VASSAL
VASSAL is an open-source tool for building online adaptations of boardgames and card games. In addition to playing by email, it allows users to play in real time over a live internet connection. Also, it runs on all platforms and is FREE for personal use.
VASSAL has many advanced features. Text and images may be combined in an unlimited number of individually-activated layers to make game pieces of arbitrary complexity. Different modules not only look unique, but can be configured with exactly the controls that are appropriate for that game. Each piece has its own set of commands for manipulating it, with customizable right-click menu commands and keyboard mnemonics. Supports any number of map windows and limited information features such as hidden or partially-hidden units and double-blind play.
In order to play Imperialism you will need to download and install VASSAL
Prototype of the 'Blue' Homeland showing the Capital, facilities and land units.
Game Counters
Traditional board wargames like Squad Leader use counters to represent the infantry squads, tanks, guns and vehicles of the forces involved. In table-top wargames we use stands of model infantry, tanks, guns and vehicles.
Using VASSAL to reproduce a boardgame or table-top game means creating counters to represent the stands. To create counters requires some kind of graphics software. VASSAL itself can be used to create these but the application is rather limited in terms of the results that you can achieve. Personally I use Adobe Photoshop. However you can use more or less any graphics software that allows you to produce 'layers'. An exceelent open-source application, which is also free, is The Gimp.
Map Boards
Board games use precisely that, a map-board that represents the playing area with all the graphics and terrain incorporated into the artwork of the board itself. These are usually overlaid with a hex-grid to aid movement, range to targets, areas of effect etc.
In table-top wargaming our table-top IS the map-board. It represents the playing area of the game and incorporates actual models of buildings and terrain.
In order to use Vassal, you need a map-board over which you can move the counters that represent your forces and so it will be necessary to create a map-board for Imperialism.
Like the counters themselves, the map-board is an image created in a graphics program whhich VASSAL then incorporates into the game.
