Peter Fisla
Posts: 2503
Joined: 10/5/2001 From: Canada Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: damezzi I was browsing through some sites, trying to find a good tactical level game and came through ASL frequently, most of the time exalted by those who made comments. Well, it's a tradicional board game and I live in a country in which hex-based boadgames aren't a part of the culture, so, not only I won't be able to find opponents to play ftf, but also I really don't know the dynamics of board hex games. I have read that the learning curve is steep; I've also read about VASL and the possibility to play online. I want to know if it is worth buying it and going through the rules, or is it already outdated? Does it work well playing through the internet using VASL? The reason I place this question here is that I like games with the complexity and dynamics of TOAW, but really don't know anything about tradicional hex-based boardgames, but would like to find a good one on the tactical level. What are your impressions on ASL? Since Steel Panthers and Close Combat series I didn't find anything in PC wargames field that would really interest me deeply. Yes Combat Mission is a pretty good wargame but the series just didn't do it for me (various reasons). I have been looking for, ever since Steel Panthers; for something with scope of SP, same big selection of weapons/vehicles, dynamic campaigns, tactical level wargame and I just didn't find it. So one day in October of 2005 I was browsing the net and came upon MMP site and ASL. I noticed that yes the rulebook was expensive as well as the modules...however I also noticed that I could buy ASL Starter Kit #1 (infantry) for just mere $25 which would give me the light version of the rulebook, 2 maps and counters enough to play 6 scenarios. And I figured, here was much chance to have look at ASL with spending too much money. So I received my order of ASLSK #1 and started to read the rules. Within a day I have ordered full ASL Rulebook, yanks module, pre-ordered Beyond Valor 3rd edition. I was blown away by the quality and depth of the game play. Yes the full ASL rulebook is written more as a rule reference than a training guide but with ASLSK rulebook the core of the ASL rules was now much easier to learn. Besides ASL has a huge following, it's been around for 25+ years so the rules are pretty much in great shape. Why I love ASL? Well it's all about the game play and not about the graphics flash. I'm a tactical wargamer and ASL gives me a lot to offer. There is a huge selection of scenarios out there (about 3000+ just from AH/MMP alone never mind few thousand more from other 3rd parties) there are great historical campaigns out there like Red Barricades, Valor of the Guards, Kampfgruppe Piper I && II just to name a few. You can now play ASL on-line using VASL (www.VASL.org which is for free) and there is a lot of people out there that play ASL so it's easy to meet other ASL players. ASL also as an interesting module called Solitaire ASL (unfortunately out of print, but a copy can be found on ebay or other ways) which allows to play ASL solo...I love this module!. Jay Richardson, wrote amazing Tutorials for ASLSK players that teach how to play ASLSK...I suggest to take a look: ASLSK Tutorial #1: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/157922 ASLSK Tutorial #2: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/166941 ASLSK Tutorial #3: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/169542 ASLSK Tutorial #4: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/177157 ASLSK Tutorial #5 - Vehicles is coming soon, I heard. Check out http://www.boardgamegeek.com ASL forum or Gamesquad.com ASL forum for more... I love ASL and it's my #1 tactical wargame system. It has all I want from tactical wargame, its been around for a while so you know the rules are polished and with ASL you can fight on any WW2 tactical battlefield you can imagine. It has huge selection of weapons and vehicles...lots of historical campaigns to choose from...really I can't ask for more. Peter PS: I'm actually working on a PC version of ASLSK for free...I currently have the infantry/support weapons/ordnance/AI implemented for German/Russian/American/British nationalities. I'm currently working on vehicles...after that I will work on campaigns.
< Message edited by Peter Fisla -- 10/10/2008 3:45:08 PM >
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