Sam Grant is a game of the western theater of American Civil War. Sam Grant 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. Each military block has a properties item that tells you important things about that unit.
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 either on the buttonbar or an order of battle window depending on the game. 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 move a block, it will show a yellow border to remind you that you moved it. You can turn the border off or on (a toggle switch) by choosing the appropriate right-click command. Press the right-most button on the toolbar to clear all yellow borders. You may enable the "mark moved" feature in File / Edit_Preferences / General.
When you start a game, the first thing you must do is to press the "Flip USA" or "Flip CSA" button on the right side of the toolbar. This flips your faceup units face down, and you will see them with a 3D 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.
I recommend that you press your "Flip USA" or "Flip CSA" button at the conclusion of every turn to ensure all your units are facedown. It is easy to forget!
Each player has a private window that contains his spare blocks and initiative cards. The cards are facedown when you see the card back icon in the corner. (Your opponent will see only the card back and not the card face.) Drag and drop a card to the initiative window to play the card. Your opponent may play a card too, or he may simply type his number in the chat window after you play yours. Return the cards to your private window by either dragging them there or pressing the button in the initiative window. Each card can also rotate through different values. Right-click one and increase or decrease the card value.
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 obvious place in the replacement window, and turn it face down.
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. The elimination selection will send your unit to your replacement pool.
The markers window contains various markers you may find useful. Most have a
reverse side, which you can expose with a right mouse click.
Use the numbered battle markers to mark battle areas.
Use the red 1-3 markers to temporarily mark hits.
Use the grey and blue dots to mark border control. Just drag one onto a border.
Use the target markers to designate firing units.
The charts button opens the charts windows, where you can find useful information. I have tried to add information on these charts that is not on the originals.
There are setups for 1862, 1863, and 1864. One player chooses one to begin the game by selecting the scenarios item under "file." The "notes" button (the white box button) shows additional information about each scenario if appropriate.
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.
There are three battleboards, so you may run more than one battle at a time. To run a battle, put a battle marker on the battle hex and move all units to the battle board. Each battleboard has markers to track battle progress. If you need more, drag them from the Markers window or right-click and clone a marker.
The battle turn marker is on the main game board.
The three red dots may be used to temporarily 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.
Each player must flip his units face up at the appropriate time. It's easy to forget! As always, do not turn enemy units face down.
Use a right-click command on a unit to take casualties or to kill it.
When combat is done, move the units back to the board. Don't forget to turn your troops face down. You may store the battle marker in the battleboard window.