|
|
|
Publications
Books
In 2007, the
webmaster of tacticalwargamer.com published Scenario Designer's
Handbook, a resource for Advanced Squad Leader scenario
designers. The 2nd Edition became
available in July 2015. Information is available at this
link.
...though it purports to be a handbook for scenario designers, in actual fact it is much, much
more. Perhaps the author was afraid of promising too much. Personally, I should
instead describe this book as a ‘handbook for all ASL players’.
Going further, I recommend to anyone already possessing much or all
of the ASL stuff available and wondering what next to invest in: look no further.
Though the same advice could be offered to anyone new to ASL. Indeed, a goodly
number of non-ASL wargamers picking this book up may be drawn in to sampling our hobby.
- - Ian Daglish,
View
from the Trenches
Issue
74
|
 |
|
Periodicals
(For information on how to submit
articles to TWJ - see here)
In 2009 publication commenced on
the Tactical Wargamer's Journal (ISSN 1918-9729). Information
is available at
this link.
Tactical Wargamer's Journal (ISSN 1918-9729), published on a
non-regular schedule, covers topics of interest on all aspects of
the world of commercial tactical wargaming, with its focus set on
warfare at the man-to-man, squad and platoon level in the 20th
Century and contemporary era. Tactical Wargamer's Journal (TWJ)
places emphasis on both military history and the history of tactical
level gaming itself.
"Tactical
Wargamer's Journal is the
most recent wargaming magazine...What draws you to it is the
eye-catching, bound journal with a slick cover, that reminds you
of certain academic journals...My
best guess is if you give this seemingly expensive journal a
pass solely due to price, that decision will nag and later come
back to haunt you. In general it is an outstanding read for any
aficionado of wargaming, and will provide a number of hours of
reading pleasure."
- - LTC Robert G. Smith,
Panzer Digest
Issue 9
|
-
220pp, available in both print and
electronic versions
-
Original 142pp
print-only version discontinued
|
|
Tactical Wargamer's Issue 1 (Revised)
By popular demand - for those that have
enjoyed Issue 2 and Issue 3 in electronic form, the revised edition
of Issue 1 is now under preparation. For those that choose to enjoy
TWJ in its original print form, there will be two options for
obtaining the additional content in this revised edition.
-
purchasing the electronic copy,
which contains the complete original 1st edition, grants them
access to additional content not included in the print version, including an additional article, ASL scenario and complete index which was not originally
published
-
they can instead purchase the
printed version of the 1st Issue supplement, which contains all
the additional material added to the revised electronic copy of
the premiere issue
The new material (available either in
the
printed Issue 1 Supplement, or as added content in the electronic
copy of Issue 1) will include an article on the history of the Infantry
Regiment
"Großdeutschland" in the early years of
the Second World War, plus a discussion of its representation in
tactical wargames. Also included will be a full index for Issue 1 as
well as an ASL scenario depicting the Infantry Regiment GD in the
early days of the invasion of the Soviet Union.
To order the Issue 1
Supplement, click
this link. |
|
|
Issue 2 was published in the late
summer of 2011, in both print and electronic form.
Order the print version at
this link.
Order the pdf version at
this link.
Issue 2 is intended
as a "gamer's guide" to the U.S. Army in the Battle of Normandy (6
June 1944 to July 25 1944) with a comprehensive history of the
campaign (including 70+ full colour maps) and a survey of tactical
level PC and board game treatments of the subject. Other articles
cover subjects such as scenario briefings, military operation orders
and battle procedure and their relationship to wargaming, a detailed
article on the Sherman tank and its depiction in games, a study of
the Battle of Singling, and more.
A full preview is
available at the link, above, or clicking on the cover at right.
From a wargaming and
scenario design point of view there is a wealth of information
in this title covering the invasion of Normandy at a tactical
level closer to what we see in CMBN then any single title that I
have encountered to date. Loads of maps and a section devoted to
the Sherman tank and its variants including the ratio between
75mm and 76mm gunned versions per division per month from 1 Jun
44 through 1 (M)ay 45 which is information I have spent hours
trying to find for my own Cmx1 scenarios as an example.
...(I)n my opinion...possibly the best companion book to (battlefront.com's)
current flagship title CMBN that is available at this time.
- - one of
The Few Good Men
MD
This email is in response to an email I received ... upon
purchase of The Tactical Wargamers Journal issue 2 asking for
feedback. I have found this title to be an extremely well
written and authoritative book on the subject of the invasion of
Normandy at a tactical level that I have not encountered before
and am well pleased to be able to add it to my current library.
From a wargaming perspective it is without doubt the best single
volume I have found on the subject and a significant resource
for anyone looking at scenario design using Battlefronts latest
offering CMBN, as well as a host of other titles such as my
current game of choice "Command ops battles from the bulge"
which despite the title has the assets in the scenario editor's
TOE to produce scenarios for the Normandy invasion time period.
I would consider The Tactical Wargamers Journal issue 2 to be a
"Must Read" for anybody looking to wargame the invasion of
Normandy, whatever the game title they chose to use.
- -Walt (
Paladin851 on the Game Squad forums)
|
|
|
Issue 3 was published in 2013, in both print and electronic form.
More information is at
this link.
Issue 3 is intended
as a guide for gamers to understanding the role of the British and
Commonwealth forces in Northwest Europe during 1944-45. The issue
features:
- high-level campaign overview
illustrated with full colour maps
- complete listing and breakdown
of all divisions and independent brigades of the British,
Canadian and free European forces of the 21st Army Group
- Detailed study of the
development of Canadian infantry battalion organization
- Analysis of the portrayal of
British and Commonwealth soldiers in tactical level wargames,
and a discussion of "national characteristics" versus the
"British way of war"
- Detailed discussion of all
armoured fighting vehicles used by 21st Army Group in Northwest
Europe, with types, variants, and roles discussed and explained
- An article on nationalities in
the Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kits
- An ASLSK scenario set during the
fighting for Carpiquet during Operation CHARNWOOD in July 1944
The issue should
appeal to fans of Combat Mission, Advanced Squad Leader, Flames
of War, or any tactical game system who struggles in
differentiating between the multiple types of armoured cars, wants
to put the smaller skirmishes into the larger context of the battles
and campaigns that shaped the war in Europe, or who wants to know
more about the divisions and brigades that made up the 21st Army
Group. |
|
|
