2012 Squad Leader Series Tournament (SL List repost)

sbramley1967

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The 2012 Squad Leader Series Tournament is looking for players. If your interested in playing Squad Leader,
follow the link to register...

https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home

The tournament is open to players of all experience levels and gamettes of the series (SQL, COI, COD, GIA)
Additionally, you may play all, some or just one of the rounds and may select a slow, moderate or fast
pace to fit your schedule. The goal of the tournament is simply to play Squad Leader, meet other players
and have fun.

We can even match new and returning players with an experienced one for a more instructional and less
competitive game. If you were on the fence about playing - don't be. This is a good opportunity to get
into the game.

So if your interested, take 5 minutes to click on the link above to register. I hope to see you in "The
Streets of Stalingrad" or where ever we meet.

Kind Regards,

Scott B on behalf of Bill Thomson,
Squad Leader Academy
 

sbramley1967

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Squad Leader Tournament - August Update

Dear Squad Leader Player:

The dog days of August were good days for the Squad Leader Tournament. We reached approximately thirty-three players with eight additional players joining during the month. At month’s end we had twenty-two games in progress with ten games added and four games completed during the month.

Thus far, eight games have been completed with the Allies in overwhelming control of the Axis - Allies 6, Axis 1 and 1 incomplete. Scenario 2 - “The Tractor Works” and TTS Beta - “Hasty Assault” are the most popular with 2 plays each.

(EDIT: Players - please report any completed games. See Forum on how to)

You can play at any time by simply joining, we are adding games on a weekly basis. Follow the link to the registration page:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament-registration

This writer just couldn’t resist this month’s AAR, I can still remember the day i first played it - Thanksgiving Day, 1983. My cousin and I punched out the counters - squads, MGs and a few leaders; obtrusive cardboard burs because we punched and didn’t cut. Board folded in half. Post dinner murmurs fading away to the chatter of our dice that locked us in our own private combat.

I imagine many a player entered the Squad Leader world in a similar way. For some it was just a game or two but there are even long-lived ASL players who can trace their origin back to this scenario. When i say “I7”, who doesn’t know exactly which intimidatingly tall stack i’m referring to? No matter how far you traveled along the Squad Leader path, no other scenario captured the essence of what Squad Leader is about. Although this writer’s narrative skills leave much to be desired, I humbly invite you back to that first time...
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

September finds us lacking an author for this months AAR. If you're interested in contributing your story then please contact me at scott@wargameacademy.org. All contributions are welcome.

May low dice correct any bad decisions,

Scott
 

sbramley1967

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2012 Squad Leader Tournament - September Update

Dear Squad Leader Player:

We are preparing for another round and players interested in a game may sign up at the following link. Players of all levels and experience are welcome and new/returning players may request a less competitive more instructional ‘training’ game.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/find_match

An AAR for Pavlov’s House was added to the collection. This scenario has nine german squads and two PzKw IVG (F2)s assaulting Pavlov’s House to break/eliminate a Fanatic mixed Russian force of 6 squads, 57LL ATG and light mortar. The AAR covers the German perspective and includes discussion of tactics and many screenshots. You can view it here, don’t forget to click ‘download images’:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

September saw three new players join the tournament bringing the total to 36 players to date. We added three new matches and completed four matches leaving 19 matches in progress at month end. Axis forces had 3 wins of four games and clawed back some ground from the dominant Allies.

Thus far, 12 games have completed with seven Allied wins, four Axis wins and 1 incomplete. The most popular Scenario is a tie between Scenario 1 The Guards Counterattack and TTS Beta Hasty Assault,with four plays each.

We have added a new feature this month - a personalized monthly status report that is emailed to each player. The report details ongoing and completed games and provides Match results. October should include a player ranking and score, a so far overlooked but important feature of any Tournament.

Scott
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home
 

sbramley1967

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2012 Squad Leader Tournament - October Update

Dear Squad Leader Player:

Squad Leader needs your Vote! I pledge to find you a game, no matter what your level or what your skill. Trust me for a better future in playing Squad Leader, I promise everybody a fair shot (of rolling snakes with the dicebot) and adding jobs (8-0s promoted to 9-1s) and returning power and pride to our scenarios (everybody gets a Tiger!.) Just vote here...
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/find_match
Seriously, we need a few players.

I regret to report this month no AARs were submitted. Anyone wishing to submit an AAR, even a non-tournament game, is invited to do so here...
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

October saw two new players join the tournament bringing the total to 38 players to date. We added 4 new matches and completed 9 matches leaving 14 matches in progress at month end. Allied forces had four wins, Axis forces had four wins and one game was incomplete.

