Le Franc Tireur: All LFT titles currently available from Xavier have arrived.  Included is the ever popular Rat Charts version 2, The Deluxe Pack #1, the Crimean Special #13 and Kampfgruppe Scherer.  Like always, shipping is free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fields of Iron: Tales from the War Table – Schwimming with Dan Stanhagen

 

 

I want to say a special thanks to everyone who frequents this site.  Today we had our 50,000th visit and it makes me very happy to know that you are enjoying the site.  If there is something that you think could make this site better, please drop me a line or leave a comment.

 

 

Tim just released an awesome collection of bumper stickers, t-shirts, mugs and patches.

 

 

Starter Kit #2 and Starter Kit #3 have been added to the pre-order page and should be here before you know it. Pre-order now and save 20% with free shipping or you will be stuck paying 80% of retail with free shipping after they arrive.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keith sent me this photo of his ‘Dupont Class’ table in action.  Sporting labeled A75 and A78 RAACO inserts, Rat Chart,  and his custom ASL Tower (manufacturer unknown).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – arrived

Heat of Battle – arrived

Tanks 101 Video – released

March Madness – arrived

Poland In flames – arrived

Journal 11 – arrived

Friendly Fire – arrived

Le Franc Tireur – arrived

Dice Towers – This week

Ammo/Map crates – Next Week

Yanks – April/May

Normandy and SS Battle Dice: April

Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

ASL Korea – in time for the 30th anniversary of the Kim Kong Un Cabbage Patch Doll’s release.

Hi everyone,

it has been almost a week since our last post and I was hoping to have another video ready for you.  Tim and I will hopefully have the scenario finished by Post #40.  Here at the Wartable I am starting to cross the t’s and dot the i’s in preparation for the big weekend tournament coming up at the beginning of April.  For Christmas (we always exchange gifts late), Jeff Jordan got me a chess clock for Tim and my continuing experiments with SPASL (Speed ASL).  I hope to have a video up soon with this great gift governing a game of ours.

 

Sniper/ELR cards:

Well the easy ones are done.  With the help of Andy Hershey and all of you that voted on FB and this website, the final (?) artwork is done for the Germans, SS, Black SS, Russian, and British.  Now we are slogging through the mud trying to scrape together some photos of the other nationalities.  I never would have guessed how hard it would be to find quality authentic photographs of snipers.  Not just the more obscure nationalities, even the Americans are eluding me.  If you would like to be part of this project, please contact me at dr******@******rr.com.  Here are some teasers from the upcoming set…

 

 

New Battle Dice:

Chris at Battleschool has announced the upcoming release of some of the coolest dice to date.  Not only are the American and German armies of Normandy represented, but also 7 of the most notorious  and fanatic Panzer Divisions in the German Arsenal.    All dice are on sale and may be pre-ordered in individual pairs or in larger sets to get an even bigger pre-order discount.  ETA: April 2016. As always, shipping is always free.

Disclaimer: Although the Germans, British, Japanese,  Russians, and others were guilty of the deliberate murder of tens of millions of innocent civilians during the second world war, the dice in this series are part of a game and in no way condones racism or cruelty in any way nor are here to satisfy a sick fetish that somebody wants you to believe is rampant in this hobby.

 

I have fired up the workshop and have began 3 dice towers (Brazilian Cherry) and 3 Ammo/Map Cases.  One map case is sold but the other two will be posted for sale along with the dice towers as soon as they are complete.  The Argent Class table will be started in the next few weeks.

 

Sale:

Look around the site.  A ton of merchandise has been further discounted so grab them before the price changes or they are sold out.  Many items are the last available (especially from Heat of Battle).

 

 

Events:

‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow’ is 3 weeks away and has grown bigger than  I was planning.  We are now expecting 17 attendees and need a volunteer to spoon with Ken Knott.  If this continues, we may need to look for a bigger venue next year.  I will interview players on video so you can put faces to the names.  There are rumors that we will have a surprise famous guest from the ASL world at the event (don’t ask me who it is because I haven’t finished making up the rumor yet).  If you can, stop in for a day or the whole weekend for beer, prizes, and lots of cardboard death.

 

The Bitter Ender is just over a month away.  Early (discounted) registration ends on the 19th of March.  Contact Doug Sheppard for information.

 

Almost Sold Out:

I am down to my last 2 copies of German turrets.  I just placed another order but it may be months before they arrive.

