Vassal (game engine)
 | |
| Developer(s) | The Vassal Team. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2002 |
| Stable release | 3.5.0
/ January 31, 2021 |
| Repository | |
| Written in | Java |
| Operating system | Any |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Available in | Multilingual (English and 6 other languages) |
| Type | Game engine |
| License | GNU LGPLv2+ |
| Website | www.vassalengine.org |
The Vassal Engine is a game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games, tabletop games and card games. It allows users to play in real time over a live Internet connection, and also by email (PbeM). It runs on all platforms, and is free, open-source software. For example, there is a Star Wars Miniatures module, where players can play with up to three others in a digital replica of the table-top game.
It is written in Java and the source code is available from GitHub under the LGPL open source license.[1]
History
Vassal began as VASL (Virtual Advanced Squad Leader), an application for playing Advanced Squad Leader.[2]
Available modules
Vassal modules exist for over 1000 games, some of which are listed here. A more comprehensive, but not exhaustive, list of modules exists on the Vassal module site list.
Tabletops
- Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game Presently the most commonly played Vassal module, with over 30% of total traffic.[3]
- V40k, a Warhammer 40,000 module.
- Star Wars: Armada
- Warmachine and Hordes[4]
- Malifaux
- Battlefleet Gothic[5]
Boardgames
- Advanced Squad Leader (VASL)
- Twilight Struggle
- Monopoly
- Diplomacy
- HeroQuest
- Pandemic
- Space Hulk
- Shadows over Camelot[6]
- Memoir 44
- Victory in the Pacific
- World in Flames
- Gloomhaven
Card games
Copyright and licensing
In September 2008, Games Workshop issued a cease-and-desist order regarding V40k to Tim Davis, the team leader at that time.[9] The module is still played.
Games Workshop has also issued a cease-and-desist order regarding Space Hulk.
Similar projects
Similar engines for making board games include ZunTzu[10] and Boardgame.io.[11]
References
- ^ Official Vassal Website
- ^ R.Flaibani. "The Master and His Vassal". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ http://www.vassalengine.org/status.php?when=month
- ^ Warmachine&Hordes Vassal Module Download
- ^ Download Source for Battlefleet Gothic Module
- ^ Module Shadows over Camelot Download
- ^ Playing Cards
- ^ Module Site
- ^ GW V40k Legal Action
- ^ http://www.zuntzu.com/
- ^ http://boardgame.io
