danbob Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Our ASL pile (that's Advanced Squad Leader for you youngsters)...weight 80 lbs, cost about US$1,000 if you count the lead miniatures and painting supplies (not shown) for Deluxe ASL. Large table and cat-proof room required to save games. Uses mechanically-agitated 6-sided cubes for randomization. Sound effects depend on mental state of players. Features the odd and time-consuming phenomenon of "rules checks," in which players compete to quickly look up arcane phrases within hundreds of pages of rules written in legalese, with the most convincing and/or pushy player winning in the interpretation. Compared to that small disc in the foreground...see it? It looks kind of like a small, shiny vinyl LP (youngsters...look up "vinyl," "LP," and "album" in the dictionary.)Cost, $45 + S/H. Weight 1/2 ounce. 3D graphics included. Rules checks not needed. Saving games requires only disk space and a few seconds. Sound effects included, but are not as good as Jake the Yak's during game 6 of the 29-game Red Barricades campaign and after drinking much Stoli (he WAS playing the Russians after all...) BUT SERIOUSLY...we do still get together and push the cardboard counters and lead miniatures now and then--but only with small scenarios. The convenience and speed of play in CMBO is outstanding. I doubt we'll ever attempt Reb Barricades again, it's a year-long propostition to play the whole campaign, and dedicates an entire room of the house to its completion. Cheers to all.... Danbob age=34 SL/ASL player since age 14, converted to CMBO one year ago today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flammenwerfer Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Wow! A picture of a Dodo bird. How cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Oh my God, I was at a hobby store today. The latest ASL modules are 90 dollars Canadian - no mounted maps, just paper, and a dozen scenarios. That's it. Perhaps 100 or so counters. What on earth are they charging all the money for? My ASL pile looks about the same, but I have the large chest of drawers from Canadian Tire to keep the pieces in. 50 drawers, a big box full of mounted maps and scenarios, and that doesn't count the lard buckets of SL pieces I never had the heart to throw out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gredeker Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 {Sniff} That's beautiful, man... I still play both, but my playtime in ASL is become more limited. You forgot to mention the time spent in counter sorting, clipping and organizing (I noticed all the Plano ) as well as the setup/takedown time - where CM beats it hands down. The place where ASL definitely wins is in the face-to-face, back-slapping beer-drinking camaraderie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 danbob, That really takes me back. Not as far as it takes you back though. I have almost the exact same pile ( I have preety well everything except deluxe ) I bought all my stuff 10 years ago, I was 15, with money I earned washing dishes on the weekends. I still have my reciepts I spent a little under $800.00 Cdn. I look back on it now and I can't believe I bought it because I grew up in a very small town and I had no one to play ASL with :confused: ! To this day I have never been able to find anyone locally to play ASL with on a regular or even semi-regular basis. My stuff carefully packed away in 2 boxes in my closet about 3 years ago with all the trays carefully taped shut to prevent the counters from getting mixed up. I don't think I could possibly bring myself to sell it. Maybe someday I will have a son or two I could teach to play. I love CMBO but the CMBO cd doesnt quite conjure up the pride of ownership that all my ASL modules do. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyrene Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 What? No "Code of Bushido" or "Gung Ho" in that pile? You guys are light weight! Seriously, ASL is the best game I barely got to play. 5 to 6 hours for what in CM would be a 300 point game was a bit too much. Gyrene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gredeker Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Upon further reflection, I can say that CM has affected my ASL play in a profound way - I never play any more standalone western front 44-45 scenarios. It's all early war, PTO, eastern front, or campaign games. I just started a campaign game of Pegasus Bridge, a lot of which CM can't simulate - gliders, campaign game format, water towers, starshells, captured equipment use, etc. CM also lacks the arcane "insider" acronym usage of ASL... "This CX HS will make a PF dr then take a PAATC..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Harrison Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 seeing those pictures brings back some old memories . . . that was preCM days though. i was playing ASL up to the point that I got CM, then it was just too much work. a classic game though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonm Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Redeker, I'll try the pop quiz for 20 points: This CX HS will make a PF dr then take a PAATC Translation: This Counter Exhausted Half Squad will make a Panzerfaust die roll (1-6) [as opposed to DR (2-12)] then take a Pre AFV Attack Task Check. I hope its an open topped AFV your going for .... BTW: If you want an Excel spreadsheet that removes most of the die rolling send me an email. It covers IFT resolution and AFV's but you still need to study chapters A - G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Ok, so who used the Incremental Infantry Fire Table that was released as "optional" in the first ASL Annual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyrene Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr> BTW: If you want an Excel spreadsheet that removes most of the die rolling send me an email. It covers IFT resolution and AFV's but you still need to study chapters A - G. <hr></blockquote> I'd like to take a look at that, if you don't mind. Gyrene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyrene Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Have you guys seen This? Fear no cats, "clumsy losers" or sneezing. Gyrene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Have you tried it Gyrene? It's been around for what seems like years, but I've never talked to anyone who used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Hand drawn by Gordon Molek <hr></blockquote> What the heck???? That Molek dude is all over.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyrene Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 I've observed a few games online (A very neat feature we could use in CM), but after watching the "locals" speed playing I didn't feel comfortable enough to jump in a game. We could give it a shot, I remember very little of the rules, though. Gyrene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Chef Sakai Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Been awhile since i've seen that game..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gyrene: I've observed a few games online (A very neat feature we could use in CM), but after watching the "locals" speed playing I didn't feel comfortable enough to jump in a game. We could give it a shot, I remember very little of the rules, though. Gyrene<hr></blockquote> Next weekend, if you're still interested, drop me an email. We have another weekend to wait before the CM campaign really gets going. I haven't played ASL in ages, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knaust Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 What I lack more in CM compared to ASl is that sort of legal dispute about the interpretation of rules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyrene Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Hand drawn by Gordon Molek What the heck???? That Molek dude is all over.... <hr></blockquote> LOL!!! I saw his name, but I'm so used to seeing it I just glossed it over. Mike, we can try pushing a couple of squads and an HT or two around. I'll dust out my ASL rule book. Gyrene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noba Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 I have recently got into VASL. We are trying KGP1. It's really great, no table to set up, no wifley complaints about "mess". I still use the modules as reference material. Planning for KGP is always hard work. You really need the physical maps. Even so,I thoroughly recommend it. It is slower to play then FTF, but that can be offset by voice comms. And yes, 'Noba' is what you think from ASL. Noba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyrene Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 You think that VASL is even slower than Face to Face? FTF is already glacial as it is... Btw, GibsonM's excel spreadsheet for ASL looks like it's a real time saver from what I've seen so far, very nice. It might cut turn times from 2 hours down to only 1. Gyrene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noba Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 We find it slower due to the typing required to communicate DRM's, MP's etc, for units...things that require correction are time consuming when a player moves on oblivious to something an opponent typed (slowly)... Still. A good way to play friends in far places - certainly better than not playing. Noba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slapdragon Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 I remember being on Usenet a decade ago and people arguing about the Kindling table and if crews could use it or if it was more fair to give them a DRM, and if Germans or Americans where better equipped with matches, and if German matches where superior than American matches (the uber match argument). Luckily, being a computer game, those arguments are in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipanderson Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 danbob, hi, I have a near identical collection, basically all of the games. Will not be getting rid of it, I like the thought of keeping it all, but will probably never use it again. For me, CM is, on all counts, a thousand times better. I hoped for a computer version of ASL, and CMBO does it better than I had ever thought possible. All the best, Kip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Steiner Posted January 14, 2002 Share Posted January 14, 2002 Hi all Sniff...... Those were the days my friends....... Never to be repeated I fear...... Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts