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VDP - Vassal Dawn Patrol

 
 

A Beginner's Guide to Playing VDP

by Kevan Sumner

 

Much of the following is aimed at speeding up play. I think we're probably, playing at about 2/3 the speed we should be. A big part of this is that we frequently have new players, but I've learned a few things that have kept my turns moving faster, and those things are included below.

 

First Things First

You need the most current Dawn Patrol Module to play. At present, this is Dawn Patrol Version 1.2. The module can be found on the Vassal site. If you log in with an older version, you will not be able to play the game. You will be able to connect to the server, but you will not see many of the counters on the map. It only takes a few minutes to download and install the module, but you’ll want to do it more than a few minutes before play is scheduled to commence. That way, if you do encounter problems of some sort, you will have time to resolve the issue before the game starts.

 

Scheduling a Game

We have a regular gaming night on Thursdays at 8:30 CST. If you wish to play at another time, the best way to find players is to post the proposed time in the indysquadron.com forum. Another method of organizing games is to email the VDP players listed at the Vassal Module website.

 

Start Time

Quite often, someone will propose a starting time. As far as I'm concerned, the first time proposed is the "official" time, since debating it can lead to confusion. It is entirely reasonable to expect that, if you log in after this time, you will miss the first game. If you're just a wee bit late, the current players may choose to allow you to fly in at a lower altitude. If you're coming in around turn 3 or later, you should expect to wait for a second game (if there is one). Nobody will mind if you just sit in and watch the game. The best way to avoid being late is to log in at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time.

 

Creating a Game

There is no need to wait for everyone to show up before a game is "rolled up". Everything except for choosing sides and planes can be done by the first person to show up - location, cloud cover, winds, date.

 

Setting Up

Each player is responsible for choosing his/her plane counter and placing it on the board. Typically, planes are placed facing each other in parallel lines, with about 6 squares separation. It is advisable, but not required, that each player choose a different plane image, to aid in identification. It is recommended that each player place a second copy of the same plane in the 'Cards' window, to help identify card stacks in the event of tailing. Once your plane is placed on the board, you will want to note the plane's starting altitude and identify it as your plane. Both can be done by right-clicking on the plane. If you select 'Change Altitude', you can enter your current altitude. If you select ‘Aircraft Number', you can type in your name or initials. The altitude will appear as white text on a blue rectangle under your plane counter. Your name will appear as a white text on a red rectangle over your plane counter.

 

Hidden Rolls

The clear preference of the majority of players is that we play with hidden rolls. This means that for jamming (and unjamming) and damage, you roll on your own and do not show your opponents. Results of rolls can be shared in private chat between team members. There are a couple of options for how this is done:

1. Each side (Allied / Central Powers) can open a new game in Vassal, so that they can roll dice online with a witness.

2. Each player can roll physical dice on their own and simply report the results to a teammate - this option requires slightly more trust, but doesn't require the hassle of tracking multiple game windows.

3. Each player can simply record their own rolls, without reporting - this requires a high amount of trust, but is the most realistic, as the other players on your side will not know when your guns jam, if you have taken critical hits, etc.

So far, option 2 seems to be the preference.

 

Rolls done in the open:

Initiative

To Hit

Landing chance

 

Rolls that are usually hidden:

Damage Amount (though the result is reported in the main window – this way, your opponents may not know when your guns are jammed)

Damage locations

Jamming

Unjamming

Critical Hits and rolls associated with the effects of critical hits

Consciousness / Unconsciousness

 

 

Communications

Since typed communication has its limits, there has been a suggestion that players use Skype or Teamspeak. Two games have been played with spoken communication via conference call, but this isn't feasible in the long term. Personally, I've downloaded both Skype and TeamSpeak, and hope to use one or both as soon as I acquire a new mic for my computer. For the time being, the simplest form of communication available to all players should be the rule (which will usually be simply typing in the game window). I would encourage players to make every effort to acquire Skype or TeamSpeak, however, as this will speed of the game considerably.

