Resurrectng a Classic

[rab46]

Don't know what started this line of thinking, but I got this urge to create a module for the very first war board game I ever bought. So I dusted my 50 year old copy of Milton Bradley's Dogfight off and scanned everything in. I've played a couple of games solo and it brought back a lot of memories. If anyone's interested I would be happy to share the media file. I might even be tempted to try playing on line if anyone had any interest since it plays pretty quickly.

[heruca]

Always cool to see someone putting one of my programs to good use!

How much time do you think you spent putting this together in BGE? (as opposed to scanning and gathering images)

[rab46]

Getting the images scanned and prepped took 3 hours but I am really particular about getting the various pieces of maps stitched together. Putting the module together was 30 minutes. I spent another 30 minutes experimenting with mini's versus components for the aircraft. I ended up using mini's because a base is part of the game mechanics so it fit pretty well.

I just finished an Old School Tactical module and have taught myself the rules by playing solo. Usually I can find a Vassal module that has the graphics already prepared which cuts down on image prep. With games that have multiple scenarios I create a "base" game and save it as a template for scenario creation. The module and base game for OST took me 4 hours. Creating and saving a scenario for play takes about 30 minutes after that. But once I have the scenario created and saved I can replay it repeatedly by saving games in progress with a different name.

[heruca]

That's pretty quick! Did you find any use for the Labels feature that Minis enjoy?

How's OST? Good game?

But once I have the scenario created and saved I can replay it repeatedly by saving games in progress with a different name.

Yeah, that's the way to do it.

[rab46]

I've looked at the label feature a few times. I don't like having to uncheck one item, then reopening the contextual menu to check the new item. It's too much clicking for me. I would prefer to just open the menu, select the new item and have it automatically uncheck the old selection in that heading before automatically closing the menu. Guess you could hold the menu open until the user manually closed it too.

I really like OST. I purchased the eastern theater (Vol. 1) PDF print an play. Then I ported the Vassal graphics over and started playing. I've only played the first few scenarios. What I like is that most of the scenarios have a low unit density counter and the rules are pretty straight forward so they play pretty quickly. I enjoyed it so much that I pledged on the Vol. 1 reprint Kickstarter that just ended. In addition to the hard copy of the game I got a lot of other items and some stretch goal stuff. I probably spent more than I should have, but I just couldn't resist!

Another module I've created and play a lot is Retro, from Minden Games. It's a stream lined ASL, kind of an ASL lite. Even with rather high unit counter densities and simplified rules the scenarios play quick because I'm not constantly looking up rules minutia. This scratches my ASL itch.

[heruca]

I've looked at the label feature a few times. I don't like having to uncheck one item, then reopening the contextual menu to check the new item. It's too much clicking for me. I would prefer to just open the menu, select the new item and have it automatically uncheck the old selection in that heading before automatically closing the menu. Guess you could hold the menu open until the user manually closed it too.

The way it works was by design, since labels/conditions are meant to stack, but I can probably add a means of making labels modal, such that when you turn one on, all others are turned off automatically, greatly reducing the number of clicks required (and the annoyance factor).

[rab46]

I figured as much. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I would find the modal label arrangement to be much more useful.

[heruca]

I'll see if I can squeeze it in for BGE v1.8.

[rab46]

That would be great!

[heruca]

Done. As of BGE v1.8, you can edit the "Labels.txt" file and place an asterisk (*) as the first character of any label. BGE will make such labels disable all other active labels when selected, (ie, it replaces the prior label/s when you select an asterisked label). The asterisk itself will never be displayed in BGE.

[rab46]

Wonderful, an asterisk as a label modal flag. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks.