ZOCTALK!

I've added Joe Steadman's ZOCTalk blog to the links on the sidebar as he's up to Defensive Fire in his video primers for ASLSK (http://zoctalk.blogspot.com/ ).

In case you missed it...

MMP's long-awaited new website is currently in testing here:

http://mmpstore.sillydog.net/

Thank God.

Desperation Morale - The BLOG!

Mr. Mark Pitcavage, proprietor of desperationmorale.com, has started a blog! Welcome to the ASL blogosphere (all three of us or so... haha!). Great first post is a review of 2009 for ASLers.

Go now:
http://desperationmorale.blogspot.com/

World of ASL - Updated August 2009

Just caught this on CSW here. Mr. Mark Pitcavage has once again updated his World of ASL resource on his Desperation Morale website. Go check it out:

http://www.desperationmorale.com/worldofasl/worldrecent.html

Here's what he says about the update:

I have uploaded a major update to the Desperation Morale Website's World of ASL Compendium, adding the more than 20 ASL related products that have come out between May-August 2009, including the longest review of an ASL product in the compendium, of the travesty "One Wild Ride."

"Mr. Ekted's" ASL Primers

Thanks to Luke (rindu!) who posted in the last comments page:

Dude, I just remembered something. Some links for your learning ASL roll. About a year before the Richfam tutorials came out, ekted from BGG wrote two blog posts, outlining the basics of SK. They were way helpful to me, and he's a cool guy!

http://ekted.blogspot.com/2006/05/asl-primer-i.html

http://ekted.blogspot.com/2006/05/asl-primer-ii.html

Check 'em out!

TacticalWargamer Link

Michael Dorosh, of the tacticalwargamer.com, has posted a list of Third Party Publishers of ASL products here:

http://www.tacticalwargamer.com/boardgames/advancedsquadleader/tpp/advancedsquadleadertpp.htm

I've added it to the links bar on the right too. Check it out!

Linkorama

Thanks to a post from Donald Lazov in the CSW ASLSK folder a couple of weeks ago I've been checking out more web links for ASL learners. (The original post is here.)

1. Jeff's ASL Site - Not updated since 2004 but has a tactical tips section and more stuff here: http://www.vims.edu/~jeff/asl/ . For example, here are his "Finer Points of ASL": http://www.vims.edu/~jeff/asl/finepts.htm

2. Hans Mielants Page - Primarily known for running some very involved "multiplayer" Solitaire ASL at: http://www.mielants.com/Simulation/ASL.html

3. Dispatches from the Bunker - A well known ASL newsletter from the New England area of the States. The Dispatches have a nice newbie tips page at the end but the majority of the issues are devoted to full ASL scenarios and articles. Go here: http://www.aslbunker.com/Downloads/tabid/54/Default.aspx

4. First Fire - I'm certainly not the first ASL blogger but First Fire may be able to lay claim to that here: http://firstfire.blogspot.com/2004_01_01_archive.html

5. ASL Wiki - ASL + Wiki = good resource here: http://davidramsey.no-ip.info/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

6. Blind Hex - Another ASL Blog here: http://www.blindhex.blogspot.com/

7. Dice Tower "Perry Sez" - Perry Cocke is the acknowledged last word on ASL rulings and such rulings are now called "Perry Sez"'s. A collection is here: http://dicetower.com/ASL/PerrySez/

8. Laurent M.'s ASLSK Scenarios - Run out of ASLSK scenarios and played TPBF1 a hundred times already? Laurent has a bunch of new ones here: http://lm.polar.free.fr/aslsk.htm

9. WebGrognard's ASL FAQ - Seems not to have been updated any time recently but included here for completeness: http://grognard.com/faqs/FAQ0.htm

Some of these links are to sites for more experienced players or people immersed in full ASL rather than the SKs. Regardless, there's a LOT of stuff out there for ASL on the Intarwebs.

New Year? New Readings!

I'm constantly amazed at the quality of fan-made stuff that is out there. Anyone who has played PC games in the past few years has definitely been exposed to the "mod" scene out there. Mods are works by hobbyists that run from small tweaks to their favourite games to wholesale, from-the-ground-up revamps.

For ASL in particular I've mentioned richfam's contributions to helping people learn and enjoy the wargame. In the past couple of weeks I've not only found more stuff by richfam but others and I wanted to share them. Think of this as Web Resources post #3 (post #1 and post #2).

