BattleSchool is a venture dedicated to broadening support for Advanced Squad Leader (ASL), and improving game play. ASL is a hex-based, tactical-level wargame that evolved from an earlier game called Squad Leader (1977), designed by John Hill. Both games were published by the now defunct Avalon Hill Game Company. Multi-Man Publishing is the current licensee of the game system. For an overview of ASL during the last 25 years, see my State of the Game: ASL at 25.
ASL is a highly detailed, but necessarily abstract, portrayal of combined-arms combat at the platoon, company, and battalion level. The game originally aimed to model various aspects of ground combat that occurred on all fronts during World War II. However, it has since expanded either side of this period to encompass the Spanish Civil War, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Korean War. Indeed, some scenarios have been set as early as 1908, with the Russian Civil War arguably receiving the most treatment of any conflict prior to 1935. The game system is flexible enough to allow scenarios involving amphibious operations, air drops, and subterranean engagements.1 That said, the system works best with forces that were trained to fight at the squad level, the basic sub-unit of the game. Armour, artillery, and air support can all play a role in an ASL scenario. But the queen of the ASL battle remains the infantry squad.
ASL is a highly detailed, but necessarily abstract, portrayal of combined-arms combat at the platoon, company, and battalion level. The game originally aimed to model various aspects of ground combat that occurred on all fronts during World War II. However, it has since expanded either side of this period to encompass the Spanish Civil War, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Korean War. Indeed, some scenarios have been set as early as 1908, with the Russian Civil War arguably receiving the most treatment of any conflict prior to 1935. The game system is flexible enough to allow scenarios involving amphibious operations, air drops, and subterranean engagements.1 That said, the system works best with forces that were trained to fight at the squad level, the basic sub-unit of the game. Armour, artillery, and air support can all play a role in an ASL scenario. But the queen of the ASL battle remains the infantry squad.
Managing to get by
Narvik, Norway |
I spent much of the 80s on exercise, or out of country. I later served in the Middle East. Due to all this travel I played very little Squad Leader.
Golan Heights |
Somalia |
The view from our deck. We renovated our small three-bedroom house overlooking the sea. We backed onto the 17th tee of our golf club. The view from the master bedroom was spectacular. |
Eastern Rosellas occasionally perched on our deck. |
SWMBO |
Helping with the harvest |
For reasons I will not go into here, my wife wished to return to Canada. So in 2006 I found myself back in an employment desert. However, my old chum was still here. My wife suggested I contact him and see about playing ASL again. I did. I also went to my first ASL tournament in almost 20 years. I began the BattleSchool project shortly thereafter.2
With no proper day job, one might think that I get to play a lot of ASL. Regrettably, that is not the case. But I am playing ASL—a lot more than I did in the mid 80s, and certainly more than I did while I was in university. Like Middle-aged Man of Saturday Night Live fame was apt to lament, "I'm working on it!"
-cd
1. See my after-action report of a scenario set in Papua New Guinea for an example of how ASL plays out in the jungle.
2. For more background on why I play ASL, see this article. If you are new to ASL, then you may find some of the ASL Starter Kit articles on this page useful.
-cd
Notes
2. For more background on why I play ASL, see this article. If you are new to ASL, then you may find some of the ASL Starter Kit articles on this page useful.
Working on my short game at Kauri Cliffs, NZ |
2 comments:
Chris, I see on your website that you have a link for the West Coast Rumble tournament, which takes place at my convention BottosCon. I think a better link for a description of the tournament and it's format would be http://www.lonecanuckpublishing.ca/West%20Coast%20Rumble%202013/2013%20ASL%20Tournament.htm
Thanks
Rob Bottos
Thanks so much for making this site, Chris - I have discovered it belatedly, but I will now sing its praises from on high! :)
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