New to ASL - Got ASLRB, what's next?

[seh]

I am new to ASL -- so new that I have never played. The obvious strength and dedication of the ASL community convinced me that this is an endeavor worth getting involved in.

First I read MMP's "A Free Introductory Guide to Advanced Squad Leader" (whasasl.pdf), then purchased the ASLRBv2 and have read about halfway through Section A. There's a lot of reading left in there, but I suspect that not all of it is essential to start playing a simple game.

I was surprised to find that the Rule Book didn't come with any counters or maps. The ASL FAQ suggests that the next required purchase is Beyond Valor. (As Paratroopers sounds like it's only a wise purchase for dabblers. Please correct me if I'm wrong.) That module is out of print for now; only some fierce wrangling on eBay will make that purchase possible.

Before I spend all that money, I'd like some advice on how to proceed from here. Should I just keep reading until I've covered most of the Rule Book? How much of the Rule Book must one learn before playing for the first time? Is purchasing BV essential to playing? I can see that many scenarios are available online or in print for free, but without maps and counters one can't get very far.

Any advice on an ASL ramp-up path would be most appreciated. Also, I live in San Diego, CA, if anyone local wants to extend a hand.

 

[Brian W]

Welcome

The best way to learn ASL is by finding a local opponent and playing an intro game. If you can read chap. A first, so much the better, but the game is the best place to learn. The ASL Player Directory on the MMP list will show some local opponents; I believe there is an active club in southern Cali as well, check http://www.socalasl.com/. Contact user syfaulk on this forum (Scott Faulk); he is in your city and comes highly recommended

I would advise against making any more purchases until you have played a couple games and seen if you like it. Also, check out VASL, a computer aid that allows you to play online/by email at http://www.vasl.org

Good luck,
Brian Williams

 

[Anonymous]

Some humble suggestions on getting started if you can't get the local face-to-face game. I'm a newbie too, so this is what seems to be working for me as well.

1. Definitely get VASL up and running. Download some boards. Fool around with it see how it works. This lets you see what the boards and counters look like...and yes, you'll be able to play games without making any more purchases for the time being.

2. Download the Programmed Instruction article from here

http://www.multimanpublishing.com/ASL/articles.php

It breaks down the rules into easy to swallow sections and suggests scemarios to play to master those sections. I'm playing solo a little bit each night as well as a e-mail game and the rules are becoming very intuitive quickly. It works....and it's fun!

3. Download some scenarios from here

http://www.multimanpublishing.com/ASL/scenarios.php

Get the classic ASL pack.

If you do decide to go this route and you want to try an e-mail game of Guards Counterattack after trying it solo for practice, just drop me a line at peterk@look.ca.

Have fun!

 

[da priest]

Well ya never said which ASLRB ya got. If ya got Version 2 then ya got all Chapter K -do that all the way thru.

If not grab Paratrooper ver 1 with most of Chapter K if you can.

 

[seh]

Well ya never said which ASLRB ya got. If ya got Version 2 then ya got all Chapter K -do that all the way thru.

The specification was cryptic, but I mentioned that I bought the 2nd Edition (v2) Rule Book. Chapter K is indeed in there. I took a look at it and found it starting with the admonishment that the training should not be merely read, but acted out with maps and counters. Again, there's an assumption that the buyer has more in hand than what ships with the Rule Book. Presumably this would be so if one acquired Chapter K as part of Paratroopers.

Based on the other replies here, it sounds like VASL allows one to tinker with maps and counters without purchasing a physical ASL module. Are you suggesting that merely reading Chapter K is sufficient, or do you support the recommendation that Chapter K be acted out? Is VASL the right tool for the job?

 

[Pitman]

There is absolutely no reason for you not to purchase Paratrooper. It will let you play the system, let you use Chapter K, etc. If you don't like it, you have spent less than you would have spent for Beyond Valor. If you like ASL, you'd have bought Paratrooper anyway.

 

[Fred Ingram]

As a newbie without having made any game material purchases, you will still have to be very careful buying paratrooper. I cannot remember which board(s) are included, but it is a safe bet that most of the scenarios in paratrooper would require boardsnot included in the module.

I just want to make sure you are not disappointed or get a bad taste in your mpouth about ASL. Maybe the FAQ has some information in it about which boards come with which modules (or perhaps another forum member can provide a URL to help you out)

 

[Anonymous]

> Based on the other replies here, it sounds like VASL allows one to
> tinker with maps and counters without purchasing a physical ASL
> module.

Yes, it does and it's great for what you want to do now which is tinker around and experiment.

> Are you suggesting that merely reading Chapter K is sufficient, or do
> you support the recommendation that Chapter K be acted out? Is VASL > the right tool for the job?

Chapter K must be acted out. You have to be looking at the board and moving the pieces.

Honestly though and I don't know how others feel about it....definitely go through chapter K once, but don't get carried away...there are a lot of trick questions in there that honestly are not terribly important to know when beginning. I think you'll get way more mileage out of actually playing a simple scenario with minimum rules.

