RPG Skirmish Mod                                    (for use with the Vassal Engine)


Pieced-Together by WinterStorm & Thorn Throat  Jan 2004


WHAT'S THIS?
The mod file is a game grid to be used with the Vassal engine (you will need to install
the Vassal Engine first. Download it here: http://www.vassalengine.org/)


This mod can be used to:

>Play a 2 player skirmish game based on a known fantasy setting.
>Use it for your roleplaying session.
>Place a few units and make screenshots to discuss it on a webboard.

It's all up to you.



To HOST/JOIN a game online:

1)  Start the Vassal Engine

2)  Select "Play Module" from the menu

    You will then be prompted to select the module you wish to play.
    Locate and load the RPG Skirmish Mod.

    If this is the first time you loaded this mod version, you will be prompted to
    create a screen name and password.  The screen name identifies who you are in
    game to other players.  The password apparently has not been fully implented
    into the Vassal Engine yet.

    Once it loads, you will see the main screen Chat Window.

3)  Select the Server Controls button (two arrows in opposite directions, ALT-S)

    This will open the Server Controls window on the far right of the Chat Window.

4)  Connect to the Server by selecting the Server Connect button on the Server Controls
    window (two arrows in opposite direction)

    You will know you are connected when you see the message:
    "Welcome to the VASSAL server" in the Chat window.

    In the Server Controls window, you will see two seperate windows side by side
    labeled: "Active Games" and "Current Game"

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    IMPORTANT NOTE: you will only see games listed in the Active Games window if
    someone else is hosting the same exact mod and version as the one you loaded.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You will see your own name listed in the Current Game window under the Main Room
    folder.

5a) To HOST a new game, under the Active Games window, type in a name for your game
    room in the box labeled "New Game:" and hit ENTER.

    A new folder is created with your game room name listed.  You will automatically
    be place in your game room folder.  This will show you in the Current Game window
    as well.

5b) To JOIN an existing game, simply double-click onto a game folder of your choice
    in the Active Games window.  You will see your name pop up into the game folder
    on the Current Game window with the other existing players.  

    At this point you need to SYNCHRONIZE into the game.  To do this, you will need to
    right click on one of the other player's names in the Current Game window and
    select: SYNCHRONIZE.  This will load up the current state of the game being hosted
    onto your Main Chat window.  You will then be able chat to any of the players in
    the room by using your chat bar.

    You will be prompted at some point to join a Player side or join as an Observer.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are joining a game as an Observer, please be courtious to
    the other players and keep your chats to a minimum to not disrupt the gameplay.
    To be an observer means just that, simply watch the game.

    The following things can be done as an observer and not disrupt the gameplay:

       - Zoom in and out of the map
       - Adjust your view anywhere on the map
       - Access the Tile/Unit window

    The following things will disrupt the gameplay:
     
       - Rolling the dice
       - Chatting (unless its approved by the players)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
6)  Start a new game.  Normally this is performed by the Hosting player.  Select NEW
    GAME from the File list menu in the upper left corner of the Chat window.

    This will open the Choose Side window.  Select either Player 1 (Green), Player 2
    (Red), or Observer.

    After Choosing a side, the main game board will load up beneath the Chat bar.


7)  To Save a game in progress, just select Save Game under File menu.  Only one player
    needs to save the game.  To start a saved game, load the module normally, then
    select Load File under the File menu.  Only one player needs to load the saved file.
    Then the other player just SYNCHRONIZES to the player that loaded the saved file.



Under the Help menu you can find further detail information on the Vassal Engine.


Known Game Issues:

- If you place too many tiles, the game can become laggy
- Game stability depends on vassal servers
- sometimes units dissappear for no reason
- Careful with the use of the SPACE bar, it is defaulted to activate the last
  selected window.  Make sure you select the Chat Bar before typing.


This mod does not contain any rules for any official game systems

There is no financial interest in this mod and we strongly recommend all users to buy
the official rules for the game system you wish to use this mod for.


We want to thank the artist Amurayi who publishes wonderful tilesets for the D&D skirmish
game on his website www.lemonbutter.com/dd.

If you like the tiles in our mod and might want to use them for your RPG campaigns
check out his website.

We would like to send out a special thanks to Rodney Kinney (Creator of Vassal), for
without his work this would not have been possible.  He has made one of the best stable 
online platforms for table-top board games to come to life in the online world.


CONTACT

If you have any questions or comments about this Vassal mod feel free to visit the
www.maxminis.com website and post in the General Discussion forum.
WinterStorm & Thorn Throat frequent this board and will help you with any questions
you might have.