A.2.1 - TBK Base Module

In order to play TBK, you'll need to load the base module and a map file extension. The base module by itself will run just fine but you won't be able to play a game with it as the maps will be missing and incomplete.

One of the nice features of TBK is that the combination of the module and the map file extension changes some of the map layouts thereby creating a new environment every time you play it. Between that and the literally billions of combinations of things that can occur during the game makes it infinitely re-playable.

Whenever I release a new version package, I'll include 2 map files for that version. Additional map files will be made available on the To Be King Main Page. Unless something really needs to be fixed, I'll wait at least 3 months before releasing new versions of the game so there won't be a constant flood of versions changes. The current bugs list and their statis can be found on the To Be King forum.

What I have here is a folder I've created on my computer and I've placed a version of the game along with 3 map files in that folder. The game module's filename ends with .vmod (Vassal Module) and the map extension files end with .vmdx (Vassal Module Extension). I've also created a "Saved" folder for later.

The TBK package that you unzipped into a new directory probably looks similar to this. As you'll note, the filenames for the .vmdx map files include the version of TBK they were made for. This is because the game will not run properly if you attempt to load a map extension into a base module not made for it.

Open the Vassal engine and you'll be presented with your Module Library. If this is the first time you've run Vassal, it will look like this:

Anytime you run a new Vassal module, it will list itself here so that you'll have a library of modules you've used in the past. If you want to remove any module from the library, right-click it and select "Remove". It may take some time to remove it as it clears a graphics cache that it created for the module. Note that this will only remove it from your module library. The actual module file will remain on your computer.

To start, I would suggest loading just the base module first so that we can adjust a couple of internal properties and get it listed in your Vassal Module Library. Click File -> Open Module and browse to the TBK_(version number).vmod file. It's ok if you're version of TBK is different, they all work the same way.

Since this is the first time you've opened the module, Vassal creates a graphics cache for it which will take a few moments to process.

When it's done processing graphics, it will display the title screen known as the Start Wizard. For now, select "Start new game offline" and click "Next"

If this is the first time you've used Vassal, it will now ask for a Nickname and password.

This simply establishes your player name that will appear in games and the password simply prevents someone else from taking over your player side in a game so, keep it simple and easy to remember. Then click "Next".

This screen allows you to choose your player side in a game. In the case of TBK, you'll be selecting a clan that you're a member of. For this initial start up, though, just leave it as "Observer", then "Finish". This will bring up the main chat window interface. It may take a few moments to load up but once it's done, you'll see a chat window, with control icons, and a Shields window with a "New Round" button in it. These windows may be a different size and located differently on your display. That's ok. You can make adjustments later.

Click File -> Preferences. Under the 'General' tab, you'll see the following:

Insure that the "Use combined application window" is NOT checked. The game uses a lot of windows and I've found it's better to keep them independent.

Make sure that "Center on opponent's moves" is NOT checked. Otherwise, you'll find the map constantly shifting around every time someone selects or moves their token or something else.

I would set "JVM Maximum Heap" to 2048 (2 gigs) if you can devote that much memory and, if you have 6 gigs of RAM or more, I'd go with 4096 (4 gigs). I have 64 gigs of RAM so I have mine set to 8192 (8 gigs). If you don't have a lot of RAM, setting it to 1024 (1 gig) will probably run fine but it may be sluggish at times.

Checking the "Disable the Automatic Stack Display" is a good idea for this game, If you want to see a game component at full size without having to zoom the map, you can click the item and hit CTRL-SPACE.

There's an option under the 'Compatibility' tab I want to point out.

If you find that it's really hard to see a game piece while you're dragging it in the game, check the box shown above. This will make dragging pieces much easier to see.

