Nor'easter XXI 2017 Boxborough, MA

[=FC=Gorgon]

Yes, we all survived Nor'easter XX and another year has past. Nor'easter XXI is on the horizon for our annual Spring ASL fun! Due to popular demand, Nor'easter XXI will remain a 4 day event with the doors opening at 1000 EDT (1400 Zulu) Thu March 30th and run to Sunday April 2nd. See the end of the post for registration information.

What is the Nor'easter you ask? Well besides being a low pressure system that runs up the eastern U.S. seaboard, it is the premier ASL event in New England. There is action for all ASL fans of all skill levels!

The main tournament (Tournament Director Carl Nogueira) is 5 rounds (Friday mini players are included in the main tournament) over 3 days and there are also 3 "minis". The Friday mini (managed by Joe Gochinski) and Saturday mini (managed by Michael “Pooch” Puccio) are perfect for those who can only make it for 1 day (slots are limited so sign up early!). There is also the (in)famous Mo Fo mini (managed by Chuck Tewksbury of Tussle in the Tundra fame) which spans all 4 days (slots are limited so sign up early!). Don't forget, there are prizes galore and a great raffle too!

Unless you are playing in the Mo Fo, there is open gaming on Thu March 30th. The focus in the MoFo is on very large scenarios.

All skill levels are welcome at the Nor’easter. Just starting up and/or are playing ASL Starter Kit? No worries. We will find an opponent for you.

Extra special bonus!!! That same weekend, Dispatches from the Bunker will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special issue. Mr. Stalingrad, Tom Morin, himself has designed a new mini-CG and scenarios depicting the battle for Rees, Germany in March 1945. Dispatch #44 will be released at Nor'easter 2017 and it will include a historical map of Rees (VASL version will be available too), new rules, new VASL counters, a CG and 5 action packed scenarios. Show up and get to thank Tom in person! Info on how to get Dispatches from the Bunker at the end of this post.

What are you waiting for? See the information below on how to sign up and attend Nor'easter XXI and have a great time. You won't regret it.

The most up to date information is always available at http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php

Nor'easter XXI: March 30th - April 2nd 2017

Location: Holiday Inn(http://tinyurl.com/noreaster-hotel) - 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA 01719.

Use the Holiday Inn link above to get the special group rate (Group Code is 'YAN' for those calling the hotel directly), or simply inform them you are with the Yankee ASL Group and give the dates of the event.

Room rates are $100 per night, double occupancy, $110 for 3 people, $120 for 4. Register by February 28, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. and tell them you're with Yankee ASL to get this rate. The hotel is just off exit 28 on Rte 495, at 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA 01719 (map link https://goo.gl/maps/3iU6WTsGp3q) . Contact the hotel for airport shuttle information and for room reservations at 978-263-8701.

Tournament Registration Info:
You can pre-register on the site (http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php) until Feb 28th - after that you will have to pay at the door.

Registration costs are below and we have our usual excellent raffle and T-shirts on sale ($23.00). Additional details to follow as they become available.

Registration Type: Pre-reg Cost: Pay at the door:
Full Convention (4+days) $40 $45
One Day $20 $25



Got questions? There are several ways to get answers:

• Reply here and one of us should see and respond.
• Subscribe to the YASL mailing list and post your question there (https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/yasl/info)
• Drop an email to noreaster@yankeegamers.org
• Send a tweet to @ASL_noreaster

The Main Tournament Scenario List is out early this year and here it is:

Round #1: Friday 10:00am-4:00pm EDT
ID Scenario Name
BFP-118 Kazina Klash
BFP-147 The Commissar's Folly
DB124 Death on The Esimeer Strasse
O1 Go Big Or Go Home
YASL9 Rack Em' Up

Round #2: Friday 5:00pm EDT-Till you drop
ID Scenario Name
BFP48 Ninth Tanks
Buck10 Buckeye Blitzkrieg
ESG-116 Tornado Of Souls
FrF82 Riders On The Storm
J165 Among The Dead