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – arrived

Heat of Battle – arrived

Tanks 101 Video – released

March Madness – arrived

Poland In flames – arrived

Journal 11 – arrived

Friendly Fire – arrived

Le Franc Tireur – Next week

Dice Towers – March

Ammo/Map crates – March

Yanks – March/April

Normandy and SS Battle Dice: April

Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

ASL Korea – in time for the 30th anniversary of the Kims starring opposite each other in the erotic 1986 hit ‘9 1/2 Weeks’.

 

 

March Special: Free Pair of Nationality Battledice with purchase of $200.00 or more.  Simply ******@******rr.com“>e-mail me with the pair of dice that you would like and I will include them with your order.  Spend $400 and pick 2 sets, etc. Choose between the Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, Finns, USMC, German (Arnheim), British, 9th/10th SS, Polish, or precision 12mm or 14mm backgammon dice in your choice of colors.  Sorry, not applicable to pre-orders.

 

 

PIF:  After months of waiting and weeks of delays, it is finally here.  Thanks to everyone that pre-ordered for your unending patience.  By the time you are reading this, your copy will be in the mail along with your free set of Polish Battle Dice.  I still have a few sets of the Battledice left in stock so I will extend the pre-order promo until the dice are gone.  You can order here.

 

 

Journal 11 has arrived:

ASL JOURNAL 11 is a 60-page magazine for Advanced Squad Leader and features ten articles, the latest Q&A/errata, twenty-five ASL scenarios (including one Deluxe, one Operation Veritable, one Festung Budapest, and two Valor Of The Guards scenarios), and three Squad Bleeder scenarios (and their associated purchase charts), all printed on cardstock.

JOURNAL 11 includes the following articles:

• The Best Campaign Game Ever? Mike McGrath explores Valor Of The Guards CG IV “Savage Streets of Stalingrad”.
• The Halfling Aaron Cleavin details why you are probably not Deploying often enough.
• Forgotten War by Kenneth P. Katz presents a preview of the Korean War ASL module.
• Squad Bleeder III is Bret Hildebran’s next installment of the ASLOK “fog of war” tournament scenarios.
• Relaxing With Intensive Fire J.R. Tracy sez: “Don’t worry! It’ll be fine!”
• Slaughter At Ponyri HASL Jim Aikens, Jeff Coyle, and Pete Shelling describe the design and playtest details of this upcoming Historical ASL module.
• Getting To Know Gavutu-Tanambogo Jon Neall takes you on a tour of this exotic island destination.
• Rivers To The Reich Jim Stahler celebrates the last of the Squad Leader scenario conversions.
• The Vierville-sur-Mer Boat Club Chas Argent wants YOU to reach the beach in scenario AP101 When I Call Roll.
• Recon: The 10th Guards Rifle Division Action Pack Ken Dunn is having another baby.
• Debrief This issue’s errata updates, and details about the scenario updates for the new edition of YANKS.

JOURNAL 11 also includes 25 ASL scenarios and 3 Squad Bleeder scenarios/purchase charts:

• J161 Riding To The Rescue (German vs British, 24 May 1940)
• J162 African Brothers (British vs Italian, 10 July 1940)
• J163 Aiding The Local Constabulary (Italian/South African vs Mutineer, 29 March 1941)
• J164 Aiding The Local Constabulary (Italian vs South African vs Mutineer, 29 March 1941) *This is a 3-player version of J163.
• J165 Among The Dead (Greek/New Zealand vs German, 26 May 1941)
• J166 Maximum Aggression (British vs Japanese, 19 December 1941)
• J167 Hart Attack (German vs British/American, 28 November 1942)
• J168 Katyusha’s Embrace (Romanian/German vs Russian, 8 August 1943)
• J169 Few And Far Between (German vs Russian, 30 August 1943)
• J170 Red Churchills (Finnish vs Russian, 20 June 1944)
• J171 Whom Gods Destroy (EDES vs German vs ELAS, 14 August 1944) *This is a 3-player scenario.
• J172 Ramcke’s Redoubt (German vs American, 16 September 1944)
• J173 Assault On Baerendorf (German vs American, 24 November 1944)
• J174 Heart Of Athena (Partisan vs British, 7 December 1944)
• J175 Bedburg Bite (German vs Canadian, 16 February 1945)
• J176 Deadly Assumption (American vs German, 4 March 1945)
• J177 Coup De Main At Hamminkeln (German vs British, 24 March 1945)
• J178 Old Friends (German vs American, 26 March 1945)
• J179 Resignation Supermen (American vs German, 10 April 1945)
• J180 The Hour Zero (SS vs British/German, 8 May 1945)
• J181 The Deadly Line (Japanese vs Russian, 13 August 1945)
• FB19 War Brotherhood (Russian vs Hungarian/German, 25 January 1945)
• HS33 Down On The Farm (German vs Canadian, 19 February 1945)
• VotG26 Bad Day For The Luftwaffe (Russian vs German, 20 September 1942)
• VotG27 Drama, The Park, And Deadly Things (Russian vs German, 23 September 1942)
• Squad Bleeder 4 Dismantling 1st DCR (German vs French, 15 May 1940)
• Squad Bleeder 5 Stampede Of The Wild Buffaloes (German vs American, 17-19 September 1944)
• Squad Bleeder 6 Eviscerating Vienna (German vs Russian, 8 April 1945)

