Chapter K: Training Manual

An excellent way of getting started is to read the articles referenced on the Chapter A page, as well as those listed below. When you've mastered Chapter A, move on the Chapter B page, etc.

Introductions

Tips for Learning ASL

1. Buy the ASL Starter Kit

Reviews:

by Peter Young
First Impressions, by Sam Belcher
by Norm Smith

2. The Vae Victis Articles

* Beginning ASL I: Don't Fear the Monster Anymore, by Jean Devaux & Philippe Naud, Vae Victis 21 (Jul/Aug 1998)
* Beginning ASL II: Off-board Artillery and Guns, by Jean Devaux & Philippe Naud, Vae Victis 22 (Sept/Oct 1998)
* Beginning ASL III: - Armor and vehicles, by Jean Devaux & Philippe Naud, Vae Victis 23 (Nov/Dec 1998)
* Beginning ASL IV: - General Overview, by Jean Devaux & Philippe Naud, Vae Victis 24 (Jan/Feb 1999) - the rest of the system

Other

* Tips for Learning ASL, by John Slotwinski, ASL Journal 4:40 (2002, Multi-Man Publishing), reprinted from Conscripts! 1.3:1 (Jan-02, D.C. Conscripts)
* The Newbie Manifesto, an attempt to guide the new player to the tools available online for learning and expanding into ASL
EIGHT STEPS TO ASL: A Programmed Instruction Approach, By Jim Stahler (also in The General 30:1:19, 42-43, 47, 55-56 and 90 Annual 15-20)
* Introductory Guide to ASL
* Draft ASL Introductory Packet, by View From the Trenches
* The Grognard Speaks: “Learning ASL, One Scenario at a Time” By Bob Smith, Hit The Beach! 6:2:6 (April 2001, Southern California ASL Club)
* aslrb reading list, by Russ Bunten (from the old ASL Crossroads) - what to read and when

* Basic Tactics: Evil Minion Advice to Newbies, by Matthew Shostak (from the old ASL Crossroads)
* Examples of Play - These are excellent ways to shorten the learning curve. They cover such issues as the basics of infantry, armor, PTO, and night actions.
* Idiot's Guide to ASL or, Stuff I Forget, by Sam Belcher (another source)
* The Newbie Top Ten: The Top Ten Things Newbies Should Do Each Time They Play ASL, by Greg Schmittgens, View From the Trenches 42: 16
* "How Do I Start?" by Tom Repetti, View From the Trenches 38:16
* The Never-ending Newbie Mantra, by Dave Reenstra, View From the Trenches 33: 4
* ASL Training, by Riches, Chris, View From the Trenches 31:16 (May-00) - Forced Rule Usage Training System
* A Platoon Leader's Guide to Combat in Built-Up Areas. the Word by the Book, by U.S. Army Infantry School, Critical Hit Special Edition - Stalingrad:44 (Jun-97, Critical Hit) - Real World Small Unit City Tactics
* Analysis: Never Say Die, by Nixon, Mark C., At the Point 3:5 (1991, Hanna Business Group) - Playing Through Bad Situations
* Up From Squad Leader: Part 2, by Lindstedt, Martin, On All Fronts 105:3 (Feb-93, M.C.C.) - Moving from SL to ASL
* Basic Training: A Beginner's Guide to Beginning in ASL, by Banozic, Robert, ASL Stuff:1 (WCW) - Getting Started in ASL
* Advice to a Newbie, by Sam Belcher
* A Prairie Dog in the Sand, by John A. Foley, ASL Digest 1.4 (getting ready to play armor for the first time)
* Dazzled by his Firebase, by John A. Foley, ASL Digest 1.5 (getting ready to play armor for the first time, part 2)
* Keep It Simple, Stupid! Tim Hundsdorfer, ASL Digest 6.5 - a tip for learning mortars
* Keep it Simple, Stupid, Tim Hundsdorfer, ASL Digest 6.8 (October 15, 1996) - meeting victory conditions
* Sun Tzu and the Art of ASL, Part I, by Jim Aikens, Hit The Beach! 7:1:8 (August 2002, Southern California ASL Club)
* The Grognard Speaks! City Fighting Tactics, by Robert Smith, Hit The Beach! 5:3:10 (October 2000, Southern California ASL Club)
* Tips from A Speedster: Playing ASL Faster, by Mark McGilchrist, Rate Of Fire 16:4 (Winter 2000, Paddington Bears ASL Club)