Round #3: Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm EDT
ID Scenario Name
AP116 Mook Point
BFP105 The Winter City
J174 Heart Of Athena
Ost Front 2, Storm, Five,Five, Five
YASL11 Ja Bix

Round #4: Saturday 5:00pm EDT-Until you drop
ID Scenario Name
DB113 Fontenay By Day
DB130 Tigers And Flames
FB16 Crossing The Bloody Meadow
YASL7 Making A Break For It
YASL10 Dropping Topside

Round #5: Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm EDT
ID Scenario Name
BFP101 Panzer Spirit
DB092 The Streets Of Kharkov
J167 Hart Attack
RPT085 Choiseul Few
SP231 Galician Persuasion

Mini scenario lists to be posted as they become available.

Subscribe to @ASL_Noreaster on twitter for instant updates.

Scenario lists:
The most up to date lists are available at the links below , including scans for those that do not have the scenarios being played.

Main tournament: http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/2017/main.php
Friday Mini tournament: http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/2017/mini_friday.php
Saturday Mini tournament: http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/2017/mini_saturday.php
Mo Fo tournament: http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/2017/mofo.php


Dispatches from the Bunker:
Dispatches from the Bunker is dedicated to the ASL game system and all the players who play it, veterans and novices alike. This newsletter is a labor of love from all who contribute to it and is published every September and March by Vic Provost of the ‘Bunker Crew’.

Subscriptions may be ordered as follows (All prices include shipping & handling and all PayPal fees, prices current as of 2016-10-16:

• 4 issue subscription — In the USA = $15.00 ($14.00 for a returning subscriber’s re-subscription)
• The ‘Works’ (a 4 issue subscription starting with the current issue plus ALL back issues) is $60.00.
• Back issues are available at $3.00 per issue or $2.00 if missing MMP published content (which are Issues 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 & 28).

Send Check/Money Order, (International Subscribers please send cash or an International/Postal Money Order) in US Funds (Please make checks/money orders payable to Vic Provost, NOT Dispatches from the Bunker) to:

Vic Provost
Dispatches from the Bunker
P.O.Box 2024
Hinsdale MA 01235

PayPal Purchase Option: I am now accepting PayPal payments for ALL purchases, please send your payment in US funds via PayPal to PinkFloydFan1954@aol.com. Please e-mail my aslbunker@aol.com account and let me know when you do, Thanks.

Questions and/or comments may be directed by e-mail at - aslbunker@aol.com - Any snail mail questions which need a response should include a SASE.

Dispatches from the Bunker is published twice a year, in March and September, by the ‘Bunker Crew’.

http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

Good news everyone! The Saturday mini scenario list is available!

Head over to http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/2017/mini_saturday.php to check out the list. But here is a rundown of the list:

Round #1: Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm
ID Scenario Name
AOC5 At the Apex
FT169 Daring Para-Froggers
PB3 Piecemeal

Round #2: Saturday 2:00pm-7:00pm
ID Scenario Name
YASL 7 Making a Break for it
A32 Zon with the Wind
G6 Rockets Red Glare

Round #3: Saturday 8:00pm-Closing
ID Scenario Name
WCW5 Abandon Ship
ASLB1 Desant on Gorbachi
CH26 Close Order Driel

The most up to date information is always available at http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php

Nor'easter XXI: March 30th - April 2nd 2017

Location: Holiday Inn(http://tinyurl.com/noreaster-hotel) - 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA 01719.

Use the Holiday Inn link above to get the special group rate (Group Code is 'YAN' for those calling the hotel directly), or simply inform them you are with the Yankee ASL Group and give the dates of the event.

Room rates are $100 per night, double occupancy, $110 for 3 people, $120 for 4. Register by February 28, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. and tell them you're with Yankee ASL to get this rate. The hotel is just off exit 28 on Rte 495, at 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA 01719 (map link https://goo.gl/maps/3iU6WTsGp3q) . Contact the hotel for airport shuttle information and for room reservations at 978-263-8701.