Thus far, 23 games have been completed with eleven Allied wins, eight Axis wins and 4 incomplete games. The most popular scenario was “The Guards Counterattack” with 8 plays followed by “TTS Beta - Hasty Assault” with 5 plays and of course who can resist the DCs and FTs of “The Tractor Works” with 3 plays.

We implemented a rudimentary scoring system this month and retroactively applied it to all completed games. a player receives points for each game completed as follows:
5 points for a win
3 points for a draw
2 points for a loss
1 point for an incomplete.

Congratulations to our tied first place holders - Brent G and Stg. Steiner sharing a score of 15 points. Accolades to our three tied second place holders - Bill Soz, Btrap and Raphael T sharing a score of 12 points.

Scott
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/
 

sbramley1967

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2012 Squad Leader Tournament - November Update

We currently have two people in the Bull Pen waiting for opponents. They have already played each other so we are looking for some fresh cannon fodder for these players. If you are interested, please sign up below...
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/find_match

November saw the addition of four new players bringing the total to 40 players to date. We added six new matches and completed five matches leaving 15 matches in progress at month end.

Thus far, 26 games have completed with eleven Allied wins, eleven Axis wins and four incomplete. The Guards Counterattack has 5 plays in which the Allies prevailed twice and the Axis three. The Tractor Works has three games of all Allied victories. The TTS series has 8 games in total with four Allied victories and four Axis victories.

Tournament Ranking on games reported as of November 30, 2012:
First Place - Brent G and Stg. Steiner with 15 pts, respectively.
Second Place - Raphael T with 14 pts.
Third Place - Bill S and Brian with 12 pts, respectively.

I wish you all happy holidays and low dice rolls,

Scott “2 IFT +3”
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home
 

sbramley1967

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2012 Squad Leader Tournament - December Update

Dear Squad Leader Player:

First, I would like to announce that the 2012 Squad Leader Tournament will continue into 2013. Originally conceived as a four round tournament for 2012, we are left with a bit of a misnomer as it continues on. Far from being four rounds, the players shaped it into a social network to meet players, play games and learn ( or re-learn) Squad Leader on a continuing basis. I hope to continue the tournament and have this misnomer haunt me for years to come.

Let me say a word about our players - they are diverse and far flung: Belgium, Spain, Australia, Sweden, Italy, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada and the United States. The tournament web page has had 1,200 visits from 500 visitors and over 4,000! page views. Not bad for a game published in 1977 and out of print for over 20 years. This type of activity leads me to believe there is still a healthy active fan base interested in the game.

So, if your are interested in bringing in 2013 with a 9-2, 3x467 and 3xLMG in hex 1I7 then you can sign up here:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/find_match

Before we move onto the December Tournament results, I’m excited to bring in 2013 with a new AAR. I love any AAR of two players battling it out but to bring the new year in with Hill 621 is indeed a special treat. Our contributor, Brian, brings tactical discussion to life with many graphics and screenshots. And this Hill 621 appears especially bloody with wrecks and bodies littering the boards on only turn 2. You can take a look, along with 5 other AARs from the tournament, at the following link. Please note if you don’t see the screenshots then look for a link to download them. You can also expand all the posts to show everything, see link at top right.
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/squad-leader-aars

The Tournament ended its first six months of play on December 31, 2012. During that time, 43 players jointed the tournament and started 50 games, the last one added on December 30. Twenty-two of these player have returned for more than one game. i’m not sure if they are brave or gluttons for punishment but I know they have started an average of 3.77 games each with two players having started 8 games!

Lets take a look at those 50 games. Sixteen games are in progress, twenty-six are completed and eight are incomplete. Of the twenty-six completed games there are fourteen Allied victories and twelve Axis victories. The most popular scenarios were The Guards Counterattack (5), TTS Beta Hasty Assault (5) and The Tractor Works (4).

Just a word about those 8 incomplete games. Eight incomplete games out of 50 is somewhat under the 20% threshold and rather good compared to my expectation of 30-40% The fact is Squad Leader is a demanding game with its extensive rules, time commitments and bad dice. All too often real-life interferes or we underestimate the demands and find we must discontinue our play. To those players on the edge about joining, i say - Try it. The majority of people who tried have completed their games and come back for more. It is far worse to let that yellow box gather dust on the shelf or mold away in the basement.

Tournament Ranking on games reported as of December 31, 2012:
First Place - Brian with 31 points
Second Place - SL Tom with 22 points.
Third Place - Phil G with 15 points.

