ASLOk XXV - initial thoughts

Attending ASLOk XXV is going to be my first serious ASL Tourney. Sure I've been playing ASL for over 20 years, but in that time I've really only played about 10-12 different opponents face to face.

I'm not sure what the protocol is beyond the Grofaz matchups, but I'm hoping to arrange as many games as I can against people I've corresponded with over the years on CSW and/or played on VASL.

I'm still undecided about entering any of the Mini-tourneys. I do need to create a decent playlist however.

I wonder if I should look to start pre-arranging games as I'm going to be an early arrival and one of the last ones to leave.

Checking through my overlays and I'm sad to say I've misplaced/lost a couple of the small woods, grain and orchards ones.

I'll be packing a very light ASL gearbag -
the Rulebook + QRDCs
Netbook with eASLRB and Scenarios
Playlist book of about 20 scenarios
small plano of system counters and
ASLSK1-3 in a single SK box.

The plan at ASLOk apart from ASL gaming is to pick up as much ASL gear as I can bring back with me. This will probably mean something like a dice tower, scenario packs and any TPP stuff that I've been looking for to fill out some gaps.

I was going to bring along my TOT1-3 stuff to play as a theme, but I only have the counters remaining as my TOT scenarios all "disappeared" when I lent out my TPP scenario folder back in 2000. If I ever could get hold of Phil Richardson of Wellington again, I'd kill to get my KE/TOT stuff back, as it includes all the stuff up to MM99.

Time On Target 2: At the Sharp End

Years ago, a couple of guys created an Advanced Squad Leader product called Time On Target. The first issue was a collection of themed scenarios set during the Battle of the Bulge and were released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the battle. They attracted pretty universal acclaim for the obvious research and dedication that went into them. At the time they were amongst the best ASL scenarios released.

Then about a year or so later, Time on Target 2 was released. This dealt with actions in April 1945 that occurred in Northern Germany involving the British 21st Army Group and the opposing Germans. Unlike most late war situations which usually end up resembling a heavy metal car lot, this featured a huge range of actions drawing heavily from John Russell's No Triumphant Procession: The Forgotten Battles of April 1945.

Because they fell outside the usual US-centric Western Front ASL view, this scenario pack appealed greatly. However obtaining the book upon which the scenarios were based became an issue unto itself. I did however find a copy of the 1945 Story of the 79th Armoured Division which helped in some regard.