Installing Vassal & VASL

Purpose: To teach players how to install the Vassal Engine and the VASL module for playing Advanced Squad Leader online or offline, against anyone, anywhere! I have a video of this, but sometimes people prefer written rules. So here it is.

So, hello fellow ASLers and future VASL’er! Welcome to a beginner’s guide to installing and using the Vassal Engine to play Advanced Squad Leader online.

Vassal/VASL are not substitutes for the actual game. It has no scenarios or AI. These tools are meant for players who own the game/scenarios, know the rules, and want to play solo or against another player online.

All right, let’s keep moving.

Many ASL players mix up and misuse the terms “Vassal” and “VASL,” mainly because they sound the same…but they are two entirely different things. Let’s make sure the understanding of these terms is clear before starting.

Vassal Engine: Vassal originally started out as VASL (Virtual Advanced Squad Leader) way back in 1996. But by 2002, it became apparent that the engine could be (and should be) adapted to accommodate any board game. Thus, Vassal was spun off as its own thing, and VASL continued on as a game module that worked within Vassal. So all those hundreds of other game modules have Advanced Squad Leader to thank for pioneering this system, allowing people to play all kinds of board games (from Monopoly to Risk to Roborally to Yahtzee to ASL) online!

VASL: This is the Virtual Advanced Squad Leader module. This module, and hundreds of others for other games, runs on top of the Vassal Engine, which manages the modules and allows people to play against one another anywhere in the world. Every month 6000+ sessions of VASL are registered on the server, making it by far the most popular Vassal game module.

Here’s how I like to imagine it. The Vassal Engine is a large game table created explicitly for playing games. Each module that runs on Vassal is a game box with all the pieces and charts needed to play a specific game. When you fire up Vassal you are grabbing a seat at the gaming table. When you load a game module within Vassal you’re opening the box and setting up that specific game on the table.

So, let’s play!

But there are a few steps that need to be taken. First, let’s get the table set up (Vassal). Then, let’s go grab the game (VASL) and throw it on the table!

STEP 1: Install Java (optional!)

Vassal Engine is built on Java, but the good news is you don’t have to install a separate version of Java if you don’t want to. Why? Each version of the Vassal Engine comes with its own Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which is installed with it. The developers do this to ensure that every version of Vassal and the JRE it’s combined with are rock solid.

So if you’re fine with letting Vassal manage its own JRE needs, you can safely skip to Step 2.

• More info: https://www.java.com

Instructions:

1. Go to https://www.java.com
2. Click Download Java for Desktops.
3. Follow the installation prompts.
4. Java will install itself to a default location and configure your system so Java applications can run automatically.

You only need the standard Java Runtime — no advanced configuration required.

STEP 2: Install the Vassal Engine

The Vassal Engine is the core platform that runs game modules like VASL.

• More info: https://www.vassalengine.org

Instructions:

1. Go to https://www.vassalengine.org/download
2. Pick the OS you need (Windows, macOS, and Linux are supported).
3. Click the link to download the most recent version.
4. Run the installer.
5. Choose a directory.
6. Place a shortcut on your Desktop or Start Menu if desired.
7. Complete installation.
8. Launch Vassal.

STEP 3: Download and Install the VASL Module

As previously stated, VASL is the module that allows you to play Advanced Squad Leader using the Vassal Engine. Now that you have the game table (Vassal) set up, you need to go grab the game (VASL).

• More info: https://vasl.info (The VASL module has its own dedicated website)

Instructions:

1. Go to https://vasl.info/download.htm
2. Click on the version you want to download. Note: at the bottom of each download version pay close attention to the Vassal Engine version dependency. Always try to use the Vassal version that the VASL module was released for. The larger the deviation in the Vassal module you use to run VASL, the higher the probability of having bugs or compatibility problems when connecting with other players using different versions.
3. Download the latest VASL module (it’s always the first listed) and save it anywhere. I recommend a folder where all your VASL-related files will reside, but it can be on any drive. I do not recommend using any kind of cloud service. Save it locally if possible.
4. That’s it! It’s one file, and no installation is required. But it still needs to be loaded into the Vassal Engine.

STEP 4: Load the VASL Module into Vassal

In order to play any game, you first need to launch Vassal, then launch the game module. To do this, we need to load it and set it up in Vassal. You only need to do this once, unless you install a new version of Vassal, or download a newer VASL module version. If that should happen, just redo the steps in this tutorial and you’ll be up and running in minutes.

You can have multiple versions of VASL modules loaded in Vassal.

Instructions:

1. Launch the Vassal Engine.
2. Click File > Open Module.

3. 

