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I wasn't planning on starting a new Vassal game, but it looks like we'll have time to get one in before MWiF is released. I'm in the central time zone (USA) and prefer to play the Allies. I also prefer WiF Classic for simplicity sake, but will agree to Deluxe if you press.

Send me a PM if interested.

John

Does anyone have a good tutorial for using Vassal to play WiF?  I've been trying to do some solo work with it and it seems a little rough to master.  Things like randomly selecting units, or randomly selecting entry or neutrality chits.  To say nothing of how one would actually go about playing a PBEM game with it.

First off, We always used ACTS (Warhorse simulations) for all dice rolls. This is cheat proof and it also allows you to change the # of sides rolled to any number desired. It is simple to make random unit selections by just making an ACTS roll with the # sides equal to the number of available units. A simple SOP that all players agree to make it clear which unit is actually selected based on unit strengths. For example, land units are first arranged by combat value, then movement, weakest to strongest.

USE chits are also selected by making ACTS rolls with # sides equal to available chits in the pool, lowest to highest. The obvious problem is that USE chits will never be secret. This is generally not a game killer for the US as the Axis player usually has a pretty good idea of what their numbers are anyway. This open system actually affects Germany the most. If the USSR tries to stuff the border the German player can't attempt to bluff the Russians off the border if his chits are bad. Because of this I usually make a gentleman's agreement with my opponent to not stuff the border in 1941 (as the Russian player). The other alternative is a 3rd party participant... but that seems like too much trouble to me.

I've played at least a fifteen good games using Vassal and I must say that I enjoy that method as much as FtF. I've driven through my share of blizzards to get to my local game the past two years (1 hour commute), and with Vassal I get to play a little each day. The pace of a vassal game will surprise you. I recommend sticking to two-player games, though. If you both check your e-mail frequently you can easily keep up with interactions and reactions.

Cheers

John

One thing I'll give Cyberboard is that it has counter trays that (a) allow for randomized selection and (b) conceal one face of the counter, so USE chits can be kept concealed from the Axis. Face-down chit values on the map can be viewed in the appropriate window pane so it is incumbent on the players to not cheat.

ORIGINAL: obermeister

Does anyone have a good tutorial for using Vassal to play WiF?  I've been trying to do some solo work with it and it seems a little rough to master.  Things like randomly selecting units, or randomly selecting entry or neutrality chits.  To say nothing of how one would actually go about playing a PBEM game with it.

You can try that :
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/froon/WiF/V ... tionUS.pdf

For a random choice of units : select a stack, decide if you will take the bottom or top units, press the left (or right) keyboard arrow key, the units are shuffled very rapidly in the stack, and release the arrow keyboard key. You can't decide to release at the right moment to choose the right unit, so it can be considered "random choice".

Thanks, all of you.

composer99

One thing I'll give Cyberboard is that it has counter trays that (a) allow for randomized selection and (b) conceal one face of the counter, so USE chits can be kept concealed from the Axis. Face-down chit values on the map can be viewed in the appropriate window pane so it is incumbent on the players to not cheat.

Very interesting. I would like to know more about Cyberboard. However I urge everyone to join us on Vassal. The game is fully functional and you can run more than one campaign. WiF on Vassal is nothing less than a miraculous acheivement. Let 'er rip!! [:D]
http://maddogdrivethru.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=835