The JOURNAL 11 ASL scenarios require the following boards and overlays:

Boards: 4, 10, 11, 19, 22, 38, 40, 44, 51-53, 56, 58, 59, 61-65, 67, 1a-3a, 5a-7a, t, Deluxe a-d, RR, FB(NW), FB(SW), and VotG.

Overlays: O1, O2, O5, OW1, RR1, RR4, RR6, St3, X5, X7, X8, X11, X13, X15, X16, X19, X24, and X27.

The Squad Bleeder scenarios also require the following boards: 3, 6, 16-18, 20, and 45.

ASL JOURNAL 11 is not a complete game; ownership of the Advanced Squad Leader Game System is required for play.

 

 

 

 

 

The raffle winner for the month of February is… Wade Semiless.  Wade will be receiving a free one of a kind collector’s edition coffee mug featuring the US 105mm Howitzer courtesy of Tim Brieaddy at Red Headed Tshirts. 

Speaking of winners, here is a photo of Carl Ise rocking February’s raffle prize.

 

 

Sniper Cards:

The Sniper/ELR Cards are picking up steam. They may even be available before the projected release date of ASLOK XXXI but I need your help with two things.

1. I need photos of Snipers from the following nationalities: French, US, USMC, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Other Axis Minors, Other Allied Minors, Finnish, Partisan.  Please send photos to dr******@******rr.com.
2. I need to know which photos you think are best for the cards.  I will be polling every week (or so) to find out what your favorite picks are from each nationality.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

 

 

Image 1

 

 

 

Image 2

 

 

 

 

Image 3

 

 

 

Image 4

 

 

 

 

Image 5

 

 

 

Image 6

 

 

 

Image 7

 

 

 

 

Image 8

 

 

 

Image 9

 

 

 

 

The 2 Half Squads podcast episode 155 is out.

 

 

2nd Annual ‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow’ Team Tournament

We are less than a month away from the largest and longest running ASL tournament in the whole city of Kernersville.  Because of overwhelming demand, we have opened the registration up to another team.  That makes 15 of the worlds friendliest players all at one event.    As you are reading this, Tim Brieaddy is putting the finishing touches on the artwork for the t-shirts and I am putting together a prize list.   Registration is closed for the team tourney but you may still be put on the reserve list and/or can pop in for games between Friday and Sunday.  Registration for the tournament is free (we are getting Mexico to pay for it).

Players confirmed.

1. Derek Ritter
2. Ulrich Ritter
3. Tim Brieaddy
4. Dylan Ritter
5. Ray Woloszyn
6. Ken Knott
7. Jeff Jordan
8. Hayes Wauford
9. Jamie Cribbs
10. Al Griffa
11. Dave Stephens
12. Peter Ortega
13. Mika Harviala
14. Kevin Conley
15. Doug Sheppard*
16. Scott Bricker*

*Pending

 

 

I would like to make mention of the best T-shirt Shop in the world (maybe not the universe, but definitely the world).  It is a great website to visit for great ASL and WW2 themed t-shirts, longsleeved t-shirts, cups, and morale patches.  Look around and if you don’t see what you like, contact Tim and he will be glad to give you a quote for some custom work.  He even has a section devoted to the greatest game in the universe.

Hong Kong Wargamer has a new post on his fantastic website.  Thanks Jackson!

 

 

 

 

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Battle Dice – arrived

Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – arrived

Heat of Battle – arrived

Tanks 101 Video – released

March Madness – arrived

Poland In flames – arrived

Journal 11 – arrived

Friendly Fire – arrived

Le Franc Tireur – This week

Yanks – March/April

Dice Towers – March

Ammo/Map crates – March

Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

ASL Korea – in time for the 32nd anniversary celebrations of Kim Jong Un, lead singer for Twisted Sister’s release of ‘We’re not gonna take it!’