There are also some excellent Play example acrobat files for Guards Counterattack and Fighting Withdrawal that show you how it's done very quickly along with some very illuminating strategic discussion. Look at Tuomo's site to get these. These examples must also be acted out although they are illustrated,

 

[Bruce Childs]

You can download chapter N at the multimanpublishing.com site. This tells you what boards/counters/overlays come with each module.

With VASL, you have the ability to watch other players as they play live, or to get out a board and some pieces and push em around yerself. Tuomo and Romey have been staging regular FTF games via VASL. VASL has its own message board so you can be aware of when they are going to play next. They are very patient with questions from onlookers and explain things advanced players should be aware of as well.

Hope to see you online.

 

[Jeff Leslie]

There are also many experienced players on VASL that would be more than willing (I will call myself more willing than experienced...) to play tutorial games with you, all you have to do is ask.

If you want to get into Face-to-Face ASL right now, you have to buy Paratrooper for two reasons: one, it comes with an assortment of neutral counters normally included in Beyond Valor that are essential to play the game properly; and two, you can't get Beyond Valor right now outside Ebay or some obscure hobbyshop that may still have copies of it. Paratrooper is $33 (I think I paid $15 for it when it first came out...), and it comes with boards 2,4, and 24. All you need in addition to those boards to play all the scenarios in it are boards #1 and #3, but with the included boards you can at least get started.

If you like ASL, you'd have bought Paratrooper anyway.

That about sums it up right there - If you end up liking ASL you will end up buying all the modules anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

My humble opinion.

Hi seh,
Welcome to ASL. It's a great game. I'd say, download and install VASL and begin using Chapter K to learn the game. Take someone up on their offer to play, and you will be hooked.
Buy "Paratrooper", but be aware that the 1st edition only had board 24, whereas the 2nd edition has boards 2, 4 and 24.
Board 1,2,3 and 4 were in the original "Squad Leader" wargame. There were many of these games sold, so finding a used one is not too hard, and I have seen quite a few game and hobby stores that have these boards in used condition for sale on an individual basis. They can also be had, unmounted, directly from Multiman Publishing.
Again, welcome. The learning curve is steep at first with ASL, but it is great fun.
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

My Humble Question.

To all of you guys in the know,
Has Charter K changed from the 1st edition?
If not, then does it make any sense to have an introductory module for ASL (Paratrooper) that has its very first follow-along exercise take place on Board 1, a board which is not included in that introductory module or any other module in the system?
I think it may be time to realize that anyone who may want to start to play this game may have no idea what you mean when you talk about the original "purple box". Very unlikely that they will have those boards laying around like a lot of us did.
Rick

 

[syfaulk]

SEH writes:

Also, I live in San Diego, CA, if anyone local wants to extend a hand.

Hey-hey! I'm in San Diego and I'd love to lend a hand. (Thanks for the recommendation Brian, btw ) While my face to face time is somewhat limited, I'd still like to point you at a few players in our area. Your first move would be to contact the Southern Area Director of the Southern California ASL club. Robert Feinstein is an excellent player, a patient tutor and a hell of a nice guy. He'd love to hear from a new recruit: rdf@kelaroo.com . If I recall correctly, Robert is over near UCSD.
Another local is the SoCal club's president Jim Aikens. I don't know about lately, but Jim usually has a weekly game going on at his office in Escondido. You can get him at: ala@pe.net .
Like I said, my face to face time is pretty limited, but feel free to contact me regardless to see if we can set something up. Playing the game, face to face or VASL is by far the best way to learn.

Regards,
Scott Faulk
syfaulk@cox.net

 

[syfaulk]

seh also writes:

That module [BV] is out of print for now; only some fierce wrangling on eBay will make that purchase possible.

Have you tried Game Towne in Old Town or the Wizards of the Coast in Mission Valley?

It's been a while (January) since I've been to either, but I remember seeing a BV plus a lot of Critical Hit stuff (which you don't need right now) at Game Towne and a few modules (Gung Ho and Yanks, IIRC) at the WoTC. I know, GH and Yanks don't help you out right now, but they did have modules! :wink:

-Scott

 

[seh]

Have you tried Game Towne in Old Town or the Wizards of the Coast in Mission Valley?

I bought my ASLRB at WOTC in Mission Valley. They had only one copy in stock. The corners of the binder were a littile gnawed, but the manager refused to give me a discount. I picked it up after getting the impression that they will not special order any ASL stuff, nor do they expect to be restocked with any regularity.

It's been a while (January) since I've been to either, but I remember seeing a BV plus a lot of Critical Hit stuff (which you don't need right now) at Game Towne and a few modules (Gung Ho and Yanks, IIRC) at the WoTC. I know, GH and Yanks don't help you out right now, but they did have modules!

WOTC does have plenty of ASL Journals, Yanks, and Paratroopers, I think. I will run, not walk, over to Game Towne to check out their selection as well. Thanks for the tip.

 

[seh]

Have you tried Game Towne in Old Town or the Wizards of the Coast in Mission Valley?