Finally, i would like to close 2012 by thanking all of the players and Squad Leader fans who have show their support during the year. Your participation and support ensures the Squad Leader game remains alive so many years after its release. It has been incredibly rewarding to administer the tournament and develop the website and i look forward to new challenges, new games and new players in 2013.

Scott “2 IFT +3”
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home

2012 Accolades
Bill T, Squad Leader Academy - A member since the purple box.
Bill S, The Alchemist of VSQL - a smoking beaker and then ‘poof’ - COD counters
Phil G, for reminding me sound tactics trump rules knowledge every time i play him.
Pete P, WBC 2013 Baby!
The Originals, creators of VSQL, The SL List, ROAR, TTS - i know not who you are but thanks
 

sbramley1967

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2013 Squad Leader Tournament - Jan Update

Dear Squad Leader Player:

The first month of 2013 leaves the Tournament with 46 players and 58 games. Twenty-two of these players have returned for more than one game. They have 18 games in progress, have completed 30 games and 10 games have gone incomplete. This January seven games were started and eight games were completed of which three were incomplete.

So who is winning the war? The Allies have 17 Victories and the Axis have 13 Victories as of January, 2013. So if you are a member of the 389th Infantry, dig your heels in and defend buildings K and F against the Russian onslaught.

Tournament Ranking on games reported as of January 31, 2013:
First Place - Brian with 31 points
Second Place - SL Tom with 27 points.
Third Place - Scott B with 19 points.
See a complete list here
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/tournament-results

The three most popular scenarios:
The Guards Counterattack
The Tractor Works
Hasty Assault - TTS Beta

The AAR for Scenario 5 - Hill 621 continues into turn 6. The Russians have traversed the open space of board 4 and are encroaching on the hills of board 2. See the AAR here:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

a new site feature - we are adding a scenario archive to the site within the month. The archive is designed to search for scenarios by features (ie: Record, VC, Turns, Unit Counts, Rules, Fortifications, Features, etc). Interested in all the scenarios with Tigers? Now you can click a button to find them. Over 200 scenarios in the database and adding. We’ll post when its available on the site.

Scott “2 IFT +3”
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home
 

sbramley1967

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2013 Squad Leader Tournament - Feb Update

Dear Squad Leader Player:

February of 2013 leaves the Tournament with 47 players and 69 games. Twenty-four of these players have returned for more than one game. They have 19 games in progress, have completed 39 games and 11 games have gone incomplete. This February eleven games were started and ten games were completed of which one was incomplete.

So who is winning the war? The Allies have 23 Victories and the Axis have 16 Victories as of February, 2013. So if you are a member of the retreating Letornovski garrison, dig your heels in and defend that ridge against the Russian onslaught.

Tournament Ranking on games reported as of February 28, 2013:
  • First Place - Brian with 38 points
  • Second Place - SL Tom with 36 points.
  • Third Place - Scott B with 21 points.
See a complete list here
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/tournament-results

  • The three most popular scenarios:
  • The Guards Counterattack (8)
  • Hasty Assault - TTS Beta (6)
  • The Tractor Works (5)

A New AAR for ‘The Guards Counterattack’ with a most interesting German opening. I’ve read initiative was trained into German Leaders and this match’s opening turn is a good demonstration of it. Also, the AAR of ‘Hill 621’ is completed and control of the Stolbtsky Highway determined. See the AARs here:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

Scott “2 IFT +3”
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home
 

sbramley1967

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2013 Squad Leader Tournament - Mar Update and 10 lost JS Scenarios

Dear Squad Leader Player:

I’ve updated the Scenario Archive with 10 lost ‘JS’ scenarios. The series begins in May of 1940 in Oslo and finishes in April of 1945 in Germany, the Wehrmacht having come full circle. Reading through the cards while looking at the Map gives one a sense of the war’s flow over five years. One can also see the cycle of technology and training as T-34s appear in 1941, Panthers and Elefants debuting in Operation Citadel and finally the Germans reduced to relying on inexperienced infantry, panzerfausts and too few 128L JagPzs in 1945 Schwerin, Germany.

You can find the Scenario Archive and scenarios here:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios
Find Scenarios - Click ‘Publisher’ menu, Click ‘Independent - JS’ in Publication. Click Search. See Map menu for locations.

The PDFs are light and OCR but unfortunately are copies of copies and the quality is poor for that reason. However they are readable and even searchable. The OCR allows Acrobat Adobe to read the scenarios aloud although the poor page quality leaves much to be desired in the interpretation. See View\Read Out Loud in Adobe Acrobat.