Tournament Registration Info:
You can pre-register on the site (http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php) until Feb 28th - after that you will have to pay at the door.

Registration costs are below and we have our usual excellent raffle and T-shirts on sale ($23.00). Additional details to follow as they become available.

Registration Type: Pre-reg Cost: Pay at the door:
Full Convention (4+days) $40 $45
One Day $20 $25



Got questions? There are several ways to get answers:

• Reply here and one of us should see and respond.
• Subscribe to the YASL mailing list and post your question there (https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/yasl/info)
• Drop an email to noreaster@yankeegamers.org
• Send a tweet to @ASL_noreaster

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

ROAR information for Main Tournament

I gathered up the ROAR info for the Nor'easter XXI main tournament scenarios. I'll update this from time to time as new entries are added, etc. Hopefully this will help people with scenario selection.

Round 1:
BFP-118 Kazina Klash
German 8 Polish 5

BFP-147 The Commissar's Folly
Polish 3 Russian 2

DB124 Death on The Esimeer Strasse
Russian 3 German 4

O1 Go Big Or Go Home
French 32 German 20

YASL9 Rack Em' Up
German 1 American 1

Round 2:
BFP48 Ninth Tanks
Japanese 8 American 7

Buck10 Buckeye Blitzkrieg
Japanese 10 American 11

ESG-116 Tornado Of Souls
German 2 French 3

FrF82 Riders On The Storm
German 4 American/Partisan 6

J165 Among The Dead
German 8 Allied 9


Round 3:
AP116 Mook Point
German 19 American 18

BFP105 The Winter City
Polish 7 Slovak 7

J174 Heart Of Athena
British 6 Partisan 2

OST2 Storm, Five, Five, Five
Russian 12 German 12

YASL11 Ja, Bix
Russian 1 German 1

Round 4:
DB113 Fontenay By Day
German 8 British 8

DB130 Tigers And Flames
Russian 8 German 8

FB16 Crossing The Bloody Meadow
German/Hungarian 3 Russian 3

YASL7 Making A Break For It
British 1 German 0

YASL10 Dropping Topside
Japanese 0 American 1

Round 5:
BFP101 Panzer Spirit
Russian 25 German 25

DB092 The Streets Of Kharkov
German 23 Russian 20

J167 Hart Attack
German 35 American/British 35

RPT085 Choiseul Few
Japanese 7 American 6

SP231 Galician Persuasion
Russian 14 Hungarian 13

 

[Vic Provost]

Looking forward to seeing all the 'Usual Suspects' and some new faces there as always.

Working on playtesting for Rees at this point and it looks like a killer mini-HASL.

Tom is Da Man and looks like he has struck again!

See you there, Vic.

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

We're trying to work out an idea of printing up the Rees map and distributing it at Nor'easter XXI. Cost would depend on volume so if you might be interested in that, please PM me. Actually I think it's called "start a conversation" now, but you know what I mean.

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

We're trying to work out an idea of printing up the Rees map and distributing it at Nor'easter XXI. Cost would depend on volume so if you might be interested in that, please PM me. Actually I think it's called "start a conversation" now, but you know what I mean.

Here is a sample of the map. Note: this is not the final version!

 

[Sparafucil3]

We're trying to work out an idea of printing up the Rees map and distributing it at Nor'easter XXI. Cost would depend on volume so if you might be interested in that, please PM me. Actually I think it's called "start a conversation" now, but you know what I mean.

What about a VASL distribution? -- jim

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

What about a VASL distribution? -- jim

A VASL map will be released as well.

 

[von Marwitz]

Here is a sample of the map. Note: this is not the final version!

Rees, this is interesting.

