Peer-to-peer game setup
These are instructions for running a peer-to-peer game. If you want to run a game using either the central Vassal server or a private server, see these instructions.
Setup
We suppose we have two machines A and B both connected to the same Local Area Network (LAN), and two users seek to play the module Battle for Moscow
| Machine | A | B |
|---|---|---|
| LAN IP | 192.168.1.2 |
192.168.1.3 |
| User | a |
b |
| Password | a |
b |
To set up a peer-to-peer game, the following procedure should be followed.
If you want to run a game with more than two players, then duplicate the instructions for client B as needed.
On both clients
-
We start the Vassal and load the selected module. When prompted to choose the play mode, we select Look for a game online
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We then click Finish
-
Now the module has been started up, but we have not yet started a game. First, we need to set-up the connection between the two client.
Press the Show/Hide server controls (Alt-S)
button in the toolbar. -
If already connected to a server, press the Disconnect button
-
Now right click the server button and select P2P Network
-
Now click the Connect button
- not the button with the word “Connect” on it, but the one with two arrows.
Only on client A
-
Press the button with the word “Connect” on it.
-
This will pop=up the Direct Connection dialog. Press the Add button at the bottom.
-
This will pop-up yet another dialog with three text fields in it.
The fields are
- Description: A free format string. Here we will choose
B - IP Address: The IP address (4-tuple of numbers) of the other client we want to connect to - in our hypothetical set-up this will be
192.168.1.3 - Port: The port number we want to use. We will leave that as
5050but we could choose a different number if we are running many pier-to-pier games.
Now press OK
- Description: A free format string. Here we will choose
-
Back in the Direct Connection dialog, select the newly added entry and then press the Connect button.
Close the dialog afterwards.
-
Both clients will now show the connection.
-
Still only in client A, we can now start the game via
File→New Game -
Client A will be prompted to select a side
Press Finish after selecting the side.
-
This will start up the game as per normal.
Only on client B
-
Select the
auser in the Current Game Room and right click i to show a context menu. From that context menu selec Syncronize -
Client B will be prompted to select a side
Both clients are now connected
You and your follow player can now start to play the game.
Problems with syncronisation
If it seems like a client is out of sync with the other client - typically after a client machine suspends or you switch to another application for an extended period of time - you may need to syncronise the two clients again.
In the server controls interface, in the Current Game Room panel, right click the other player and then select Synchronize.