Richard Weiley said:
As I recall, from statements in the General and/or the early Annuals, DASL was dropped because sales were disappointing. The modules were quite expensive for what they contained (4 maps and 8 scenarios) and consequently move off the shelf as well as expected.
I think, though, if the same thing was done today the cost factor could be quite different. Consider the advantages:
1) no counters [the half countersheet from HH is not needed, since those counters pretty much exist in some form or fashion now].
2) sk style maps can be used.
3) AFV cards are not needed.
So, basically, we'd have just have deluxe-sk maps and scenarios. A box wouldn't even be needed, instead just market it as a SOF "packet" (for example) where a "packet" is just a 9"X12" (or whatever) manila envelope containing 4 deluxe-sk mapsheets and 20 (or so) scenarios (scenario #s can certainly be beefed up with reworked OOP ones). This would certainly reduce costs considerably (even $20/$30 seems feasible). MMP could also save stock space via this approach (you can certainly stock 1500 deluxe "packets" in the same amount of space that 100 BV3s would take up). Not much playtesting needed since all the scenarios are done already (maybe just some "tweaking" for unbalanced scenarios etc...).
Some of the best ASL scenarios I've ever played were Deluxe. I'd love to see it back in print & reenter the mainstream ASL scene again, better yet, see some new dx boards & scenarios added as well (i.e. more packets, even a PTO "packet").
btw: there's no need to go the miniature route with it, though I suppose that option could be left open for those preferring miniatures.