I don’t know much about the scenarios and any information is welcome, particularly release date.

March of 2013 leaves the Tournament with 47 players and 75 games. Twenty-four of these players have returned for more than one game. They have 17 games in progress, have completed 46 games and 12 games have gone incomplete. This March seven games were started and eight games were completed of which one was incomplete.

So who is winning the war? The Allies have 28 Victories and the Axis have 18 Victories as of March, 2013. So if you are a member of the retreating Letornovski garrison, dig your heels in and defend that ridge against the Russian onslaught.

You can sign up for a game here:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/find_match

Tournament Ranking on games reported as of March 31, 2013:
-First Place - Brian with 53 points
-Second Place - SL Tom with 37 points.
-Third Place - Barry with 29 points.

The three most popular scenarios:
-The Guards Counterattack (9)
-Hasty Assault - TTS Beta (6)
-The Tractor Works (5)

Thanks,

Scott “2 IFT +3”
2012 Squad Leader Tournament
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home
 

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April 2013 Tournament and sixteen lost ‘JC’ Scenarios

Its May....1940 and Rommel’s Ghost Division is racing through Belgium and France toward the English Channel. His Panzer IIs and IIIs blitz through the Maginot Line at Sivry to Le Chateau, outrunning his protective German flanks. He crosses the La Bassee Canal and engages in heavy fighting around Hangest. The rapid German advance throws the Allied defense into disarray and France falls on June 22nd. These were the early Blitzkrieg years when Germany put tactical doctrine into action and no country seemed capable of withstanding.

Join Rommel and the 25th Panzer Regiment through France during May and early June of 1940. JC scenarios Five to Sixteen are based on actions as described by Erwin Rommel in The Rommel Papers. This book offers an excellent historical overview to the scenarios and a better understanding of why it was so important to exit 8 tanks off the western board edge. Those interested in this period might consider reading The Rommel Papers with a Google Map and the scenario cards alongside to better illustrate the success of Rommel.

To facilitate this the Scenario Archive now includes the scenario cards and links to The Rommel Papers in addition to the map locations. Clicking on a map marker opens an info window with the links to card and book. I recommend reading the book and following along on the Map then reviewing the scenario card to see how its VC represent the situation.

In addition to the Google Books link, the book is also available on scribd.com and for $8 one can download all day, not only The Rommel Papers but any other books that interest you.

find the Map on Scenario Archive:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios
open ‘Publisher’ menu, click ‘Independent - JC I’ in Publication. Search (window closes when complete.) Open Map menu and click link.

If you like the archive or The Rommel Papers or you download the pdfs or just want to support then please take a few minutes to complete the feedback, if you haven’t already. Since April about 150 people have used the Scenario Archive and 8 people have left feedback. Five of those 8 were my friends...and one was me (Bueller?... anyone?).
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios/archive-feedback

The April 2013 Tournament results are posted on the web page.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/home

Thanks,

Scott
 

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May 2013 Tournament and The Beech Tree of Chaumont

The Beech Tree of Chaumont
Too many of my links include historical information on tactics, position, unit and objectives but fail to capture the human element...the duty, bravery, sacrifice and loss... that SL captures so well. This living monument to The Battle of the Bulge and The Greatest Generation captured the human element nicely. It is included here as a Memorial Day tribute to all those who have served.

How to find it in the scenario archive:
Click on Advanced menu. Start Date enter ‘1944-12-16’, End Date enter ‘1945-01-25’ and Theater click ‘ETO:W’, these are the dates of The Battle of the Bulge. Click Search (window will close when finished). Scroll down to Mud Madness and click it. History 2 in details has the link. Additionally, you can open a map to see all the Battle of the Bulge scenarios in the SL system, its also a good way to see any campaign or operation. Those not entertained by Easter Eggs may google it.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios

Additions to the Scenario Archive
* JC II adds 8 scenarios covering Operations Barbarossa and Typhoon.
* JC III adds 9 scenarios covering Operations Fridericus and Blau
Find: Publisher menu and click JC II and/or JC III in Publication. I have posted all in my possession and thats less then half of them. If you have and contribute, i will post them in the archive.
* One scenario contains new counters for M-113 and Hueys. can you find it?
* new items include Japanese, Chinese & North Vietnamese and the database now has over 320 scenarios, some in unexpected places.