 

In our recent poll, we asked you what teaching video you would most like to see. Tanks101 was the clear winner with 41% of the vote so here it is.  Please keep in mind that this is 101…just the basic concepts for the absolute beginner.  I hope to make more soon which will include much more information including overruns, close combat, Smoke, and tactics.  After watching this video, you may find it useful to watch the video of Tim and I playing scenario T2 ‘The Pumas Prowl’ which is a good AFV only scenario.  You can download the PDF of scenario T2 and others for free at MMP’s website by clicking on Support -> ASL/SK -> ASL Official Downloads ->Scenarios from ASL Classic.

 

We have received limited quantities of ‘The Best of March Madness Vol. 1’.   Dave from Kansas City ASL tells me that he probably won’t have any more to sell me after these are sold out.  The pack retails for $20.00 and contains 15 of their greatest scenarios.

 

 

 

Friendly Fire: We just got in an order from Sweden and now all scenario packs including #6 with the ASL Geo Mapboard is in stock.  I am offering the entire set at more than 10% off with free shipping or you can pick up individual packs with free shipping as well.

 

 

 

LOW INVENTORY WARNING: Crucible of Steel is going the way of ‘Blood and Jungle’ and ‘Into the Factory’.  This one of a kind gem is almost sold out and out-of print.  If you can get your hands on one before they all disappear from everywhere except for extortion-bay, I grab it now.  Although I am already sold out, BFP still has a few copies.

 

 

 

 

Up until now, Ritter Krieg has only been accepting orders through Paypal.  We are now able to process credit cards over the phone.  If you would like to place an order using your credit card, you may phone in the order between 8:00am – 10pm EST seven days a week by calling me (Derek) at 336-462-4035.

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Battle Dice – arrived

Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – arrived

Heat of Battle – arrived

Tanks 101 Video – released

March Madness – arrived

Poland In flames – this week ?

Journal 11 – next week

Friendly Fire – end of the month

Le Franc Tireur – March

Yanks – March

Dice Towers – April

Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

Korea – in time for the 40th anniversary celebrations of Kim Jong Un Decathlon win at the Montreal Summer Olympics.

Heat Of Battle:

The entire Heat of Battle collection (still available) is now in stock.  Steve sent me some of his last pieces to make up this order.  The prices are set by HOB so the best I can do is offer free shipping instead of the usual 10% off.  Enjoy them while they last.  These are fantastic TPP from the original producers of titles like Blood Reef Tarawa and God Save the King (A Bridge Too Far). Titles include:

 

Berlin: Red Vengance

Buckeyes!

Special Forces

Special Forces II

Recon By Fire 3

Recon By Fire 4

SS I & II No Quarter No Glory & Fuhrers Firemen

SS III Neither Fear Nor Hope *

Tropic Thunder

Firefights 2

Kreta

The Long March * 

Titles with a ‘*’ are the last available (sold out and OOP through HOB)

 

 

Tim and I have made a video replay of scenario T2 ‘The Pumas Prowl’. Short on time, we invented (at least I think we invented) SPASL (Speed ASL).  We each get 7 minutes to complete our turn.  The whole video plays out in just over an hour but we bet you can’t get through the first ten minutes without posting your kits on ebay.  Whoever spots the most rules mistakes that we made will be announced on our next blog and will win eternal fame and immortality on this site.  The Tanks 101 video is still in the works and will be posted as soon as it is finished.

 

 

I need your help to tell me how this site can better serve you.  Please leave a comment with what you would like to see more (or less) of.  Your input is greatly appreciated.

 

Teaching ASL: I have been thinking about helping new players learn the game by moderating some matches on VASL. I will not be giving strategy advice (until perhaps the game is over), just helping with the rules and procedures.  All participants will have to be on Skype.  Please shoot me an e-mail or post a message here if you would like to be one of the players or would like to be an observer.  Unfortunately, I am not familiar with SK rules but perhaps there is someone who is that would like to moderate some SK scenarios.

 

I have been hinting at something big in the world of dice towers that is coming your way before too long.  Tim Brieaddy and I have the first sample finished and it will be on display at the ‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow’ team ASL tournament is about five weeks from now.  I will post photos right here shortly after it’s unveiling in April.

 

Here are some photos of a recent dice tower in different stages of construction.  The final photo is pre-stain.

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Battle Dice – arrived

Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – arrived

Heat of Battle – arrived

Poland In flames – this week ?

