VIRTUAL ATS 3.10 Battlefield Walkaround - tactical-level

VIRTUAL ATS 3.10
Battlefield Walkaround
INSTALLING VATS:
Step 1: Download the main module file called vats310.vmod from the
source provided by Critical Hit, Inc.. Save this file on your hard drive,
preferably in a new folder (a.k.a. directory) called VATS. On Windows,
you may want to create this folder inside your My Documents folder.
Step 2: Download one or more ATS expansions (files with .vmdx extension) that you are licensed to use by Critical Hit, Inc.. Save them to a
subfolder (subdirectory) of your VATS folder called vats310_ext. To
create such a subfolder on Windows, use the New Folder option. Note:
The name of this subfolder must match the name (before the extension)
of the main module file (i.e. of the file vats310.vmod), with "_ext" appended. So, if the module file is called vats310.vmod, the expansion
subfolder must be called vats310_ext. If the name of the subfolder is even
slightly different, VASSAL will not be able to find your expansion files.
Step 3: Download VASSAL from www.vassalengine.org and install it on
your computer. It is suggested you place a VASSAL icon on your desktop, but you may launch it from wherever you want.
VIRTUAL ATS (VATS) 3.10 BATTLEFIELD WALKAROUND
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to VIRTUAL ATS version 3.10. This edition of VATS returns
to the ‘core module’ approach—one VASSAL program to play the entire
system, with map-based extensions for ATS historical modules added
on. Special thanks to Scott Eagles for creating this new version.
VATS is an officially licensed module that can be used to play ATS games
on the popular, Java-based VASSAL game engine. Additional documentation regarding VASSAL can be found on the VASSAL web site
(www.vassalengine.org).
SUPPORT INFORMATION:
The place to get ‘tech support’ for this software is the free, 10+ year
service known as the CH Message Board—then visit the Virtual ATS
forum if you encounter any difficulties. You will find the CHMB here:
http://chmb.invisionzone.com/
Please do not send e-mail to Critical Hit, Inc. to get tech support for this
software. This is a ‘no-wiggle’ policy and we ask for your understanding.
VASSAL was created as a user-based software, that means it is for you to
create applets for your personal use. CH has created VATS software to
save you hundreds of hours, if not more. However, as a boutique board
wargame publisher, there isn’t an ‘Amazon’ of techies sitting by in Bangalore—YOU are the techie for you. That said, the creators of this module are willing to volunteer to help you, noting that they are not set up to
provide tech support for myriad hardware issues, and operating systems. VASSAL is a product that works, has its own support site and
network, and was chosen by Critical Hit, Inc. as the engine for Virtual
ATS for those reasons. You will find members of the Virtual ATS team at
the CH Message Board. They are cordial, and volunteers. Treat them
accordingly and everyone will be happy.
Step 4: Launch VASSAL. You will see the welcome screen as depicted
above. Please note that this screen is only displayed for the first time
ever you run VASSAL on your computer. Click “Jump right in” and the
empty main VASSAL window will be displayed:
LICENSE:
To download and use VATS you must own one or more Advanced Tobruk
System titles that are complete games (i.e., that provide the rulebook) or
be an owner of the ATS rulebook 2014. Additionally, you are only licensed to download maps (extensions) for ATS products you own. Read
the complete license agreement provided in VATS if you have any questions. The most important thing is your personal honor. Yes, stealing
software is prevalent today; we hope when you look in the mirror you
see the face of an honest man, the hallmark of a true ATSer.
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VIRTUAL ATS 3.10
Battlefield Walkaround
Now you need to tell VASSAL where your VATS
module is located. In menu File select the Open
Module option, and select the vats310.vmod file
you saved on your hard drive in step 1 above. If
all goes well, VASSAL will add VATS 3.10 to the
list of modules (bottom window below), and it
will also open VATS for you (top window). Please
note the message "Extension Hill_of_Blood
loaded" at the bottom of the Advanced Tobruk
System window – it means that the extension
was properly located and recognized by the system as well. There should be one such message
for every installed extension.
TROUBLESHOOTING THE INSTALLATION:
If you experience any problems installing VATS, take a deep, cleansing
breath. There now, isn’t that better? If you are having problems with file
locations, close VASSAL, read the instructions carefully again, rename
files or folders appropriately, and then restart VASSAL. Keep trying
until you succeed, or post a question at the CHMB. The number one
issue that thwarts ATSers and their VATS install is naming the Folder
properly for the map extensions. Note that the folder that marries map
extensions to VATS needs to be named vats310_ext - and then will run a
“tiling” routine, one each for each map extension. This ‘routine’ appears
on screen as a small status in the upper left hand corner as it runs the
process; depending on the speed of your computer, each can take a
minute or so. Once VATS runs the tiling routine for each map extension
in your vats310_ext folder, the main screen for VATS will come up and
you’ll be ready to start a new game.
