Has anybody tried using Vassal to play A&A “online?”
OK, I must be a total idiot…
I have changed my display settings to be low enough to open that map. And I can see it.
But how in the heck do you work the mechanics of it? Such as:
How do you add a “bid” piece before starting?
How do you set your buy?
VERY confused. Would love some detailed post of how to make a game with this map work :-)
What operating system are you using? I use Windows XP, 1024x768 resolution with 32 bit colors. I don’t have a problem opening the program.
To move units, you click on a stack of units and drag them somewhere.
There is a toolbar you can use to add new units or delete existing ones (it will change the cursor to the currently selected item). If the cursor is a unit, it will place that unit -that can be used for either placing bidded units, or newly purchased units. If the cursor is a bomb, it will delete one unit from the stack you click on. If the cursor is the cross, it will move units or stacks of units. The map program basically just moves the sprites around on the static background, it doesn’t have any built in understanding of the game itself, by the way, so it doesn’t enforce any movement, placement, combat, etc. That’s up to you to do.
Ok I’m trying to figure out how to best PBEM with my father in Law.
I want to use a software map and he will use the real deal. He also wants to use real dice instead of the online dicey.
Right now I have the programs TripleA and ABattlemap.
My questions are as follows
Can I use triplea with out the online Dicey?
Is there a better map the ABattlemap it’s a little confusing?
Does anyone have some tips for the format of an E-mail I would send to him is there a template of some kind?
I think the ABattlemap is most common, but you can try Mot’s Mapview.
It’s #2 in this Link:
http://www.dicey.net/nuke/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=1
Here’s a couple sample turns:
Sample 1
First Email
Russia Round 1
Buy 8 inf
Combat Move
2nd Email
Results
w sp sz - cleared, wol
ukr - taken with 2 inf, 2 ftrs
Non-Combat Move
2 ftrs land in kar
4 inf to kar from mos
2 arm to kar from mos
1 inf to yak from sfe
1 arm to yak from sfe
2 inf to yak from eve
1 trn to uk sz from kar sz
Placement
8 inf on Kar
Collect 27
Land/Cash
R:Â 27/$27
G:Â 29/$32
U:Â 30/$30
J:Â Â 25/$25
A:Â 36/$36
Summary
***** Russia *****
*** Ukraine S.S.R. (Ukr) ***
2 Infantry
*** Karelia S.S.R. (Len) ***
13 Infantry
3 Armor
2 Fighter
1 Industrial Complex
1 AnitAirCannon
*** Russia (Mos) ***
1 Industrial Complex
1 AnitAirCannon
*** Yakut S.S.R. (Yak) ***
6 Infantry
1 Armor
*** Soviet Far East (Far) ***
1 Infantry
*** United Kingdom Seazone (NOR) ***
1 Transport
*** Spain Seazone (AZO) ***
1 Submarine
Sample 2
Germany Round 1
Purchase-10inf(2)left
#1 Ukr(2inf)
   3inf arm f/EEuro
      Result:Held w/inf 3inf arm retreat to EEuro
#2 AES(inf arm)
   5inf arm f/Libya  via FeAfr
      Result:Taken w/4inf arm
#3 FeAfr(mt)
   arm f/Libya
#4 FwAfr(mt)
   inf f/Alg
#5 WMedSz(bb)
   bb trn f/CMedSz
      Result:Cleared w/o loss
#6 LabSz(trn)
   ftr f/FinNor
      Result:Cleared w/o loss
#7 UkSz(bb 2trn)
   ftr bmb f/Germany
   ftr f/WEuro
   ftr f/EEuro
   sub f/BalSz
      Result:Cleared w/3ftrs bmb
NonCombat
3ftrs bmb f/UkSz to EEuro
ftr f/LabSz to WEuro
2inf f/WEuro to SEuro
2inf f/FinNor to EEuro
4inf f/Germany to EEuro
2inf AA f/SEuro to EEuro
2arm f/Germany to WEuro
arm f/SEuro to WEuro
Placement-Germany
SumUp
WEuro-5arm ftr AA
Germany-10inf AA ic
SEuro-2inf ic
EEuro-13inf arm 3ftrs bmb AA
FinNor-inf arm
AES-4inf arm
FwAfr-inf
FeAfr-Flag
BalSz-trn
WMedSz-bb trn
R 27/27
G 33/35
B 26/30
J 25/25
A 36/36
Note: With ABattlemap, it has a way to list the unit summary so you can cut and paste it.