Tanks 101 Video – this week

Journal 11 – next week

Friendly Fire – end of the month

Le Franc Tireur – March

Yanks – March

Dice Towers – April

Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

Korea – in time for the 45th anniversary celebrations of Kim Jong Un landing on the moon.

 

 

RitterKrieg Now Shipping Internationally:

Photo of Olli’s latest partial ASL order. Although your quickest and cheapest method to get your ASL fix is probably still  through Xavier in Europe and Chris in Canada, I am now offering service outside of the USA.  Please check with them first for all of your ASL needs but we will be glad to fill in the gaps.  I have added a flat $50.00 shipping fee to international orders. If the actual shipping cost is less, I will issue you a refund. If the actual shipping cost is more than $10 more, I may (depending on the size of the order) contact you to make up the difference less $10, at which time you will have the option to cancel the order for a full refund.

 

Poland In Flames is shipping from BFP and it is looking like a fantastic product.  While supplies last, I will be extending the special I have been offering including the Free Polish 16mm Battledice so you can kill those Hun invaders in style.   PIF should be here any day now and will be shipping out to you the same day they arrive. Here is a video of Poland In Flames posted by Jackson.

 

 

Missed MMP’s pre-order for Journal 11?  No big deal because we have it at the low  price of $34.20 shipping included (regular price $38.00 plus shipping).

 

 

 

 

 

Woodworking: So that was a very brief retirement.

Dice Tower – Christmas comes late for Tim Brieaddy.  The dice tower I made as a gift for Tim is finally finished.  

Made out of solid Walnut to match the stock of his M1 Garand.  Black craft foam lining with the edges inserted in slots cut into sides of the wood.  3 baffles (45,45,60 degree). Shallow tray so the rolls are visible at any angle.  Video.

Table Tops – I will be starting on the ‘Argent Class’ of tabletops within the next couple of weeks.  I plan to videotape the process and post it to the site.  It will be similar to the ‘DuPont Class’ but a little more compact (2 Geo boards) and with 2 much larger detachable side trays. It will be made out of Cherry and have tempered 1/8″ glass.  I will be producing extras units of this model which I will post for sale on this site once completed.

 

Tanks 101 video:  It looks like I need to watch ‘how to make a video 101’ before  attempting to make a tanks 101 video.   Sorry this is taking so long but Tim and I will be trying again (3rd attempt) tomorrow to up the quality and content and will hopefully have it posted by next week.

 

 

We will soon be stocking Le Franc Tireur, Friendly Fire, and Heat Of Battle products.  Before long we will hopefully be carrying all ASL TPP (with one exception).  If there is something that you would like to see in our store, please shoot me an ******@******rr.com“>e-mail so I can get pricing for you.

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Turn 1: Battle Dice – arrived

Turn 2: Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Turn 3: Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – arrived

Turn 4: Poland In flames – middle of next week

Turn 5: Tanks 101 Video – end of next week

Turn 6: Journal 11 – end of next week

Turn 7: Friendly Fire – end of the month

Turn 8: Yanks – March

Turn 9: Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

Turn 10: Korea – in time for the 80th anniversary celebrations of Kim Jong Un beating Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics.

 

 

Flying into Gumrak airfield, JU52’s carrying precious cargo of Battle Dice and LCP scenario packs has arrived to bolster our defenses and morale until the Spring thaw.  Included are the sold out 30th Anniversary German set and the new Dust Devils, both in very limited quantities.

 

Also back in stock are 12.5mm backgammon dice in White, Black, Dark Red, Navy, and Green.

 

 

 

George from Lone Canuck Publishing has sent me the complete line of scenario packs that he carries including two very special prizes for Where the Iron Crosses Grow ASL Team Tournament.   Your Prussian money can’t buy these packs, you have to earn them on the Field of Battle! And when I say Field of Battle I mean on fold out tables in my living room.

 

The Complete Collection from Lone Canuck Publishing is 20% off for those of you that want to take the plunge into the deep end of the pool.  That’s almost 200 scenarios and 5 campaign games worth of ASL goodness for less than the price of a plate at a Jeb Bush fundraiser dinner.

 

Rising Sun Crazy Sale ends at midnight:

The price for the Pacific module will go back to it’s regular sale price of $147.60 at midnight tonight from the current monthly special price of $128.00.

We are down to our last 24 sets of OBA cards.  If you are on the fence, this may be the last chance to get a set.  There are no plans for a reprint.

