The 50th Anniversary of the Release of Squad Leader. Any plans or ideas?

[Actionjick]

Sure it's a bit early but that didn't stop the Bicentennial planners.

I am not sure what I would like to see. A tribute to John Hill and Don Greenwood is a given. Perhaps some recollections of those who bought it in '77 would be nice. Still SL is a great game. In some ways more fun than ASL.
Tie the heretic to the nearest post and grab firewood and kindling. Use the SL counters as the kindling. Lol. I still love that game.

Whatever thoughts you have I would enjoy hearing. Might even spur some planning.

Happy Upcoming Fiftieth to all SL/ASL players! Past and present.

 

[ScottRomanowski]

Maybe I'll dust off my purple box and give it a go solitaire, like how I taught myself to play in '77.

 

[JRKrejsa]

So, as of now, the system, (or at least, the beginning of the system), is 46 years old?!
Damn, I’m old.

 

[Actionjick]

Maybe I'll dust off my purple box and give it a go solitaire, like how I taught myself to play in '77.

I'd like to hear some more about where you got the purple box SL. Fish thought it might have been an Origins release. Interesting that you started off with solitaire playing. Thanks for the response!

 

[Actionjick]

So, as of now, the system, (or at least, the beginning of the system), is 46 years old?!
Damn, I’m old.

Lol yes we and the game are both aging. The game most likely is aging better than the players.

 

[Eagle4ty]

By the time I finally figured out a method to remember all of the ordnance fire DRMs, especially anti-armor ones, they had come out with ASL. Don't even remind me of the "bring that guy back here and get attacked by that MG". "Now where did he end up again?" I did like several of the concepts though (use of LMGs in CC, a building TH line for ordnance, and others). I always thought ASL overdid the ROF thing. If I'd been the ruler of the SL/ASL world back then, I would have given all MGs a ROF of [1] and used penetration when ROF had not been retained (perhaps too many counters though in the early days of ASL). A lot of good stuff in SL but overall ASL is MUCH better and a "cleaner" game. What an idea though, truly groundbreaking in the "war game" world of the 1970's!

 

[ScottRomanowski]

I'd like to hear some more about where you got the purple box SL.

I think I mail-ordered it from AH. Those were the days! Postage coupons in The General, and a rock-steady two-week time from when I mailed a check until UPS delivered my game.

 

[Actionjick]

I quite enjoyed Scott's story of getting SL through mail order. Was it the purple box Scott? Fish had one but I can't recall if it was his original.

Thinking about it I never asked Mac or Fish how they got into SL, or how long they had played it. Mac was MV Playtester for COI and Fish met him shortly after that was released. That kind of information didn't seem important to me at the time. Probably not even quite so much now but interesting for the history of the game. If anyone is In Contact with Mac ask him to provide some details.

On a different note does anyone know the exact release date of SL? The 50th must be celebrated accurately.

 

[chris_olden]

Bought my copy of SL in June of ‘78, at Toys R Us.

 

[Jwil2020]

The old John Hill classic that started it all was first released in 1977. 46 years ago. EDIT: They published a Fourth Edition of the rules in 1980, which gives an indication of its continued popularity after 3 years.

 

[hongkongwargamer]

Bought my second copy of SL 10 years ago and realised that the wargame hobby is very much alive and well. That led me to a copy of the ASLRB a month later in a dusty little bookstore which resulted in my first ASL game yet another month later at a local meet!

Never looked back since.

(Would have been much richer had I not run into that second copy of SL, but wouldn’t have met more than a few esteemed gents otherwise.)

 

[Stewart]

Better late than never....guess I'll start reading now.

 

[Old Noob]

Got my copy of original Squad Leader way back in 1977 (or was it 1978?) while in the Air Force.

 

[Actionjick]

Got my copy of original Squad Leader way back in 1977 (or was it 1978?) while in the Air Force.

Was it the purple box and what about SL attracted your attention?

 

[Jplott94]

Actually visited the old 4517 Harford Road offices of Avalon Hill in 1981 before my first tour overseas in the Air Force. Saw a couple of purple Squad Leader boxes on the shelf...thought they were ugly. Already had the "new/improved" orange SL box...so, why bother? Had I known...

 

[daniel zucker]

It must have been 1981 I was into the AH game 1776. and I found someone who I knew who lived near by. We meet up for a game of 1776 and when it was over he gave me the purple box 1st edition SL saying he wasn't into it and I could have it. I thanked him for the game and I started to read the rules and was hooked.

 

[Actionjick]

Great story! Thanks!

 

[Actionjick]

Actually visited the old 4517 Harford Road offices of Avalon Hill in 1981 before my first tour overseas in the Air Force. Saw a couple of purple Squad Leader boxes on the shelf...thought they were ugly. Already had the "new/improved" orange SL box...so, why bother? Had I known...

Nice you got to visit AH. Did you meet any of the designers?

 

[Jplott94]

Nice you got to visit AH. Did you meet any of the designers?

Unfortunately, no. Just wanted to visit the place I sent a lot of my money to back in the day. Also, had the wife with me, and we were a bit time limited as we needed to catch a plane. She couldn't stand the place.

 

[Actionjick]

Unfortunately, no. Just wanted to visit the place I sent a lot of my money to back in the day. Also, had the wife with me, and we were a bit time limited as we needed to catch a plane. She couldn't stand the place.

Too bad. Oftentimes the SO must be accommodated. Most of the time actually. Thanks for the reply.