New AAR
Possibly our first Face-to-Face game in the tournament. See two happy players delight in firing 122 HE and 75L AP shells at each other in “Block Busting in Bokruisk.” See the link on the home page:
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/

WBC
WBC, in Lancaster PA, is only 7 weeks away. I’ll be GMing this year because Bill T is uncertain he can attend. I’ll include new scenarios i discovered while working on the archive.. Usually 10 to 15 players participate with about 50 games completed over the course of the week.
http://www.boardgamers.org/#wbc

Tournament Summary
May of 2013 leaves the Tournament with 52 players and 90 games. Twenty-four of these players have returned for more than one game. They have 20 games in progress, have completed 59 games and 12 games have gone incomplete. This May seven games were started and five games were completed of which one was incomplete.

Player ranking and popular scenarios are available on the web page.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/

best,
Scott
 

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Squad Leader Tournament turns 100 and WBC 2013

The Squad Leader Tournament started its one hundredth game during July. More than a finite competition it is a place to find games and expand one’s player base. Over 20 players have returned for a second game or more, with six ‘Fanatics’ starting ten or more games each. The site has improved too, finding most players a game in three days, finding scenarios is easier with a re-designed scenario page and a few bugs on the website were fixed. All-in-all, players are finding it a good place to meet opponents and play games.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios

There has also been a positive ‘network-effect’ where players find regular gaming opponents above and beyond the tournament. I know of at least one pair that are currently working their way through all the Crescendo of Doom scenarios and others have found regular casual opponents. So the site helps players establish a network of interested players and even more games are played than recorded and thats a very good thing.

So a ‘Thank You’ to all the players who patronize and continue to use the site. A ‘Thank You’ to the players i call upon time and again for additional games and training others. Your continued participation and interest has led directly to one hundred games started.

Over time I hope to add more features including a Map of Squad Leader Players to assist in finding a face-to-face opponent. Eventually i would like to allow recording of all games for a Record of Scenarios which incorporates scenario reviews. Such things are quite a while away but i hope to continue moving in the that direction.

The 2013 World Boardgaming Championships were held in Lancaster PA this first week of August. Squad Leader had about 20 players who played 40 to 50 games during the week. Attending were the usual suspects - Bill T of SQLA, Phill G, Bill S of VSQL/Board/Card fame, Pete P, Andrew C. Chuck L, Eric S, myself and many others. First Place went to yours truly as a set of hot dice set me apart from the pool of skilled players. In the final, i managed to immobilize a T-34 not once but on two separate occasions! I posted an After Action Report to the AAR page on the site (remember to ‘download images’ to see the board pics.)
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

We also introduced a few new scenarios including ‘The Tiger of Romagny’ from Pete P’s ‘Mortain: Thwarting A Breakthrough’ a Cross of Iron campaign. The campaign is based on actions described in ‘Work Horse of the Western Front: The Story of the 30th Infantry Division’ by Robert L. Hewitt and has an extended Historical Background, including a very nice map pinpointing each scenario and twelve scenario cards. Additionally in the scenario database, I added links to other resources, including the book, a study of anti-tank defense at Mortain from www.dtic.mil and an interesting youtube video by James Day of a computer game depiction of the same engagement (see the ‘Battle for Barenton’ links.) These additional resources are in the history1 and history2 in the Scenario Archive.

A good way to find the Mortain scenario cards is the ‘Map of Scenarios’ on the Scenarios page. Mortain is south of the D-Day beaches and easily identified by the red markers. Alternately, use the ‘Scenario List’ to scroll down to COI level, SQLA Website. Each card has a link to download the Campaign pdf.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios

I’m thinking of posting every quarter instead of monthly so you’ll likely hear next in October. Thanks again for your support of the site and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Scott
 

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September 2013 Tournament and The Top Ten Squad Leader Scenarios

The Tournament

September of 2013 leaves the Tournament with 55 players and 111 games. Twenty-four of these players have returned for more than one game. They have 22 games in progress, have completed 70 games and 19 games have gone incomplete. The three months ended September 30, 2013 have seen 19 new games started and ten games completed.

Tournament Rankings as of September 30, 2013:
First Place - Brian (17 matches and 67 points)
Second Place - SL Tom (21 matches and 64 points)
Third Place - Barry (22 matches and 63 points)

We matching players in about 3 days so if you are interested in a game, sign up.

The Top Ten Squad Leader Scenarios

“Top” is subjective and for this list it sometimes means ‘innovative’ or ‘interesting’ or ‘contributive’ but more often than not it means ‘large’. After seeing 430+ scenarios over the last few months there were many memorable ones and this list includes a few of my favorites. I’m not saying they are balanced or playable but from a design perspective each is interesting in its own regard.

