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As promised here is the "finalised" Vassal Module for Small World which can be downloaded from the following link:
Small World Vassal Mod
Change Log:
Version 3.9 ( Mar 12 2010 - John Williams)
---Added P1-P5 Labeling
---Added Coin Bags for victory Point handling
---Added New Circle Locations for Coins dropped
on Banners
---Added Observation Mini-Map
---New Easy see Graphic for Lair
Version 3.8 (Mar 7 2010 - John Williams)
---Defaulted back to every game using the
5 player Race/Power screen at this time.
Was causing to many errors with "return to deck".
Version 3.7 ( not released )
---Added Expansion: Grand Dames of Smallworld
---Added Expansion: Cursed!
Version 3.6 ( not released )
---Added Decline side of Race Banners
---Added Decline side of Power Badges
---Added "send to bottom of deck"
---Added Shuffle to Power Decks and Race Decks
... Must now Shuffle before game begins
---Added Help options to Race Banners
Version 3.5 ( Feb 14 2010 - John Williams)
---Added new Token Tray screen
---Added enforcement for token limit
---Added final graphics to Power/Race screen
---Added coin token tray to Power/Race screen
---Added original decline graphics to race token units
---Added text reports to many token movements
Version 3.2c ( Feb 7 2010 - John Williams)
---Fixed Race & Power Draw Pile Stack location
---Added Player names to report actions
---Added Race Unit Re-activate feature
...After flipping Race unit to decline
you may flip back over in case of
a mistake
Version 3.2b ( Feb 6 2010 - John Williams)
---Added Charts ( Races,Powers,Terrian )
---Added New Power/Race Screen Graphics
---Added Snap feature to Power/Race Screen
---Added Power/Race Screen zoom feature
---Added Splash Graphics ( Wizard Menu )
---Added Whats New?
---Added Rules Summary
---Added Notes Feature
...Make Notes before you save your game.
---Added Hidden Victory Point Coins
...Coins turn Blue when Hidden
...You see value but opponent sees "?"
Version 3.1 ( Jan 29 2010 )
---Added Main Map Zoom Feature
---Added Show/Hide Unit button
Version 3.0 ( Jan 25 2010 )
--- Official Release
We've not included any rules validation in terms of restricting which players can move which units, where they can be placed, how combat works etc. So assume the module has no notion of the rules and is simply a virtual representation of the board but hopefully you'll find it sufficient to manage PBF games or play online as long as the players know the rules.
The module does include a reinforcement dice, and 1d100 dice for randomising turn sequence and a separate power / race board with the associated power / race decks and can handle the randomisation of each and track which 'cards' have or have not been allocated.
Apologies as we've not had time to provide detailed instructions on how the module operates but hopefully you'll find it fairly intuitive. If you've never used Vassal before you'll need to download the Vassal application itself before attempting to load the module. Application and general Vassal instructions can be found here:
Vassal
Feel free to ask any questions and as we've not had a chance to extensively test the latest version of the module, any feedback is appreciated.
Note: I also want to thank John Williams (TRagedy) for his outstanding work from version 3.2 onwards. John has made some excellent improvements to the module for which I'm extremely grateful.
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don reiter
United States
Iowa
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available!
Is this cleared by days of wonder? I tried to ask if I could post my vassal engine game, but I didn't hear back. I know fantasy flight will not let me post a game of thrones.
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available!
Yes it is on the understanding that if DoW release a computer based version of the game the vassal mod must be withdrawn which I think is fair.
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don reiter
United States
Iowa
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available!
Good for you man. I played your V game and I really like the second map screen for keeping track of race/special. That was a great idea. I modified yours a little to add a zoom button and a show/hide button. you know how the map can get crowded and you can't tell where the magic spots are or the underworld caves. It looks a lot better than mine, so I have to give respect. I just threw mine together with MSpaint. It fits the need. Consider adding those buttons though in version 3.1  . You can find it under "Main Map [Map Window]". I think you will like it.
Great job Jim!!
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available!
Many thanks for the feedback Don and the zoom and show/hide buttons are very good suggestions so I've included them as requested.
Original post updated with version 3.1.
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John Williams
United States
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.1
Module is great , I've been waiting for this game online for a long time.
Hide pieces is a great update also. here is a few ideas after our first game:
1) Where are we to put our coins? We placed them on the player/race screen beside our army but really not alot of room.
2) Also coin count is to be secret, but we have to just lay them out.
May be a player hand screen.
3) Also if the text when someone draws coins could be a different color , so it would catch your eye.
4) I know its a lot of work but if a future update would have an option to turn on/off a help option. This option would describe the the races and powers when scrolled over. For Noobies. I would be glad to type them in for the english version if you would need help.
5) Graphics : Also the decline side of races and powers.
great work, just trying to help.
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Pere
Spain
La Nucia
Alicante
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.1
Tip: Create another layer for the region numbers and the mine, magic and underworld icons, so the race tokens don't cover them.
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.1
Firstly thanks very much for the additional feedback. Before addressing each point raised I just wanted to post this general update so everyone knows where I'm at.
I'm pretty snowed under with family and work at the moment and as a result the amount of time I'm able to devote to the module is very limited.
So I'm more than happy for anyone to pitch in and 'co-author' if they can see ways for the module to be improved. If it ultimately becomes an on going community project I'm completely comfortable with that, I don't view this as 'my baby' or anything like that.
I've had a side discussion with John Williams (TRagedy) about some changes that John is proposing to make and if all turns out well we can release it as the next version.
If anyone else has thoughts or a desire to get involved feel free to post here.
The only concern I have with such a joint project is 'version control' and ensuring that everyone is on the same page in terms who owns the 'master' version at any point in time so work isn't lost or needs to be replicated where substantial.
So as it stands version 3.1 is the current live version and John is working on 3.2.
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.1
Please excuse the double post, just wanted to keep this separate...
TRagedy wrote: here is a few ideas after our first game:
1) Where are we to put our coins? We placed them on the player/race screen beside our army but really not alot of room.
2) Also coin count is to be secret, but we have to just lay them out. May be a player hand screen.
3) Also if the text when someone draws coins could be a different color , so it would catch your eye.
I hadn't actually thought of using the coins for scoring as such. The only reason I put them in there is to place upon any power/race combos that had been passed over so players could keep track of their worth.
I did consider an in game scoring system but I was thinking more along the lines of simply a spreadsheet style system that recorded the points gained for each player each turn in the same vein as the one I posted at the end of PBF2 as an example.
Jim reluctantly posts image considering his wooden spoon finish
This would obviously be an open scoring system as I didn't see much point in developing a closed system because in PBF / Online play a player could secretly keep track of the scores without anyone noticing.
Having said that I'm not against the idea and I guess the ideal scenario is to have the option at game start to define it as open or closed as the players' wish. But whichever option I think the spreadsheet is still the most efficient way of tracking the scores and would simply be a question of whether you can see the scoring lines of all the players (open) or just your own spreadsheet line (closed).
TRagedy wrote: 4) I know its a lot of work but if a future update would have an option to turn on/off a help option. This option would describe the the races and powers when scrolled over. For Noobies. I would be glad to type them in for the english version if you would need help.
Great idea. Based on our side discussion I know you've already got something on this.
TRagedy wrote: 5) Graphics : Also the decline side of races and powers.
Agreed. Unfortunately I didn't have time to obtain images of the reverse side of races and powers but this would be a good addition.
senseless wrote: Tip: Create another layer for the region numbers and the mine, magic and underworld icons, so the race tokens don't cover them.
I'm not sure how to achieve this in Vassal (I will admit my skills are limited as this is my first attempt at a Vassal module). But doesn't the show/hide button resolve the issue anyway?
Here's some other things I had on my 'To Do' list that I just haven't had the time to add but feel free to discuss:
6) Add a second 'Flip' action to the unit counters to flip a declined token back to active in case the player made a mistake, rather than having to delete the token and then drag another from the token pool.
