Man Battlestations Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Charbe86 on September 13, 2016, 10:35:14 pm

Title: Playing long distance
Post by: Charbe86 on September 13, 2016, 10:35:14 pm

A few years ago i had to move for work, and since then I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find a way to play miniatures games with my old gaming friends.  Can anyone suggest a tool or method that would make playing at a distance possible, and preferably easy?

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Ruckdog on September 14, 2016, 10:04:24 am

There are a couple of options that I'm aware of. The first is Vassal, which is a free to use set up that creates a virtual 2-D tabletop where  you can move models, roll dice, etc. There are various "modules" that you can load for various games; a few of us here on the MBS forums have been using it to run a Battlefleet Gothic campaign the last few months. These modules are all fan-made and supported (sort of like the data files for LoneWolf's Army Builder). However, they don't have modules for all the games out there, and some of the modules (like the BFG or FSA ones) haven't been updated in a while. There are some bugs, and the controls are a bit clunky, but hey, it's free!

The other option is a game called Tabletop Simulator, which you can find on Steam. This game has full 3-D graphics, but otherwise works on a similar model as Vassal. I know that there is a Halo Fleet Battles module for it, not sure about the rest of the Spartan Games. Another downside is that you have to buy the base game.

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Quickdraw on September 14, 2016, 10:11:09 am

A few years back I used to play 40K on vassal fairly regularly and it worked alright.

I think that it's worth looking into. If you can convince two or three buddies to learn it at the same time as you it would definitely be worth it. I would say the mechanics, while simple, are not intuitive.

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Charbe86 on September 14, 2016, 05:15:20 pm

Thanks very much for that, I'll give them a go. 

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Ruckdog on September 15, 2016, 07:11:57 pm

Let us know what you think! It looks like our BFG campaign may be winding down for now, but who knows, we may start another one this winter.

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Charbe86 on September 16, 2016, 12:56:56 am

Could you please tell me where you got the module for that, GW seem to have shut down all the links I've found?

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Ruckdog on September 18, 2016, 10:46:33 pm

Sure! Here is where I got it from:

https://www.mediafire.com/?b6jjyf1ph7sgm

It's the file marked VBFG 2.2.

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Charbe86 on September 19, 2016, 04:03:06 am

Thanks, I don't suppose anyone knows where to find the Mordhiem one, my google-fu has let me down. 

Title: Re: Playing long distance
Post by: Ruckdog on September 21, 2016, 09:40:01 am

Quote from: Charbe86 on September 19, 2016, 04:03:06 am

Thanks, I don't suppose anyone knows where to find the Mordhiem one, my google-fu has let me down.

Not sure on that one, sorry. You could try the Specialist Games Forums:

http://www.forum.specialist-arms.com/