Cheap and Dirty way to create a simleTimer not using Java

Module Design
1

Hi!
I’ve seen a lot of questions how to make a timer and no decent ideas. Finally I’ve found a simple way how to make a fixed timer without actual Java code. If you need a fixed timer which says to the player his turn is ended do this:

  1. Download some royalty free sounds of timer / clock ticking and ringing.
  2. Use simple sound editor (Audacity or Audio tool or twistedwave.com/online will work)
    They are rather simple to do simple things like merging audio files and you will learn how to do it rather quickly (less than a hour,)
  3. Combine enough ticking records to form an uninterrupted ticking record of necessary length (e.g. 3 minutes) and add ringing sound in the end.
  4. Make action button In Vassal Engine and name it ‘Timer’. Its sole function will be playing of your record.
  5. If you need several fixed timers - simply combine several buttons and records.
  6. Job done!
2

Ha, that’s very smart actually!

3

Nice idea but how would one stop the clock if the player ended their turn before time, or I have missed the point ?

I’m looking forward to v3.5 and hoping that chess clock functionality does what’s needed.

Mark

4

Thus spake GameCraftsman via messages:

Hi!
I’ve seen a lot of questions how to make a timer and no decent ideas.
Finally I’ve found a simple way how to make a fixed timer without actual
Java code. If you need a fixed timer which says to the player his turn
is ended do this:

  1. Download some royalty free sounds of timer / clock ticking and
    ringing.
  2. Use simple sound editor (Audacity or Audio tool or
    twistedwave.com/online[1] will work)
    They are rather simple to do simple things like merging audio files
    and you will learn how to do it rather quickly (less than a hour,)
  3. Combine enough ticking records to form an uninterrupted ticking
    record of necessary length (e.g. 3 minutes) and add ringing sound in the
    end.
  4. Make action button In Vassal Engine and name it ‘Timer’. Its sole
    function will be playing of your record.
  5. If you need several fixed timers - simply combine several buttons
    and records.
  6. Job done!

Note that 3.5 will have a chess clock which can be added to modules.
We expect to release 3.5.0-beta1 later this week.

–
J.

5

Why 3.5 and not 3.4.10?

6

Because the chess clock isn’t in 3.4.10.

Bugfix releases don’t contain new features.

7

Ah. I meant 3.4.11, but now I understand.

8

Bad luck, guys.
I’ve found a no way to stop this kind of timer without implemeting of some java code.
But I’ve said this is a cheap and dirty way, so it is simple (Cheap) and it is working not perfectly (dirty), but still a substitution for the timer for a some time.
To make it perfect Vassal authors should add a Play Sound button (pressing starts, pressing cancels or stops (selected in properties)). At least this way will nore require any synchronisation (what is a big problem with timers). It will make this solution less dirty and will work as a sound replacement of timer until actual timer will not be implemented.