Hi everyone,

I am quite sure you’ve noticed that things look a little different here at Ritterkrieg! I’ve been working on giving the website a cleaner layout, clearer menus, and a more comfortable browsing experience, whether you’re on your computer or your phone.

There’s still some work to do, but I hope the new format makes it easier to find your favorite publishers, new products, and current news and events. Thank you to everyone who has offered suggestions or let me know when something wasn’t working properly. That feedback has been a big help, and I appreciate your patience while I get everything sorted out.

On the gaming front, Zamoly II , Saints and Sinners Scenario Pack*, Hatten in Flames reprint, Prelude to War (ASL), and Prelude to War (Starter Kit) are now up for pre-order. Keep an eye on this site for production and shipping updates.

*Saints and Sinners is included, for free with the new Zamoly II module, so no need to pre-order both.

Just around the corner from Le Franc Tireur is ASL Companion #5 by Jim Stahler. We still have about a dozen Companion #3 and enough Companion #4 to get us through the near future. The books are really starting to get to the meat and potatoes of the game and make for a fascinating and insightful read.

Sometime in November we should have the new From the Cellar 14 scenario pack.

Have a look around the updated site and let me know what you think. If something is difficult to find—or a button takes you somewhere it shouldn’t—please drop me a note. I want Ritterkrieg to be a place you enjoy visiting and hanging out and I want it to work.

Thanks, as always, for supporting Ritterkrieg. I appreciate every order, every recommendation, and every conversation about the greatest game on Earth. Derek

Steel Fury at Zámoly II — January, 1945

Advancing Fire’s Steel Fury at Zámoly II expands the battlefield with new historical maps, scenarios, and 3 campaign games covering the fighting to breakthough the fortified Soviet front lines and relieve Budapest.

What’s inside:

• 9 scenarios, including 3 campaign games—CG II, III, and IV.
• Four large historical map sheets: three measuring 38.2″ × 26.0″ and one measuring 38.2″ × 25.6″.
• 236 full-color, die-cut counters: 96 × ⅝″ counters and 140 × ½″ counters.

Please note: This is not a standalone game. Beyond Valor and Steel Fury at Zámoly I are required to play all the included scenarios.

Also included as a FREE BONUS with your pre-order of Zamoly II is Saints and Sinners Scenario Pack

Saints and Sinners Preorder

Please Click the link to read up on this fascinating scenario pack

And Remember, this scenario pack is included for free with Zamoly II

Game Information

• Time Scale: ≈ 6 minutes per Game Turn
• Map Scale: 40 meters per hex
• Players: 2 (also suitable for solitaire and team play), 3 Player Version for one scenario
• Unit Scale: 5 to 10 men with individual leaders, vehicles, guns, aircraft
• Playing Time: 3 hours and up, depending on scenario played
• Contents: 7 action packed scenarios
• Complexity: Low through Very High
• Solitaire Suitability: Low to Medium

This is not a complete game. Ownership of the following MMP/Hasbro/BFP products are required to play all of the included scenarios: Beyond Valor®, Armies of Oblivion®; boards 11, 19, 33, 60, 62, 64, 65, 97, 99, 5a, 6a, 21a, 23a, q, h, x, BFP DW1a.

Hatten in Flames — Reprint Now on Pre-Order!

If you missed Hatten in Flames the first time around, here’s another chance! MMP is reprinting this Historical module, bringing the fighting in Hatten back to the gaming table.

Set during Operation Nordwind in January 1945, the module follows American and German infantry and armor battling for control of a small village in Alsace. Its eight scenarios and two campaign games cover the first five days of the struggle, with each side desperately attacking and defending on the beautiful snow-covered map.

Perhaps my favorite ASL Campaign due to the streamlined rules. The perfect gateway into CG’s. Simple in scope yet brutally savage in play.

What’s included:

• One 30″ × 32″ historical map
• Eight ASL scenarios
• Two campaign games
• Two countersheets
• Chapter HF rules
• Two chapter dividers

This listing is for the upcoming reprint, available for pre-order.

Prelude to War – Marco Polo Bridge – FULL ASL

Prelude To War: Marco Polo Bridge is a Historical Advanced Squad Leader (HASL) module depicting the battle outside the walled town on Wanping, China on July 8, 1937 when Chinese troops resisted Japanese attempts to force their way into town on the pretext of finding a lost soldier. This precipitated the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, commonly called the Second Sino-Japanese War, which was the start of WWII. The battle focuses on the key railroad bridge over the Yongding River just outside the walled town.

