Module:Churchill

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Introduction
This is v1.0 of the Vassal module for Mark Herman's game Churchill - Big Three Struggle For Peace, published by GMT Games. It offers the complete gameplay through standard Vassal functionality with some additional automation added. This automation includes: when a player selects a new conference/turn to start the new conference deck is set up; all issue counters and reserve markers move back to their default locations; Staff card discards are added back into a player's deck on odd-numbered conference turns; and leader blocks are returned to their Active state.

© GMT Games, LLC 2015 and Mark Herman Design

'''Please read the module instructions below before emailing with questions. Thanks!'''

Instructions
1. Players can play any of the three factions or solitaire (solo), however, in accordance with GMT's wishes, the Bot charts for solo play are not included in this module. Thank you for understanding.

2. After drawing a conference card from the current conference card deck, players may leave that card on the board for future historical reference, or right-click and select "Discard" at any time. If the conference card is discarded, however, it will be removed from the game and not be available to view on later turns.

3. In the Agenda Segment, players should first flip a Staff card over on their player board by selecting Reveal/Hide with a right-click, before dragging that card to the board. Players should simultaneously flip them back over by revealing them and determine the winner based on card value (+1 value for the UK national characteristic).

4. Many of the game's necessary pieces can not be deleted from the game board. For example, players can not delete leader blocks (except Roosevelt), issue counters, global markers, etc. The two Japanese Navy and one Italian Army reserve piece can be deleted by right-clicking and selecting "Delete", but they are removed permanently when that is selected (so don't delete one of these by accident).

5. To make a leader Inactive, simply right click on their block and select that option. They will be automatically made Active again at the start of the next conference.

6. The three scenarios (Training, Tournament and Campaign) all start with the correct Conference card decks set up. Do not select that conference from the menubar. All three scenarios also start with all of the game markers correctly set up.

7. Chief of Staff card values can be rolled by right-clicking on their card and selecting that option. The resulting 1d6 value will show to all players in the main window log.

8. When playing a two-player game online, one player must select Solo player as their side. While this gives that player the opportunity to play two sides (one nation and the Bot), it also allows them to look at their opponent's hand/player board, this is quite obviously against the rules and just not cricket. Play fair and don't peek.

9. Right-click on a Staff card to play it from your hand to the board. Once on the board and the issue movement and any debate is complete, right-click and select Discard to move it to your discard pile on your player board. Do not move discarded staff cards manually from your discard pile back to your draw deck (that function has been automated at the start of each new turn).

10. Click on the Draw 7 Staff Cards button on your player board to automatically draw seven random staff cards for the current turn.

11. Debate pass and leader unavailable to advance an issue markers are available for each player in the pieces palette, and should be placed next to your leader blocks on the main board, since your board/hand window is private. A right-click command will delete them when needed.

12. Counters are available in a separate window for the option Secret Agenda variant, rule 10.0. Drag three counters from the stack in that window onto the indicated positions on your player hand/board so that they remain hidden from the other players.

How To Play Churchill Using Vassal
In all games, one player should select one of the three scenarios to play. Then, in a three player game, each of the players should each take one of the nations, as normal. The game should proceed as normally played. Games can be saved at any time.

In two player games, the recommended way to play after selecting a scenario is as follows: One player selects a nation to play, and then the second player selects "Solo" as their side. The second player will now play one of the two nation they control normally, and also control the placement of staff cards etc from the third player side, using the normal Bot rules. Note that in Vassal, selecting solo will allow the second player to view all sides player boards, including the first player's. It should go without saying that in the spirit of fair play, the second player should never look at the first player's board.

Regardless of the number of players, once a scenario has been selected, the game board will be set up ready to play. All counters, markers are in their start positions, and the required Conference deck is on the board ready to draw a card from. At the end of each turn, one player should select the next conference from the menu bar, and everything will be reset for the next conference (including a new conference deck in position on the table).

Known Bugs
1.0 - Known reported

Future Updates
While these are not a definitive list, the roadmap for future updates to the module might include features such as:

1. Automatic VP counting, Automatic movement of issues along conference tracks based on staff card values

2. Automating debate functions

3. Automatic placement of reserves during phase 7.6

4. Ability to place offensive support or naval support markers in the correct spots with a right-click

5. Automate drawing of optional Secret Agenda counters

6. Moving front markers forward using right clicks

Players

 * daveyjj@me.com@David Janik-Jones