1. Well, let's start with a slightly different but altogether very familiar way to learn things. We've all taken courses of study in school and maybe even done some "distance" learning. Mr. Russ Gifford contacted me on the 'Geek about a month ago and offered to share his efforts at creating a Learning ASL course of study in multimedia format. Of course I said yes and he mailed me a slick little CD over the holidays that I only recently started to enjoy. Yes, I said enjoy! Mr. Gifford has a natural teacher's voice (he is a pro at this actually) and his initial lessons -- done in Powerpoint format -- take some of the esotericness out of the intimidating process of learning ASL. If you want to see what Mr. Gifford is up to check out this thread on the 'Geek or go straight to his personal site here.

2. You all should have read over richfam's 5th ASLSK Tutorial which was made available on the 'Geek recently. But have you checked out some of the other stuff on ASLSK that he's written about? Here's a discussion on when to close combat and when not to. Have you started reading all the View From the Trenches newsletters by the British ASLers out there? Well, here's richfam's neat index of useful articles from said newsletter. Here's his unofficial ASLSK3 errata list. Here's his take on the AFVs in ASLSK3. (And this would have been useful when I played Talloaf the other day...) Richfam's overview of S21 Clash at Boriskova. Ah hell, just go here! This man has been busy!

3. I've also mentioned and linked Daniel Savarese's ASLSK work. Apparently he also did a review of S2 War of the Rats -- perhaps the Prawn should take a read...

4. This is one I knew about before but some people still haven't seen. MMP hosts a small Flash demo of the Movement Phase and Defensive First Fire here.

5. And finally I'll pimp out the 'Geek again. Always check the ASLSK1-3 boards and read over session reports and rules questions. Nothing helps learning more than making it a collaborative effort -- something the Internet makes easy. You never know where it might take you. For example, I decided that I'd post a session report and noticed that Talloaf was posting similar ones. He and I hooked up over email and then subsequently to VASL where we now know a lot more about AFVs than if we had just lurked and done nothing.

Last thing, I know from just running this silly little blog that it takes more than a trivial amount of effort to "give back" to the hobby and I want to commend everyone who I listed above and anyone else who has posted a session report or AAR, or put together a learning package or playaid for their gaming buddies, or somehow took the plunge and did something to expand ASL outside their immediate comfort zone. Kudos to you people; your work is much appreciated!!!

p.s. And just as I wrapped up this post I found a new resource (from Count Zero's Blog!): Alain Borel, a French ASLer, has posted small scenarios that were used in Vae Victis magazine to teach specific ASL rules. Check it out here. Anything else I missed this time through? Let me know in the comments or via email.

Web Links - ASL Scenario Archive & More

First, once again I've updated the Web Links on the sidebar with a really cool site I've recently registered on. It's the ASL Scenario Archive. At first I thought it was just some overwrought site where you could buy a few digitally available scenarios but it's actually something like a database for ASL scenarios in the vein of BGG -- except of course focused entirely on sorting and cataloguing the fifty hojillion ASL scenarios out there. It's intended to complement ROAR.

I've already started to log my plays and upload some photos of my games on the site. I think it's a terrific resource and congrats to Dave Ramsey (?) who is running the show. Awesome work! Check it out guys!

Secondly, I've added http://www.levalet.com/ to the Buying ASL links. It's a Quebec games store that had copies of the Beyond Valor (3rd Edition) for $95 Canadian and I couldn't resist. They were super fast and the shipping was ridiculously low. Canadian ASLers, check it out and Americans, be aware that your dollar is equivalent to gold up here. And Europeans, well, the Euro is pretty nice too.

Thirdly, SIX days left to sign up for the ASLSK VASLeague!

Fourthly, I've been working on the second AAR to S2 War of the Rats. My apologies, the holidays = family time first!

Fifthly, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, to you and yours! Enjoy your time with loved ones and push some cardboard around!

eASLSK3RBWTFBBQTPBF?!

One of the great learning tips I tell my students is to rewrite and recompile their notes, especially on regular basis, to learn and really retain something. In a way it's very "old-school" -- learning by rote.

So, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and re-type and key in the entirety of the ASLSK #3 rulebook. This "electronic" version of the ASLSK rules is for my own personal use (so you cheap bastards out there go buy your own copy and type it up yourself!) so I can truck it around on a laptop or USB key and put the hardcopy away somewhere safe. Besides the convenience though, creating my own eASLSK3 is just another way of learning and retaining the rules.

However, I haven't just chosen a word processor and have at it. I've done a bit of research and decided that rather than plain text or even plain HTML, I'll go with the Windows Help File format (.chm) which let's me do some fancy indexing and internal hyperlinking. A quick look through sourceforge.net (open source software -- i.e. FREE software) and I found HelpMaker by VizAcc.


