With VASSAL running click File > Open Module and navigate to where you downloaded the module file, select WarmachineHordesMK2.

Default settings will open the module using the wizard, select the Look for a game online option and click Finish. ( If the wizard is disabled, you can show server connections by clicking the arrows (third from the left) button on the top left hand corner and then again in the top right once the server panel is open.

In the server connection panel under active games, right click a room name and click Join Room. After joining the room right click on another players name and synchronise. This will allow you to view a game in progress.

NOTE: You have the ability to modify the game state now, so make sure that you don’t interfere with a game in progress.

To start a new game, begin by typing a room name into the New Game prompt in the server connections window. This will create and then connect you to a new game room.

To load a map click File > New Game and choose from the list of pre-made maps or use the Empty maps if you wish to place your own terrain. Placing terrain will be covered later in this guide.  Alternatively you could choose to load a previously saved game by clicking File > Load Game.

When prompted to choose a side select Player 1, this defines the private deployment area.

In the menu bar click Deployment. From that window click and drag the blue deployment button onto the table and click it. This displays an overlay of various measurements for deployment.

You have two options for setting up your models. Either choose Army Setup and click Player One to setup your models privately or place them on the board directly.

Click the Models button on the menu bar, this opens a series of panels that contain all the models you will need for play. NOTE: Occasionally this panel will open compressed with panels obscured, in which case click the grey bars to resize the panels to view all models.  Click and drag models from here to the map window. Click and drag damage grids to the Damage window (Damage button on the menu bar)

A game on VASSAL plays out much like a game on the table top. Moving models can be done using either the shortcut keys or by measuring a distance and then placing a model. Multiple models can be selected and moved at a time using the short cut keys if necessary.

Using the Ruler threads for measurement can take some getting used to, the basic procedure is as follows. Click the Red, Green, or LOS button on the menu bar. Then click and drag from the beginning point of a the distance you wish to measure to the end point, release, click. In short: Click and drag, release, click. This will lock the ruler. To release a ruler click on the Red, Green, or LOS menu button as appropriate.

AoE attacks and deviation, are simple on VASSAL. Firstly measure out the distance of the attack using the ruler threads. Next click the Counters button, select the AoE tab, click Deviation, and drag the center point of the template to end of the ruler thread. With the template on the board right click and choose Rotate Freely, click on the ‘4’ and drag and release with your cursor over the model that made the attack.

With the template aligned, roll for direction and distance (be sure to declare the order), the numbers on the template indicate direction, each ring is exactly 1” with the first ring being 1” from the center. Choose an AoE template from the counters menu and place its center as appropriate on the deviation template. Right click and select delete when you are done with the templates.

Spray templates are used as followed. Firstly be sure to declare the target of the attack. Open the Counters window > Spray. Click and drag the relevant template onto the board with the narrow end in B2B with the attacking model. Right click the spray template and select Aim, face toward the target and then fine tune positioning by click and dragging the template.

All of the tokens in the counter menu can display a numeric overlay in the same way models can.

Creating a custom map is simple. Firstly load an empty map. Next open the terrain menu. Each of the tabs contains multiple categories of terrain pieces. NOTE: there is a scroll bar in the pull down menus. Click and drag terrain from the menu onto the board, the arrow keys rotate or choose rotate freely from the right click menu. To reselect a terrain piece hold SHIFT and click it.  To change the layer stacking of the terrain right click and choose Terrain Layer, where 1 is the bottom layer and 9 is the top layer. Be sure that you set these before you save a map.

The following is a list of guidelines for playing on VASSAL and a few tips for doing things efficiently and quickly.

1) If you are a spectating a game DO NOT INTERFERE this includes but is not limited to moving pieces, toggling reach or art layer or even being overly talkative in the chat.

2) Declare actions before taking them. Don’t just begin moving things without indicating what is going on. This also means that there is a record of your actions in the chat window if there is a dispute.

3) Don't keep rulers, control areas, or melee ranges active when not in use. After use release the ruler, toggle your melee ranges off and disable control areas.

4) Do not unnecessarily interact with your opponents models. For instance activating colour auras for targeting is fine, turning on melee range is NOT.

5) Define all terrain and scenarios before beginning play.

6) Be sure to mark your leader models with the Promote status effect before play begins.

7) Move terrain tokens to the edge of the map or delete them before beginning play

When deploying a unit click and drag a single piece onto the board. Select the piece and press CTRL + C then CTRL + V. This combination clones the original piece then offsets the clone into B2B with the original. Doing this multiple times is a quick and easy way to set up perfect shield wall. Selecting a rank of troops and pressing CTRL + C then CTRL +B will similarly clone the front rank and offset it into B2B below the original.

When resolving a charge often times using the shortcut key will not give the correct angle to get into position. In such a case do not use the shortcut keys, measure the distance and then place the model. Or alternatively measure the distance, use the LOS tool to show that a charge line is viable then use the arrow keys and nudge to correct the angle.

Tramples can be made simpler in the following way, after declaring a trample clone the trampling model and then resolve the movement with the clone. This allows you to measure between the beginning and endpoints perfectly. Once the targets have been marked and movement resolved delete the original model.

Each model can be interacted with by right clicking on it and choosing options from the context menu. These controls can also be used via hotkeys. The basics are as follows. Be sure to check the individual models for special menu actions.