Bobby Lee is a game of the eastern theater of American Civil War. It was designed by Tom Dalgliesh, and it is published by Columbia Games. Bobby Lee is owned and copyrighted by Columbia Games, and we present it as a Vassal mod with their permission. Please visit the Columbia website at http://www.columbiagames.com/. You can find there the latest rules and a forum to answer your questions. They sell a whole line of block games, and if you enjoy this one, you owe it to them to buy a real copy!
If you right-click on any unit or marker, you will get a menu just for that piece. Most markers can be flipped over to a reverse side.
When you start a game, all you blocks are visible to your opponent. Press your "hide" button on the toolbar to stand your blocks upright. You can use your button any time during the game.
If you play by email, you may find it a nuisance to have to wait for your opponent to reveal his blocks. You may allow your opponent to turn your blocks faceup by selecting File/Preferences/General and checking the box "Opponents can unmask my pieces." It does compromise security, but it is very convenient when playing by email.
Each player has a private window that contains his spare blocks and initiative cards. To bid, flip a card facedown and drag a card to the main map. Your opponent may play a card too, or he may simply type his number in the chat window after you play yours.
The USA and CSA buttons opens the replacement pool windows. Eliminated units will move to the appropriate replacement window. To remove a block from the game, move it to some corner in the replacement window.
Each unit has a disruption and force march item on its right-click menu, which marks that unit (or unmarks it). You aren't required to use these features, but it may help you remember the state of your troops. If you eliminate a unit, it will send it to your replacement pool.
The markers window and the battleboard contain various markers you may find useful. Most have a
reverse side, which you can expose with a right mouse click.
Use the battle marker to mark battle areas.
Use the red 1-3 markers to temporarily mark hits.
Use the butternut and blue dots to mark border control. Just drag one onto a border.
Use the target markers to designate firing units.
Use the green number markers to keep track of your build points. You can increase or decrease a marker value with a right-click.
This game supports solitaire play. You must start a scenario as the "solo" player. Then you can use the "hide" buttons on the buttonbar to hide either side's units. The buttons will not operate unless you choose the "solo" side.
To run a battle, put a battle marker on the battle hex and move all units to the battle board. The battleboard has markers to track battle progress. If you need more, drag them from the Markers window or right-click and clone a marker.
You may use the three red dots to mark hits. You can clone each one to make more.
Use the target marker to indicate the current firing unit.
There are no hard rules on how you use the markers in this game; use them as you need them.