Clarifications

[Fort]

This is in response to among others, a question on FB regarding the 2pdr portee found in the scenario "Gun & Run".

-Always, always, read Vehicle and Ordnance notes for EVERYTHING on a scenario card...it's a big part of the game and can be disastrous if missed or ignored.

-Don't read more into the instructions/VC/SSR than is written. Errors can creep in but it's best to assume that everything found on the card is correct and follow accordingly. Don't assume that the instructions allow more than is written, or that something must've been left out because it just doesn't conform to expectations or prior archetypes.

-If you think you've found a 'trick', it's more likely that you're misplaying/misinterpreting what is allowed.

-Always talk out points on which you are unclear with your opponent prior to set up.

-On a personal pet peeve, I hate Bug Hunts. I will never intentionally construct a scenario where one might win by keeping something HIP to snatch a last turn victory by APh 'ahah'. The SSR used in my PTO scenarios where Japanese HIPsters must conduct a Banzai is an example of my desire to prevent such BS. The SSR means what it says, there are no exceptions or workarounds to that mandatory Banzai. If you've kept your HIP until the time's up from the SSR, well, the Banzai is comin'...hell or high water.

P.S. The answer to the question from FB, is: No, the Guns must setup en portée per British Vehicle note 77, first 'dagger'.

 

[Treadhead]

Thanks for this.

Those first four points should be canonized. Great reminders.

 

[Vic Provost]

Completely reading and understanding everything on a scenario is paramount, I know we do everything we can for Dispatches to make sure your typical ASL player will be able to play it in short order and understand the SSRs and VCs. Not so easy depending on how big or complex the scenario is but I can say almost all of what MMP and Fort publishes for ASL is both playable and competitive. Sometimes not so balanced but so it goes, we have the same problem, no matter how many times we playtest it. Great post!

 

[ibncalb]

For each of my games, CGs included. My opponent and I read through the rules/ scenarios together point by point and example any thing we do not understand.

I do not want to win a scenario because my opponent did not understand a rule.

Similarly I don't want to waste a day to discover that my opponent bought 4 elite infantry companies because he didn't understand the daily max.

This can take some time. 10 minutes for a scenario or a full afternoon to fully cover the ins and outs of a CG.

I would note that this approach is actually critical in SME, where the CG structure is much more complex and interlinked than any other.

Some opponents eschew this. I find regularly that those that do are the more 'gotcha' type of opponent.

 

[Den589]

For each of my games, CGs included. My opponent and I read through the rules/ scenarios together point by point and example any thing we do not understand.

I do not want to win a scenario because my opponent did not understand a rule.

Similarly I don't want to waste a day to discover that my opponent bought 4 elite infantry companies because he didn't understand the daily max.

This can take some time. 10 minutes for a scenario or a full afternoon to fully cover the ins and outs of a CG.

I would note that this approach is actually critical in SME, where the CG structure is much more complex and interlinked than any other.

Some opponents eschew this. I find regularly that those that do are the more 'gotcha' type of opponent.

100% agree with this. Me and Steve do the same thing and it leads to some of our questions on this forum that may annoy some at times. We want to play the game as it was intended by the designer and how it was play-tested.

 

[wrongway149]

-On a personal pet peeve, I hate Bug Hunts. I will never intentionally construct a scenario where one might win by keeping something HIP to snatch a last turn victory by APh 'ahah'. The SSR used in my PTO scenarios where Japanese HIPsters must conduct a Banzai is an example of my desire to prevent such BS. The SSR means what it says, there are no exceptions or workarounds to that mandatory Banzai. If you've kept your HIP until the time's up from the SSR, well, the Banzai is comin'...hell or high water.

That's a good way to solve the bug hunt problem.

My current scenario design journey is to find those actions late in the war in which the Japanese did attack during the daytime- because I won't do any more 'bug hunts'.

Some campaigns I have found this to be not all that uncommon:

Leyte
Luzon/Cebu (esp. vs partisans, who took the 'night advantage away from the Japanese.)
Drinumor River (Aitape)- New Guinea .

Regarding Bug hunts -- What if the 'bugs' in the trenches are American/British? (The Hook, Nevada Line-- Korea 1953)

 

[Vic Provost]

That's a good way to solve the bug hunt problem.

My current scenario design journey is to find those actions late in the war in which the Japanese did attack during the daytime- because I won't do any more 'bug hunts'.

Some campaigns I have found this to be not all that uncommon:

Leyte
Luzon/Cebu (esp. vs partisans, who took the 'night advantage away from the Japanese.)
Drinumor River (Aitape)- New Guinea .

Regarding Bug hunts -- What if the 'bugs' in the trenches are American/British? (The Hook, Nevada Line-- Korea 1953)

I'm doing the same for Dispatches but finding the Japanese on the attack, during the daytime, post 1943 is difficult, they knew they were against an opponent with overwhelming firepower, especially on the islands later on with not much cover to take advantage of. The Philippines, New Guinea and Burma give the best possibilities for such an action, Japanese in at least a partial-jungle environment have a much better chance of success. I'm looking at these theaters as well for some new scenarios. Good luck, I will look forward to playing whatever you come up with.

 

[wrongway149]

I'm doing the same for Dispatches but finding the Japanese on the attack, during the daytime, post 1943 is difficult, they knew they were against an opponent with overwhelming firepower, especially on the islands later on with noy much cover to take advantage of. The Philippines, New Guinea and Burma give the best possibilities for such an action, Japanese in at least a partial-jungle environment have a much better chance of success. I'm looking at these theaters as well for some new scenarios. Good luck, I will look forward to playing whatever you come up with.

Well on Leyte, anyway, they brought some good divisions over from China --Experienced, but not so much against American Firepower. And in any case, that firepower was sometimes compromised by a horrible supply situation.

I think it's really under-done in ASL. So I guess I have a new mission.

 

[Paul John]

The bug hunt can also be reduced or eliminated by requiring all HIP simply be put on board concealed at some point.
I rather like the banzai requirement in this pack, but of course it won't be a one-size-fits-all.

The worst bug hunts I have ever encountered are in a tournament where everyone plays the same scenario
and the winner is the one who 'wins by the most', so yes, I must hunt down that irrelevant HS for three turns until it
is eliminated, etc. Torture.