Click "OK" to save your settings. Now that we've got everything set up, click File -> Close Game. If it asks to save the game, tell it 'No'. Then click File -> Quit or click the "X" at the top right of the chat window. Your new module should now be listed in your module library as shown here:

A.2.2 - TBK Saved Games

Now that the game is listed in your Module Library, let's set up your Saved Game folder. Right-click the module and select "Add Saved Game Folder" as shown here:

Browse to a folder where you'll be saving your games. If you followed my example above, it will be the "Saved" folder in your TBK folder. Click that folder and click "Open".

Your TBK listing in your library will now have a closed folder symbol in front of it. Expand the folder and you'll now see a "Saved" folder listed. Any game you save in this folder will appear here for easy access. If you have a saved game, you can just right-click it and "Open" and Vassal will load the base module, the map extensions and the saved game all at one time.

A.2.3 - TBK Map File Extensions

As mentioned above, you can't play a game unless you load a map file extension. Right-click the TBK Module, select "Add Extension", browse to your TBK folder files and open the Map01.vmdx file.

You'll note the map file you just added is printed in black. This indicates that it is the 'active' extension. You can add as many map extension files, made for this version of TBK, as you like. This second pic below shows that I am 'deactivating' the current extension so that I can add the next. I'll do this until all of my map files have been added.

Now that I've got my map extensions listed, I've 'deactivated' Maps 1 & 3 and 'activated' Map 2. You'll note that deactivated extensions are gray and have the notation (inactive) and the extension files have also been moved into an extension folder that Vassal has created in your TBK folder. I can now right-click the base TBK module and tell it to "Open". It will automatically open the activated extension. For TBK, make sure to only have one extension active when you open the module.

You'll see the Start Wizard and for now, select play mode as "Start New Game Offline". When you click "Next" you'll see a new screen asking you to Select Setup. click the drop-down arrow and you'll see a selection for an "Assets" file.

Click the Assets file and, when it's done loading, it will give you a "Next" button that will allow you choose a player side. In this case, select "Observer" as a player side and finish. When the "Shields" window is displaying a "New Round" button, the game is loaded and ready to go.

I would now suggest saving the game in the 'Saved' folder. Give it any file name you like (although you might want to include the Map # in the file name) and end the file name with .vsav (Vassal Saved File). In the future, you can go into your Module library, go into the 'Saved' folder, right-click the saved game and select "Open". It will completely load everything you need and return to exactly where you left off. Just make sure that the correct Map Extension used for the saved game is active.

A.3.1 - Hosting a Game

Open TBK with an active map extension. Select the "Start new game offline" option when the Start Wizard appears.

Once the game is loaded, Click the Server button in the menu bar shown here:

This will open the server controls that looks like this:

The arrow is pointing to the connect button. Click that and you'll connect to the Vassal gaming server and a room named Main Room will appear with you in it. In the "New Game" box, type a name for your room and click "Create". You'll see the new room with you in it and you'll also see the versions of the Vassal Engine and TBK shown to the right of the room. Others may now connect to your room. Once everyone is in, you can begin play.

To disconnect from the server, click the broken lines icon that I've highlighted with an arrow in the second pic.

If you host a game, you are normally the one responsible for saving the game to continue later. No other player needs to save the game if you save the game.

If you are hosting a saved game, you can either open the saved game directly or select the "Load saved game" option when the Start Wizard appears. Then setup a new game room the same way as above. When your previous players connect to the room, the game will automatically update their gamestate to match the current game in progress as long as they have loaded the same versions of TBK and the map file that was used in the previous game session.

A.3.2 - Joining a Game

If you wish to join a game hosted by someone else, you do not need to load assets or a saved game. You just need to make sure you're running the same versions of TBK, the Vassal engine and the same active map extension that everyone else is playing.

Start the module and when the Start Wizard appears, select "Look for a game online". This will automatically open the server controls and any hosted games of TBK will appear. To join the game, right-click the room they've created and select "Join Game" or just double-click the room.

When you connect, the host game will automatically load everything necessary to match your gamestate to everyone else so you don't have to load a saved game... the host should have taken care of that.