Yikes... noticed a very annoying light tapping/clicking sound throughout this! Sorry about that, I have no idea what was causing that, and I certainly didn't hear it myself while recording this...
Hey! You're right! There is a new vid up! I can't get any of my knucklehead friends to try VASSEL. Alan, you are the war gaming VASSEL Ambassador!!! This is a freaking great vid!
Some people are remarkably **HARDHEADED** about Vassal, and they usually don't even understand what it is. I do recall, though, back in 2020 when the first pandemic shutdown occurred, there were lots of "I'd rather not play than play using Vassal" guys who were stepping over each other trying to cram onto the Vassal server when it was suddenly the ONLY WAY to play!!!! The worst misconception is what I call the "learn Vassal" overcomplication. People really think it's a discrete game system unto itself, rather than a facilitator for any game you wish to play.
I had to replace the previous intro to Vassal vid because there are a few key "issues" that are no longer in the way. The "Java installation version" issue has been resolved, and the confusing issue with the Main Room/lobby, once you log into the server, is now explained adequately in the text buffer. Those were two of the worst longstanding "barriers" for new people to get started with Vassal.
Thanks. I had to upgrade it since some of the last major sticking points have been resolved, and it's a better product than ever now. No reason for those to cloud what should be an "encouraging" how-to!!!!
You save a log file (.vlog) to send to your opponent, and (s)he will reply to, and continue the game from that. A .vlog is a "blow by blow", step-by-step log file of a session. You save a GAME-STATE file (.vsav) either as a starting point for a game (e.g., a basis for a Pre-Defined Setup scenario file), or as a "game-state" file. It's just a snapshot in time, recording where all the game pieces are when the .vsav is saved. If you are playing "live" or on the Vassal server, you would want to save a .vsav at the end of each session, so that you can start a NEW session "next week" from where you left off. In a PBEM game, the .vsav file is kind of a "bookmark" and also insurance against losing the game state. A log file is the detailed record of everything done during a session Remember, you would NOT want to "step through" every move you made in a log file to get to the end of it, and only then begin your new play session. That's why it's a good idea to save BOTH a .vlog to email to your opponent, and a .vsav to place a bookmark of a game in progress.
... and most of the people who have bad things to say about Vassal haven't given it a fair trial, and/or don't know what they're talking about. Either that, or they're basing their limited experience on a poorly-implemented module.
Vassal doesn’t solve screen space, size, being able to see the entire game. The zoom is not a proper solution. It also is not portable, and dragging a laptop around is not a viable solution at least for me. These are not the softwares fault just friction that I have which cause me not to use it. Screen size and not being portable kill it for me, just don’t want to be strapped to my desk, I do that for work. It does suffer some performance issues that get in the way. Lastly you really need to know the game to make sense, so you almost have to play the physical to get the most out of it.
Oh, PLEASE. A laptop isn't "more portable" than a board with pieces on it that can't (or shouldn't) move once they've been put on the board? That's absurd. And Vassal most assuredly CAN give you a full-map overview. This depends, though, on how well the module designer sets it up, and also the size of a game's full map. But the result can be the same: you get the "splendor" of seeing the whole map at one time (minus perspective issues of looking along a table; Vassal gives you a straight-on view directly "over" the map!) ... but of course, you can't get any real DETAIL (e.g., reading the counters, or maybe even fine points on the map) without leaning in to see things (the physical equivalent of using Vassal's variable zoom features, which now include the ability to zoom in and out with a mousewheel and holding the Alt key down). Also, Vassal certainly works better when you have at least TWO monitors: one for the game map, and another for charts/tables and other pop-out displays that would otherwise appear "over" the mapboard. A nice, wide-screen aux monitor (ubiquitous these days, and not very expensive either) changes things a LOT for Vassal. In a pinch, though, Vassal can be **better** than physical play,>>even if the two players have to share one computer in the same room!!!
@@Stiglr I think you misunderstood. I have a dedicated work space, where the laptop is, and in a different room a dedicated game space. I don't need the game space to be portable. It is not a healthy work life balance to play Vassal in the dedicated work space. Thus, the need for something portable like an iPad. As I mentioned I don't want to use that work desk. I could, but by the end of the work day, using a laptop is kinda the last thing I want to do. As I mentioned these are frictions for me, no hostility meant to the community. Look I'm glad you're sold on Vassal. I don't have two monitors as well, just the somewhat small laptop screen. Vassal Zoom is sluggish and awkward to use. I find navigating a physical board out on the game table much easier. Again I'm not trying to change anyones opinion, just point out a different perspective. The point really is that Vassal is a brilliant piece of software, but it is not perfect. I hope to use it more or at all eventually, but right now I never get very far with it. Glad that it exists and that others fo get much more out of it.
There's no point trying to explain. The guy's an a-hole who doesn't countenance any disagreement or contrary opinion. You either love Vassal or you 'don't know what you're talking about'. Sad, really.
I agree with you, but there's no point trying to explain your reasoning. The guy is an arrogant know-it-all and will countenance no disagreement or contrary opinion. In his view people either love Vassal or, to quote, 'they don't know what they're talking about.' Note, too, the replies from others here referring to 'knuckleheads'. Sadly, such immaturity is a facet of the hobby.
Yikes... noticed a very annoying light tapping/clicking sound throughout this! Sorry about that, I have no idea what was causing that, and I certainly didn't hear it myself while recording this...
Very helpful! -thanks!
Hey! You're right! There is a new vid up! I can't get any of my knucklehead friends to try VASSEL. Alan, you are the war gaming VASSEL Ambassador!!! This is a freaking great vid!
