Vassal Engine
The VASSAL Engine is a game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games, tabletop games and card games. It allows users to play in real time over a live Internet connection, and also by email (PbeM). It runs on all platforms, and is free, open-source software. For example, there is a Star Wars Miniatures module, where players can play with up to three others in a digital replica of the table-top game.
It is written in Java and is available from SourceForge under the LGPL open source license.[1]
History
VASSAL began as VASL (Virtual Advanced Squad Leader), an application for playing Advanced Squad Leader.[2]
Available modules
VASSAL modules exist for over 1000 games, some of which are listed here. A more comprehensive, but not exhaustive, list of modules exists on the VASSAL module site list.
Tabletops
- V40k, a Warhammer 40,000 module. Perhaps the most played module now.
- Battlefleet Gothic[3]
- Mordheim[4]
- Star Wars Tactics
- Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
- Warmachine and Hordes[5]
Boardgames
Card games
Copyright and licensing
In September 2008, Games Workshop issued a cease-and-desist order regarding V40k to Tim Davis, the team leader at that time.[9] The module is still played.
Games Workshop has also issued a cease-and-desist order regarding Space Hulk.
References
- ^ Official VASSAL Website
- ^ R.Flaibani. "The Master and His Vassal". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Download Source for Battlefleet Gothic Module
- ^ Mordheim Module Download
- ^ Warmachine&Hordes Vassal Module Download
- ^ Module Shadows over Camelot Download
- ^ Playing Cards
- ^ Module Site
- ^ GW V40k Legal Action
