VASSAL Reference Manual

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Multi-zoned Grid

A multi-zoned grid allows you to define any number of sub-regions of a board.  Each sub-region, called a Zone, can have its own grid and naming format, which takes precedence over the default grid.  For example a board with a hex grid may have zones along the edge for a turn track or force pools.  Pieces will snap to positions in the appropriate zone and auto-reporting will use text supplied by the zone.


Sub-Components

Zone

Each zone can have an arbitrary shape, which you specify in the Define Shape dialog.  Each zone may define its own grid.  When defining a zone's grid, the offsets and numbering are relative to the edge of the overall board, not the zone's edge.

A Zone may contain Properties.  Zone Properties may not have a Change-Property Toolbar Button, but can be modified by a Set Global Property Game Piece trait

Name: The name of the zone.

Location Format:  A Message Format that will be used to define the location of a point for auto-reporting of moves: name is the name of this Zone, gridLocation is the location name according to this zone's grid.

Define Shape:  Hit this button to bring up a dialog for defining the shape of this zone.  To create the initial shape, drag the mouse to define a rectangle.   Then right-click to add new points and use the mouse to drag points to their final locations.  Delete a point by clicking on it and hitting the DEL key.

Use board's grid:  If selected, then this Zone will use the grid from the containing board instead of defining its own grid.

Use Highlighting:  If selected, you must also specify the name of a Property.  The value of the property will determine which Zone Highlighter is used to draw the zone.

 
 

Zone Highlighter

Any number of Zone Highlighters can be added to a Multi-Zone grid.  Any Zone whose highlighting property matches the name of a Zone Highlighter will be drawn with that highlighter, which overlays a colored pattern over the shape of the Zone.

Name: The name of the highlighter.

Color:  The color of the highlight.

Coverage:  Select Entire Zone to overlay the entire shape of the zone.  Select Zone Border to overlay only the border of the Zone.

Style:  Select from solid color, striped diagonal lines, crosshatched diagonal lines, or an image that you specify.

Opacity:  Select the transparency of the overlaid color or image.

 
 


If a given point does not fall within any of the defines Zones for a  Multi-zone grid, the default grid is used.  The default grid may be any of the usual types of grid:

Hex Grid

Rectangular Grid

Irregular Grid