Prelude To War: Marco Polo Bridge comes with a historically accurate 22″ x 34″ map of the area outside the walled town crafted by designer Ken Dunn and artist Charlie Kibler. There are five stand-alone scenarios on the map recreating portions of the battle. Then there is the Campaign Game covering the entire action, with the calendar day divided into five Campaign Game scenarios separated by a special Refit Phase that allows players to regroup and reposition their forces. The Campaign Game starts with the Japanese attacking onto the map to capture the bridge, followed by the desperate Chinese defense of the bridge and the Dragon Temple (a prominent feature east of the river), the possibility of a Japanese river assault in boats, and concludes with a Chinese night assault by special broad-sword equipped Volunteer units. The only other ASL modules needed to play are Beyond Valor and Rising Sun.

Contents:

• one box and lid
• one 22″ x 34″ Map Sheet
• one counter sheet
• five scenarios
• one Campaign Game
• one Chapter MPB
• one Chapter Divider
  

Prelude to War – Marco Polo Bridge – STARTER KIT

Prelude To War: Marco Polo Bridge (SK) is the second Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit Historical Module and covers the battle outside the walled town on Wanping, China on July 8, 1937 when Chinese troops resisted Japanese attempts to force their way into town on the pretext of finding a lost soldier. This precipitated the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, commonly called the Second Sino-Japanese War, which was the start of WWII. The battle focuses on the key railroad bridge over the Yongding River just outside the walled town.

Prelude To War: Marco Polo Bridge (SK) comes with a historically accurate 22″ x 34″ map of the area outside the walled town crafted by designer Ken Dunn and artist Charlie Kibler. There are five stand-alone scenarios on the map recreating portions of the battle. Then there is the Campaign Game covering the entire action, with the calendar day divided into five Campaign Game scenarios separated by a special Refit Phase that allows players to regroup and reposition their forces. The Campaign Game starts with the Japanese attacking onto the map to capture the bridge, followed by the desperate Chinese defense of the bridge and the Dragon KingTemple (a prominent feature east of the river), and concludes with a Chinese night assault by special broad-sword equipped Volunteer units. All the necessary counters for Chinese units are included. ASL Starter Kit #4 (Japanese) is required to play.

Prelude To War: Marco Polo Bridge (SK) contains:

• one box and lid
• one 22″ x 34″ map sheet
• two counter sheets
• five scenarios
• one Campaign Game rules booklet, with all of the new rules needed to play the scenarios and the Campaign Game, including rules for rivers, railroads, bridges, hedges, roadblocks, offboard artillery, night combat, and special broad-sword equipped Chinese Volunteer units.
• one page Data Chart
• one reduced-size copy of the map sheet

Shipping Pricing Changes:

Unfortunately, due to substantial increases in postage costs, we have had to increase the minimum order amount to qualify for free shipping to $50 (From $30) and standard minimum shipping charge for orders that do not meet that threshold to $5 (from $4). Whenever you combine your orders, it makes a huge difference, and I am grateful for your understanding in these increasingly difficult times.

Journal 17

ASL Journal 17 is a 44-page magazine for Advanced Squad Leader featuring articles, 14 new scenarios printed on card stock, and a new 19.25” x 28” map for use with scenario J282.

ASL Journal 17 articles include:

• View From The Box is Bill Cirillo’s intensive examination of Twilight of the Reich’s components and Scenario Specials Rules.
• How Did The Grognard Cross The Road? The Dashing Sean Deller examines Dash and Street Fighting rules.
• Stalin’s SS Tom Morin takes a thorough look at the NKVD and their use in ASL.
• Pre-Combat Check: 303 La Mort de Charlemagne, 305 No Brothers, No Friends, and J282 Paths of Vengeance provide hyper-detailed examinations of these three scenarios by Sean Deller.
• No Strategy in the Götterdämmerung by John Slotwinski offers one player’s approach to J282 Paths of Vengeance.
• You Can’t Get There From Here by Carl Nogueira provides a thorough analysis of Roadblock use (and how to Clear them!)

