Continuing my “no markers” series of GCACW vassal modules, replacing marker clutter with game-piece layers. I've made modules for all the eastern theater games (and for Lee vs Grant), but only SJW and SLB are downloadable from this site. Contact me if you are interested in others.

SJW is the original game in the GCACW series. It was designed with inherent Rebel bias in movement, extended march, and tactical values. This is completely justified for 1862 when the CSA was on the ascendancy in the east. Problem is all the other games in the series retained these Rebel advantages, which did not exist against the AOP of 1863/64 under Meade and Grant. So after three decades playing these games I've reached the conclusion that the GCACW game system is really only appropriate for the 1862 games: SJW, HCR, and SIV.

Download SJW module. Campaign setup Module Help Sheet

SJW maps by Charles Kibler.

Goals

Reduce module bloat by removing all charts and tables. It is assumed that players will refer to their own paper rules and charts during their VASSAL games. The primary purpose of the module is to serve as a digital version of the maps and counters.

Remove unit markers (fatigue, strength, demoralized, etc.) and replace them with game-piece layers. This takes advantage of a core VASSAL capability (layers), reduces module bloat, and allows for simpler automation of the Recovery Phase. Game piece “handling” is less fiddly, since (in the main) the only game pieces on the map are units and leaders. A side benefit is the disappearance of the cartoonish (“Nutcracker”) strength markers introduced by MMP.

Use only standard toolbar buttons included within VASSAL. Custom buttons add to bloat, use more screen space, and distract from the module's main purpose. They also increase the module learning curve slightly vs boilerplate toolbar buttons.

Remake units and leaders as Game-piece images for improved layout and scaling through zoom levels, while retaining the general look of the printed counters. Also to remove the bust portraits on leader counters.

Key Features

There are NO Force markers or Force Displays. There is a modicum of fog-of-war in that unit strength is displayed only in the Mouse-over stack viewer.

Mouse-over stack viewer displays hex ID number in every hex, including empty hexes, to facilitate finding specific hexes even when zoomed out.

This module only covers Stonewall Jackson's Way - not interested in All Green Alike. (Play Bull Run instead.)

Acknowledgment: This module uses the map files from Rob Doane's module v1.1.5. Consim Comment modules could not exist without the map files available in pre-existing modules from vassalengine.org