updated 030714 JJY
CONTENTS
-- Why does the map window open up so large?
-- How do I find out what a counter can "do"?
-- How do I expand my stack?
-- How do I scroll the map?
-- I cannot seem to be able to select/move a particular piece!
-- When I look at the counters menu, I can see the list of counters, but I cannot
see any counter graphics! Where did the graphics go in the list?
-- Where did the "concealment" counters go?
-- What is this "info" thingy on counters? (ctrl-I)
-- Why are there SL vehicles and COI+ vehicle tabs?
-- Why are there some counters that have an SL or COI+ designation?
-- Why do I need a password?
-- Why don't my units report their movement in the chat window?
-- Can I replay/load games from VASL3.x? VSQL1.x?
-- It takes games a long time to load. Why?
-- I'm getting "Out of Memory" errors!
-- I see a problem! A counter is missing/wrong/mislabeled/doesn't work right/etc.!
-- So who are Brandi and Roman anyway?
WHY DOES THE MAP WINDOW OPEN UP SO LARGE?
This seems to be a windows issue. Occasionally, when you open a game, the map
window will open unzoomed, but full screen. I just resize the map.
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT A COUNTER CAN "DO"?
Right click on the specific counter when on the map board. You'll get a drop
down list that shows "special"commands for that specific counter.
Many will automatically add a piece to the board for convenience(like a DM counter
when a squad breaks).
HOW DO I EXPAND MY STACK?
To expand your stack, double-click on it! Right clicking on a stack will show
the selected *unit* properties.
HOW DO I SCROLL THE MAP?
The map window can be scrolled several ways. First, you can use the drag bars
at the right or the bottom of the map window. Second, you can right-click on
any open area on the map. The map will recenter in that direction. Third, you
can use the arrow keys to scroll if you have that option set in "file\edit
preferences\general\use arrow key to scroll." Finally, if you have selected
and are "holding" a piece (i.e. left-click and holding), you can drag
a piece and it will scroll the map too.
I CANNOT SEEM TO SELECT/MOVE A PARTICULAR PIECE!
Certain pieces are marked "can not be moved." These might be roadblocks,
wire, control/ownership markers, etc. To move or do anything with these pieces,
shift-leftclick them to select them. To see that piece's drop-down menu, shift-leftclick
to select the piece, then shift-rightclick to see the menu.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE COUNTERS MENU, I CAN SEE THE LIST OF COUNTERS, BUT I CANNOT
SEE ANY COUNTER GRAPHICS! WHERE DID THE GRAPHICS GO IN THE LIST?
There is a vertical bar that you can move left-right to resize the sub-windows
in the counter menu. The counter should be on the left, and the list of counters
for that counter type on the right.
WHERE DID THE "CONCEALMENT" COUNTERS GO?
The concealment counters are on their own sub menu within a particular country.
We put them there to keep from having to repeat the same counter, and making
it a "one-stop shopping" place to find concealment and blanks.
WHAT IS THIS "INFO" THINGY ON COUNTERS? (CTRL-I)
This is a new feature. Many counters have special information about them, especially
vehicles. For instance, perhaps a vehicle was not capable of intensive fire,
or was not equipped with a radio. We have put that in the "Info" tag.
Just press ctrl-I to see if there is special information. The info was pulled
from the vehicle tables at the back of the manual.
WHY ARE THERE SL VEHICLES AND COI+ VEHICLE TABS?
Since the counters look and function very differently, we made two tabs for
the vehicles and guns. SL vehicles do not have turrets, and are graphically
different. COI adds turret capability to those vehicles that have turrets, plus
have the correct COI+ graphic. When we add COD, those vehicles will also go
into the COI+ tab since COD just ADDS them, not replaces them.
WHY ARE THERE SOME COUNTERS THAT HAVE AN SL OR COI+ DESIGNATION?
Most counters will work for all gamettes. However, a "few" do not.
An example is the German panzerfaust. In SL, there was only one panzerfaust.
In COI, there are several. Rather than making a separate menu system all together,
we put everything in one menu. For the few counters that had replacements like
these, we listed them in the same list. The exception to this is the Vehicles
and Guns.
WHY DO I NEED A PASSWORD?
Passwords allow you to Hide your counters/notes (HIP), or conceal stacks so
your opponent cannot inspect them. Your opponent can never see your HIP units,
but they can unconceal your units if you let them by setting the option in "File\edit
preferences\general\let opponent unconceal my units."
WHY DON'T MY PIECES SHOW THE "MOVED" TAG?
Did you remember to set the preference in "file\edit preferences\general\mark
moved pieces"?
WHY DON'T MY UNITS REPORT THEIR MOVEMENT IN THE CHAT WINDOW?
Did you remember to set the preference in "file\edit preferences\general\auto-report
moves"?
CAN I REPLAY/LOAD GAMES FROM VASL3.X? VSQL 1.x?
Sorry, no. VSQL2.5 is backward compatable to version 2.0 and up only. Same answer
for VSQL 1.x.
IT TAKES GAMES A LONG TIME TO LOAD. WHY?
If you are on a slower machine, loading a game with multiple mapboards, and
limited RAM, it will take a while to load if you are using the "enable
LOS checking" option. If this option is turned on, the game loads quite
a bit of LOS data into RAM to help you in determining if a shot is blocked or
not. To load faster, disable this function in "file\edit preferences\LOS\enable
los checking." You still can check LOS, but you will not get feedback as
to whether VASSAL thinks LOS is blocked or not.
I'M GETTING "OUT OF MEMORY" ERRORS!
If you are getting "Out of Memory" errors, *or* if VASSAL is running
slow,you need to increase your Heap size. To do this:
Edit the VASSAL.lax file with your favorite editor
(Notepad, Wordpad, etc.). Change the following line from:
lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.max=128000000
to
lax.nl.java.option.java.heap.size.max=256000000
Save and close the file.
You should be set.
I SEE A PROBLEM! A COUNTER IS MISSING/WRONG/MISLABELED/DOESN'T WORK RIGHT/ETC.!
Although we strive for perfection, even perfectionists make mistakes. Please
drop an email to vsql@wargameacademy.org and I'll look into it.
SO WHO ARE BRANDI AND ROMAN ANYWAY?
Brandi and Roman are Jay Yanek's standard poodles. They are internationally
certified "therapy animals," meaning they are certified to visit hospitals,
nursing homes, etc. and bring therapy to people. Therapy can be either physical
therapy (retrieving a ball that a patient throws), or just being loved by a
patient that has been in the hospital for an extended period of time. To learn
more about my poodles, visit my web site at mail.chartermi.net/~jyanek (current
as of 7/03). To learn more about therapy animals, visit www.deltasociety.org
(current as of 7/03).