7) Add token limits for the units and markers so players don't have to remember or refer to the rules.
8) Add grids for the main map and power/race boards to use 'snap to' placement functionality and proper descriptors for the game log (a point raised by John).
9) Incorporate the expansions.
Out of interest has anyone tried a 'Play by Forum/Email' style game where players post/email the Vassal save files? I thought this type of game might make running PBF games easier as the module would perform the bulk of the game management.
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John Williams
United States
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.1
Jim,
I'm glad to help with this project, with what ever small improvements I maybe able to create. I think we all have some great ideas for the module.
Version 3.2 = I think I can have you something this week with the changes I have already made and some more small ideas That I have.
Official release = So that we do keep everyone in the latest version. I would like to forward anything I do to you for approval, and then you release them to the web for download.
Scoring = I do like the option for Spreadsheet. Just wonder how we incorperate the minus points (-1) for each one that we have to pay for purchasing armys deeper in the tree. Also how do we gain from the armies we pick with coins already on them.
Show/hide = This works for me and is a big improvement. That was the biggest problem I had with my first game, trying to see what was on the map.
Text Report = I looked at a few other game modules and I think we maybe reporting way to much info to the text screen. each time you pickup to move / attack or picking up to redeploy. The screen is flooded with all these reports and you loose things like chat and dice rolls. We need to research via game play if we can stop some of this and the game still work. what do others think should be reported besides chat, die roll and coin gain or lose?
As for future versions, I'm sure I can help with graphics for the decline side of the races and would like multiple flip options for the races including top, decline, hidden, and delete.
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.1
TRagedy wrote: Version 3.2 = I think I can have you something this week with the changes I have already made and some more small ideas That I have.
Official release = So that we do keep everyone in the latest version. I would like to forward anything I do to you for approval, and then you release them to the web for download.
Fine with me.
TRagedy wrote: Scoring = I do like the option for Spreadsheet. Just wonder how we incorperate the minus points (-1) for each one that we have to pay for purchasing armys deeper in the tree. Also how do we gain from the armies we pick with coins already on them.
My initial thoughts were the spreadsheet would be populated manually by the players so whoever is entering the score for a particular player for a given turn would have to take into account any gold gained or lost through the power/race choices.
TRagedy wrote: Text Report = I looked at a few other game modules and I think we maybe reporting way to much info to the text screen. each time you pickup to move / attack or picking up to redeploy. The screen is flooded with all these reports and you loose things like chat and dice rolls. We need to research via game play if we can stop some of this and the game still work. what do others think should be reported besides chat, die roll and coin gain or lose?
I don't have any strong opinions on this. My gut feel is also recording the unit placements, power/race movements, etc could be useful for PBF / PBEM games if players wanted to post sections of the game log to publicly display their actions for the turn if they wanted.
I suppose the ideal scenario is working out how to display all the actions but then allow players to deselect certain types if they wish. But in the meantime I agree with your short list with chat, die roll and coin gain or lose which would probably mean less work in the short term as the maps wouldn't need grids that captured every area.
TRagedy wrote: As for future versions, I'm sure I can help with graphics for the decline side of the races and would like multiple flip options for the races including top, decline, hidden, and delete.
Sounds good.
Thanks John.
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.2c (07-Feb-2010)
John Williams (TRagedy) has stepped into the breach and carried the 'Small World Vassal Flag' much further than I had anticipated and as a result developed a version packed full of enhancements that's a must download.
Original post updated with the latest version 3.2c and change log.
Many thanks John.
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Jonathan Moodie
United States
Kansas City
Kansas
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.2c (07-Feb-2010)
- deleted -
Nevermind. I'm an idiot. I was definitely overthinking this one.
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.5 (19-Feb-2010)
Sorry Jonathan, I can't explain what happened to you there but the file has been downloaded many times and I'm afraid you're the only person who reported a missing mod file.
