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Monday, September 30, 2013

Richness of ASL

ASL is quite daunting and I've only really invested in the Starter Kits and the main rule book.  In addition, I've played, mainly solo, all of the SK1 scenarios.  I also had a great teacher that runs the local tournament.  Great guy.

And when I started playing it, I really was into the thought of playing one system...for the most part. And occasionally dipping into other games. The reason: I really like the idea of learning a system with depth and variety. And one with a fairly active community.  ASL fits the bill perfectly.  I like that there's a podcast, The Two Half Squads, about it and active forums. 

At the time I didn't realize I was such a magpie. I didn't realize I had OhShinyItus disease that affects so many gamers.  I've come to embrace this side of me.  Therefore, I've moved away from ASLSK for a bit. Though, I still have that longing to get into one system of some kind so strongly, that I really get it...dare I say, "grok" it?

There are a few good blogs that cover ASL, but one I enjoy, for his AARs, is Whine and Cheese ASL in Wisconsin.  Great name by the way.  He is so detailed in his writeups that I've been reminded lately how rich a story this game can build.  Especially the hero, berserk, and other "advanced" rules I've not encountered in the starter kits.

He also does a great job of getting VASL screenshots from his games like the one below:
From the Whine and Cheese Website.
If you would like to learn an amazing system of rules that is focused in the WWII universe, give ASL a try.  You probably have a local club/group that would welcome the chance to introduce to the game.
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3 comments:

  1. Mikko AsikainenSeptember 30, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    I hear you. I got bitten by the ASL bug a few years back, and even though I've played all the SK1-3 scenarios and a dozen or so with full ASL I feel like I've just learned the basics. The scope and the richness of the system is just staggering. The drawback is that the system does take a lot of dedication to master. I only get around two or three matches per year at this rate and it feels like I'm struggling to keep most of what I've learned in my head instead of learning new stuff. It is a pity since I have amassed quite a comfortable collection and the investment gets very little play. I have both of the old PTO modules and I've played.. err.. one PTO scenario so far.

    That said, I think ASL is an excellent game on all "levels" and I think I enjoy the game most playing the simple scenarios with limited forces.

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    1. ItinerantSeptember 30, 2013 at 3:04 PM

      Conversations like this, the release of the new PTO module, and those AARs tempt me to buy some of the full ASL product. But then I remember that I've not played all the SK scenarios yet.

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    2. Mikko AsikainenOctober 1, 2013 at 1:20 AM

      You should definitely not go into ASL "PTO first" as the rules for cave complexes and the like are.. well, complex. If you only play a match here and there and don't crave the advantages of the full system, playing just SK is fine as MMP keeps publishing new material for the starter system. If you want to get more than the SK rules give you then in all honesty the leap from SK3 to basic infantry scenarios in full ASL isn't that big, For a good set of modules for full ASL I'd recommend Beyond Valor, Yanks and maybe Valor of the Guards of you're an east front junkie. Those will keep you playing for a long time, even if you can't do Guadalcanal.

      The problem with being reasonable with your ASL collection is that MMP is very lazy with their reprinting. Module printings run out fairly quickly and once they're gone, you might have to spend a lot of cash on ebay or wait for nearly a decade for a reprint. This is why you might want to stockpile on modules that are available, such as Rising Sun which was announced in the early 2000's or somehting and just now made it on the shelves :)

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