Advanced Squad Leader Tutorial #5 - Line of Sight & TEM

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Advanced Squad Leader Tutorial #5 - Line of Sight & TEM
0:00​ - Intro
0:25 - Channel Support Announcement
3:26​ - Line of Sight (LOS) Mechanics
13:54​ - Obstacles
20:11 - Hindrances
30:26 - Example: Visualizing LOS
38:24​ - My traditional end of video die roll. What will it be...?

This fifth Boot Camp covers basic line of sight (LOS) mechanics, the difference between obstacles and hindrances, and sprinkles in a little terrain effect modifier information. At the end I show how I attempt to visualize LOS during play.

The goal of ASL Boot Camp is to present rule and tactical discussions for new and veteran players. New Boot Camp Exercises posted ... well, when I make them (hint: there's no schedule!). Also, if I screw up a rules interpretation (we all do) in any of my videos, PLEASE post in the comments so we can correct it!!!

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#advancedsquadleader #asl​ #gaming #tacticalgames #tacticalgaming​ #wargaming #hexandcounter #boardgames #worldwar2 #ww2 #ww2games

[Jimo]

Incredible. Well made. Your example at the last chapter of the video was superb. Again: A picture tells more than 1000 words. Thanks for taking your time and sharing.

[joevano]

I really like your “zone” example... I guess I never really thought of it that way

[marfac]

Look forward to watch it. Thanks for this Easter present 😉.

[jonathanplott]

Just joined. The very least I could do after your stellar VASL 101/201 series and now the Boot Camp!

[kozimandius]

Awesome content. I would only add 2 things. 1: Clarify that unlike obstacles, the hindrances are inherent terrain independent of the artwork depiction, and 2: the difference between a soft and hard hindrances, specifically on the effect on fire lanes. But the latter is chrome. :)

[joeperez]

Learning the system by watching these videos. I can understand why there would be a rule where you have to declare that you're firing before you trace your LOS, but the flip side of that coin is that you could have ASL players who live and breathe ASL, and they HAVE played so many times that they'll know whether the tricky LOS traces on certain boards are good or not. This is a BIG advantage against someone who hasn't dedicated his life to ASL.

[markc]

I love ASL. I wouldn't have invested almost 40 years and thousands of dollars into it if I didn't. But IMO it has some glaring weaknesses that drives me nuts, and LOS is one of them. You, as a player, shouldn't have to visualize anything like "Do I have a LOS or not", because really it is whether your "troops" see the enemy or not. If the troops see them, then they have the option to shoot them. There shouldn't be this weird guess work. I also play Old School Tactical, and that game does its right. You are allowed as many free LOS checks as you like...as a matter of fact, your troops are not allowed to fire UNLESS they have a LOS, which, when you think about it, makes total sense. Another good video - it is tough to subdivide this game into teaching sections, because so many other future teachable sections influence the one you are talking about!

[WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Just got on here and heard you say something about “screwing or up”. It’s ASL so inevitable to get rules wrong.

[squidlyp]

Thank you for your videos. I just bought the game and am in the process of learning the rules. At about 18:20 you mention that terrain effects are not cumulative. I can't find where it says that in the rules. A2.4, A7.3, and A7.6 seems to indicate that terrain effects are cumulative. So the DRM looks like it would be +4. Please help.

[thierrym]

For me the most difficult los to check is for kampfgruppe peiper I

[toddalancox]

Getting back into ASL and recently read through smoke again. At about 28:29, wouldn't the hindrance be +4 instead of +3? You are shooting from M4 to L2 along the hex side between grain in one hex and grain plus smoke in the other hex. Or in your example where you pretending the grain wasn't in the hex where the smoke is for demonstration? Or I am not understanding this correctly?

[JamesGraham-fy]

I've always thought that not checking LOS prior to attacking was strange or gamey. Obviously the soldiers would know if the enemy was in their LOS. We don't use this rule when playing and most war games we play similar to ASL doesn't use this rule.

[区楚岷]

18:53, wouldn't the wall between G7 and H7 block the German from firing into the building?

[pm]

The only thing not being relatively intuitive is the thing about half-height obstacles blocking everything but the hex just behind it.

[WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

No, LNL tactical doesn’t take LOs to the same level, much more simplified.

[davidwilliams]

And you roll even if the shot is blocked because your might break your machine gun.