VASSAL User's Guide

Introduction | Installation | Preferences | Environment | Getting Started | Setting Up a Game | Playing Tools | Playing byEmail

Installation

VASSAL is distributed using Java Web Start.  Clicking on this link from any browser will launch the latest version.  If the link doesn't work, first make sure you've installed Java 1.4.x and then read the notes here before requesting help via email.  On Windows systems, Web Start will prompt you to create a shortcut on your desktop for you to run the program without going through a web browser. On Mac-OS-X/Linux, you can launch VASSAL directly with the command line $JAVA_HOME/javaws/javaws http://www.vassalengine.org/ws/vassal.jnlp. VASSAL does not run on pre-OS-X Macintosh systems.


Installing Modules

Modules files have a .mod filename extension by convention.  Usually they are packaged into Zip files on the web site.  Simply unzip the Zip file and place the module file anywhere.  When running VASSAL, hit "Play Module" and select the module file to begin.

You can make a shortcut that runs a module without going through the opening screen with these steps:

Module Extensions

Module Extensions contain optional additions to a Module.  Module extension files have a .mdx filename extension by convention.  Extensions are loaded automatically by placing the extension file into a folder named XXX_ext in the same location as the Module file, where XXX is the name of the module file with no extension.  For example, if the Zap Wars module file is zap.mod, extensions should be placed in a folder named zap_ext.  If you don't want to use a particular extension, just move its file out of the folder.

Some module launch directly without placing a module file on your system. For those modules, use the "Extensions" tab in the preferences to specify where the extension files should be placed.


Introduction | Installation | Preferences | Environment | Getting Started | Setting Up a Game | Playing Tools | Playing byEmail