I bought my ASLRB at WOTC in Mission Valley. They had only one copy in stock. The corners of the binder were a littile gnawed, but the manager refused to give me a discount. I picked it up after getting the impression that they will not special order any ASL stuff, nor do they expect to be restocked with any regularity.

It's been a while (January) since I've been to either, but I remember seeing a BV plus a lot of Critical Hit stuff (which you don't need right now) at Game Towne and a few modules (Gung Ho and Yanks, IIRC) at the WoTC. I know, GH and Yanks don't help you out right now, but they did have modules!

WOTC does have plenty of ASL Journals, Yanks, and Paratroopers, I think. I will run, not walk, over to Game Towne to check out their selection as well. Thanks for the tip.

 

[seh]

Hey-hey! I'm in San Diego and I'd love to lend a hand.

Great. I won't bother you with "face time" just yet. More study is due. At this point all you'd get is a lot of confused stares and head scratching.

Your first move would be to contact the Southern Area Director of the Southern California ASL club. Robert Feinstein is an excellent player, a patient tutor and a hell of a nice guy. He'd love to hear from a new recruit: rdf@kelaroo.com. If I recall correctly, Robert is over near UCSD.

I will write to Robert to introduce myself and find out when and where he might be available.

Another local is the SoCal club's president Jim Aikens. I don't know about lately, but Jim usually has a weekly game going on at his office in Escondido. You can get him at: ala@pe.net.

This kind of weekly gaming was part of what I was intending to dig up next. I would definitely like to get involved, even if it's only watching others play for now. The big tournaments I've read about are either too infrequent or too far away for the pace at which I'd like to learn. I'll write to Jim to see if he's still hosting.

Like I said, my face to face time is pretty limited, but feel free to contact me regardless to see if we can set something up.

I will keep that in offer in my back pocket. It's great to find this much immediate hospitality.

Playing the game, face to face or VASL is by far the best way to learn.

The coming weekend may afford enough time to get VASL set up. That should open a whole new realm.

 

[seh]

Chapter K must be acted out. You have to be looking at the board and moving the pieces.

I'll wait until I have VASL set up then to tackle Chapter K.

I think you'll get way more mileage out of actually playing a simple scenario with minimum rules.

Can one find benefit in playing such a scenario alone? I was baffled to find that "proper" Solitaire play requires so many modules, and even then isn't richly supported. As a beginner, solitaire is the first mode of interest, both to work at my own pace and avoid disturbing or boring a more experienced opponent.

There are also some excellent Play example acrobat files for Guards Counterattack and Fighting Withdrawal that show you how it's done very quickly along with some very illuminating strategic discussion. Look at Tuomo's site to get these.

I downloaded and printed these two yesterday and spent about three hours with Basic Infantry Example of Play last night. Wow, what a great resource. Every time I thought I saw an error, I researched it and found that the error was mine -- and learned something in the process. I was also forced to read ahead to learn about Fire Lanes and Snipers. Having examples of these entities acted out helped make the rules more palatable. I'm looking forward to going through both of these Examples of Play. The only trouble I'm having is in reading the terribly dense counter stacks on the otherwise-wonderful illustrations.

These examples must also be acted out although they are illustrated.

I'm finding that reading them slowly and carefully in of great benefit, but will heed your advice as soon as I get VASL set up.

Thank you again for the recommendation.

 

[Anonymous]

> Can one find benefit in playing such a scenario alone? I was baffled to > find that "proper" Solitaire play requires so many modules, and even
> then isn't richly supported. As a beginner, solitaire is the first mode of
> interest, both to work at my own pace and avoid disturbing or boring a > more experienced opponent.

Hi Seh,

I've never really been into playing board wargames solo. I always thought it was boring and I have some great computer games on similar subjects (Steel Panthers, Combat Mission) that I thought provide a better solo experience.

Guess what? I was wrong. I've found that playing ASL solo (certain scenarios at least) is invaluable for:

o getting good at the rules FAST
o experimenting with different techniques to see what works best. VASL is just brilliant for this. Set up the board for the beginning of a scenario. Save it. Play out the first prep fire and movement as the attacker. See what worked, see what didn't. Come up with an alternative method. Load up that original start file and go at it again.

...and it's also a lot of fun.

The Guards Counterattack is good because the starting position of the pieces is 90% fixed, so it's less about set-up (where different human opponents will come up with totally different setups) and more about play. It works very well solo.

 

[LtDan]

Definitely DO NOT pay outrageous prices for ASL stuff on eBay. You can find stuff cheaper with patience and by making connections. Do you have any game stores that sell used games in your area? Stake those out and watch for ASL stuff, people do sell their kits ocassionally and you can get everything in one fell swoop if you're lucky. Make friends with the local gamers as they may know people who want to seel their stuff. Also, this stuff will eventually be reprinted if MMP gets their act together so another reason not to pay outrageous prices. ASL is an expensive game, make no bones about it, but if you are patient you can ease the burden somewhat.... Just my $0.02.