12. - ‘Tactical Training Series’ Anyone learning Squad Leader in the ‘90s probably used the TTS scenarios at some point. Alpha, Beta and Gamma introduced me to the tactics of fire and movement with programmed instruction and commentary in a way the confined streets of Stalingrad could not. In my opinion it remains the best tool for learning the Squad Leader system. Although Alan Y is no longer active, his site Advance Phase is up and content rich.

11 - ‘Chance Encounter’’ and ‘The Bowling Alley’ - They are the first and only solitaire scenarios for Squad Leader and among the last three pre-ASL scenarios published by OAF in February of 1992 and October of 1993, respectively.

10 - ‘Battle of Arrecourt’ and ‘The 82nd In Normandy’ - Tied. A five scenario campaign and a series of five related scenarios designed by Tim Taylor and Ted Bleck, respectively that were published by OAF mid-1986 and mid-1988. I like the time when Squad Leader was evolving, it was an innovative and creative period in the system with much community participation. It progressed from the enthusiasm of its contributors, not only Hill, Greenwood, Medrow, Mishcon but also Hock, Treadaway, Martuzas, Wilder and all the others who designed, created, contributed and played. It was the proverbial ‘Wild-West’ in a system that developed into the fully matured ASL. Here are two examples of designs from SL enthusiasts.

9.- ‘The Commando Campaign Game’ - Remember the Campaign Game in the back of the Squad Leader Rule book? Imagine doing that for a Brigade sized OB of Commandos over thirteen scenarios...without a computer. Manage attrition, replacement, promotion and advancement in addition to playing the scenarios. Oh-yeah, and each scenario has a maximum length of thirty turns!

8. - ‘The City’ - a Vietnam era scenario complete with Hueys, M-113, M-60’s and a village map. Some ‘Full Metal Jacket’ for the Squad Leader system.

7. - ‘Night Battle For Kharkov’ - I don’t like playing Scenario 4 as the Russians - you do all the work moving 32 squads and the German player just sits back and fires at you. This has that same frustration but with 60 counters...all AFVs...and in the dark. The German is battling the boxcars with a 24% probability of malfunctioning 3 or more MAs over 60 shots. The Russian is battling exhaustion from moving so many counters. If you like big east front armor scenarios then don’t miss this.

6 - ‘Otryad’ - More of a story than a campaign. You follow a German convoy as it fights its way through partisan infested country to deliver its supplies. The convoy must cross thirteen boards broken into seven scenarios with victory decided by how many units make it through.

5. - ‘Sevastopol’ - 1,432 counters (excluding 206 fortification counters and 460 mine factors.) 48 Turns. 28 Boards. 6 fortress overlays. Counters for Dora (820mm) and Thor (600mm). A giant Anti-Tank Ditch. The boards measure 7 feet by 5 feet. This is the opus of large scenario design and i’m not suggesting you play it but the scenario is impressive to see.. (Those interested in large scenarios for The Bulge should see “Across the River Ambleve”, although that only has 1,378 counters.)

4 - ‘Bloody Betio!’ - Blood and Sand brought the Pacific Theater to Squad Leader, including invasion, caves, tunnels, infiltration, dogs and more. Sure, the rules may not be to TAHGC standard but here is a player who wanted the PTO for Squad Leader and he made it happen - Rules, Boards, Counters & Published. Ooh-Rah!

3 - ‘Take Suribachi’ - Come on, is there anything more patriotic than planting the American Flag on Mt Suribachi? It even has a counter for Old Glory. I cry red, white and blue just reading the scenario card.

2 - ‘Hill 621’ - This one taught me the importance of combined arms. How can those 8 German squads hold off 48 Russian squads? The other perspective is worse - finding your 48 squads can’t beat 8 Germans. Its not easy but if the Germans get the artillery, armor and infantry working together they can pull it off. The Avalon Hill General published “Holding The Ridge, An Analysis of Scenario 5” by Martin Shaw in Vol22#6. There is also an After Action Report from a tourny game (remember to click download pics.)

1. - ______________________ ‘Top’ is subjective and for this list it sometimes means that any and all could fill the number one spot. I can still remember the first time i played Scenario 1 back in 1982 and seriously considered putting it here. However everyone has their own favorite and maybe its a memory of you and your buddies in the ‘80s beating hordes of germans in the Ardennes or you and your dad fighting in the rubble of Stalingrad. Which is the best and for whatever reason, only you can decide…

Want to find these scenarios easily? See the new ‘Anthology’ feature in the Scenario Archive. Click and search ‘Top Ten’ and the List and Map are updated (you must open a new map). Just for fun, click on Sevastopol or ATRA to see the counter breakdown in the details block. It barely fits the boards and the counter breakdowns are telling.