ADDING EXTENSIONS AT A LATER TIME:
If you wish to add a new extension to VATS, right-click on the module in
the main VASSAL window, and then select Add Extension.
As an alternative, you can also directly place the .vmdx file in your
VATS\vats310_ext folder. To make VASSAL recognize the new file you
will have to restart the program if it was already running.
THE TUTORIAL:
You are now almost ready to start
your first game. It is recommended
that you go over the VATS Tutorial
(found within the VATS software)
before playing. The Tutorial explains many useful concepts related
to playing ATS games using VASSAL.
The two screen-shots above depict what a correct VATS
folder/file tree looks like in Windows Explorer. Your screen
may look different, based on your version of this and other
operating systems.
then <File> and then the <Preferences> option. Click on the <General>
tab and take a look around. It is very useful to have the software automatically report the movement of each game piece – to make VATS do so,
check the box next to “Auto-report moves”.
To start the tutorial, select VATS
Tutorial from the Help menu of the
VATS Advanced Tobruk System
window. Then, select <observer>
from the Choose Side window that will appear, and click on Finish.
There are several other options in the dialog box that you may find
useful. When you are done editing your preferences, click on “OK”.
STARTING YOUR FIRST GAME:
To step through the tutorial, you can either press <Page Down> on your
keyboard, or click the “Step forward through logfile” button in the toolbar.
Every time you do that, a new instruction of the tutorial will appear in
the window. The Tutorial is really the best way to get to know VATS!
You can simply continue using VATS after opening it for the first time in
VASSAL. If you close and reopen VASSAL, simply double-click the
module name in the main window to open the module again.
PREFERENCES:
When the VATS module is loaded (i.e., when the Advanced Tobruk System window is displayed), select the File menu, then the Map Shortcuts
option, and then New Game. The new game wizard will open.
There is one last thing you may wish to do before starting your first
VATS game: in the Advanced Tobruk System window, select <Menu>
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VIRTUAL ATS 3.10
Battlefield Walkaround
ing to every VATS game you are involved in. Choose the folder and
specify a name, e.g. "HoB 6 – Turn 1 – 01.vlog" for the first turn of the
sixth scenario of the Hill of Blood expansion. The "01" at the end will
serve to enumerate all the log files from the same game (or, as in this case,
turn) – depending on the size of the game, you may be creating several
dozen files per turn so you will need to assign numbers to them if you are
to stay sane.
After having selected the log file name, your opponent can start moving
game pieces, choosing options from counters' and markers' menus. He
can also type comments in the edit box at the bottom of the Advanced
Tobruk System window – or roll the dice by clicking one of the dice
buttons. All those actions will be recorded in the log file.
When your opponent is done with the log file, he must select the End
Logfile option from the File menu. Only then does the log file actually get
written to disk. Important: closing VASSAL without selecting End Logfile
will result in an empty log file – none of the actions you've performed
will be recorded. Another caveat is that VASSAL will let you type in
comments and perform actions even without starting a log file – in which
case, again, you will have nothing to send to your opponent. So please be
careful and always use the Begin Logfile / End Logfile options.
First you must select the side you wish to play (see screen shot on the
previous page). For solo play, please select <observer> or <Solitaire>
which allows you to move and see pieces from both sides. Click Next to
proceed to the second screen.
The second screen is called "Choose Historical ATS Battlefield" (see
below). From the Select ATS Map drop-down please select the extension you wish to play. The selected map will then appear under the
drop-down.
In most cases you can ignore the “Add row”, “Add column”, and “Clear”
buttons on the left of the map drop-down box. They are used to piece
together multi-sheet maps and will be used only when specified.
Saved game folders: When your opponent is ready with his first log
file, he should send it to you using e-mail. You then should also create a
folder for log files, and place the log file there. When you run VASSAL,
right-click the Advanced Tobruk System version 3 in the Module Library, and select the Add Saved Game Folder option. In the dialog box
that will appear, point to your log file folder. You will notice that a folder
icon appeared under the Advanced Tobruk System module (you may
need to click the small icon to open it up), and inside it – the first log file
that your opponent has just sent you. Double-click it to load the game.
As you continue playing, the log files you will be sending to one another
will automatically appear inside the saved game folder in the main VASSAL window. It makes it quite easy to access saved log files.
Click Finish to complete the wizard and load the selected map.
SOLO PLAY:
Replaying log files: Once you have loaded up a log file sent to you by
your opponent, you should step through it using the icon in the toolbar
(or the <Page Down> key). All actions and comments recorded by your
opponent will appear in the Advanced Tobruk System window.
If you have stepped through the tutorial, you are ready to play ATS
games solo – there is nothing more to it!
PBEM PLAY:
Not all actions are logged – and some actions require additional comments to be properly understood. With time you will get a hang of what
constitutes just the right amount of information; you don't want to bore
your opponent with unnecessary details (and, in particular, repeat what
he can easily see for himself), and at the same time you want for your
actions to be clear.
