ASL Tactical #23 – Starter Kit Example 4

How basic Line of Sight (LOS) works in Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit … and ASL in general. I run through Example #4 from the rulebook, supplemented with additional examples. In an attempt to help out new and existing Starter Kit players I’m going to work through every example from the ASL Starter Kit rulebook.

You can download the full Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit rules (which includes all rules for SK #1 through SK #4) at this link!

Example #4 from the ASLSK Rulebook (page 8), Line of Sight (LOS).

The German 4-6-7^I2 has three Russian enemy units known to it. Here’s the LOS breakdown:

• 4-4-7^F3 – It can see this squad as the LOS travels down the road depiction and doesn’t touch the road depiction along the way. If it’s the PFPh the Russian unit receives +1 TEM from the woods. If it’s a Defensive Fire opportunity the DRM depends on how the Russian unit moved into the hex. Did it move along the road, paying the road rate? Or did it enter the hex paying 2 MF for moving through the woods? In either case, the German squad still has LOS to it.

• 4-4-7^J5 – It has LOS to this Russian squad which would receive a +1 Hindrance DRM.
• 4-4-7^K4 – It has no LOS to hex K4. The LOS clips the building depiction (an obstacle to LOS) in hex J3.

Let’s move on to these examples that supplement example #4 from the ASLSK rulebook.

The Russian 4-4-7^I7 has only two German enemy units known to it. Here’s the LOS breakdown:

• 4-6-7^K5 – Both units are at the same level and the LOS travels through two Orchard hindrances, so there would be a +2 DRM to any attacks using this LOS.
• 4-6-7^G6 – This LOS is clear, but the German unit isn’t entitled to the Height Advantage DRM because it can claim the +2 wood building TEM DRM.
• 4-6-7^F4 – There is no LOS to this unit because it is not in the same hex as the crest line as the LOS crosses that crest line. In other words, it’s too far away from the “edge of the plateau” for a LOS to exist
• 4-6-7^D5 – There is no LOS to this unit for the same reason as the bullet above, in addition to hitting the wood building obstruction on E6.

The Russian 4-4-7^F8 has only three German enemy units known to it. Here’s the LOS breakdown:

• 4-6-7^K5 – Even though the units are at different level, the LOS clips the stone building obstruction in H7. The LOS is also blocked by the in-season Orchards in hex J5. The hexes directly behind it are blind hexes to units at a higher level. If Orchards were not in season and the building was not in H7, the LOS would be clear but hindered by the Orchard in J5.
• 4-6-7^G6 – Clear LOS, +2 wood building TEM
• 4-6-7^F4 – Both units are at the same level, so LOS is clear with a +1 hindrance DRM due to the Orchard in F5.
• 4-6-7^D5 – Both units are at the same level and LOS is clear as a blue sky. No Height Advantage to this unit.

Here are the remaining screenshots from the video …

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