Enjoy,

Scott ‘2IFT +3’

links:

Tournament Page
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/

Scenarios Page
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios

Advance Phase
http://home.earthlink.net/~advancephase/

The General hill 621
http://www.vftt.co.uk/ah_general.asp

hill 621 aar
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports?place=msg/squad-leader-aars/QM1lNaTaBxo/KD8ICmcuD-wJ

blood and sand
http://forums.gamesquad.com/showthread.php?91367-Looking-for-P-16-mapboard-Scenario&p=1627469&viewfull=1#post1627469
 

sbramley1967

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Re: September 2013 Tournament and The Top Ten Squad Leader Scenarios

December 2013 Tournament and Analysis of Scenarios

2013 was the first complete year of the tournament and we finished it with sixty participants and 127 games. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, seventeen new players joined the tournament and 77 games were started. 29 players have started two or more games and one enthusiastic player has 23 games under his belt.

Top Three Players
* Brian…….74 points
* SL Tom…74 points
* Barry…….68 points

After Action Reports
Two new After Action Reports are available on the webpage, “Bottcher’s Corner” and “The Capture of Balta”. Bottcher’s Corner is a unique Squad Leader level game of US against Japan in New Guinea. The AAR has links to an interactive account of the battle and an article on Bottcher’s Corner (see page 2.) “The Capture of Balta” is classic and has good screen shots of the action. Don’t miss the actual German AAR on the battle and links to articles in the Avalon Hill General in the last post (mine.)
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

Analysis of Scenarios
The scenario database finished the year with information on 435 scenarios and three ways to see the data, a list, map and archive. An analysis of those scenarios is now available in the Scenarios section with plenty of charts in yellow, red, blue and green for those interested in the numbers. You’ll see a general overview including “how many Scenarios take place in ETO - western” to the details such as “how many scenarios contain flamethrowers”. Don’t miss the Publishers timeline of scenario release dates or the credits to designers. My personal favorite is the rise and fall of axis nations which charts their expansion and fall by distance.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios/scenanl0

What can you do to help?
I’ve had a lot of help and support from people, contributions of AARs, spreading word to new players, design help, technical assistance on google-scripts. I’m very thankful to everyone that has contributed. Many people as what can they do, just this…
* Play. the most important thing is simply playing. Participation is more than enough.
* Post an AAR. People like the AARs and some have over a hundred of views. It keeps the site fresh and gives me something to include in the quarterly update.
* Tell somebody. If you know someone who would enjoy playing then send them to the site.

Make 2014 a Better Year
If 2013 was a bummer then you probably didn’t play enough Squad Leader. Make a change in 2014 and start playing now! Players interested in a game may sign up at the tournament website, matches are typically found in three days.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament

Thank you all for a great 2013,

Scott “2 IFT +3”
 

sbramley1967

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March 2014 Tournament and Casus Belli Scenarios

The first three months of 2014 added nineteen games as players undoubtedly stayed inside rather than face the long cold winter of ‘14. Four new players joined the roster to help complete ten games and progress on twenty-nine in play. Since inception sixty-five players have started one hundred and forty-seven games.

Top Three Players
* Monty J…….84 points
* SL Tom…76 points
* Brian…….74 points

After Action Reports
A play of Cross of Iron Scenario 15 “Hube’s Pocket” is a recently added AAR. See what happens when Panthers and SS units clash with Soviet infantry and armor to protect a convoy breaking out from the Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports

Casus Belli Scenarios
The French publication Casus Belli gave us twenty-eight scenarios between 1982 and 1986 notably extending the French experience beyond Crescendo of Doom’s early war coverage. There is no doubt the identity of occupied France was a complex one and Messrs. Pierre Stutin, Luc Sérard and others develop the story of who she was. Their clever use of US counters to depict Free French trained and armed by US forces and depicting French troops serving in the Waffen Frankreich with SS counters develop a national characteristic that is uniquely French in the Squad Leader system.

You can read more about the composition of the scenarios here.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/announcements/casusbelliscenarios

You may find the scenarios here. In the Scenario Archive search for ‘Casus Belli’ in the Publication tab.
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/scenarios

Thanks to all for your continued support and play,

Scott “2 IFT +3”
 

sbramley1967

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June 2014 Tournament

The second three months of 2014 added sixteen games and two new players to the roster. Fifteen games were completed and twenty-seven were in progress. Since inception sixty-seven players have started one hundred and sixty-three games.