Setting up: To start a PBEM (i.e. Play-By-E-Mail) game, follow the
instructions above with regards to starting a game but with one crucial
distinction: in the Choose Side window select the actual side you wish to
play (Germans, Russians, Americans etc.).
The next step is for you to proceed to create the setup for your game.
Once you are done, save the game using the File menu, Save Game
option.
Opportunity fire/Correcting mistakes: The use of Opportunity Fire
is one aspect of ATS gameplay that causes VATS beginners to ask themselves lots of questions.
Send the resulting .vsav to your opponent. Now it is his turn to create his
setup. In order to do that he should choose Load Game from the File
menu.
In theory, the moving player should send his opponent one log file per
hex / location, and his opponent should send back a log file saying whether
he wishes to use op fire or not. In practice, however, the solution is much
simpler.
Log files: The actual PBEM play in VATS is done by swapping socalled log files with your opponent. When your opponent is done with
his setup, he should choose the option Begin Logfile from the File menu.
VASSAL will then prompt him for a location where the file should be
saved – it is good practice to create a separate folder for log files belong-
When your opponent is moving a unit or a stack, he should create a log
file for the entire move. When you replay his log file – which always
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VIRTUAL ATS 3.10
Battlefield Walkaround
happens step by step – and his counter(s) get to a point where you wish
to use opportunity fire, simply use the Begin Logfile menu option immediately, without waiting for your opponent's log file to finish.
WRAP-UP:
Now you have the basics. It’s time to start playing with the software. If
you have any questions or comments about VATS, please sign up for the
CH Message Board (chmb.invisionzone.com), the official support site
for the Virtual ATS. You will find there the designers of this module as
well as other users, ready to answer your questions and to take your
comments or suggestions. Check with the makers of VASSAL at
www.vassalengine.org with any VASSAL-specific questions.
After creating your own log file, you announce the wish to use opportunity fire to your opponent, mark the firing unit(s), and resolve the fire.
Then, if the fire results in the enemy unit getting pinned down or broken,
you simply end the log file and send it to your opponent. This way, the
remainder of his previous log file is never executed. If on the other hand
your fire is ineffective you should simply continue stepping through
your opponent's log file using the icon in the toolbar or the <Page Down>
key. When the move is completed (and you may also use opportunity
fire in other hexes or locations), end the log file and send it to your
opponent.
CREDITS:
VATS 3.10: Scott Eagles
PROGRAMMING/PROOFING: Scott Eagles, Michal Blazejczyk, Mo
Caraher, John Boone, Manfred Skazel, Garth Boucher, Drew Dorman,
Steve Allen, Andy Parsons, Rick Billings, John Carroll, Hans Korting,
Carlos LaPort, and Aaron Loomis.
You may do exactly the same if you spot a mistake in your opponent's
log file: just begin a new log file, enter some comments or corrections,
then continue replaying his log file, and then perform your own actions.
DEDICATION: VIRTUAL ATS 3.10 is dedicated to the memory of
Drew ‘ATS Guy’ Dorman, one of the nicest, hardest-working, selfless
men ever created by God—and without whose efforts there would be no
continuation of the tradition left by the work of Hal Hock.
If you are careful, this mechanism provides for quite a bit of flexibility
when playing PBEM games of VATS.
Other useful suggestions: In a PBEM game of VATS you generally
want to limit the number of e-mail exchanges to a reasonable minimum.
Some systems have been introduced to help deal with this more efficiently.
It is very common, for example, for the firing player to randomly distribute casualties (see Optional Rule C40 in the rule book) when firing at his
opponent's units. This means that you don't need to exchange e-mails
just to determine what unit takes the casualties. This method does not
work in some situations, though – more specifically, when your opponent's
units are not revealed (a FOW mask or Full Cover mask has been activated).
Another way to limit the number of e-mails sent back and forth – and this
time it's a VATS innovation, absent from the rule book – is to perform
Close Assault actions in IGOUGO fashion. This method does not work
well (and needs to be temporarily discarded) when the order of actions
matters, but in many cases it works beautifully.
ONLINE PLAY:
ATS was re-released in 2014 with
an all-new color bindered
rulebook and color play aids!
To connect to the VASSAL server click the connect button () in the
toolbar of the Advanced Tobruk System window. A new panel will appear to the right (if it does not, try resizing the window just a little). Click
the Connect button (). You will get a welcome
message and be deposited in the main room of
VATS. If there are games going on, there will be
a "room" or folder for each. Simply clicking on
the folder will put you in the room. By right
clicking on one of the (active) players in the
room, you can "synchronize" and watch the
game.
It is suggested you make yourself familiar with
VASSAL "etiquette". Obvious things like don't
move pieces or be too chatty in a game you're
not involved in. You can scroll around the board
and move your mouse over stacks to inspect
them without disturbing the game. To move
pieces around yourself, you don't have to be
online if you don't want to.
An ATS Hill of Blood game in progress in VATS. Screen shot by Scott Eagles.
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