• Registered: 2008-11-30
  • Posts: 79

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

I am very impressed by what I have seen of this so far and it is tempting me back into Vassal.

I have a couple of questions on this if I may:

Will you be able to use the Iron Stars cross-over ships and rules with the Vassal module (i.e. are the ships going to be pre-loaded in the module or easily added to it by players)?
Given that the offical ships for the various settings appear to have already been created as computer art, is it not possible to "morph" them into counters for Vassal so that we can play with ships that look like the "real thing" as it were, and players can then use thedugan's excellent new counters for their own designs of ships?

Thanks

  • Registered: 2007-12-17
  • Posts: 331

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

We don't have Iron Stars or Dreadnoughts in the module right now. Dugan and I have discussed the possibility of doing that later on. It won't take too much from me except plugging in any art that Dugan gives me, so if he has time it could very well happen.

I'm not sure who holds the art renders for the official ships. Clearly, MJ12 would have to approve its use in the Vassal module. I think Dugan did some or all of that art for them. Maybe it could be done. It certainly wouldn't be dramatically difficult to add it, if I had the approval and 2d top-down images of the ships.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

MadSeason wrote:

We don't have Iron Stars or Dreadnoughts in the module right now. Dugan and I have discussed the possibility of doing that later on. It won't take too much from me except plugging in any art that Dugan gives me, so if he has time it could very well happen.

I'm not sure who holds the art renders for the official ships. Clearly, MJ12 would have to approve its use in the Vassal module. I think Dugan did some or all of that art for them. Maybe it could be done. It certainly wouldn't be dramatically difficult to add it, if I had the approval and 2d top-down images of the ships.

Yeah, I did all the Aethership design for Iron Stars, but it's in the same state as the artwork from any of the other MJ12 'oficials'...Dan would have to okay it. I have physical possession of the files, but Dan holds the copyright to anything showing up in the books.

I *could* do some unofficial aetherships, but I'm busy doing a project right now, and also having computer issues. Also bear in mind that Aether ships are a much narrower niche than starships. Starships are easy....aetherships would take longer, and I don't have a lot of spare models floating around - unlike the starships I did for the VASSAL mod. A lot of those were ships that I adapted from unused stuff I had sitting on my hard drive. I just 'purtied them up a bit'....
smile

  • Registered: 2008-01-08
  • Posts: 52

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

What if one of the things you bought when you buy a starmada supplement was a set of ship counters for use with the VASSAL mod?

  • Registered: 2007-12-17
  • Posts: 331

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

A quick update. I sent Dan a copy of what I will call my "release candidate". Once he has a chance to look it over and approve it, I should be ready to post it.

Of course, this assumes I have time today to finish my PBEM guide.  :!:

Dan, if you're reading this: You've got mail!

Just not from Meg Ryan. Or Tom Hanks, either.

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

Publisher's Clearing House, maybe?

  • Registered: 2008-12-22
  • Posts: 654

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

Lsutehall wrote:

What if one of the things you bought when you buy a starmada supplement was a set of ship counters for use with the VASSAL mod?

That would be cool. Dan already has counters posted on the MJ12 in the "stuff" zips website right? So in essence he is giving them away to anybody and everybody that happens bye and wants to download them, whether they have the game or not. All that would be needed would be to provide top down counters instead of the tent-type ones and "vassalize" them...wait, that sounds a little dirty  :oops:
You still need the rules to play the game, so if MJ12 owns the artwork I for one don't see the harm in providing them, especially if the Vassal module gets the official seal of approval from Cricket. Maybe I'm being naive about something, but I hope they can be included in the final version of the module.
Cheers,
Erik

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

If Dan gives me the go-ahead for any Starmada or Iron Stars ships, I'll render some top-down, lower-res stuff for VASSAL. I'd give Dan some time, he's likely got to mull over just how far he'd want to go with this, and the possible future uses and ramifications of such a move. He's also doing work of one sort or another on at least three games right now.
wink

I can't do anything with the 'official' stuff without Dan's say so.

  • Registered: 2007-12-17
  • Posts: 331

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

Quick update: Dan has given the okay to post the Vassal Mod as-is!  big_smile  I am finishing the guide for using the module and will post both tomorrow. Yeah!
:mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

Hot diggety! Yeah you guys!  big_smile

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,424

Re: Vassal Mod Update - PBEM

Cool..... 8-)