Using the GD40 VASSAL Module
- The map can be zoomed in & out w/F1 and F2; there are also dice hotkeys (check the tooltips).
- Double click a stack of pieces to expand it; select / deselect w/CTL-click. You can also draw a box around an area of the map to select all units therein.
- Game pieces have a menu which can be accessed via right-clicking on the piece; all menu choices have an associated "hot-key" sequence. Actions affecting the counter directly are prefaced with the CTL key; those adding a new counter or overlay or otherwise transforming the piece are prefaced with ALT (though on Macs YMMV). Some counters, like smoke or "ELEV" markers, underlie the other game pieces; select these with Shift-click.
- All counters can be cloned & deleted (although units should generally be "Killed" (CTL-K) when eliminated during play - see below). Most game pieces can be made invisible, if the players wish to enhance their "Fog of War" experience, though this is not meticulously implemented at this time. Counters generally can be "Labeled" (CTL-L); this very useful feature can be used in a variety of ways - noting vehicle impulses, AT shots that disqualify units from further SFA but don't mark them "Fired", and so forth.
- Units are marked when they move; to access their point-by-point movement trail, do CTL-T.
- Units can be dug in (ALT-D or ALT-N for "Not Dug In"), though it is perhaps unlikely in GD40. To apply losses to units with more than one step, use ALT-L. You can also drop markers directly on units if desired - though it's recommended that the players take advantage of VASSAL's ability to reduce counter density in this and other cases.
- To mark a unit "Fired", use ALT-F. Again, the old-school counter can be used (see Pieces->Markers->Old), but this will actually inhibit cleanup during the player's Action Phase (see below).
- To invoke morale effects on units subject to them, use ALT-S or ALT-P to suppress or paralyze; the counters will be dropped in place. These counters can also transform into one another.
- AFVs can button up for those using the 3.1 rules (or just using Buttoned Up as an optional rule in 4.0). Again, this can be done with the full-size oldschool counter or as an overlay to the unit.
- "Kill"ing a unit (CTL-K) sends it to the player's battalion morale sheet, whereas "Deleting" it (CTL-D) actually removes it completely from play. Markers are removed with CTL-X to avoid unintentional deletion of units.
- Automated LOS checking is not currently available; however, players can use the "ELEV" marker to note elevations for hexes as they're needed (computing elevation for the same hex repeatedly is a drag!).
- Smoke and Illum effects are available from Pieces->Markers->Pyro; areas of effect can be shown for the players' edification. Artillery smoke missions can be transformed into the appropriate smoke counter at a click. Cleanup of these counters is automated in the appropriate phase (see below).
- Bookeeping in the Artillery, (both) Action and Cleanup phases is automated through keys accessed via the Map Window. Mouseover to read the tooltips associated with these actions.