 

 

ASL Tabletops:

I have come out with a new idea for producing and naming ASL tabletops.  When someone custom orders an ASL tabletop I usually make at least one duplicate for sale.  I will be naming the first one after the buyer as they are the one designing it to their specs.  So as an example, if John Smith orders a customer tabletop, that design will be forever known as the ‘Smith Class’.  You may be seeing and ‘Argent Class’ soon.

Hershey Class

 

 

Dupont Class

 

 

 

Ritter Class

 

 

 

 

Ulrich Class

 

 

 

International Orders: Although the quickest and cheapest method to get your ASL fix is probably still through Xavier in Europe and Chris in Canada, I am now offering service outside of the USA.  Please check with them first for all of your ASL needs but we will be glad to fill in the gaps.  I have added a flat $25.00 shipping fee to international orders but I may contact you if actual shipping is way beyond this amount (I will absorb small differences), at which time you will have the option to cancel the order for a full refund.

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Turn 1: Battle Dice – arrived

Turn 2: Complete Lone Canuck line –  arrived

Turn 3: Winter Offensive Pack 2016 – this week

Turn 4: Poland In flames – middle of next week

Turn 5: Tanks 101 Video – end of next week

Turn 6: Journal 11 – about 2 weeks

Turn 7: Yanks – end of the month

Turn 8: Sniper/ELR Cards – late Summer/early Fall

Turn 6: Korea – in time for the 100th anniversary of Kim Jong Un’s discovery of the Polio vaccine.

Everyone who paid $120 for a copy of Beyond Valor from either this website or my ebay auctions can use a $12.00 off coupon on their next order of $100.00 or more.    Coupon Code “$12 off”.  I did not find it fair that the price is now $12 cheaper than it was when they first arrived.

 

the January Raffle winner is: Carl Ise

Carl will be getting a one of a kind coffee mug with the artwork from the 80mm Off Board Artillery card printed on it.  Remember that everyone is still entered into the drawing for 12 months from the time of your last purchase on our site.

 

We are now stocking all Lone Canuck Publishing ASL products.  While we have always had the campaign games available, we will now be carrying all of their scenario packs including the themed packs based around the Grossdeutchland Motorized Division and the 1st SS Panzer Division.  Although Panzer Aces and the Abbey packs are never for sale, I am trying to get some as prizes for the Where the Iron Crosses Grow ASL Team Tournament.

 

Battle Dice: A convoy of supplies from Canada has arrived at the War Table including the brand new and improved Dust Devils.  In my humble opinion, of all of the Battle Dice, these are the most useful and cannot live-without of the series.  No more hours spent dividing and rounding before each attack.  Now those of us that don’t have  second grade math skills can play desert scenarios too!

 

Poland in Flames: Sam insists that PIF is days from finally being in Stock.  We are getting ready shipping to ship our pre-orders as I type this.  This is a fantastic product that is bigger than Crucible of Steel and Blood and Jungle.  It consists of 6 new boards, 1,280 counters, 45 scenarios, plus lots of articles and notes.   You can order your copy here. on sale for $113.00 (suggested retail $139.00) with free shipping.

 

 

 

New Post from HongKong Wargamer:

Unwrapping Winter Offensive Bonus Pack #7

 

 

Tanks 101: Your votes are in from our poll and most people wanted a training video for tanks in ASL.  I will be posting a short AFV how-to video in our next update. Stay tuned.

 

AAR:

I spent Saturday at the War Table first playing Ray Woloszen in FrF79 Saving the Center.  I played as the German against Ray’s Soviets.  I was unable to clear his nasty 6-2-8’s out of the buildings and with most of my guns and MG’s malf’d because of that darn severe winter +2, I threw in the towel early to save the lives of my brave cardboard troops.  I think I was more afraid of shooting at him than he was of being shot at.

Just as Ray and I were finishing up, Tim Brieaddy came over and we decided to finally a scenario from the Time on Target series.  I set up as the defending Americans in ToT10  ‘Winter Wonderland’.  Tim was quite happy to get to play with 2 Brumbars and even got a hit on my mg nest with a 30 flat. But lots of arty and a couple of hidden 57L guns was enough to keep his tanks and troops at bay.  It turned out that on ROAR this scenario  is very heavily favored for the Americans on (41:7) so not quite a fair fight.  Had we checked first, we may have done some Pleva bidding before starting.