 

 

Counters (Should) Never Lie

Since the map window is the main way that everyone follows the status of play, you are expected to always have the proper plane location, facing, altitude, and status (on fire, burning, spinning, gliding) on display. Players can be relatively forgiving, but if another player makes their move based on your counter display, then it is more unlikely that you will be allowed to make a change. The exception to this is when the displayed counter is located in a space that it could not legally move to during the current turn - in such a case, every player who moved subsequently may take their moves again after the plane information has been corrected. Another exception is when a player declares a shot that requires their plane be nose up or nose down. In such a case, the player has clearly communicated their intention, but still should change the counter as soon as the error is realized.

 

The above being said, I have found that the more veteran players have great patience for new players who are still getting a feel for things. They will often prompt new (or other veteran) players by asking if they intend to take a shot, or confirming an altitude.

 

 

Tailing

Tailing requires players to select cards from the 'Maneuver Cards' window and place them in the 'Cards' window. If, as recommended above, you have a copy of your plane counter on this window, this will help to identify which stack of cards is yours. You may wish to start preparing your card selection before your turn. Remember to make sure that any maneuver card is face-down before you move it into the 'Cards' window. Cards can be turned face-down by right clicking on the card and selecting 'Turn Card Face Down' from the menu that appears. A face-down card will look like a small version of the card face superimposed over a regular-sized card back.

 

You are the only person who can delete the cards that you place in the ‘cards’ window. To keep things clear for other players, please do not leave your cards spread out all over the window when you’re not using them. It’s probably simplest to just delete the cards as soon as you are finished with them. At a minimum, maintain only a single stack in the window between tailings.

 

 

Flow of Play

Play proceeds in the same order as in normal Dawn Patrol. However, especially in games without verbal communication, play can lag as players miss their cue to take their turn or resolve some action. Players are encouraged to remind other players of their turn if no activity is evident, and to take care of actions such as checking jams or selecting maneuver cards while other players are still moving. If you know that other players are waiting for you to do something, please let them know when you are finished.

 

 

Disconnection

The VASSAL server is quite stable. However, it has been known to go down. In such a case, you have three options; call the game, save the game for continuation at a later date, or continue playing with a direct connection between computers (this third option is offered if you log back in to the DP Vassal module and the server isn't available). To make a decision, either exchange emails with the other players (if you have all of their addresses) or go to indysquadron.com and use the forum to communicate with other players.

Introduction to Vassal Dawn Patrol
by Rex Morton
 
 

Vassal Dawn Patrol, or VDP, is the electronic version of the TSR classic World War I air combat game.

The game runs on the Vassal game engine written by Rodney Kinney. It runs on Java making it portable to almost any computer and operating system in the world.

Vassal was originally built in April of 2005 to play Advanced Squad Leader on the computer. Virtual Advanced Squad Leader (aka. VASL) is still the most popular game played on Vassal and is where the name Vassal comes from. The Vassal game engine is basically a program for simulating turn-based, human vs. human board games. It allows you to build a game board, game pieces, cards, dice, and anything else that would be needed to play in a face to face game. However, it allows players to play live over the internet or by email.

Once the Vassal system was completed, players realized that it was not limited simply to Advanced Squad Leader. The basic mechanics of any board game are the same - dice, a board, and a means of moving counters or game pieces on the computer screen. So players began building the game boards and game pieces necessary to play other games... these were soon called "modules." People around the world began building "modules" for hundreds of other games, all of which could be played by using their particular game module with the Vassal engine.

VDP, the Dawn Patrol adaptation module for Vassal, was originally built by George Long in 2006. It featured the classic game board from the seventh edition box set, all the maneuver cards and a basic selection of aircraft counters.

In early 2007, with a renewed interest in online play, it was clear that an update was needed. A new version of VDP was released in April 2007 with an expanded Aircraft counter set and a few game play enhancements. The box set of Dawn Patrol is still required to play VDP. This is because that is the only way to get the rules and all the charts required for play. Luckily copies of the box set are still pretty common on Ebay and not unreasonably priced.

Because of the dedication the staff of the Indy Squadron Dispatch in keeping this site updated, the Indy Squadron site and Forum have become the unofficial home of VDP. So, if you have never played Dawn Patrol before, if you have but no longer have a boxed game, pick up a copy and come join us online. If you have a copy and just lack opponents, then you are ready to start playing right away.

Check out the download and install guide in this section for instructions on how to get Vassal and start playing! So come visit the Indy Squadron Forum and join the growing community of VDP players. Even if its just to chat, we would love to hear from you.