First-time VASSAL user?

Be sure to check out the Quick Start and User’s Guide options under the Help Menu. They explain all the basic VASSAL functions like starting a game, moving pieces on the board, and playing live or PBEM.

Using the Amateurs to Arms! Module

Like most VASSAL modules, most everything you need to do with cards and game pieces can be done by right clicking on them. A menu will appear that contains shortcuts for playing the cards or sending the game pieces to different places.The top of the screen contains the toolbar. This is where you can access your side’s card hand and force pool, among other things. Hover over the buttons with your mouse pointer to see what each one does. The Naval Battle Board is the one unique feature – there isn’t one with the actual game, but I added it in case you need space to spread out your fleets when a battle occurs on the lakes.

Cards

The easiest way to draw cards is to open your side’s card hand window and click on one of the “Draw Card” buttons. Draws are always random. Each side has space for 16 cards, but you can stack cards on top of each other if you need more room. You can also manually drag a card from the draw pile into your hand.Cards will be automatically flipped face up when you draw them. They will appear face down to your opponent, but face up to you (with a red question mark in the corner), when you place them in the Saved Cards area of the card window. Use the right click menu to reveal them to your opponent if needed.Certain cards also automatically carry out other functions. For example, the Napoleon cards advance the counter on the Napoleon Status track and flip it to the correct side depending on which space it enters. Most cards that affect the Peace Tracks will automatically move those markers. The James Monroe, Joshua Barney, and David Parish cards all place their unique markers on the map. Cards that cause the deck to be reshuffled will set the Reshuffle indicator when played for the event.

Game Pieces

Each side’s units are located in the Force Pool windows. This is also where you draw leaders. Although you can see the top leader in the draw pile, all draws are automatically randomized.Naval units that move along the build tracks on the Port Chart will display the “under construction” icon in the top left corner. This icon will disappear once construction is over and they enter a port. Click the red Battle Board button to send all of the ships on that lake to the Naval Battle Board.Other markers and pieces can be found in the Game Markers window which is the third blue button from the left in the toolbar.

Game Map

Most of the map text has been rotated so that it is right side up. The Turn Track differs slightly from the physical version. When you finish a turn, click on the red End Turn button. The Turn Track will rotate to show the current turn as indicated by the orange arrow. The module will automatically perform a number of functions to include removing Troops Raised markers, returning saved cards to your hand, advancing the Year marker, and reshuffling the deck if necessary.

Questions?

Please feel free to post in the AtA folder on Consimworld or BoardGameGeek.

Enjoy!