Vassal Engine | |
Developer: | The Vassal Team. |
Programming Language: | Java |
Platform: | Cross-platform |
Language: | Multilingual (English and 6 other languages) |
Genre: | Game engine |
License: | GNU LGPLv2+ |
Website: | vassalengine.org |
Latest Release Version: | 3.7.12 |
Operating System: | Any |
The Vassal Engine is a game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games, tabletop games and card games. It allows users to play in real time over a live Internet connection, and also by email (PbeM). It runs on all platforms, and is free, open-source software.[1] [2] For example, there is a Star Wars Miniatures module, where players can play with up to three others in a digital replica of the table-top game.
It is written in Java and the source code is available from GitHub under the LGPL open source license.[3]
Vassal began as VASL (Virtual Advanced Squad Leader), an application for playing Advanced Squad Leader.[4]
Vassal modules exist for over 1000 games.[5]
In September 2008, Games Workshop issued a cease-and-desist order regarding V40k to Tim Davis, the V40k module maintainer at that time.[6] The module is still played.
Games Workshop has also issued a cease-and-desist order regarding Space Hulk.
Similar engines for making board games include ZunTzu[7] and Boardgame.io.[8]