Here's how the program looks in action/editing mode:



It's basically a WYSIWYG text/HTML editor that compiles your work into a Windows Help file format when you're done. Here's how it looks in a compiled page (Windows Help file format) opened on my desktop:



Note: I haven't scanned any images in yet but this is also integrated into the software so inserting diagrams and illustrations from the rulebook is very simple. (So now my ASL hobby has combined with my ultra-computer-nerdness and I am complete.)


Seriously though I only just started today and am done a good chunk of 1.0 and all 2.0 Definitions "a" through "d". Did I learn anything? Yep! I was reminded while typing in the CX entry that units not only declare CX to add 2 MF during movement but become CX if they advance and use all their available MF -- no more willy-nilly advancement without checking PPs and MFs.


Thanks to the folks at Gamesquad in this thread (check out page 20-ish and onwards) who chatted up the .chm format and other possibilities with me.


p.s. SCANNING IS CHEATING!!!

richfam ASLSK Tutorial #5

Get it. Now!

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/2890421

It's funny, I was just doing my usual surfing around the web and I noticed the post from richfam on the 'geek and I went all crazy inside. Honestly, I've been kind of waiting for the fifth installment to help me learn to not be afraid of AFVs in ASLSK. I've already copied the file into Word and it's 53(!!!) pages -- looks to be a good read too!

On behalf of all the ASL learners out there who have enjoyed your tutorials Jay:

THANK YOU!

And I'll add the Jay Richardson Learning Tip:

READ THE RICHFAM TUTORIALS!

8)

Web Links Updated Again

Wow two posts in one day! I didn't feel like doing part two of the Prep Fire post so I thought I'd work on updating the links on the gadget bar of the blog (that thing on the right!).

I'm going to try to categorize the links into "Learning" type links, "Blogging" & "General" links and a "Buying" set of links. I'll probably sub-divide a bit further later with Third Party Product links and expand the categories too. For now though I don't want to dilute the message and always want to keep the utter newb in mind when I expand stuff, i.e. assume the blog is approachable at all times for someone brand new to ASL.

Peace out!

Links Updated

Just a quick post to let people know that the richfam (Jay Richardson) Tutorials in the list of links in the upper right hand corner of the blog have been updated to the original threads on BGG where Jay has now included illustrations.

Way to go Jay and thanks!

Starting Up - Web Resources Part Two

So here is part two of Web Resources... I'd like to thank the Wiggles for coming to Toronto and delaying this post! I've tried to put the links up in a nice progression so that the further down you go from number one, the more complicated the content will be to newbs:

8. ASLOK - This is the official website of the ASL Oktoberfest "convention". It's basically considered the World Championship of ASL and hosts a week-long series of ASL events and tournaments. Though I haven't had the pleasure of attending (yet!) the tournament organizers run a mini-workshop/tournament for newbies called "Maneuvers" that is Starter Kit friendly. I suppose that learning ASL from the experts at ASLOK would be the best option around. More likely though us newbies will get a bigger benefit from their fairly up-to-date links page. The page has links to clubs, third-party publishers and miscellaneous resources.

9. Desperation Morale - Early on in my research on ASL before picking up the Starter Kits I ran across Desperation Morale which is a website dedicated to the wargame by one of the hobby's well-known scenario designers Mark Pitcavage. The actual first attraction to me was the ASL Museum that hosts a wide variety of photos of ASL-related objects -- things like dice towers, 3D-maps, miniatures, storage methods etc. It's nothing short of fascinating. The website has an attached forum, downloadable (FREE!) scenarios, play-aids and an advertisement to buy Mr. Pitcavage's ASL scenario design guide. What is probably most useful to the newbie however, is the "World of ASL" pages which are a virtually comprehensive guide to every ASL product ever published (by Avalon Hill, MMP or third parties). Practically every publication gets a rundown by Mr. Pitcavage of its contents and a small evaluation as to its usefulness. There is no question that a newbie without any idea of what to buy (or even figure out what is what) to get into the hobby would find the website invaluable.

10. Miscellaneous blogs/club websites: TPBF is not the first blog to focus on the experiences of an ASL player or the hobby. There are quite a few club and individual websites out there that are current and "living". Check out the links page on the ASLOK site (above) and the clubs listed. Here are a highlighted few:

• http://countzeroscorner.blogspot.com/ - Right here on blogspot there is at least one other ASL player blogging his experiences. "Josh" runs countzeroscorner.blogspot.com which also doubles as the Spokane ASL club's website. Josh was kind enough to comment on TPBF's first post and we'll see if we can't all make a concerted effort to sell others on this fine wargame and hobby.
  
