Installation
VASSAL is distributed using Java Web Start. Clicking on this link from
any browser will launch the latest version. If the link doesn't
work, first make sure you've installed Java
1.4.x and then read the notes here before requesting help
via email. On
Windows systems, Web Start will prompt you to create a shortcut on your
desktop for you to run the program without going through a web
browser. On Mac-OS-X/Linux, you can launch VASSAL directly with
the command line $JAVA_HOME/javaws/javaws
http://www.vassalengine.org/ws/vassal.jnlp. VASSAL does not run
on pre-OS-X Macintosh systems.
Installing Modules
Modules files have a .mod filename extension by convention.
Usually they are packaged into Zip files on the web site.
Simply unzip the Zip file and place the module file anywhere.
When running VASSAL, hit "Play Module" and select the module file
to begin.
You can make a shortcut that runs a module without going through the
opening screen with these steps:
- Locator the launch_module.jnlp
file (in the same folder as this README file)
- Make a copy of the file, with a name that still ends in .jnlp.
- Edit the copy with a text editor. Substitute the full name
of your module file for the NAME_OF_MODULE_FILE
text, e.g. C:\Program
Files\VASSAL\zap.mod
- Double-clicking on the new file will launch the module in VASSAL
Module Extensions
Module Extensions contain optional additions to a Module. Module
extension files have a .mdx filename extension by convention.
Extensions are loaded automatically by placing the extension file
into a folder named
XXX_ext in the same location as the Module
file, where
XXX is the name of the module file with no
extension. For example, if the Zap Wars module file is
zap.mod,
extensions should be placed in a folder named
zap_ext.
If you don't want to use a particular extension, just move its
file out of the folder.
Some module launch directly without placing a module file on your system. For those modules, use the "Extensions" tab in the preferences to specify where the extension files should be placed.