If you had only the choice of one HASL to play, which would it be?

[Gunner Scott]

Hi ya-

So yes there are a crap ton of HASL's out there, BUT if you only had the choice of playing one HASL and no other, which HASL would you play? For me, if I had only one choice, I would choose Red Berricades/ Factories. The tension starts on turn one and does not let up that is for sure.

 

[ParaMarine]

Valor of the Guards

 

[sswann]

Green Hell of Inor (LFT)

 

[Gamer72]

Played : Fight For Seoul
Unplayed : Operation Brevity

 

[lluis61]

First of all, I will answer which are my favorite theaters or battles of war:

1. Italian: Cassino et al.
2. Arnhem
3. Normandy
4. Berlin
5. Stalingrad

Said that, sometimes I play for the competition (ie: balanced) and sometimes for the replaying of historical situations. So, my favorites, by comprehensive, detailed and flavor motives are:

1. Red Factories
2. Berlin 1 and 2 (CH)
3. Maxim Gorky
4. Kampfgruppe Scherer
5. St Nazaire
6. Westerplatte

Red Factories is the one that has all: Good map, good scenarios, CGs, and fine design. But Berlin is a feast, no matter wihich is the balance, when you're playing ALL the battle; Gorky is a challenge; KG Scherer is complex and subtle; St Nazaire is vibrant; Westerplatte... play as a historical AAR and see what a sieged without relief could endure. I have, but not played, Fortress Cassino and Carnage at Cassino; but I would like to see a more comprehensive HASL of this battle, not only parts of it...
But you ever can return to old Stalingrad with RF...

 

[kcole4001]

This used to be an easy choice: Red Barricades, however I've played that a lot in the past, so I think I'd go with Green Hell of Inor.
The replay value is clearly there, it's a cool map, early war, interesting troops & SSRs.
Not that RB/Red Factories lacks in anything, just that Inor will take a long time to get to the well known place that Stalingrad occupies.

Luckily I don't have to only ever play one.

 

[Yuri0352]

Fight for Seoul.

 

[Vic Provost]

For me, Stalingrad rules so it would be Red Factories (especially RB) and Valor of the Guards.

A shoutout out to Tom Morin's Rees HASL in Dispatch #44, I've had several players say they were playing it this past year and having a ton of fun with it. A very manageable campaign on a cool board many have not seen and worth checking out.

 

[Craig Benn]

Operation Veritable is the best CG I've played so far.

Honourable mentions to Kampfgruppe Scherer and Purple Heart Draw.

Hoping Manila will be in the conversation but it's not hit the table yet. Ditto Hatten.

 

[zgrose]

Hatten is very fun, but I think I’d prefer VotG if I only got 1 HASL to choose from.

 

[Vic Provost]

Hatten is very fun, but I think I’d prefer VotG if I only got 1 HASL to choose from.

I love Hatten too, great scenarios and a campaign you can actually play and finish in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[RRschultze]

I love Hatten too, great scenarios and a campaign you can actually play and finish in a reasonable amount of time.

It’s those hillock rules that get me !

 

[RRschultze]

KGS scherer for me. Fantastic maps, great tension. Ok, it’s got some chrome rules, but you’ve gotta love it.

 

[ParaMarine]

KGS is an example of extra counters done right. Ski troops and all the pieces are for a campaign, so you can use them for a long campaign while freeing up your others for everyday use.

 

[william.stoppel]

I have to go with Festung Budapest. Hands down my favorite HASL. Bill Cirillo (w/ able assistance from Sean) is my favorite scenario designer.

 

[Barking Monkey]

Not sure if it's actually a HASL (since it lacks several key features), or more of a super-scenario bundle, but I'm going with Poland in Flames. If that doesn't count it's probably Red Factories, with honorable mentions to Inor, Budapest & Orsha.

 

[Martin Mayers]

Pegasus Bridge for it's balance and easy playability.

Purple Heart Draw for the interesting nature of the Campaign Game even though I think it's very unbalanced if your German opponent knows how to defend and if you both understand and apply the Bocage rules correctly.

 

[Alan Hume]

Red Factories for me for sure, it's a classic
it's also the only HASL that I have ever played

 

[Faded 8-1]

I'd have to go with Red Factories.

Although I'm enjoying Manila, but have only played 1 scenario so far, and no CGs yet, so I can't put it as my favorite atm.

 

[Honza]

The most fun I have had with a HASL is with my own design of a CG based on Iwo Jima. I would love to make it available to everyone someday....but the chore of concisely writing up all the rules proves too daunting.