Possibly, I have some interesting information for you, too. As it happens, Rees is not too far away from where I live. I have been on site personally. For example, I can tell you, that the fortification in X17 (Rondell am Bär) has casemates that were used as shelters for civilians in the war. These are usually closed to the public, but I have been in them.

http://www.baukunst-nrw.de/bilder/full/2712_816769.jpg


This is the entry area today. On the left side, you see the stairs to above. In the rear there is another stair going down roughly 12 to 15 feet into a square cellar estimated roughly 24 by 21 feet. Beneath the gangway in the foreground there are further casemates that housed some cannons some centuries ago. Having been on site, I would place the "Rondell am Bär" in hex X18, rather than X17, i.e. a bit closer to the Rhine.

Furthermore, the P7 building is special. Today, it is a museum. Long ago, it used to be a part of the city fortifications. I has a large cellar and casemates that used to hold cannon in centuries past:

http://www.baukunst-nrw.de/bilder/full/2712_816728.jpg



This casematte is considerably larger that the one beneath the "Rondell am Bär" in X17. I would estimate my memory roughly 20 by 60 feet plus some additional niches as depicted above. IIRC, there are only very few small openings towards the street to the west and the staircase to access the casemate would be in P7, while the casematte might extend beneath P6. It is a while since I have been there, but I believe that there was also a tunnel leading forth from this casemate but I do not remember into which direction and if it was still in place in WW2.

Somewhere along the Westring, there is yet another casemate. I have not had access to that one though. Here is a picture:

http://www.baukunst-nrw.de/bilder/full/2712_816660.jpg



The museum in P7 could probably provide more detailed information:

http://www.rees-erleben.de/index.asp?Ueb=2&Linkkennung=1000000184

There is a very useful website that might help you with mapbuilding. Unfortunately, it is mostly German only.

Edit: Added link which I previously forgot:
https://www.tim-online.nrw.de/tim-online/initParams.do;jsessionid=2446A7A0D7C0EABE4DF76C20A1DD32C8

But here is what you could get:



You want a historical map from 1936 to 1945? There you go. I might add that you can layer and freely scale various map types.



von Marwitz

 

[von Marwitz]

Here are some more pictures of Rees:


This picture seems to imply that the levy in X11/Y12 seens to meet up with the town in the an incorrect angle.


Clearly after the battle with pontoon bridges in place.


An old postcard of Rees - however I do not know the date of the photograph.


A very nice current picture of Rees from W20 (the high Mühlenturm) to X17 (Rondell am Bär bastion with casemate as pictured in previous post). IMHO it does show that the Rondell am Bär bastion might be better placed in X18.

von Marwitz

 

[Carln0130]

Von, I gave Tom a shout. Let him know you had this out here. I am sure he will be happy to see it.

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

Yeah, this is awesome stuff von Marwitz. Thanks!

 

[Carln0130]

Tom said he is very interested, but is in the middle of his annual snow bird move back down to FLA, so it will be a few days.

 

[von Marwitz]

One more word on "Tim online", that map-portal for Northrhine-Westphalia for which I have now added a link in my upper post (which I had forgotten before):

It used to be even cooler than now. One or two years ago, it was possible to generate 3D-Landscape views in alomost any scale and from any direction and angle. I had presented the possibilites back then in the old forum, so now, unfortunately, the pictures are lost. Alas now, the same service is no longer free but requires a fee.

In the ASL Scenario Designer section of the forum there is also an old thread of mine referencing a website with historical aerial photograps dating back in some parts to 1926, 1934 or 1952. This can be extremely useful for scenario designers or people working on historical maps for ASL.

This is the link:
https://www.luftbilder.geoportal.ruhr/

Here are some screenshots. Alas, Rees is just outside the area covered, so as examples, I give other places of interest nearby to give you an idea:


This is the "standard" current map freely scalable. Note the years for which various aerial photographic coverage might be available from the dropdown menu (1926 to 2015).


This is an example of an aerial photographic coverage from 1934 marking the area of Bislich, site of another Rhine crossing.


Here another example from 1952 of the town of Xanten opposite Bislich on the other bank of the Rhine. The quality is markedly better. Still, a lot of wartime damage to the town can be observed.

