Belter: Mining the Asteroids, Part 1

How to start playing Belter, the free Vassal module of the boardgame that simulates an asteroid mining operation of the future. It really makes you feel like you are running your own business, with equipment failures and labour disputes if you can't pay your running costs, while you desperately try to strike it rich by finding the right asteroid to invest all your savings to start a mine, and then a smelter to refine what you find. You have to keep track of production, cargos, fuel, and many other aspects of a mining operation, as well as transport the produce to market. Up to five players can play, with a fifth player being a UN peace keeper keeping the lid on the wild west. Players can install weapons and attack each other if they wish.

[@christopherwebber3804]

Note that you have to decide whether to start as a Prospector, Partnership, or Corporation - each has different starting forces and different victory conditions, but is otherwise the same. There are also slight differences in the counter mix for the different colours, you can choose to use green, red, blue, or orange counters. You need to click the Immigration button to get the initial pool of 10 units for the labour pool. The Player mat has individual labour units that are your starting units, and a pile of dedicated labour units, which are the reinforcements. To prospect an asteroid, click the Prospecting button in Vassal and record the result on the Asteroid roster on the spreadsheet.

[@SwordOfJustice2007]

You did a good job setting this up in vassal.

[@christopherwebber3804]

Thanks, I've only skimmed the surface of what Vassal can do