Top Three Players
* Monty J...98 points
* Brian T…91 points
* SL Tom…79 points

After Action Reports
Our player base contains a well written few who contributed some interesting AARs this quarter. Starting with ‘TTS Beta - Hasty Assault’, our new player Erin narrates his first game back in 30 years. Unique for an AAR in that the narrative tells the story with virtually no mention of dice, FP or rules, very well written. Click for AAR

‘The Bitche Salient’ increases the complexity with combined arms and Jamie does a fine job illustrating what to do (or in retrospect what not to do.) I believe if you want to succeed than double your failure rate, there is value to a lesson learned. Click here to learn the lesson while letting Jamie bravely feel the pain.

and we finish stepping up to Cross of Iron’s ‘The Capture of Balta’. Brian played two games alternating sides and provides his perspective on both. The screen-shots are reminiscent of TAHG’s Scenario Replays providing one with an overview at a glance. From this high position its easy to travel into the details of the analysis. Readers interested in the actual Wehrmacht AAR will find it attached in the Soviet perspective game. Click for Germans. Click for Soviets.

Thanks to all for your continued support and play,

Scott “2 IFT +3”
 

sbramley1967

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September 2014 Tournament

The third quarter of 2014 added thirty games and one new player to the roster. Twenty-four games were completed and twenty-three were in progress at the quarter end. Since inception sixty-eight players have started one hundred and ninety-two games, flirting with the two hundred game mark. Comparatively, there were seventy games completed and fifty-five players at this time last year.

Top Three Players
* Monty J...125 points
* Brian T…118 points
* SL Tom…93 points

After Action Reports
a ‘Winter War’ is a quick-play Squad Leader scenario based on Crescendo of Doom’s ‘The Dead of Winter’. Its 1941 near Staritsa and the Germans must prevent T-34s and accompanying Siberians from punching through their lines. You can read the AAR here.

World Boardgaming Championships
Another year with Squad Leader at WBC in Lancaster, PA. The second year of a game demonstration had a showing of six interested gamers thanks to Pete’s good demonstration. You can see an overview of WBC here, the 2014 Squad Leader program here and, when its posted, the 2014 results here.

Player Map
Twenty-five Squad Leader enthusiasts have placed their marker on the map and you can too. Show your fondness of those Squad Leader good times you had in the eighties or just last week - its open to everyone. See the map here and place your marker here.

Thanks for the continued support and play,

Scott “2 IFT +3”
 

sbramley1967

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December 2014 Tournament

The fourth quarter of 2014 added thirty-two games and five new players to the roster. Twenty-three games were completed and thirty were in progress at the quarter end. Since inception seventy-three players have started two hundred and twenty-four games. Face-To-Face VSQL games increased because one player’s interest sparked a series of like-minded players and F-T-F play went through the roof.

2014 saw the start of 97 games, a 21% increase over the prior year and an additional thirteen players dipped their toe in the water for the first time. Return players are the life of any game and thirty-seven have enjoyed two or more games in the tournament.

Top Three Players
* Monty J...146 points
* Brian T…128 points
* SL Tom…108 points

After Action Reports
‘The Bowling Alley’ is a solitaire and night Squad Leader scenario covering the Korean war action by the same name. The North Koreans advance T-34s and SPG down a valley road and U.S. forces try to stop them. The AAR discusses the history, solitaire play, night rules and the play. You can read the AAR here.

Player Map
Twenty-seven Squad Leader enthusiasts have placed their marker on the map and you can too. Show your like of the Squad Leader game and gamettes. See the map here and place your marker here.

Thanks for the continued support and play,

Scott “2 IFT +3”

After Action Report for ‘The Bowling Alley’
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/squad-leader-after-acton-reports?place=msg/squad-leader-aars/haD3NJHMjw0/Ecbq4wS46dAJ

See Player Map
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/playermap

Place Marker on the Map
https://sites.google.com/site/2012squadleadertourny/2012-squad-leader-tournament/playerprofile
 

sbramley1967

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June 2015

The Summary
* We hit two hundred completed games
* added AAR - Night Drop
* added a long lost John Hill scenario 'Night of the Panzers'

See the details here.

have a good 4th everybody!

Scott
 

sbramley1967

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September 2015 and sixteen scenarios

Highlights:
* 300 games started
* Sixteen scenarios added
* AAR for Chance Enounters
* Scenario Archive working again

See details here.
 
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