Some people are remarkably **HARDHEADED** about Vassal, and they usually don't even understand what it is.
I do recall, though, back in 2020 when the first pandemic shutdown occurred, there were lots of "I'd rather not play than play using Vassal" guys who were stepping over each other trying to cram onto the Vassal server when it was suddenly the ONLY WAY to play!!!!
The worst misconception is what I call the "learn Vassal" overcomplication. People really think it's a discrete game system unto itself, rather than a facilitator for any game you wish to play.
Feel free to point your knucklehead friends to this video. *Maybe* I can talk some sense into 'em... maybe...
Thanks for this!
didnt know about the alt function to draw attention to things (pulsing red circle). learned something new! thanks for producing this.
That's a relatively new feature, introduced during the 3.6.x upgrade path. A lot of people like it. I certainly do!!!
thank you very much
Awesome as always!
I had to replace the previous intro to Vassal vid because there are a few key "issues" that are no longer in the way.
The "Java installation version" issue has been resolved, and the confusing issue with the Main Room/lobby, once you log into the server, is now explained adequately in the text buffer. Those were two of the worst longstanding "barriers" for new people to get started with Vassal.
Great work as always Stiglr!
Thanks. I had to upgrade it since some of the last major sticking points have been resolved, and it's a better product than ever now. No reason for those to cloud what should be an "encouraging" how-to!!!!
Thanks Alan. I am forwarding to my dinosaur friends so that we start playing.
Still after your explanations I don,t know, IF i only play a PBEM game, do I need only to save log files OR log files + games files.
You save a log file (.vlog) to send to your opponent, and (s)he will reply to, and continue the game from that. A .vlog is a "blow by blow", step-by-step log file of a session. You save a GAME-STATE file (.vsav) either as a starting point for a game (e.g., a basis for a Pre-Defined Setup scenario file), or as a "game-state" file. It's just a snapshot in time, recording where all the game pieces are when the .vsav is saved. If you are playing "live" or on the Vassal server, you would want to save a .vsav at the end of each session, so that you can start a NEW session "next week" from where you left off. In a PBEM game, the .vsav file is kind of a "bookmark" and also insurance against losing the game state. A log file is the detailed record of everything done during a session
Remember, you would NOT want to "step through" every move you made in a log file to get to the end of it, and only then begin your new play session. That's why it's a good idea to save BOTH a .vlog to email to your opponent, and a .vsav to place a bookmark of a game in progress.
Love vassal, gets a fair amount of hate, but to me I can do ftf or online etc...just love gaming. Thanks for the video
... and most of the people who have bad things to say about Vassal haven't given it a fair trial, and/or don't know what they're talking about. Either that, or they're basing their limited experience on a poorly-implemented module.
Vassal doesn’t solve screen space, size, being able to see the entire game. The zoom is not a proper solution. It also is not portable, and dragging a laptop around is not a viable solution at least for me. These are not the softwares fault just friction that I have which cause me not to use it. Screen size and not being portable kill it for me, just don’t want to be strapped to my desk, I do that for work. It does suffer some performance issues that get in the way. Lastly you really need to know the game to make sense, so you almost have to play the physical to get the most out of it.
Oh, PLEASE. A laptop isn't "more portable" than a board with pieces on it that can't (or shouldn't) move once they've been put on the board? That's absurd.
And Vassal most assuredly CAN give you a full-map overview. This depends, though, on how well the module designer sets it up, and also the size of a game's full map. But the result can be the same: you get the "splendor" of seeing the whole map at one time (minus perspective issues of looking along a table; Vassal gives you a straight-on view directly "over" the map!) ... but of course, you can't get any real DETAIL (e.g., reading the counters, or maybe even fine points on the map) without leaning in to see things (the physical equivalent of using Vassal's variable zoom features, which now include the ability to zoom in and out with a mousewheel and holding the Alt key down).
Also, Vassal certainly works better when you have at least TWO monitors: one for the game map, and another for charts/tables and other pop-out displays that would otherwise appear "over" the mapboard. A nice, wide-screen aux monitor (ubiquitous these days, and not very expensive either) changes things a LOT for Vassal.
In a pinch, though, Vassal can be **better** than physical play,>>even if the two players have to share one computer in the same room!!!
@@Stiglr I think you misunderstood. I have a dedicated work space, where the laptop is, and in a different room a dedicated game space. I don't need the game space to be portable. It is not a healthy work life balance to play Vassal in the dedicated work space. Thus, the need for something portable like an iPad. As I mentioned I don't want to use that work desk. I could, but by the end of the work day, using a laptop is kinda the last thing I want to do.
As I mentioned these are frictions for me, no hostility meant to the community. Look I'm glad you're sold on Vassal. I don't have two monitors as well, just the somewhat small laptop screen. Vassal Zoom is sluggish and awkward to use. I find navigating a physical board out on the game table much easier. Again I'm not trying to change anyones opinion, just point out a different perspective.
The point really is that Vassal is a brilliant piece of software, but it is not perfect. I hope to use it more or at all eventually, but right now I never get very far with it. Glad that it exists and that others fo get much more out of it.
There's no point trying to explain. The guy's an a-hole who doesn't countenance any disagreement or contrary opinion. You either love Vassal or you 'don't know what you're talking about'. Sad, really.
I agree with you, but there's no point trying to explain your reasoning. The guy is an arrogant know-it-all and will countenance no disagreement or contrary opinion. In his view people either love Vassal or, to quote, 'they don't know what they're talking about.' Note, too, the replies from others here referring to 'knuckleheads'. Sadly, such immaturity is a facet of the hobby.