ASL Journal 17 has 14 ASL scenarios:

• J270 Streets of Rostov (Russian vs German, 24 July, 1942)
• J271 Thor’s Hammer (German vs Russian, 15 January 1943)
• 272 Streets of Kharkov (Russian vs German, 13 March 1943)
• J273 Rail War (German vs Allied, 7 June 1943)
• J274 Soon To Be Dead (British vs German, 10 February 1945)
• J275 Banana Flambé (German vs British, 10 February 1945)
• J276 Blood For Poppies (British vs German, 14 February 1945)
• J277 Max Schmeling’s Right Hook (Russian vs German, 15 February 1945)
• J278 Twilight’s Last Gleaming (German vs American, 25 February 1945)
• J279 The End Is Nigh (German vs Pole, 13 March 1945)
• J280 Tidying Up (German vs British, 24 March 1945)
• J281 Tip of the Spear (German vs American, 31 March 1945)
• J282 Paths of Vengeance (Russian vs German, 28 April 1945)
• J283 Beast At The Bridge (German vs Russian, 29 April 1945)

ASL Companion #4

The fourth instalment of Jim Stahler’s Magnum Opus is now here.

ASL Companions 3 & 4 Combo Deal

Missed out on Companion #3? Here’s a last chance to get it before it too is OOP. When purchasing both there is an extra discount.

From the Cellar SALE

All From the Cellar Packs are on sale until the end of August for 20% off. No coupon needed!

Dinant Campaign Game:

Here are a couple of videos recapping our CG so far of Rommel’s crossing of the Meuse. The CG is still ongoing and I plan on releasing all of the log files and commentary as we go.

Projects:

I am working on a 3D printed overlay organizer. Here is a prototype for the DASL overlays. Stay tuned.

Where the Irons Crosses Grow Team Tournament Redux

I am doing a feasibility study on renewing the ‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow’ team tournament here in Kernersville NC. Because of limited space, I am considering running the event several times a year. Some of the unique features would be no entry fee, live streaming, and a team system that brackets skill levels with each other so all are welcome and can be competitive. I have purchased a small office space (would accommodate around 16 Players) that I plan on finishing into a small dedicated venue if the response from the public is strong. Located the building are several AirBnB’s, a restaurant bar , plus many local bars/breweries/food trucks within 200 feet. Stay tuned for updates.

ASL Companion Book 3

Available alone or with the first two books (while supplies last)

This marks the third installment of LFT’s Magnum Opus written by legen Jim Stahler on every aspect of the great game. It concludes chapter 4 and brings us all the way to chapter 7. So far LFT is making good on it’s promise of one release every 3 months.

Action Pack 22

3 new Fortenberry style maps (27a, 28a, 29a) along with 12 new scenarios (1941-1945).

Action Pack #22: A WORLD AT WAR contains:

✧ three 11˝ × 16˝ double-sided geomorphic mapboards (27a/b, 28a/b, 29a/b)

✧ 12 ASL scenarios:

• AP237 Andiamo – 6½ turns, 4 March 1941, Chakara River, near Dembecha, Ethiopia (Ethiopian vs Italian)

• AP238 Italian Crescendo – 6 turns, 28 September 1941, Petrykivka, Ukraine (Russian vs Italian)

• AP239 Buna Mission – 6½ turns, 31 December 1942, Buna Mission, Papua New Guinea (Allies vs Japanese)

• AP240 The Army It Had – 6½ turns, 1 March 1943, Sevsk, Russia (Russian vs Hungarian/RONA)

• AP241 Moreh Melee – 6½ turns, 22 March 1944, Moreh, India (Commonwealth vs Japanese)

• AP242 Seton Block – 5½ turns, 2 June 1944, Kamaing, Mogaung Valley, Burma (Chinese vs Japanese)

• AP243 Hell’s Comin’ – 6½ turns, 10 July 1944, Hauts-Vents (American vs German)

• AP244 Heavy Metal Noise – 5½ turns, 13 August 1944, Oględów, Poland (Russian vs German)

• AP245 Villains at Ville-sur-Illon – 6½ turns, 13 September 1944, Ville-sur-Illon, France (Free French vs German)

• AP246 Stumbling In Place – 6½ turns, 19 November 1944, Apweiler, Germany (American vs German)

• AP247 General’s Orders – 5½ turns, 22 December 1944, Stoumont, Belgium (American vs German)

• AP248 Black Devils of Bure – 5½ turns, 6 January 1945, Bure, Belgium (Canadian vs German)

RAACO Handibox –

After much debate regarding whether we could continue to offer the RAACO line for your storage needs, we finally reached an agreement with our European suppliers with only a slight inflationary price increase due to tariffs/shipping/US dollar. We only received 12 units total but hopefully we can continue to stock this fine product. Available empty (for you DIY 3D printers), with 64 x A5 dividers, or with the 96 custom color 3D printed inserts, the Handibox remains the Cadillac of ASL storage solutions.

