Advanced Squad Leader

Should this hit the table?

Quick read before the metadata.

The final interaction score for Advanced Squad Leader is 7.35, indicating a game with a moderate level of direct confrontation, high strategic depth in confrontation, frequent interaction, and a lower emphasis on cooperation.

Teach 2.4

Teaching signal

Replay 4.0

High replayability

Interaction 3.7

Highly interactive

Scaling 4.0

Scales well

Strategy 4.5

Deep strategy

Control 4.0

More strategic control

Table feel

The final interaction score for Advanced Squad Leader is 7.35, indicating a game with a moderate level of direct confrontation, high strategic depth in confrontation, frequent interaction, and a lower emphasis on cooperation.

Replay value

Advanced Squad Leader has a high replayability score due to its high variability gameboard, availability of expansions, deep strategic depth, and good scalability. The game offers different experiences each time it is played, allowing players to discover new tactics and strategies. The presence of expansions adds new content and gameplay elements, further enhancing the replay value. The game adapts well to different player counts without compromising its appeal or balance. While it may not be the easiest game to learn, it offers a rewarding and engaging experience for those willing to invest the time to understand its depth.

Luck profile

The final luck score for Advanced Squad Leader is 8 out of 10, indicating a low influence of luck. While random elements like dice rolls and card draws have a notable impact on the game outcome, players have substantial ability to mitigate this randomness through strategic decisions and planning. The game heavily relies on player strategy and decisions, with luck playing a minor role.

Overview

What ABG knows about this game

Advanced Squad Leader is the completely reorganized and re-designed version of the original Squad Leader system. This three-ring binder is the basic rules for the entire system, and provides the ultimate combination of playability and detail. Full-color charts and beautiful pictures make this the most readable of rulebooks - and includes a full-service index as well for quick reference. And ASL is more than "squads" - the system includes the rules for everything from machine guns to bazookas, tanks and ordnance weapons, paratrooper drops, glider landings and beach assaults. And much more. This set of rules is constantly kept up to date by expansions included with the modules. ASL goals are scenario-defined, and vary from tasks such as exiting troops off of one edge of the board, to inflicting a certain number of casualty points on the opposing force, to capturing a certain number of goal buildings or areas. This is just the rulebook. To start playing the game the newcomer must get, at least, the Beyond Valor: ASL Module 1. There are a great many ASL Modules available. "Core Modules" provide additional rules, units from different nationalities, and additional geomorphic mapboards. "Historical Modules" provide campaign games simulating multi-day battles using actual historical maps rather than geomorphic mapboards, including additional rules, counters, and paper maps. Many modules have dependencies on earlier modules. Rulebook contents: Introduction Chapters A, B, C, D, H (Design Your Own, German & Russian vehicle notes only), J [1st edition] Chapters A, B, C, D, E, H (Design Your Own, German & Russian vehicle notes only), J, K [2nd edition] Index & Glossary 1st edition additional changes/chapters: chapter E in Yanks: ASL Module 3 chapter F in West of Alamein: ASL Module 5 chapter G in Code of Bushido: ASL Module 8 / Gung Ho!: ASL Module 9 chapter K in Paratrooper: ASL Module 2 8 revised RuleBook pages [A 17-18/A 29-30/B 31-32/F 1-2 all marked "92"] in Croix de Guerre: ASL Module 10 2nd edition additional chapters: chapter F in Hollow Legions: ASL Module 7a chapter G in Rising Sun: ASL Module 13 (Note: this is a description of the ASL rulebook which is published separately. For the ASL family, check Game wiki.)

Mechanism

5

Critical Hits and Failures Dice Rolling Grid Movement Hexagon Grid Interrupts

Family

4

Digital Implementations: VASSAL Game: Advanced Squad Leader Players: Games with expansions that add solo play Players: Two Player Only Games

Type

1

Wargames

Media

Images and visual references

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