• http://banzaipipeline.blogspot.com/ - Ostensibly the most current form of the Texas ASL club whose Banzai magazine has run for years and years. The Banzai Pipeline is updated quite frequently with AARs (after action reports -- short comprehensize debriefings of playings of ASL scenarios). Some of the Banzai back issues contain interesting strategy articles. The Pipeline AARs are great for newbies to see what full rule ASL is like.
  
• http://aslok.blogspot.com/ - (not to be confused with ASLOK above) Another ASL blog run by Todd Wiley from Michigan. His tournament AARs are great for newbies who are curious about the more competitive world of tournament ASL.
  
• http://www.winhaven.net/TRAC/ - The Tri-State ASL Club's website which is not on the ASLOK links page probably due to the fact that it doesn't seem to be very active anymore, has a few interesting links for newbies, especially on their ASL Basics web pages.

Those are only a small sampling of the clubs and blogs out there or even aware of.

11. http://www.vasl.org/ - The VASSAL Engine is an open-sourced Java-based software application designed by one Rodney McKinney that allows users to import boards and game pieces into its format and play boardgames over the Internet remotely. It leverages the advantages of the computer like easy set-up, takedown, saving games, chat capability, match-making etc. VASL is the module that allows VASSAL to simulate the boards and pieces of ASL. It has, reputably, led to a major upswing in the ASL hobby as being "face-to-face" is no longer a requirement to play. Most major boardgame publishers, especially the wargaming ones, see VASSAL as an extension and competitive advantage to their products. Best of all VASSAL and VASL are free. How is this possible? As mentioned, the project is open-sourced and Mr. McKinney derives no commercial benefit outside of the donations he receives and the engine itself does not have an Artificial Intelligence or programmed opponent. It merely hosts a method of display of boards in a virtual manner for opponents to manipulate via mouse and keyboard -- in other words, you still have to buy the rulebooks and know how to play, VASSAL just let's you do it with someone across the world at the same time. VASL is worthy of a series of posts all by itself so I'll leave it there. Newbies can find the best use of it immediately by finding players who are willing to teach them in the game lobbies and saving board set-ups while learning.

12. ConsimWorld - This website is famous for its hosting of very old school chat forums dedicated to wargames (CONflict SIMulations). More web savvy users may find that ConsimWorld's unusual conventions of having a continuous discussion per topic rather than threaded posts archaic and user-unfriendly. For example, contrast ConsimWorld's forums to BoardgameGeek's -- it seems that the "divide" between new Euro-gamers and wargamers of the past is alive and well in this communication methodology. That being said, newbies who are unafraid (or just want to lurk like me) should check out the MMP folder, the ASLSK folder and the ASL-proper folder. It takes a bit of effort over a few days and then you'll be able to follow the conversations a little more easily. Be aware of course that in-jokes, personal familiarity and occasional snobbery make for an intimidating community to break into for some. I've found however, that CSW's greatest strength is its unparalleled involvement of wargame designers in the various discussion folders. If you want to get closer to the people who make wargames and ASL, go to CSW.

Well there you have it. Some of the most useful websites out there for aspiring ASL players. I hope it was useful.

Starting Up - Web Resources Part One

So, you're curious about ASL and, like me, found the idea of learning and playing the game a daunting task without anyone to tutor you in its finer points -- or even how to get started... Perhaps you've even picked up an ASL Starter Kit (#1-#3) or the ASLRB itself, but it's still not clicking.

For me, I found that the Internet has been a godsend in terms of aggregating information on how to start playing this wargame. Here is an annotated web bibliography for total newbies (and people who found the search term ASL on google to be a little less than expected):

1. "Richfam"'s ASL Tutorials #1-3 - (And #4 here with graphics even!) As mentioned in my last post, Boardgamegeek user "richfam" (Jay Richardson) has created the obsolutely best introduction to ASL that I've seen. If not for his tutorials I doubt I would have ever picked up the Starter Kits or even understood how to begin playing. Mr. Richardson has used a very easygoing, narrative style, to explain and break down the reasons for the rules. After reading his tutorials you can easily visualize the action. For example, his explanation for residual fire left by defensive first fire totally makes the system comprehensible. The Starter Kits just give you the rules and not the whys and wherefores. If you've picked up the official ASL Rulebook or perused the Starter Kits you'll understand the difference between legalese and narrative rule writing style immediately.