Excellent thanks for the tips vry helpful :-D
I tried different map tools over the years (ABattlemaps, TripleA, MapView, and a few others) and I still think MapView is the best tool for PBEM.
If I remember correctly, when I started playing on this forum it was the most popular. That was back in 2003.
I think it lost it’s popularity since the creator of MapView MotCreations don’t distribute the A&A modules anymore (copyright issues).
I recently made a long search on the net for the modules but could only find the original A&A and an ugly revised modules.
Fortunately, last month, I found the Europe and Pacific modules sitting in my old computer at my parents house!
If anyone wants them, just send me a message with your email and I’ll send it to you.
It would be even better if the admins want to host the files on this site :D
Let me know
Edit:
Fixed the link to the Mapview website
I guess it should be posted here that ABattlemap has a few bugs… specifically with the designation of sea zones in the extreme south eastern Pacific.
If you are using ABattlemap, and your opponent is using a real board, the SZ numbers to NOT match up south of hawaii and east of New Zealand.
When moving/engaging in combat in this area, be sure to specify with descriptions instead of just SZ number to aboive confusion.
Solomon island SZ is labeld 46 in Abattle map, but is 45 in real game, Eastern australia is labeld SZ41 but that isn´t correct i have been told, think it was 46….
So, what is the preferred map? I’m tired of walking into the other room to check the board out…
If both players are using battlemap, then go with that.
Otherwise, the real board should be the rule.
And if folks are using different methods (one battlemap, one a board) then when you move into the south east pacific, list name as well as SZ # :-)
ok, i’m trying to enter the modern era and have abattlemap downloaded but i cna’t see the entire map, it gets cut off south of rhodesia and west of china, what simple thing am i missing here?
You might try right-clicking the map and moving your mouse meanwhile to scroll the view of the map.
About the sz-labeling in Abattlemap, there is a fix for it that is downloadable on this site: http://www.dicey.net/nuke/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=1
It’s currently unavailable, but I guess it might be working any time soon.
duh, thanks :oops:
i think i am nearing being ready to try a game :mrgreen:
I added a Revised map pic to the first post. Mainly for my own benefit, but still couldn’t hurt to have there. :-)
THANK YOU DARTH!
With all of the issues with ABattlemap and SZ numbering, having that image posted will help prevent a LOT of potential issues!
What do people normally use for a dice server when they play online games against someone? What one works the best, or is the most efficient? I’ve never played online so I just want to know which one will be or should be the one I use. And what does ADS stand for again? how does it work versus low luck or no luck. I usually prefer the real dice so… yeah.
What do people normally use for a dice server when they play online games against someone?
Usually the AAMC roller or DAAK roller.
However, Flames of Europe is also good.
@General_D.Fox:
What one works the best, or is the most efficient? I’ve never played online so I just want to know which one will be or should be the one I use.
DAAK has been going down a lot lately, but is still good, the AAMC works well too.
Flames of Europe is great if you don’t want to be bombarded with emails. The dice rolls are kept in the Game Log at the site.
And what does ADS stand for again? how does it work versus low luck or no luck. I usually prefer the real dice so… yeah.
Automatic Dice Server
It basically means, regular dice, as if you were playing face to face and rolling the dice yourself.
LL, you’ll count up the offensive and defensive pts, then divide by 6 for guaranteed hits and then roll for the remainder.
Example, 6 inf, 4 arm vs. 4 inf 2 ftrs
18 pts vs. 16 pts
The attacker gets 3 hits, defender 2 hits then he has to roll for a 4 or less for a 3rd hit.
If you’re “regular dice” kind of player then that would be ADS.
The links in this thread don’t work for me. Are they still good?
Thanks.
I had trouble with the AAMC links that lead to the downloading area.
The Dicey links looked like they still worked.
I’ll try and update the download area links in the coming days.
