So what Starter Kit Scenario have you played recently?

[olli]

Well if I ever get back to the UK from holland (vocano permitting) I have to bring my starter kit stuff back with me as I found out today that one of tha dutch guys wants to learn how to play ASL!!! and i have been here 10 months without knowing!!

[custardpie]

Well if I ever get back to the UK from holland (vocano permitting) I have to bring my starter kit stuff back with me as I found out today that one of tha dutch guys wants to learn how to play ASL!!! and i have been here 10 months without knowing!!

That would suck if you are only there 12 months!!!!!!

I lived next to a frustraited wargamer for about 18 months before finding out!!! I was walking up my drive and he asked where I had been, told him I had been out to get paint for some figures I was painting, he nearly fell down the ladder in his haste!!!!!!!

I think this is because we often don't like to talk about our hobby, I do so now at most oppertunities!!!!

[charlie]

I think this is because we often don't like to talk about our hobby, I do so now at most oppertunities!!!!

And because of this I'm now playing ASL. Thanks, Ian!

[custardpie]

And because of this I'm now playing ASL. Thanks, Ian!

You made the steps Duncan, you would have got there. In fact your FTF opponent deserves more credit, though I think we may have created a monster LOL

[sunoftzu]

Hi,

I've played over 800 ASL games dating back to 1988 (started SL in 1987), but tonight was my first ASLSK game. S1 Retaking Vierville.

So, for me it was a case of un-learning rules (no conc, no dash, no bypass movement, deployment/recombining, etc). The 1 rule that I noticed to be _different_ from ASL is that you may use low crawl into an interdictable OG hex even when starting ADJACENT to an unbroken armed enemy unit (In ASL, you can only do that when No Quarter (A20.3) is in effect).

I played the Germans against Mike Wattie, and I have read nothing at all in the way of AARs and strategies for S1. But it seemed to me that the thing to do as Germans was to use the turn 1 groups to block the entry of the American reinforcements. About three quarters of the Americans enter as reinforcements, so use the 447s (around u3) and 467s (around r7) to interdict / block / slow down their entry into the central village. The turn 2 and 3 548s and their 9-1 leaders meanwhile are the guys to use closer to the centre of the village. The at start Americans do look hard pressed to keep the 548s at bay.

.......... And that's pretty much the way it happened. The American reinforcements (despite some good FP attacks) were not able to break the Germans, and the at start 747s were simply not able to keep the Germans out of the VC hexes. By the end of turn 4, it was clear that the Germans were indeed going to hold on to at least 2 buildings, and most likely more (to his credit, Mike fought hard until it was well beyond apparent that the Germans were set to be permanent residents in L3 and M4). The Germans simply stopped the US reinforcements cold.

Anyway, next week, it'll be my turn with the Americans (against the balance assisted Germans; +1 548 turn 3). We'll see how that goes.

I've owned the SKs for about 2 years now. Its good to finally get a scenario done (and it looks like I'll be playing FtF SK ASL on a regular basis, which is not something to be scoffed at when you live on the outskirts of Taipei).

I'll try to keep you all informed.

John Knowles.

[ChrisM]

Yeah - sonoftzu - I have found that to be the case as well. asuming the Germans grab those stone buildings, they can restrict the American reinforcement groups greatly. Thsi amkes an American victory very unlikely, since those three para squads in the village at start realistically will get overwhelmed by the German paras.

From what I have read, the consensus is that this one is somewhat pro german, so it amkes sesne to let the newbies take the Axis if this si their first time out fo teh box. Nontheless, i find it to be a fun little teaching scenario, and the three playings I have had with it have all been exciting - and served to bait the ASL hook.

[sunoftzu]

[QUOTE=ChrisM;1273173Yeah - sonoftzu - I have found that to be the case as well. asuming the Germans grab those stone buildings, they can restrict the American reinforcement groups greatly. Thsi amkes an American victory very unlikely, since those three para squads in the village at start realistically will get overwhelmed by the German paras.]

The real kicker is that the Germans don't _need_ to overwhelm the Americans. They just need to occupy 1 of 4 (1 of 3 if using the American balance) stone buildings, which 3.5 squads are going to be very hard pressed to keep out.

John.

[Spencer Armstrong]

The real kicker is that the Germans don't _need_ to overwhelm the Americans. They just need to occupy 1 of 4 (1 of 3 if using the American balance) stone buildings, which 3.5 squads are going to be very hard pressed to keep out.

John.

One thing I noted when playing this vs. a newbie is that the VCs do not require the Amis to gain control in the full ASL sense. The onus is on the Germans to have a GO MMC in one of the buildings. That means the Ami paras may need to shoot late, trying for a break or two, rather than try to push in for CC, as would be more common in full ASL. Given the potency of 7FP squads with that 9-2, this can really change the end game.

I also feel this is slightly pro-German, but ROAR shows it pro-American. I find this weird, since the Ami has to cross the OG, something I would think would not be a "natural" SK player skill. Maybe the German setup isn't as obvious as it seems. It does reopen the question of "what is balanced?" For a SK scenario, it seems crazy to say "balanced" is "balanced between two top players."

S

[custardpie]

One thing I noted when playing this vs. a newbie is that the VCs do not require the Amis to gain control in the full ASL sense. The onus is on the Germans to have a GO MMC in one of the buildings. That means the Ami paras may need to shoot late, trying for a break or two, rather than try to push in for CC, as would be more common in full ASL. Given the potency of 7FP squads with that 9-2, this can really change the end game.

I also feel this is slightly pro-German, but ROAR shows it pro-American. I find this weird, since the Ami has to cross the OG, something I would think would not be a "natural" SK player skill. Maybe the German setup isn't as obvious as it seems. It does reopen the question of "what is balanced?" For a SK scenario, it seems crazy to say "balanced" is "balanced between two top players."

S

Just to add 10p's worth (UK funny money).
Remember that the defender in many cases will not also be an experianced ASL'er also. Maybe taking early shots that allow other follow on units to get in close?

Of course this could be played by very experianced SK only guys, but I am tending to edge my bets too the less experianced as it is S1. If it was from ASLSK3 Tanks then I would feel more inclined to beleive it to be the playground of the experianced player. Ifg it was from Opps then I would take it as read that the player has more experiance.

On this subject I know one experianced ASL player in the ASLSK league who has lost his first two rounds. This should underline that Starter Kit does not equal low skill.

A way to get the image of the SK higher is forum threads such as this and more interaction to further dispatch the us and them feel that sometimes comes up. Funny thing though is that this thread gets more comments from the full ASL boys than the SK boys. Though for the most part from guys who don't need the brush removing from certain holes!!! LOL

[Spencer Armstrong]

On this subject I know one experianced ASL player in the ASLSK league who has lost his first two rounds. This should underline that Starter Kit does not equal low skill.

Oh, you don't have to tell me. Full ASL doesn't equal high skill, either, especially in my case. I'm honing in on Belcher's "losing to newbies" schtick.

I really was pointing this out only in light of the fact that this is S1, presumably the very first scenario being played by at least one of the two players, and crossing open ground is a vital skill but one that I think almost everyone has to learn through experience. I meant no slight on all of ASLSKplayerdom. My musings on "balance" especially muddied that, I see, but no slight was intended. I've been fairly regularly playing with a particular SK player lately who has a much better natural tactical sense than I do, in fact, so I am (painfully) aware.

S