von Marwitz
Forum Guru
For the given example, this is a tough call.What are the opinions of the ASL community: do we use the RR overlays for scenarios that have Armored trains (which would include BFP 1 and 2 mapboards) and/or just SSR that some road sections are RRs?
I did some playtesting on ATr back in 2010 (!)-- See attached pics--and found that the usage of overlays really enhanced play. As you see from these pics that SSRing the road as a GLRR was okay, but aesthetically disappointing. Give me trains, then give me tracks! As always, this is my own opinion. After all of these years, with so many counters, boards and overlays I really eschew playing scenarios where I have to pretend. I do not like SSRs that state all hills are wheatfields as an example. Perhaps I have too many things to ponder and do not want to have to remember more than necessary, thanks to the aging brain.
As for the counters, I think generic train counters could be white--or one color and those that are nationality specific have those specific colors.
As work progresses, I fear that these rules need to be as precise (and wordy, unfortunately) as possible as we bring in a new section of rules. Keeping it simple may lead itself to many a future debate that needs clarification. Think of how many rules debates still persist despite the many years ASL has been available.
The best news is that so far everything see looks real good. Kudos to the hard work put in so far by Steve and the original designers.
As for the counters, I think generic train counters could be white--or one color and those that are nationality specific have those specific colors.
I have a soft spot for aesthetics, so I want to call out: If it has trains, then it's got to have tracks!
But using RR overlays here might be difficult to pull off - at least with those which currently exist. And, in some locations, it would change the terrain and LOS. There are some Orchard-Road hexes on bd48, and eliminating the Orchard part by a RR overlay would alter significantly, how this board would play.
So my answer is this:
For the given situation, you should decree by SSR that the Roads ar RR hexes instead (thinking of the RR Orchard specialty).
In general, I think that scenarios making use of trains should always use RR overlays (or boards with printed RR. This is a basic and fundamental design decision. Either use exsiting RR overlays (or make and use new ones) and 'create' the RR terrain.
von Marwitz