 

 

Order of Arrival (approximate):

Turn 1: Battle Dice will arrive this week have arrived

Turn 2: Lone Canuck arrives the beginning of next week

Turn 3: Poland In flames arrives at the end of next week

Turn 4: Yanks arrives by the end of the month

Turn 5: Sniper/ELR Cards by late Summer/early Fall

Turn 6: Korea

The new 2 Half-Squad podcast 154 ‘Nearly Grump Free’  is available for download.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Pricing Structure:  I have been trying to find a way to add value to the smaller orders. So starting February 1st, most of our items that we stock will be marked down at least 10%.  So no more need to spend $100 at a time and no more coupon code for the discount.  The 10% will show up in the form of a sale price.  Very few items will be exempt and if I receive positive feedback, I plan on leaving this discount in place permanently.  I still plan on running monthly sales that are in addition to the 10% already marked down price.

 

The Triad Area ASL Club: We will be firing up the engines after a lengthy hiatus.  The last time we met was before the Albany Tournament so much killing is overdue.  At that rate, this war will never end.  We are also getting ready for our very own ‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow’ tournament which is just about 2 months away.  Most of the spots are filled now but please let me know if you wish to attend and I will try to accommodate.

 

In an effort to get more SK players to join the ranks of full ASL and more full ASL players to attack some new frontiers, I would like to make some short videos to show examples of rules and rules sections.  Please take part in the survey below and I will do my best to teach some of you something new and give those of you who know the rules better than I do something to correct/add to.

 

Sniper/ELR Cards:  I am finally caught up on all of my woodworking projects so it is time to finish up the Sniper/ELR cards.   I should have them up on pre-order soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Offensive 2016

 

Bret and Perry. Two fine TD’s

 

Bret and Ed Jr. playing in the Dinant mini championship on Dan’s 3D map.

AAR

Thursday: Against the advice of my wife and the weatherman, Ray Woloszyn and I left Kernersville at noon for Bowie MD.  We arrived at the hotel around 6:30 and it was actually quite full with players but there was definitely more table space than usual and a lot less sharing tables going on.   First I head to the table to check in and I and all the other registered players are given a free copy of J11.  I also bought the new W.0. scenario pack.

Thursday evening: I picked up a game with Steven Kyle.  I had never met Steven before but sure am glad that I did.  We laughed more than we rolled.  I played as the Japanese who I really enjoy because of the little tricks I can use as the defender.  The tunnels are probably what saved me as I infiltrated back into his newly won bunker to ambush his unit.  A pretty nasty trick as you can advance concealed against his unit in the bunker for a -5 on the ambush roll.  I had a fantastic time playing him and chatting with him over the next 3 days.

My initial set-up.  Tunnels not shown.

Friday morning: I had made arrangements to play Dan Dolan on his upcoming Dinant module.  I took over on turn 2 from Doctor Rob as the defending French.  This is one of the most beautiful maps I have ever seen.  I am sure this will be a top seller and a collector’s item (and possibly give the nudge to MMP to get the CdG reprint rolling). Stephanne from France took over for me on turn 4.  I am not sure how this scenario ended but Stephanne and Dan were still going at it 36 hours later.

Friday Afternoon:  I started my day with a game against Warren.  I have never played or met him before either and we decided to play ‘Into Vienna Woods (AP52)’.  This was going to be the one game every year that has the crazy ending story.  In my last turn, Warren is in firm control with a 9-1, 3 x 4-5-8’s in the foxhole he needs for the win.  A NMC later, all but the leader is broken leaving the hex empty for me to advance into the foxhole with a 9-1, MMG, 6-5-8, 3-4-8, and a hero.   In his last prep fire phase, a 1MC breaks the leader and the squads leaving me with nothing more than a hero to defend with.  The 4-5-8’s rush the hill and all break to the hero’s fire except for one squad that advance in.  My hero fails his CC attack so it is for Warren to roll a 8 or less (a 9 would possibly win also depending on the subsequent wound severity roll).  The poor Russians forgot to bring shovels and bayonets with a 12 on the final roll of the game.  The German hero holds the position for the win.

Friday night: John Dober is one of my favorite people in the ASL community so I always make sure to find a way to get a game in with him.  He picked an old classic ‘The Crux of Calais’.  I moved my German tanks down the left flank of the canal.  The bridge on the far left across the canal is blown so I figure that the flank will be sparsely defended.  This will allow me to get my tanks in position to hurl smoke at the next bridge to insure a safe voyage across the water.  Well I was wrong.  Three hits from his AT gun and one from an ATR leave me with 3 less tanks and one immobilized.  Looking very bleak.  I manage to cross the bridge with a few squad and surround a large group in his main defensive building with my remaining tanks.  A HMG and MMG on L2 across the water threatens to interdict any of his units from the right side that will try to reinforce the battle, so John calls it quits probably more to get a good night’s sleep than anything else.