4. Navigate to and select your VASL file. Example: vasl-6.7.0.vmod file.
5. Vassal will process and load the module (building assets from the .vmod file).
6. After installation, it will appear on your Vassal home screen.

7. 

8. From now on, double-click that module in Vassal to launch VASL, or any other game you want to put on the table!

9. 

STEP 5: Configuring VASL

Now that you have everything installed, there’s still one more step: making a few configuration changes within VASL so it can find everything it’s looking for each time you launch it, such as board files and custom extensions.

Instructions:

1. If it’s not running already, launch the Vassal Engine and open the VASL module by double-clicking on it in the Vassal module list. Give VASL a few seconds to load.
2. You don’t have any scenario setups (yet) or boards or extensions, so you’ll need to configure where to store that stuff so VASL can find it next time you launch it.
3. Choose: Start a New Game Offline
4. Click Next
5. Go to Select board and select Geoboard 01. It may or may not load; that’s okay. We just need to get into VASL to change some preferences.

6. 

7. Okay, now you should be in VASL, possibly with ASL board 1 staring you in the face. Now, let’s configure VASL to tell it where the board and extension files will be stored.
8. In the VASL menu pick File > Preferences.
9.  After the Preferences window pops up, navigate to the VASL tab at the top center.
10. Then find the Board Directory field, about 5 down.

11. 

12. Select where you want VASL to store the board files. I recommend simply creating a folder called “boards” in the same folder you stored your VASL module file (the .vmod file).
13. Select and/or create the folder, then return to the Preferences window.
14. Next, navigate to the Extensions tab, all the way to the right.

15. 

16. Pick where you want VASL to find any extensions you download (extensions are custom “quality of life” mods that other players have created). I recommend this one!! https://asl-players.net/downloads/mods/neals-vasl-charts-v1-7.vmdx Once configured, any extensions you place in that folder will automatically load every time you open the VASL module. The link I provided above is to my custom ASL charts made just for VASL. Download it and put it in your new “extensions” folder. Next time you pull up the default VASL charts, you should see a new tab.
17. Next, let’s set your username and password. Your username will be displayed on the server whenever you connect to it, and the password will be used as security to do things like keep your hidden units hidden from everyone but you.
18. Navigate to the Personal tab. Enter a Name and Password. Use a name that friends will recognize on the server (or something completely anonymous, your choice). Use a password you can remember (or write it down somewhere). If, for some reason, you change your password, then later open a previous save file that used a different password, you won’t see your hidden units, etc, because the game will think you aren’t the owner of any of the game pieces.
19. 
20. Ok, we’re done with the major Preferences. Close the Preferences window. You can play with all the other settings later, we’ve taken care of the three most important ones.
21. To test things out, go here (https://asl-players.net/advanced-squad-leader-files-vsav) and download a pre-made scenario setup. Pick one, any one. Once downloaded, open it in VASL by going File > Load Game or Log and picking the file. If everything goes smoothly, you should see a scenario all set up and ready to play!

Summary & What’s Next

You’re done soldier! You’re now ready to start setting up scenario files and playing games of Advanced Squad Leader over the internet. The process is similar to playing face-to-face.

1. Go to the table (open Vassal)
2. Open the box to access the board, counters, charts (launch the VASL module)
3. Start setting up a game:
   1. Laying out the boards.
   2. Pulling counters for the OBs.
   3. Setting up scenario tracking counters like turn, wind, ECs, etc.
4. Connect to the server.
   1. Create a room.
   2. Invite people over (join the room and game).
5. Start rolling (virtual) dice!!

But let’s save those topics for future articles. In the meantime, here’s a game of ASL in progress, played against an opponent states (or oceans) away. Seamlessly using Discord voice chat and sharing ASL awesomeness via VASL!

Now, if you’re really impatient and can’t wait for more writeups, I have your back. I spent months creating VASL tutorial videos during the Covidtimes to help people stay connected to play ASL. You can watch the VASL Video Series I created on Youtube.

If you have any questions, post them in the comments below.

Academy Out!

GET TO THE CHOPPA…!!!

These Articles Might Interest You

VASL101 – Lesson 00 – Course Outline VASL101 – Lesson 01 – Installation VASL101 – Lesson 02 – Basic Board Setup VASL101 – Lesson 03 – Starting Your First Scenario VASL101 – Lesson 04 – Cropping Your Boards VASL101 – Lesson 05 – Placing Overlays VASL101 – Lesson 05a – Advanced Overlays Extension VASL101 – Lesson 06 – Transforming Terrain