Wargame Counter Generator (COUNTERGEN v1.2) (9 November 2023)

Download COUNTERGEN v1.2 for Offline Use (24.8~ MB ZIP)

<Use these images to make your own Counter Sheet with COUNTERSHEETGEN>

Basic Counter Details Counter Cutout:
Graticle Thick: Graticle Length: Counter Shape:
Corner Radius 1.0
Counter Style:
C#1: Size:
C#2:
C#3: Size:
Bar/Shape Overlays
Bar Color:
Bar Thicknesses: Bar Opacities:
Horiz. Vert. U.L. to L.R. U.R. to L.L.
L. Circle R. Circle T. Circle B. Circle
L.Triangle R.Triangle T.Triangle B.Triangle

Special Image
Location: Size: Opac:
Adj. (x): (y): (rot):
Apply Color

Nationality Image
Location: Size: Opac:
Adj. (x): (y): (rot):

Divisional Image
Location: Size: Opac:
Adj. (x): (y): (rot):

Silhouette/Line Drawing Image
Apply Color Tint Mirror Image Left to Right
Location: Size: Opac:
Adj. (x): (y): (rot):
Color:

Unit Symbols Form. Size:
Form. Color:
Form. Width Form. adj (y)
Unit Symbol:
Unit Symbol Size: Location:
Adj. (x): (y): (rot): Unit Fill:
Unit Stroke:
Unit Modifier Layer:
Unit Modifier:
Modifier Color:

JSON Filename:

Text #1 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #2 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #3 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #4 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #5 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #6 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #7 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #8 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #9 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #10 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #11 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Text #12 Enter Text:
Location: Rotation:
Text Font: Text Size: Border Size: Adjust (x): (y):
Text Color:
Border Color:
b o p

Style Gallery

(Click on an image to load preset directly, click on the link to download the JSON template.)

NOTE: Due to modern browser security features, "click on image" doesn't work when running locally. It does work when running from an internet server.

GAME COUNTERS RECREATED

von Manstein's Backhand Blow (GMT Games, 2002)

The Last Victory: Von Manstein's Backhand Blow (Clash of Arms, 1987)

Europa Series (GDW)

7th Fleet (Victory Games, 1987)

GENERIC EXAMPLES OF GRAPHICS YOU CAN DO

NKVD Rifle Regiment, WW2	USAAF, 379th BG(H), WW2	USAF, 379th BW(M), 1950s
Turtledove-191, Richmond Howitzers, 1942

WHAT THIS IS:

This is designed to help VASSAL module authors quickly develop high resolution counter images. The basic size (600x600 pixels) is equivalent to 600 DPI for a 1-inch square counter, far higher than print (300 DPI) or screen (200 DPI) for the foreseeable future.

NOTE TO SELF ABOUT FUTURE ADDITIONS: See about integrating Europa style symbols (1.91 MB PDF) into this generator at some point.

HELPFUL GUIDES:

Here are some useful tips/guides on designing counters from "back in the day":

Graphics and Physical Systems Design by Redmond A. Simonsen (7.7 MB PDF) -- R.A.S. says that at SPI, he used Times Roman and Univers -- Strategy & Tactics is set in Univers 45/46 and Univers 55/56. A good alternative to Univers is Futura, which itself has an alternative in Nunito Sans. He also says that secondary values on a counter should be 50% to 75% the size of the primary values. For counters, he used Univers 65, and when space was at a premium, Univers 67.

"If Looks Could Kill" (or how to avoid the Pink Panzer) by Redmond A. Simonsen (5 MB PDF) -- R.A.S. suggests that you should use 8 point Futura Medium (aka Jost) type for unit designations. If unit designations are important to gameplay, use 12 point Univers #57. For numbers, if there are two digits, use Franklin Gothic. If there are three digits, use Franklin Gothic Extra Condensed.

If you're wondering what color combinations to use for your counters, here are some collections of counter colors:

EUROPA Wargame System Counter Colors

SOURCES:

Symbols -- Most of the symbols came from Wikipedia (Military Symbols / Military Symbols - B/W 1.5x1 Frame).

Several however, came from Tom Mouat's MAPSYMBS fonts.

I've used his work for:

Naval Formation / Naval Unit symbols
Formation Sizes -- I like his Regimental / Divisional symbols more than anyone else's
US Chemical Corps Symbol -- His version is more accurate to the 1940s/1950s manuals I have.
Others that I may have forgotten about at this point.

Per one of Tom's pages (LINK):

Tom Mouat hereby asserts and gives notice of his right under section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of these fonts and sample files (except where stated). These fonts and sample files remain the intellectual property of Tom Mouat, but they can be used and copied freely.
These fonts and sample files may be distributed by any means, provided that the following limitations are obeyed -- No profit is made from the reproduction or distribution of these fonts and sample files. This includes using my fonts for advertising or commercial demonstration purposes - so if I turn up at a trade show like ITEC again and find someone demonstrating their product with my Map Symbols again, without giving me credit or paying me for them, I shall be very disappointed.

In summary, if you're going to use the Generator in a significant way -- non-commercial free VASSAL module or commercial printed/digital game -- contact Tom directly. Again, his website is at MAPSYMBS.

Colors -- Colors were grabbed from many sources, such as Department Of Defense Standard Shades for Heraldic Yarns for Embroidery And Ribbons (2012) courtesy of the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, which provided Pantone (PMS) numbers which were matched with the official Pantone site. There is one specific wargame related source that I used during creation. This file (LINK) contains Pantone codes for Richard A. Simonsen's favorite colors at SPI/Avalon Hill.

Roundels -- Wikipedia/Wikimedia, specifically List of Air Forces (and their Roundels).

Ship Silhouettes -- Wikipedia/Wikimedia, specifically Mike1979_Russia's Submarine Drawings - Rama's Ship Drawings - Alexpl's Ship Drawings.

Aircraft Silhouettes -- Wikipedia/Wikimedia, specifically Orthographic 3-Views of Aircraft / More Aircraft by Kaboldy.

Fonts: The majority of fonts (white background) are stock fonts that should be installed on every Windows PC in 2023; the ones with a yellow background are fonts stored on the website and loaded for this page. These fonts are -- RED BLOCK by RidaType / JEFFERIES by Pixel Sagas / DEUTSCHE GOTHIC by James Fordyce / CLOISTER BLACK by Dieter Steffmann / STRAIGHT FIGHTER by Arterfak / OLD ENGLISH FIVE by Dieter Steffmann / TREASURE MAP DEADHAND by GemFonts / JOST by Owen Earl / NUNITO SANS of Google Fonts