ASL rules, tips, and tactics
How do I get better at ASL? I see this question asked many times. I have answered it many times but never to the depth which I am doing here. It is my belief that anyone can get better at ASL, particularly in rules knowledge and understanding of the game’s mechanics. While understanding the rules…
This is a simple flowchart answering the question “Can my Gun Intensive Fire?” To correctly read it, start at the top. Begin by asking the question “Is the Gun Marked?” How the Gun is marked determines the path through the graphic. Answer the Yes/No question in each box and follow the arrow appropriate to answer….
Hello again. This article covers Infantry Overrun (OVR). It is a small section of the rules with very little Q&A over the years. It is an important aspect of Infantry movement that can make all the difference. The designers added this rule early in ASL playtesting. This stops players from putting lone Single Man Counters…
Read More “The Basics of Infantry Combat in ASL: Infantry Overrun” »
This article has been deprecated by a revision to the Q&A which formed the basis of this article. I have struck through the portion of the article which is no longer correct. I am also including the Q&A submitted by Robert Hammond to clarify the current state of the game. July 2023 Revised Q&A “I…
This is the second installment in my Infantry versus AFVs series. In the series’ first article, I promised to expand on concepts contained there. With this article, I keep that promise. This article examines the various ways to destroy AFVs with fire. As we will see, flame is a very effective way to eliminate enemy…
Read More “The Basics of Infantry Combat in ASL: Infantry versus AFVs – Flame On!” »
Welcome to a new series covering the basics of Infantry Combat in ASL. In this first installment, I am going to cover some options Infantry has for overcoming enemy AFVs. This installment is short on examples and long on theory. When it comes to tackling unopposed armor, it is more about a holistic approach than…
Read More “The Basics of Infantry Combat in ASL: Infantry vs AFVs” »
This post originally appeared in the Red Banner, the news letter of my home ASL Group, The DC Conscripts. If you’re ever in the DC area and looking for some ASL reach out. Members of our group stretch across Maryland, Virginia, and DC. I am sure someone can get you sorted. In this post, we…
I have been playing ASL with new friends a lot lately. I have also received questions both here on my blog and on Facebook regarding some of my previous articles. Unfortunately, there is a common thread in these questions: the AFV Destruction Table and how to read it. For AFV Combat in ASL, clearly understanding…
Read More “The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL — The AFV Destruction Table” »
This is the last in my Basics of AFV Combat in ASL: Tank vs. Tank series. In this one, I discuss odds and ends of AFV play that might come as a surprise to newer players. Everything discussed in this article is within the rules and, applied correctly, could tip an engagement in your favor….
Read More “The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL – Dirty Tricks” »
This article comes out of a game I played recently. It is an issue that has seriously plagued my game play for years. What exactly are a Half Squad’s (HS) firing options? Since that game, I have dug into the rules and spoken with some friends to clear this up. I write this article to…
I recently examined this scenario for a Banzai! article so it has appeared previously there. Please go check out this excellent newsletter from the Texas ASL club. I am going to examine BFP42 Bukit Full of Trouble, published by Bounding Fire in Blood and Jungle, using my ASL Maxims. I hope to showcase how these…
Read More “Scenario Analysis: BFP42 Buckit Full of Trouble” »
In their most recent iteration of Illuminating Rounds, Dave and Martin were discussing the mechanics of AFV Bypass movement. They were discussing my recent article, Missing Example: The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL—Motion Escape. The guys asked what happens when an AFV turns in bypass and sorted it out, but I think the discussion…
Read More “Missing Example: The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL–Mechanics of Bypass Movement” »
In this article, I will examine entering an enemy AFV’s Location. This article comes courtesy of Paul Sidhu, who reintroduced me to this lesson when we played in Albany. While I knew this rule prior to our game, I had actually mangled it in my mind. With that start, let’s get stuck in on this…
Read More “Missing Example: The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL – Entering Enemy Locations” »
In this article, I am adding an example to my original article on AFV Combat (The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL). I briefly mentioned this topic in my earlier article but did not expand on it and I want to correct that omission here. I also hope to highlight a subtlety of AFV bypass…
Read More “Missing Example: The Basics of AFV Combat in ASL—Motion Escape” »
In this article, I examine some concepts under-pinning good AFV play in ASL. It is nearly impossible to say “this is good AFV play” because the definition of “Good” is contextual. What is good in one instance may be terrible in another. Look for future articles on similar topics like tanks vs. infantry. When evaluating…
Read More “The Basics of AFV Combat In ASL: Tank vs. Tank” »
EDIT: The fine folks at Banzai! have fixed the issue. I hope you enjoy the article. I have a new scenario analysis article appearing in the current Banzai! You can download the news letter here. There seems to be an image missing from the Banzai! issue. I have added it below for people to use…
I have made some small changes to the site over the last week or so. First, I added a “Resources” page. It is available through the “Resources” link in the blue menu bar above. I also replaced the “Contact” page with a new plugin. The Original Plugin relied on Captcha to alleviate spam but it…
In this post, we will examine DB164 Try at Trentlehof. Jeffery D. Meyers designed this scenario, and it is available from the Dispatches from the Bunker folks. I cannot speak highly enough of the Dispatches products and I encourage you to check more of them out. In my opinion, DftB represents the best value in…
In past articles, I have discussed Infantry Target Type Critical Hits (CH), CHs when targeting Guns, and CHs when a Gun is in a Pillbox. In this article, I examine CHs when using Vehicular Target Type (VTT), resolving these attacks, and how CHs work when the original attack is an Unlikely Hit. I will also…
In part one and part two, we examined options for defending against Target Selection Limits (TSL), so-called “Sleaze Freeze”. We examined the various ways of using units in the “frozen” Location to defend against TSL. Ideally, these should be choices of last resort. In this article, we will examine options that don’t rely on the…
Read More “Defending Against Sleaze Freeze: Some Final Examples” »