Rules

* Sharing Is Caring, by Carl Nogueira (rules he had forgotten)
* Astuces, by Leonard, Philippe, Scroungin' ASL News:5 (Critical Hit) - Misc Rules Analysis
* The Rules Clinic, by Seningen, Mike, Banzai!! 3.3:9 (Nov-98, Austin ASL Club) - Miscellaneous Rules Analysis
* Do Not Forget, by Barette, Yves, Scroungin' ASL News:14 (Critical Hit) - Misc Rules Analysis
* Return of Snapshots, by Nixon, Mark C., At the Point 7:5 (1991, Hanna Business Group) - Miscellaneous Rules Analysis
* The Rules Clinic: General Tips, by Seningen, Mike, Banzai!! 3.2:6 (Jul-98Austin ASL Club) - Miscellaneous Rules Analysis
* The Fifth Column, by Haseler, Paul, Rate of Fire 6: (Jul-95, Paddington Bears) - Rules Quiz
* Advanced Squad Leader Timeline, Backblast 2:Backcover (Apr-95, M.M.P.) - ASL Timeline (What's Avalible When)
* Rules Synopsis, by Clawson, Ronald T., At the Point 11:18 (1992, Hanna Business Group) - Player Aid Cards for Chapters A-G
* The Pastor’s Corner, by Robert Hammond, Hit The Beach! 5:2:2 (August 2000, Southern California ASL Club) - rules people forget

Tactics

Basics

* Tactics 101: 13 Steps Closer to Improving Your ASL Game, by Mike McGrath, The General 30:1:53-54
* Basic Tactics - Evil Minion Advice to Newbies, by Matthew Shostak
* A Primer on ASL Tactics
* Finer Points of the Game
* About Tactics 101: Tough Talk, by Wyar, Bob, On All Fronts 100:4 (Apr-92, M.C.C.)
* Welcome to the Front: Short Course to Success, by Shostak, Matt, Banzai!! 4.1:8 (Apr-99, Austin ASL Club)
* Tactics 101, by McGrath, Mike, At the Point 13/14:21 (1992, Hanna Business Group)
* Advanced Squad Leader Training Lesson 2: Strategy 201, by Bunten, Russ, Critical Hit 2:13
* Preparing for Battle, by Lepore, Dan, Critical Hit 5.1:7
* Its Majesty ASL, by Monnier, Theophile, Vae Victis 1:12 (Feb-95, Histoire & Collections)
* The Ten Most Common Mistakes, by Longworth, David, Rate of Fire 4: (Jul-94, Paddington Bears)
* Basic Tactics, by Mike O'Leary, ASL Digest 6.3 (July 15, 1996)

Setup

* Combat Planning - A few words on how to think about a scenario.
* Defensive Planning - A couple of notes on preparing to defend.
* Setting Up a Defense, by Jeff Shields
* Rommel's Rules
* Attack or Defend?
* Fear and Loathing in the ASL Setup, by Tom Repetti, ASL Digest 8.1 (January 16, 1998)
* Planning 101: A Problem Solving Approach to ASL, by Doug Bush, Conscripts! 1.3:5 (Jan-02, D.C. Conscripts)

Armor

* Blitzkreig For Beginners - basic AFV tactics, View From the Trenches 29/30: 30
* Combating the Vehicle Bypass Movement 'Sleaze', View From the Trenches 29/30: 34
* To BU or Not to BU, View From the Trenches 29/30: 35

Guns

* Area Target Type vs. Infantry Target Type

Other

* A Bunch of Flankers - flanking attacks, View From the Trenches 29/30: 28
* Victory Thru Superior Firepower: US Tactics in ASL, View From the Trenches 29/30: 36
* The Black Book of Sleaze, by Jones, Jack, View From the Trenches 20:6 (Jul-98)
* Tactical Tips for Veterans: Read the Rule Book!, by Nogueira, Carl, Dispatches From the Bunker 13:Backpage
* Tips & Tactics, by Boultbee, Mike, Infiltrator 1.2:4 (Feb-97, Brandon Partisans ASL Club)
* Tips & Tactics, by Boultbee, Mike, Infiltrator 1.3:4 (Sep-97, Brandon Partisans ASL Club)
* Pastor's Corner, by Hammond, Robert, Hit the Beach! 5.2:3 (Aug-00, SoCal ASL Club)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 6:6 (Sep-93)
* The Never Ending Newbie Mantra, by Reenstra, Dave, View From the Trenches 33:4 (Sep-00)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 1:3 (Apr-93)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 2:4 (May-93)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 3:3 (Jun-93)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 4:7 (Jul-93)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 5:8 (Aug-93)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 7:12 (Oct-93)
* Tactical Briefs, ASLUG 8:14 (Nov-93)
* Street Fightin' Man! How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Flamethrower, by McLeod, Jim, View From the Trenches 32:7 (Jul-00)
* The Physics of ASL, by Hadady, Wayne, Point Blank 1.4:21 (Dec-00, Silicon Valley ASL Club) - Miscellaneous Rules Tips
* Psychological Warfare in ASL The Extra-Game Play, by Sherry, Evan E., Schwerpunkt 3:18 (Oct-98, Sherry Enterprises)
* Urrah!! Defying the -2 Modifier! Matt Romey, ASL Digest 6.6 (September 3, 1996)
* ASL Mechanized Infantry Tactics, Part 1, by Terry Ford, ASL Digest 7.8 (August 27, 1997)
* ASL Mechanized Infantry Tactics, Part 2, Terry Ford, ASL Digest 7.9 (September 30, 1997)
* Pointers for Combined-Arms Play in ASL, by John Slotwinski, Conscripts! 1.3:3 (Jan-02, D.C. Conscripts)

back to ASLWebDex
This page last updated 8/31/04