Design Limits for ASL scenarios (Time frame)

[WGZ]

FrankH said the following: (And Von Marwitz had a similar tone in his post)

"Between the wars, and even after WWII, partisan actions and independence movements resulted in poorly trained, irregular forces moving about in smaller scale actions. The ASL rules do a rather rough job of representing this."

The scenarios I am looking at/designing are from an insurgency type of war.. (1920s) weak forces all around, but I am not sure the "battles" are squads vs squads.. Some tweaking will have to be done. Platoon movement for squads I jest here, some rules do help, lower conscript movement, weaker SMCs, (not a rule more of a game mechanic), etc..

My plan is to move forward on these designs and see what I get, want to be realistic going in, but do not want to overthink this and sabotage the designs from the start.

Thanks
Joe

one thing to consider for pre-WWII designs is whether or not the squad had an inherent LMG. That is baked into the firepower value for SL/ASL, be it a MG-34, BAR, or Lewis/Bren gun. In Vietnam it also needs to be addressed as the US made gave each platoon two M60s (basically the MG-42) and the squads were 8-10 (usually 8) guys with M16s.

 

[JRKrejsa]

one thing to consider for pre-WWII designs is whether or not the squad had an inherent LMG. That is baked into the firepower value for SL/ASL, be it a MG-34, BAR, or Lewis/Bren gun. In Vietnam it also needs to be addressed as the US made gave each platoon two M60s (basically the MG-42) and the squads were 8-10 (usually 8) guys with M16s.

3 FP for a squad with no squad automatic weapon/ LMG. (Bolt action rifles).

 

[Actionjick]

3 FP for a squad with no squad automatic weapon/ LMG. (Bolt action rifles).

I can't remember where I read it but apparently the British with their Lee Enfield bolt action rifles could put out
a respectable ROF.
It's not always how many bullets you can shoot but where they land that counts.

 

[Actionjick]

3 FP for a squad with no squad automatic weapon/ LMG. (Bolt action rifles).

American 6-6-6 still a great unit. Would take them any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Which I often did.

 

[JRKrejsa]

I can't remember where I read it but apparently the British with their Lee Enfield bolt action rifles could put out
a respectable ROF.
It's not always how many bullets you can shoot but where they land that counts.

True, but every Brit squad has a Bren gun too.

 

[footsteps]

When working out values for modern era units, I believe it's important to make them compatible with each other, rather than an extension of WW2 era units.

For example, if you make a Vietnam era US squad have values of 6-6-6 or 6-6-7, then make the Vietcong values comparable to that. None of these units are expected to face WW2 Germans etc., but you can still use the same tables for comparable era combat effects.

 

[PresterJohn]

No small number of WW2 Germans found themselves in Indochina facing the Viet Minh.

 

[zgrose]

When working out values for modern era units, I believe it's important to make them compatible with each other, rather than an extension of WW2 era units.

For example, if you make a Vietnam era US squad have values of 6-6-6 or 6-6-7, then make the Vietcong values comparable to that. None of these units are expected to face WW2 Germans etc., but you can still use the same tables for comparable era combat effects.

Seems to be the path Star Leader is taking as well. Stat-squishing/re-normalization is the best option when you have forces that will never face each other, and you can always SSR in new values or DRM if you're crafting a hypothetical. Win-win.

 

[GeorgeBates]

3 FP for a squad with no squad automatic weapon/ LMG. (Bolt action rifles).

Or a unit that has the kit but doesn't have the tactics, training or morale to use them properly.

 

[von Marwitz]

No small number of WW2 Germans found themselves in Indochina facing the Viet Minh.

Yes, as part of the Légion étrangère which offered a "no questions asked" way out with regard to problematic recent past for numerous of its German members of that time.

von Marwitz

 

[Psycho]

No small number of WW2 Germans found themselves in Indochina facing the Viet Minh.

I did a buncha scenarios from Kessler’s Wotan series that were dealing with this although based on history they are non-historical. Also the same for Devil’s Guard series from Elford.

 

[Actionjick]

I did a buncha scenarios from Kessler’s Wotan series that were dealing with this although based on history they are non-historical. Also the same for Devil’s Guard series from Elford.

Who GAF if they are non historical as long as they are fun to play. You go girl.

 

[witchbottles]

with existing countermixes both offical and TPP, I would say the system is solid from around 1930 to 1959, depending on conflict being modeled.

the sweet spot for the system is June to December 1942. The farther you reach out in eiter direction from that, the more you need additional rules sections, Cptr H notes, new counter types, and major SSRs.