Sword and Fire VASL map(s)?

[Jgolch]

I apologize if this has already been addressed. I just got the S&F module yesterday. Why are there two VASL maps for the module. SaF and SaFL?

 

[DougRim]

I believe one has larger hexes than the other.

 

[Tuomo]

Yep, SaFL has larger hexes. Both players need to be using the same map.

 

[PresterJohn]

I am setting up one of the smaller Manila scenarios on the SaFL map and I notice that there is what appears to be a large map redraw/refresh that happens every so often and takes a few seconds for the map to re-appear or start responding. These happen regardless of VASSAL 3.6.7/8 or VASL 6.6.4/5. It seems to happen, not on a timer but on the amount of movement I do on the board as part of the setup, as if a buffer is filling up. Are there settings I can adjust to eliminate this? I have a PC with a goodly amount of RAM to devote to solving the problem if possible.

 

[uckelman]

as if a buffer is filling up

That's exactly what's happening. The image cache has dropped images that you're trying to load. The solution is to increase your max heap.

 

[PresterJohn]

All good now, I increased it to 2GB so designers can bring on more of these big pretty maps.

 

[nicky_longbranch]

Looks like the SaF maps are down as of now? I tried downloading it and the link was broken...

 

[DougRim]

No need to download from vasl.info. Just start a new game in vasl. Click on the board name and it will auto download.

Been that way for several years now. Try to keep up! LOL!

The board name is SaF in the vasl dropdown.

 

[nicky_longbranch]

I know its supposed to work that way, but for whatever reason it won't work. I am a pretty savvy computer user. I build my own Pc's and set up all the software. I've read all the doc on the program but it says it cannot find the boards. I've tried it different way. And its not consistent always. I put Vassal on my wife's PC and it worked fine, downloaded every board I selected to the download folder where I downloaded VASL. But when i tried the same thing on my main PC, it wouldn't work. I've tried selecting different directories etc. In the end I just downloaded all the boards, overlays, and whatever else was needed, set up the directories and everything works fine. As you rightly stated, the SaF Board links work with the auto-select, unfortunately, the board link does not work on the VASL website. Board 77 doesn't work either way. I know the VASL program works great and its just something funky with my machine. I do appreciate the reply though

 

[zgrose]

> ...way, but for whatever reason it won't work. I am a pretty savvy computer user.

If you go to the Error Log in the VASSAL Help menu, it may give you a clue.

Board 77 just came out in Journal #13 and will probably get the digital work up in 2023H1, would be my guess.

 

[PresterJohn]

Is this one of those problems encountered by people who run afoul of Windows (anti-ransomware?) security settings which prevent software auto-saving files in certain locations? One way to avoid this is to install VASSAL into the Documents directory.

 

[DougRim]

I know its supposed to work that way, but for whatever reason it won't work. I am a pretty savvy computer user. I build my own Pc's and set up all the software. I've read all the doc on the program but it says it cannot find the boards. I've tried it different way. And its not consistent always. I put Vassal on my wife's PC and it worked fine, downloaded every board I selected to the download folder where I downloaded VASL. But when i tried the same thing on my main PC, it wouldn't work. I've tried selecting different directories etc. In the end I just downloaded all the boards, overlays, and whatever else was needed, set up the directories and everything works fine. As you rightly stated, the SaF Board links work with the auto-select, unfortunately, the board link does not work on the VASL website. Board 77 doesn't work either way. I know the VASL program works great and its just something funky with my machine. I do appreciate the reply though

The problem is definitely with your machine (or how you are using it). Many, many people have VASL/VASSAL working on PCs without having to do anything special. It just works.

You need to get it sorted because auto-downloading is used to update boards. These get changed more often than you would think and you will run into problems playing opponents if they have the latest board version and you don't.

If you are using Win11 on your machine then it may well be a security protocol. There were a number of instances of that happening over the last year and they were discussed here and on FB as I recall. So you should be able to search GS and see how others solved that problem. Certainly you need your board directory to be under the Documents hierarchy in Windows.

I know that the SaF link on VASL.info doesn't work. But it doesn't need to. Auto-downloading works.

One think to check about auto downloading. Sometimes if the downloading is interrupted by a brief lost network connection then you can end up with a file remnant downloaded into the boards directory. Check your directory. If it shows a bdSaF file, delete it and try the auto-download again. The bdSaF file is big by VASL standards and is perhaps more prone to a lost connection.

 

[apbills]

I can confirm I sometimes get a bad board file downloaded due to a network change, it ends up a 0Kb file for the board name. VASSAL thinks it is there, but it will not load. I do exactly what Doug states - delete the file and let it auto-download again. Seems to work for me. I will say I have VASSAL on my boot drive (an SSD drive), and VASL in my Documents folder (which is on a different mechanical drive). My reasoning for this was for backup purposes - boot drive is imaged; data drive is a simple backup. I will also concede I do not have Windows 11 (hope to remain on W10) and have no idea if it has anything to do with your problems.

 

[PresterJohn]

When I say install VASSAL in the documents Documents, I mean VASSAL modules. The VASSAL application is happy in the Program Files directory.

And remember to double the size of the JVM max heap in VASL preferences for ease of use of the big campaign map.

 

[nicky_longbranch]

I hate to bug you guys but i have no where else to go with this one:
When I selected a board, VASL tried to update the board. I downloaded all these boards manually. The file path to the 'boards' folder is: C:\Program Files\VASSAL-3.6.9\VASLv665\boards

Thanks for any help in advance!

Warm Regards,
Nicholas D

 

[PresterJohn]

I can only suggest that you move your VASSAL modules (and therefore your VASL boards directory) out of the Program Files directory.
It will probably work if you make a Vassal Modules directory in the root of C: drive, or whatever you like, anywhere except Program Files. I thought for my setup I would use my Documents directory because I already had a pile of ASL stuff already saved there.

 

[TopT]

I had the same problem that you are having. I moved my VASSAL Modules out of any of the Program Files directories into the root of my D: Drive and have had no problems since.

 

[uckelman]

Never, ever, ever store data in C:\Program Files. It is not meant for storing data, and doing so will cause exactly the sorts of permissions problems you're seeing. Store data in your user directory. That's what your user directory is for.

 

[nicky_longbranch]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll try reinstalling to a different directory. I did try a fresh install after removing all previous installs and it still did not work (prior to reading this comment). That was to the same folder where Vassal was installed. Once I moved the folder to where the actual VASL module was located to the 'Documents' directory it worked with no issues. Thanks for all the assistance, I really appreciate all of you!

 

[PresterJohn]

Leave the VASSAL directory with the VASSAL executable in Program Files, just so that is clear. It is fine there when you install VASSAL-3.6.10-windows_64.exe using the default settings.

But make another Vassal Data or Vassal Modules or whatever you want to call the directory where you keep the ASL game data and VASL module (and other game modules). So when you download VASL 6.6.* etc, save it into a new directory you have made for your VASSAL modules and game data. Then add it to VASSAL using the File - new module function.