Puzzle #131 Solution

It is the last German MPh. In order for the Germans to win, they must exit Panther 302 off the south edge road hex I10. What does the US player need to score a hit and a kill in hex I9 or I10 assuming the TD already has depleted APCR and no ROF. Your answer can be in fractions (eg. 7/36th TH and 11/36th TK or Shock.

Note: All hedges are Bocage. The German player is fully versed in the rules (do not count on him not taking advantage of every rule available to him). Vertex H9-H10 in too narrow to bypass.

Solution:

So this was somewhat of a trick question as there is no way for the US player to score a hit on the lucky Panther if the German player is aware of Rules B9.36 & B9.521. The Panther moves to I8 (1MP), I9 (2MP) and claims the wreck TEM, I10 (2MP) and claims the wreck TEM, and offboard for the Win. Because the Panther is claiming the In-Hex TEM instead of the WA, it remains out of LOS to the US Player because it is Bocage and not a Hedge.

MMP has just announced Action Pack 22 with 3 new geomorphic double wide maps and 12 new scenarios. We are placing our order now and should ship very shortly.

Le Franc Tireur has just released the 3rd installment of the ASL Companion. We have very few of book 1 and 2 in stock.

Le Franc Tireur – HomePage

Puzzle #131

ASL Companion Chapters 3 & 4

The newest Companion is on its way and should ship to you by the end of the month. 100 full color pages of Jim Stahler’s breakdown of the game, tactics and terrain including LOS. Please take advantage of our special promotional sale price for both the new Companion and the combo until March 1st.

As we sold out of the first instalment, we know that you may have missed your chance to get Chapters 1 and 2 so we are offering both as a package deal now as we are receiving a few dozen on the first magazine at the same time.

Chapter I – Chapters 1-4

Winter Offensive 17 – 2026

Puzzle #131

It is the last German MPh. In order for the Germans to win, they must exit Panther 302 off the south edge road hex I10. What does the US player need to score a hit and a kill in hex I9 or I10 assuming the TD already has depleted APCR and no ROF. Your answer can be in fractions (eg. 7/36th TH and 11/36th TK or Shock.

Note: All hedges are Bocage. The German player is fully versed in the rules (do not count on him not taking advantage of every rule available to him). Vertex H9-H10 in too narrow to bypass.

Solution to Puzzle #130

The Russian player thinks that barring an Improbable Hit (Final TH #of 1), he is guaranteed the victory, but little did he count on his German opponent being the sleaze heavyweight champion of the World. Before I give the answer, I want to say that I would never use this tactic against anyone, ever (except maybe George). This is because I believe it does go against the spirit of the game. That being said, here it is…

Truck moves to D5-C5-B5 at which point the ATG pivots to CA A7-B6 and declares a shot using APCR* (If no APRC then AP) at the truck in B5. The fact the LOS is clearly blocked does not prohibit the shot nor the checking of LOS as it is at the shooters discretion and eyesight what shot looks blocked to him. After stringing it which obviously shows that the shot is indeed blocked, this puts the ATG with the correct CA ready for the truck to enter A6 with either a ROF shot or an IF shot and no penalties for changing CA. At worst, this is a 4 TH and if Rate was kept, a 6 TH.

*The reason I waste an APCR shot on the woods is for an additional chance at rolling a colored 2 and keeping ROF (if I have APCR then there is a 5 in 6 chance I also kept Rate).

This has been without a doubt the most product filled and chaotic quarter I have ever seen. No fewer than 8 brand new products, then in come the tariffs, Europe declining to ship to the United States, my pre-order software giving me it’s ‘2 minute notice’ and here we are… And yet, all is well in the ASL World again.

So as a recap, here are the 8 new products released in the last 60 days…

Inor Player’s Guide – LFT

Quick 6 VIII – LCP

Journal 16 – MMP

Action Pack 20 – MMP

Action Pack 21 – MMP

Steel Fury at Zamoly I

ASL Companion – LFT/Stahler

Hazardous Movement 6

Each of these products offer a completely different ASL experience and design style. For quick scenario play without a lot of thought or rules diving, the Action Packs and Quick 6 are your go to. Getting into more complex and nuanced scenarios would be the Journal and Hazmo fare. For some great bedtime reading the Inor Player’s Guide, the Journal and of course the ASL Companion will keep you up into the wee hours. Lastly, for an immersive dive into history with all the chrome and flavor ASL has to offer and then some, Zamoly and Inor absolutely top the charts.