In any case a new version 3.5 has been uploaded with more enhancements so please try again and let me know if you still experience a problem.
If so you can message me an email address and I'll send it direct if you prefer.
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Al G
United States
Rockville
Maryland
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.5 (19-Feb-2010)
pardon my ignorance. I downloaded the zip file but can't get it to run on Vassal. Do I rename the zip? Do I unpack and rename? I'm missing something obvious, I'm sure.
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John Williams
United States
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.5 (19-Feb-2010)
ALLLGooD wrote: pardon my ignorance. I downloaded the zip file but can't get it to run on Vassal. Do I rename the zip? Do I unpack and rename? I'm missing something obvious, I'm sure.
1) Download File
2) Unzip file to vassal Directory
3) run Vassal and under File option pick "open"
4) Find the new file in the vassal directory
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John Williams
United States
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.5 (19-Feb-2010)
I am at the point of helping with the Vassal module that I need
images of all the Expansions. Need images of the active side and decline side of badges, Banners, and Token Units. Need any of the new tokens as well.
I was going to buy them just for this project, but looks like they are hard to find or twice the original price.
Would be great if they were scanned with white background.
Thanks for any help with this project.
TRagedy
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John Williams
United States
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Re: Small World Vassal Module - Now Available! - Updated version 3.5 (19-Feb-2010)
Ok, finally found and purchased both Dames and Cursed Expansions.
So I am back at work on the Vassal Module. look for update in the next few days.
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Re: Small World Online Vassal Module - Updated version 3.8 with Expansions! (08-Mar-2010)
New version uploaded with the expansions.
As a side note the amount of responses we've received compared with the number of downloads is very low.
We'd really appreciate any feedback you may have be it positive, negative, bug reports, suggestions, etc. We'd also really like to hear some session reports if even if it's just a couple of lines.
The amount of time and effort invested from here on in will be subject to our perceptions of how many people are using the mod as we don't want to continue developing something that people don't find useful.
Thanks.
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Re: Small World Online Vassal Module - Updated version 3.8 with Expansions! (08-Mar-2010)
Is it possible to make the coins appear above the race cards? I always have them appear below which makes placing coins on passed over combos a bit difficult.
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Re: Small World Online Vassal Module - Updated version 3.8 with Expansions! (08-Mar-2010)
Nordican wrote: Is it possible to make the coins appear above the race cards? I always have them appear below which makes placing coins on passed over combos a bit difficult.
Valid point. We'll look into it for the next release.
Thank you.
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Re: Small World Online Vassal Module - Updated version 3.8 with Expansions! (08-Mar-2010)
Nordican wrote: Is it possible to make the coins appear above the race cards? I always have them appear below which makes placing coins on passed over combos a bit difficult.
We've taken your comments on board and John has improved the coin system.
There's now placeholders for coins to go next to power/race combos in the 'stack' as well as a re-grided power/race board for players to place their earned coins in a money bag. Hover the mouse over the money bag for a nice pop up display of its contents.
Oh and did I mention a mini-map feature? 
Version 3.9 coming right up!
And more comments/suggestions like these....please. 
Ps. We're also releasing the mod on the Vassal site.
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Paul W
United States
Eugene
Oregon
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Part way in to hosting my first game, one feature request I have (though this may be for Vassal as a whole rather than this module) is to be able to take screenshots in jpg rather than png format, since BGG requests that users upload only jpg images. This would make life a little easier for PBF play.
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Hi Paul,
I'm afraid that is a Vassal constraint. I don't believe there is a way to define the image type of screenshots within a specific module.
But as an aside I wasn't even aware BGG require images to be in jpg format. I've uploaded png images just fine and it hasn't caused any issues as far as I'm aware.
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Paul W
United States
Eugene
Oregon
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As far as I can tell it lets you do so, in all that uploader text it simply asks that you not upload other formats. Not the end of the world, but I'd rather be a friendly user and save them the bandwidth if that's what they want.
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Posted Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:55 pm
