distance 5 from all edges of the setup zone)? It's a bit finicky using distance bands since as they don't move until after a ship is dragged.

Sure, I didn't realize til just now that's how the ambush zone worked. I'd been under the (incorrect) assumption that the innermost rectangle of the current 6x3 overlay was sufficient for that.

Are you going to add the card text or will they always remain blank?

Card text and stats will NOT be added.

The automated movement is great, but only works for left-hand side maneuver templates. When you put the maneuver template on the other side, the ship ends up in a different position, and the difference is quite significant.

the hotkey sequence "CTRL + numbers" works for the left side ONLY. If you have the ruler on the right side, you'll have to go through the "right-hand template" menu, which will use the hotkey sequence "ALT + numbers"

CTRL for the left side

ALT for the right side

If that does not solve your problem, please PM me with more specifics.

The automated movement is great, but only works for left-hand side maneuver templates. When you put the maneuver template on the other side, the ship ends up in a different position, and the difference is quite significant.

the hotkey sequence "CTRL + numbers" works for the left side ONLY. If you have the ruler on the right side, you'll have to go through the "right-hand template" menu, which will use the hotkey sequence "ALT + numbers"

CTRL for the left side

ALT for the right side

If that does not solve your problem, please PM me with more specifics.

OOPS! sorry

Just like to say thank you. You are a complete boss for getting this up and running. I can now test lists on a nightly basis instead of only being able to play on weekends. Much appreciated.

for those of you that don't know what vassal looks like, here is a helpful image from clonetrooper and brian's game.

Its a substitute, not a preplacement, but it does a fairly good job at it's roll. You need to have the cards to know what they do, and stats and points for ships. And it's nothing like pushing the actual model around the table top. But, it allows me to participate in armada games and keep my interest high, so I always come back to buy more stuff.

The how-to was a great help!

Is there a reason why no game text/stats are printed?

The how-to was a great help!

Is there a reason why no game text/stats are printed?

Was stated as a Copyright issue previously.

The how-to was a great help!

Is there a reason why no game text/stats are printed?

Was stated as a Copyright issue previously.

OK, thanks!

I think I know 98,3% of the card text by heart, so not a big problem.

Question: Command dials - I don't really understand how they work. You can flip them with Ctrl + F, but you can still see the dials. Am I to understand that they behave differently during play?

Another question: Speed dials - are they optional, since you can track speed on the ship counter?

Does anyone have some tips for speeding up play? I mean stuff like important hotkeys, good way to organize your turn, etc.

Maybe someone has recorded a game of two I can watch?

RE: command dials

They are translucent for you, but your opponents can not see what is selected. Check out the screenshot in post #13. In vassal terms, its called a mask. It masks a portion of the component from all non-owners. Since you are the only owner of your command dial, you are the only one who can see it all the time.

RE: speed dials

Totally optional. Some people like playing with all the same pieces as the physical game including command tokens, defense tokens etc. I prefer to use the defense flags and the command token flags myself. I like having all that info attached to the ship graphic as opposed to scrolling around to find it.

RE: hotkeys

The most common hotkeys I use are the ones for measuring range and distance (same across squads and capitals) and placing/notching the articulated template. Beyond that the hardest ones are for the automated movement. If the template is on the left, use CTRL + 1, then CTRL + 2, etc. On the right side, its ALT + 1 etc.

The how-to was a great help!

Is there a reason why no game text/stats are printed?

Was stated as a Copyright issue previously.

OK, thanks!

I think I know 98,3% of the card text by heart, so not a big problem.

Question: Command dials - I don't really understand how they work. You can flip them with Ctrl + F, but you can still see the dials. Am I to understand that they behave differently during play?

Another question: Speed dials - are they optional, since you can track speed on the ship counter?

Does anyone have some tips for speeding up play? I mean stuff like important hotkeys, good way to organize your turn, etc.

Maybe someone has recorded a game of two I can watch?

I figured as much.

Is Skype the preferred method of communication.

I figured as much.

Is Skype the preferred method of communication.

One more question: how do you find players???

One more question: how do you find players???

One more question: how do you find players???

the best way right now is pm people on this forum. You can sign up for the vassal tournament we are starting if you want

That's an idea. I've always wanted to play a 400 pt list... maybe this can encourage me to learn how to play on Vassal.