I'm not putting down the "ASL-ese" of the official stuff, since an experienced player would find that much more useful, but being introduced to the game with the richfam Tutorials has been basically akin to having an expert player around to show me the ropes. Kudos to Mr. Richardson! Many on BGG eagerly await the final installment of the tutorials (#5) which will address Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) aka TANKS!!!

(In my last post I wondered why richfam wasn't hired by MMP but I understand now that he has been employed in some capacity by them in their periodicals -- way to go!)

1.a. Boardgamegeek Files - Proceed immediately to these files and print them!

• ASLSK1 Sequence of Play - Step by step sequence of play (or get this one that includes SK1-3 -- it is the one I use). Those feeling brave should check out the ASOP!


• ASLSK1 Tip Sheet - Another sequence of play file.


• ASLSK1 Errata - Everybody makes mistakes!


• ASLSK1 Abbreviations - Better start getting use to the abbreviations!

2. An Introductory Guide to ASL - I found this .pdf file hosted on the "View from the Trenches" website (VFTT being the long running British ASL newsletter) though it is also on BGG. It's not the easiest thing to absorb in order to learn the game but it's "official" in that it was ostensibly written by MMP, the publishers of ASL itself. Unless you have mucho experience in wargaming and/or have had at least some exposure to the game I don't see total newbs as gaining much other than having a very short but somewhat comprehensive summary of the game as a whole. The best reason to check out this guide is the FREE print and play stuff incorporated into it. A little bit of printer ink, glue and elbow grease will get you a small functional introductory scenario to start. As for View from the Trenches itself, all of its issues from the very very beginning are available on their website and fearless newbs should check them out.

3. EIGHT STEPS TO ASL: A Programmed Instruction Approach By Jim Stahler - Found on the MMP website itself, the document/article appears follow the standard wargame-style learning convention of "programmed instruction". That means that you are slowly given short chunks of rules to absorb and learn in increasingly more complicated scenarios. Hopefully, by instructions' end you'll have the full ruleset (or at least most of it) under your belt. Now, to be honest, this method isn't best given that the Starter Kits have superceded it and that this eight-step approach requires the financial commitment of at least the official Rulebook (~US$65 versus the Starter Kits' ~US$20-35 each) and the first module Beyond Valor (~US$90). I've included the link here though because I find it interesting how learning the game in the past without an experienced player would have been tediously and almost impossibly obtuse for the total newbie.

4. The 2 Half-Squads Podcast - Podcasting has finally come to the world of ASL. Of particular note is the sixth episode where they do a more concentrated job of focusing on how total newbs can learn the game. However, the 2 Half-Squads always make an effort to explain things in their broadcasts. Spontaneous and entertaining, Jeff and Dave's podcast is an easy listen -- I've burned the first ten episodes to MP3 to listen to on the daily commute and have enjoyed them immensely. For newbies, Jeff and Dave do a good job making ASL fun. The only caveat I have is that the first two episodes (possible three) have some serious technical issues (ironed out by the later episodes).

5. The ASL Webdex - The Webdex is a great, albeit slightly dated, compilation of web resources for ASL. It certainly shares a bit of the roughness of some of the early hamhanded efforts of ASLers on the Internet in its presentation. However, there is a LOT of good stuff there that is sub-divided into areas corresponding to the ASL full Rulebook. For newbies there is a dedicated page here.

6. ASL Forums on Gamesquad.com - Of course, no list of links would be complete without the obligatory site for forum goers. It seems that Gamesquad.com has garnered the most traffic in terms of sheer numbers of people (players and designers) who frequent its pages. There are a couple of other forums (such as on BGG) that are useful but Gamesquad is the most familiar in its usage and conventions and thus the most newbie friendly. Check out the Starter Kit-dedicated forum for best support.

7. Daniel Savarese's ASLSK #1 Programmed Instruction - I discovered this site after I had bought and played SK1 with the richfam Tutorials (here is the whole of the Savarese document in .pdf format). It is an excellent resource that complements the Tutorials. I highly recommend it with all the resources from BGG above as you start the SKs.

Well, when I started this post I didn't think it would get so big so I'm splitting it up into two! The second post will deal with stuff for the "less" total newbie (does that make any sense?!) ...

As an ASL neophyte I found that simply skimming the stuff on ASL available on the web was a valuable experience. Sometimes I imagine learning ASL on my own pre-Internet or pre-BBS days and I cringe in horror -- no wonder there are so many posts by people who talk about buying ASL when it was first published but never actually playing it due to its practically insurmountable learning "cliff". All hail Al Gore's creation! Part Two up soon...