Bonaparte at Marengo is a game of the June 14, 1800 surprise attack of the Austrian army under General Melas against Napoleon Bonaparte's outnumbered and outgunned French army. It is published by Simmons Games. and we present it as a Vassal module with their permission. Please visit the Simmons Games website at http://www.simmonsgames.com/. This Vassal mod was created by Stan Hilinski and John Boone in August 2006.
If you right-click on any unit or marker, you will get a menu just for that piece.
In most block games, your blocks are standing on edge, and only you can see their faces. In a Vassal module, they are facedown when on edge and faceup when they are exposed. When you start a game, Vassal does not automatically assign units to you or your opponent. Instead, you take ownership when you turn blocks facedown. Ownership is linked to your Vassal password, so choose a password (file/edit_preferences) before you begin. Then turn all your blocks facedown by pressing a button on the buttonbar. You will always be able to see the faces of blocks you own even when facedown. Do not turn down your opponent's pieces because you will then own them too.
By default, when you flip a piece facedown, your opponent will be able to still move it, but he will not be able to turn it faceup because you own it. This is fine in real-time play, but it can be a burden in email play. You may allow your opponent to turn your blocks faceup by selecting File/Edit_Preferences/General and checking the box "Opponents can unmask my pieces." Both players should do this. It does compromise security, but it is very convenient when playing by email.
If you play by email, each turn you create a log, which is a snapshot of the current game plus each move you make that turn. You email your log to your opponent as an attachment. When you receive a log, you load into into Vassal (File/Load Game), and then you step through your opponent's moves. You then turn on your log (File/Begin Logfile) and do your turn. When finished, you save your log to email to your opponent (File/End Logfile).
When you start a new game, you should choose a password, which is entered under File / Edit_Preferences.. Next, select File / New Game and choose a side. Press the Flip Austria or Flip France button on the right side of the toolbar. This turns your units face down, and you will see them with a dark border, but your opponent will see solid-color squares. Your button will only flip down your faceup blocks, so you can use it at any time on the main map.
There is a target marker on the map near where the Austrians enter. Use the target marker to point to locales and approaches on the board to indicate battles or other moments of interest. It will save typing in the chat window.
Each player has a private window on the buttonbar. It is a private place where you can drag your blocks and shuffle them. The Austrian player's blocks begin in his private window.
There is a "Blocks" button on the buttonbar that shows a palette of game pieces, but you should have little use for it. To have a block take a casualty, right click on the block and select "Lose step", or "Eliminate" if the block is destroyed. You do not need to substitute blocks as in the real game.
The French have a special setup sequence. See "Help/French Setup" for instructions.
The globe button on the buttonbar temporarily removes units off the board so you can see the terrain beneath.
The markers window contains several markers you may find useful. They have no predefined intent. Use as you choose.