Dawn Patrol with VASSAL

Kirk · 15 July 2004, 07:27 AM

If anybody out there is interested, I'm trying to get people started playing Dawn Patrol using the VASSAL game system. A Dawn Patrol module was created a couple years ago but was never pursued because at the time there was already a way to play the game online. Sadly, the webgames died out because the one person that needed to moderate them simply couldn't keep up with the demand. With VASSAL any group of people can get together and play the game online without any need for a moderator. If I can get things going, a lot of us may be able to enjoy DP without having to drive a dozen hours to somebody's house to do so. If you're interested, here are a couple websites to download the required files.

http://www.vassalengine.org - You'll need to go here to get VASSAL itself.

http://www.vassalengine.org/DawnPatrol/index.html - you need to go here to get the Dawn Patrol VASSAL module.

http://www.java.com/en/index.jsp - You need to go here to download and install the necessary Java system.

Download the required files, get online, and you could be playing Dawn Patrol against a group of live, bloodthirsty WWI pilots.

Kirk · 19 July 2004, 02:53 PM

Last night two of us had a fun battle with DP via VASSAL.

The Setting: The Western Front, September 1918.

The Combatants: Two Sopwith Camel 130's vs a Fokker DVII (185) and a Pfalz DXII.

The battle starts with the Germans gaining the upper hand, however in quick succession both guns on the Fokker jam, leaving it useless. The battle then revolves around the Camels trying to wrestle with the Pfalz while the Fokker tries to act as a decoy to divide the Sopwiths fire. In the end both sides limp home. The Germans have a badly shot up Pfalz and the Brits have a severely wounded Camel and another that will need some repairs.

All in all a very fun game. I'm looking forward to our next battle which will occur in a week or so. The good thing is, anyone can play. You don't need to be a FITS member. You don't need to be in a club or society. All you need is a copy of Dawn Patrol and the few files mentioned in the message above. If you have a copy of Dawn Patrol but have always been frustrated by a lack of opponents, join in and have a go with us. You'll have a great time.

Ross_Moorhouse · 20 July 2004, 01:05 AM

I am so glad you are using this sytem. its great for Squad Leader. If I had the game I would be up for a game. But I don't.

albatros · 22 July 2004, 06:24 PM

Kirk,

I'm up for it. Yes, I miss the fact Mr. Noddings couldn't keep moderating the web games. Hope to see you in the skies soon...better watch your six!

albatros · 22 July 2004, 06:26 PM

Kirk,

I'm up for it. Yes, I miss the fact Mr. Noddings couldn't keep moderating the web games. Hope to see you in the skies soon...better watch your six!

Kirk · 26 July 2004, 08:48 AM

albatros - I tried to send you an e-mail, but it bounced back to me. I'm putting together a DP game using VASSAL for later this week and I'd like to include you if you want to play. If you're (or anyone else is) interested, drop me an e-mail at hoffmanfamily@mindspring.com and I'll include you on any future mailings. What I'd eventually like to do is put together a list of DP players that play via VASSAL that could possibly be posted somewhere - maybe at the Indy Squadron site or possibly here. Then anyone that wants to play a game would have a list of willing participants waiting for him.

Kirk · 30 July 2004, 04:10 PM

For anyone interested, our next Dawn Patrol game using the VASSAL online game program is scheduled for Monday, August 2nd, at 9PM Eastern time. If you've downloaded the files listed a few messages above this one and would like to give it a try, you're more than welcome. We're all fairly new at this so don't feel intimidated. Don't think you'll be joining a game with a bunch of seasoned vets that are aching to smoke your tail feathers. We ARE aching to smoke your tail feathers - we're just not very good at it yet.

Hope to see you this Monday at 9. Just go to the VASSAL main room and look for the Dawn Patrol room.

albatros · 30 July 2004, 08:17 PM

Kirk,

Sorry 'bout that! Have to re-activate my account. Can't join you Monday but let me know the next time you get aloft. Thanks!

Regards,

Albatros

Kirk · 3 August 2004, 06:19 AM

Well last night we had another fun game with DP using VASSAL. Once again I rolled up a late war scenario so we had two BMW engined Fokker DVII's pitted against a pair of American SPAD XIII's. The two Fokkers got the upper hand early but some skillful seat of the pants aviating by the flying doughboys saw them wriggle free. Unfortunately the SPADs were either too shot up or suffering from jammed guns to do any damage to the Hun machines. All in all a very fun time.

Our next online game is scheduled for this Thursday (August 5) at 9PM eastern time. We had a couple visitors last night and one remarked at how great the DP module looked on VASSAL. He said he is going to dig out his 15 year old copy of Dawn Patrol and join us on Thursday. We welcome him and anyone else that might want to check us out. The more the merrier.

On a sidenote, for anyone interested in DP with VASSAL, I'm putting together a list of people that enjoy playing the game this way. It'll include name, e-mail address, time zone, preferred playing times, and level of experience. Then once we get it circulating we can have a database of opponents to choose from any time any one of us wants to play a game. Please drop me an e-mail at hoffmanfamily@mindspring.com if you'd like to be added to the list.

Hope to see you all in the Dawn Patrol room this Thursday evening.

Kirk · 6 August 2004, 06:45 AM

Well another game of Dawn Patrol was played online last night using the VASSAL game system. For the first time we had four players so it was an official game. Two French SPAD XIII's took on an Albatros DVa and a Fokker Triplane. The German planes grabbed the upper hand early, but the SPADs turned the tables after a couple turns. After only six game turns the Fokker made a surprise dash for the clouds and escaped, followed by his now outnumbered wingman. As it turned out the Fokker suffered a critical hit that damaged both its guns. It was a fun game that ended too early. One of the fun aspects of Dawn Patrol is the fact you can become attached to your fictional pilots and in that way have a tendency to make them behave more realistically than with other wargames.

The next online game will be this Sunday, August 8th, at 8PM (Eastern). We're hoping for four or more players again so we can play another "official" game. Join us if you'd like to have a fun evening of WWI gaming and cameraderie.