Saturday Morning:  I get a chance to meet and play the legend ‘Jim Stahler’.  We chose AP112 First Ally.  His Poles cleaned my clock.  I managed to do nothing more than break a couple of his squads.  I didn’t enjoy playing the Slovakians with their 3 FP firing into stone buildings.  It will take a better player than me to figure out how to use them properly.  The real enjoyment was the company I shared.  After talking about the old days of Avalon Hill and the designing of Breakout Normandy and others, we had lunch together where I found out that we both have a love for Irish music and we both play the tin whistle (I carry one in my car and he carries one in his pocket).  I told him that next year I would bring a guitar or a mandolin and we would get together to play a tune or two.

 

Saturday afternoon:  Ron and I sit down to another new scenario J167 ‘Hart Attack’.  This scenario is set in the hills and olive groves of Tunisia.  I made a mistake (as I often do) and misread the olive grove rules believing that a tank in olive groves are hull down.  I found out the next day from Ray that this isn’t the case.  The untimely demise of his 9-2 and 2 less Grants including one falling to an underbelly hit from a tungsten shell and victory was out of reach for Ron.

 

Saturday Evening:      “Wild Bill” Hayward, of ASLOK fame is my next opponent.  I have never played against him before as his night shift at Oktoberfest is way past my bedtime but we have spent many hours talking and am grateful that we finally get to face off against each other.  Just the three of us; Me, Bill, and a loaf of bread.  We played J173 ‘Assault on Baerendorf’. I was happy to get to play the Americans in this one.  With 5 Shermans and oodles of elite squads I managed to almost blow the game in the first turn.  As master players often do, Bill predicted my avenue of approach and was staring at the rear of all five of my tanks with his HIP JgPzIV(L).  Boom goes the first one, but then things get worse… I roll his SAN and it drifts to my 9-1 stacked with three squads (yes, I should know better).  For random selection I roll 5-5-5-5 (3 x SAN in the bank).   He choses the leader so now I have 3 x 1MC where I roll 4-4-4 which would be great if his SAN wasn’t a 4!  So now he has six SAN rolls.  Although he misses on all six, by turn three he was up to 14 sniper checks with another kill on my 8-1 and a wound on my 8-0.  Somehow I manage to pull it off on the last turn for the win.

 

Sunday Morning: I got a chance to play a brand new friend named Peter Ortega.  If any of you get a chance to meet or play him, you will not be disappointed.  He is a prime example of some of the best people in this hobby.  Polite, interested in learning, and willing to share stories outside of the world of wargaming.  We played ‘Brief Breakfast’ from ‘Out of the Attic’.  Peter told me tat he plays almost exclusively with his cousin so this was a great opportunity to learn some new tactics.  We were having so much fun that we were going to play a second scenario but a snow emergency called him home.  I expect to see him at ‘Where the Iron Crosses Grow’ in April.

 

Sunday Evening: Tom Arnold and I played AP59 ‘Taking Heads’.  Tom had very little experience playing PTO but it didn’t show as his elite squads banzai’d across the Kunai fields to engage my .50 cal toting Philippine Army.  I tried for two turns to slow him down with fire lanes but those 4-4-8’s are tough opponents and most made it into my positions to engage in HTH combat.  A slow withdrawal and back to the village before Steve (from game 1) took over from Tom to finish the game.  The IJA as is so often the case, lost momentum with all the striping in the waning turns of the game and were unable enough to wrestle enough VP’s from the good guys.  This ended up being my final game for the great weekend.

Special mention goes out to Perry and the Youse’s who never flinched in the face of the storm.  Ken Knot who gave as good as he got we traded insults for 4 days.  The Hotel for not running out of food or patience. The attendees for showing up and making it 4 days to remember.  I will see you all next year. In the future I promise to take more notes and photos.

 

Battle Dice:

Chris emailed me today that the dice are in early and will be shipping tomorrow.  They are coming from Canada so it may still take a week before I can ship them out to you.  Remember, all Battle Dice are on sale this month through our website and don’t forget your 10% coupon on orders over $100.00

 

Poland In Flames:

I had the opportunity to talk with Sam Tyson at Winter Offensive and he assures me that Poland In Flames is right around the corner.  So hopefully I will be shipping next week or the week after.  Lets all keep our fingers crossed