# How I made a - Refiller

**URL:** <https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-i-made-a-refiller/90594>\
**Category:** Module Design\
**Tags:** tutorial\
**Created:** [October 16, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-i-made-a-refiller/90594 "2026-10-16T19:53:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![il-Roberto](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@il-Roberto](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/il-Roberto)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-i-made-a-refiller/90594/1 "2026-10-16T19:53:45Z")

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I recently looked into how to automate the refilling of certain spaces in **Feudum** , and I wanted to share how I created this feature.

The goal is to have a button in the toolbar that, when pressed, retrieves pieces from a bag and places them at specific locations on the map. The bag contains various types of pieces, each of which must be sended in a designated spot.

The button on toolbar is a GKC defined like this:

- `Button text: replenish me`
- `GKC: replenishMe`
- `Pre-select by location Specific Map` here insert the map where refiller resides
- `Pre-select by properties type==refiller`

Now we need some pieces(the refiller) on the map. These are pieces placed in an `At-Start Stack`(one for each stack) with these traits:

- `BasicPiece refillCheckerSalt1`
- `Marker GoodRefilled=saltpeter` you can create different refiller just change name. **Must match the** `Basic Name` **of the piece contained in the deck from which you wish to draw**
- `Prototype: refiller`

Our refiller prototype is defined with these traits:

- `Does not stack move=never`
- `Marker type=refiller`
- `Layer empty.png` (this is an image with 10% opacity over the space on the map so you can see through)
- `GKC`
  - `key command=replenishMe`
  - `GKC=refill`
  - `pre-select by location specific` write here your deck of pieces
  - `pre-select by properties BasicName==$GoodRefilled$` (This is important, $..$ checks against **source piece** property, the one that issues this GKC instead of target piece property, more details in _[Comparing Properties For Global Key Commands](https://vassalengine.org/doc/latest/ReferenceManual/PropertyMatchExpression.html)_)  
`within a deck apply to fixed number of pieces 1`

- `Restrict command disable {StackSize > 1} restrict this command replenishMe` (this stops refilling if you need only 1 piece in the spot)

Finally in the pieces inside the deck you need this trait:

- `Basic Name=saltpeter`
- `Send To Location `
  - `key command=refill `
  - `destination any counter, selected by properties {GoodRefilled=="saltpeter" && StackSize==1}` so you send only on non refilled spots.

Done!

Briefly when the button on toolbar is pressed a GKC is fired to all refiller pieces on the map. Each of this, if hasn’t pieces in stack(`StackSize==1`), sends a GKC to a deck (filtering for type of pieces inside the deck).  
Every piece that matches, listens for this GKC(`refill`) and is sended to the location(not a location but on a counter).

I hope it’s clear.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![il-Roberto](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@il-Roberto](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/il-Roberto)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-i-made-a-refiller/90594/2 "2026-10-16T21:15:04Z")

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I can also use  
`{GoodRefilled=="$BasicName$" && StackSize==1}`  
in `Send To Location` trait but I need to click multiple times to refill 2+ spaces. With a straight string all spaces are filled with one click on toolbar button. I still don’t know why and it would be helpful if someone could explain it.