In The Mail

Back from a revitalising holiday to find that Mark Pitcavage's Scenario Designer's Guide was part of the accumulated mail waiting for me. First glance - nicely done. Lots of reading to do and a few notes to make before a fuller report is on the cards. Not sure that it'll be as useful as might have been suggested for non-ASL scenario designers but more later on that.  So much to do today and I haven't even typed up the updates.

Advanced Squad Leader Schedule

Now that I've settled in here and have a modicum of connectivity, it's time to get back into some game playing. ASL still manages to feature on my playlists because I find it easy to arrange games via the VASL online utility and PBeM suits me. When I last was involved in PBeM/Live games via VASL, I was playing the following:

• CH15 No Farther: vs Jay White - Set on the Red Barricades map, this is the fourth mini scenario of its type Jay and I have played. The others have all been exceptional games with wacky events and some outrageous swings of fortune. It helps that we get along so well. It will be a lot easier for us both once I have ADSL and Skype operating again. [CH issue 2]

• J88 Escape to Wiltz: vs Chris Wendel - A small yet vicious scenario set during the Battle of the Bulge, it started out okay for the US, but from what I remember I've run into real time/space issues in terms of clearing away the German blocking detachments. Losing one of my two light armoured vehicles really hurt. [ASL Journal 5]

• DASL6 Draconian Measures: vs Vic Behar - We only managed to get as far as Turn 2 before real life interrupted the game, but thi scenario is one of those tooth and claw fights where the advanattges of the Tigers are offset by the urban terrain and the Soviet firepower that can effectively wipe away the escorting infantry. [Streets of Fire]

• U8 Weissenhof Crossroads: vs John Knowles - John and I have been playing ASL against each other for almost 20 years now, and we're currently working our way through the GI's Dozen scenario pack, a collection of SL system scenarios updated to ASL format. This is one of our mutual favourites from GI, and is a winter Bulge scenario that works better in VASL with all the terrain changes than it does in hardcopy. This one is starting to run John's way as attrition begins to bite hard and the threat of the big 15cm Self-propelled Infantry cannons is lessening as I take the Ammunition restrictions into account. [GI's Dozen]

I'm about to head off for an 18 day break in Aussie so I'll be getting these games back up and running when I return, and maybe even with the benefit of Skype/ADSL.