# \[Module Design\] Making a marker or unit always the bottom la

**URL:** <https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/module-design-making-a-marker-or-unit-always-the-bottom-la/7883>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [August 14, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/module-design-making-a-marker-or-unit-always-the-bottom-la/7883 "2015-08-14T02:07:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tim\_M](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/tim_m/32/2_2.png) [@Tim\_M](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/Tim_M)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/module-design-making-a-marker-or-unit-always-the-bottom-la/7883/1 "2015-08-14T02:07:29Z")

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Yes, you use game piece layers as brian mentioned. Assign your smoke pieces to a layer that is below all other pieces but above the map layer. Check the designer guide if you dont know how. It is explained in there how game piece layers work

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------  
From: Toronado3800 via messages [messages@vassalengine.org](mailto:messages@vassalengine.org)  
Date: 13/08/2015 20:49 (GMT-06:00)  
To: [messages@vassalengine.org](mailto:messages@vassalengine.org)  
Cc: Toronado3800 [toronado3800@yahoo.com](mailto:toronado3800@yahoo.com)  
Subject: Re: [messages] [Module Design] Making a marker or unit always the  
bottom layer.

Thanks for the tip. I tried it and maybe I am doing something wrong.

My 1st preference for simplicity is to use an individual marker for  
smoke and figure out how to make this marker to entirely to the  
background. Later on I might try letting the units trigger the marker  
into existence.

Two reasons  
-Some destroyers in this game make smoke in a sector and can move out of  
the sector the next turn leaving the smoke in place for a few more  
phases.  
-Storms / Squalls are essentially the same thing. and it would be neat  
to have them in the background always as well.

Maybe I should reword my question. Is there a way for a marker to be  
placed automatically under every unit in a sector?

Thanks again

* * *

Read this topic online here:  
[viewtopic.php?p=49668#p49668](http://www.vassalengine.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=49668#p49668)

* * *

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**Author:** ![Toronado3800](https://forum.vassalengine.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Toronado3800](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/Toronado3800)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/module-design-making-a-marker-or-unit-always-the-bottom-la/7883/2 "2015-08-15T04:26:59Z")

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Got it! For a moment I was worried I would need my hand held even more. Thanks for the tips that sent me in the right direction.

Lets see if I can write down the steps.

-Right Click Main Map  
-Select Add Game Piece Layers  
-Create a couple layers that make some sense. They are easy to create and delete to get in some order that makes sense.

-Go to your unit or marker and open it.  
-Under Available traits select Marker. On mine it is the 4th to the last one.  
-Make the name match the appropriate ones from your Game Piece Layers windows.

FWIW, creating the layer in my Game Piece Prototype Definitions did not work, I had to do it in the unit itself. Should it work?