The historical aerial photographic coverage is especially valuable to scenario designers because it shows the contemporary built up areas which is something that novadays Google maps cannot provide. After all, 1934 is not that long before and 1952 not that long after the war. Thus you can get a pretty good picture of what the terrain looked like during the war. Both resources to complement each other nicely, as does TIM online.

von Marwitz

 

[Tom Morin]

Here are some more pictures of Rees:

This picture seems to imply that the levy in X11/Y12 seens to meet up with the town in the an incorrect angle.

A very nice current picture of Rees from W20 (the high Mühlenturm) to X17 (Rondell am Bär bastion with casemate as pictured in previous post). IMHO it does show that the Rondell am Bär bastion might be better placed in X18.

von Marwitz

Von,

Excellent photos! I see what you mean about the levee/dyke angle. As for the bastion, see the pic below where I superimposed a hex grid. There is always some fudging that goes on in order to fit into a hex grid. I had other maps and pics as well which I used to match buildings to the hex grid. I'm satisfied with the current hex/building layout but I will take another look, especially at the levee angle. Does it appear like the wall extends beyond the levee up to where the ground rises (i.e. to the crest line)?



I have to say appearance-wise though, that Al Cannamore took my ugly duckling map and turned it into a real beauty.


Von, please send me a private email and we can discuss further.

Regards,

Tom

 

[von Marwitz]

Tom,

I have sent you a PM.

Kind regards,
von Marwitz

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

Hi Folks,

Carl has published errata for the main tournament scenarios. As usual it is available via http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php but a direct link to the errata page is at http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/2017/Eratta2017.pdf.

There are still plenty of spots open so sign up early. You don't want to make signing up a New Year's resolution, do you?

FYI, Nor'easter XXI gets a shout out from The Two Half Squads! If you haven't checked out their podcast yet, check them out at http://www.the2halfsquads.com/.

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

It's a 106 days to the Nor'easter, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.....

Boxcars!........NVR change!........

Sounds like one of my games.

There are still spots left at the Nor'easter folks so please sign up. FYI, the Friday mini is full, but there are still slots for the Mo-Fo and the Saturday mini!!

http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

Hey there SMCs,

Copying Carl's update into this thread to keep it complete:

The Holiday Inn Boxborough has been bought out by Regency hotels. When you call in, they will answer the phone Regency Boxborough, rather than Holiday Inn Boxborough as in the past. No worries, you are in the right place and the rates stand. Just mention Yankee ASL, as in the past an notify me here or by email at chnogueira@aol.com, if there are any issues.

Only 85 days until Nor'easter XXI so please head over to http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php and sign up. We got 30 players so far and am looking for more!

Nor'easter XXI: March 30th - April 2nd 2017

Location: Boxboro Regency (http://www.boxbororegency.com/) - 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA 01719.

Use the link above to check out the hotel. Call the # on the web site and mentionGroup Code 'YAN', or simply inform them you are with the Yankee ASL Group and give the dates of the event.

Room rates are $100 per night, double occupancy, $110 for 3 people, $120 for 4. Register by February 28, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. and tell them you're with Yankee ASL to get this rate. The hotel is just off exit 28 on Rte 495, at 242 Adams Place, Boxborough MA 01719 (map link https://goo.gl/maps/3iU6WTsGp3q) . Contact the hotel for room reservations at 978-263-8701.

 

[=FC=Gorgon]

Signed up for the Nor'easter and looking for a Round 1 matchup? Consider joining the YASL mailing list where you can chat with a bunch of local yokels and setup at that 1st round matchup. Or plan that marathon scenario you always wanted to play and set it up on Thursday March 30th!

You can join by emailing yasl-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or by visiting https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/yasl/info

Or you can drop Carl an email at chnogueira@aol.com and he can match you up that way.

Still haven't signed up yet? Then head on over to http://www.yankeegamers.org/noreaster/noreaster2017.php and sign up now! The main tournament is always available and there are still slots open for the epic Big MoFo http://www.gamesquad.com/forums/index.php?threads/the-noreaster-mofo-mini.129000/