NB: Missing Scenario 7 from Zamoly I

A few people have noticed that scenario 7 is not included in Zamoly so just a note that Scenario 7 uses maps that will be released in Zamoly II so it is not missing at all but will be included in the next module.

Intel report:

While looking for missing copies of From the Cellar 12, I came across a few copies of the long OOP magazine Recon by Fire 2 by Heat of Battle. These may be the last issues anywhere on the planet and I am liquidating them for 30% off.

Low Stock Warning:

The following products are out of print with only a few copies left in inventory.

ASL Companion

Orsogna – Advancing Fire.

Zamoly I – Advancing Fire

Tournament Pack – Advancing Fire

Green Hell of Inor – LFT

Fight For Seoul

Le Franc Tireur 15 – LFT

Le Franc Tireur 16 – LFT

HazMo Sceraio 55 replay with Chuck Hammond

This scenario is replayed on VASL with the designer in three parts, each about an hour in length. A free give-away as part of the new HazMo VI pack, available for download on the Hazardous Movement’s webpage HERE. The scenario pits the defending US player against desperate 1945 SS as tank destroyers on both sides are eclipsed only by the insane firepower of 6-6-7’s and 6-5-8’s at close range. Throw in some HEAT, DC’s, and MG’s and it’s a miracle anyone survived.

Puzzle #130

June 1941 – It is the final Russian turn which finds the Soviet player 4 Exit CVP short for the win. If he can manage to get his Truck off the east edge he will be awarded the Order of Stalin and bragging rights at the local ASL club. After calling his wife to prophesize about his upcoming victory, his celebrations are cut short when his German opponent stops the Truck dead in it’s tracks in hex A6. The German player wins the game and loses a friend over this sleazy move that Ivan never saw coming.

The BA-6 spent a total on 1/2 MP in the AT Gun’s LOS as it entered A6 from B5. The ATG rolled a 4 (3,1) on this TH attempt and a 5 on the TK with AP. How did the ATG hit on a 4? And why will Ivan never play Fritz again.

Notes: The Road is intact and fully usable by the Truck. No hexes are Bore Sighted. Although legal, the solution is definitely not in the ‘Spirit of the Game’. Good luck with this one, it will teach you a new trick that I hope no one ever uses.

Please submit your answers to puzzle #130 for fame and no fortune in the comments

The Advanced Squad Leader Companion –

the first installment of Jim Stahler’s long awaited Magnum Opus has been released. This 100 page journal is packed with history and explanations that will guide you through everything you ever wanted to know about the people, rules, and subtle nuances of the greatest game ever made. Future volumes will become available shortly.

Hazardous Movement 6

Hazmo has done it again with 10 new scenarios and a double sided mapboard. Click the link for a full description, mapboard, and a sneak peak at one the new scenarios.

Quick 6 VIII by Lone Canuck

Quick 6 Package Deal

Conversation with Mike McGrath about the new ASL Rule proposals:

Zamoly I – Arriving this week.

The long awaited module from Advancing Fire shipped to us the 26th of November and should be arriving the first week of December. This will mark both the end of the pre-order special pricing* and the end of entries for the dice tower raffle. Thanks to everyone that made this possible and note that there are only about 30 unreserved copies of Zamoly once orders are fulfilled so if you want one, now is the time.

*If you pre-ordered but have not been able to pay due to website difficulties, rest assured that your copy will be held at the pre-order price until the end of January, 2026. Please call me anytime to make arrangements for completing your order at 336-462-4035.

100 pages

the ASL Companion is divided into 90 chapters grouped into twelve parts, as you may see in the Comprehensive Table of Contents of the magazine.

PART I
The Many Facets of ASL

Chapter 1 Welcome to Advanced Squad Leader
Chapter 2 Warriors and Weapons
Chapter 3 The Lay of the Land
Chapter 4 The Play of the Game
Chapter 5 The Role of Fate

Chapter 1, “Welcome to Advanced Squad Leader” introduces the reader to ASL and discusses the history of the Squad Leader and ASL game systems.

The next four chapters will discuss the four main components of ASL, the pieces, the mapboards and overlays, the scenarios, and the dice. These five chapters form Part I, “The Many Facets of ASL”.

In issue # 1, you will find Chapters 1 & 2.

We discuss the 46 new rule suggestions by Steve Pleva and Mike McGrath as found in Journal 16. Please remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE and LIKE buttons on my Youtube channel.

Journal 16 can be ordered on my site alone and in a bundle with the 2 new Action Packs by clicking the links below…