Let’s get the biggest hurdle out of the way first: the shipping. The WO Bonus Pack #17 itself runs for a very reasonable $15, and it’s fantastic that all sales proceeds benefit the World War II Foundation. It’s a great cause that makes the purchase feel worthwhile. However, paying an additional $15 in shipping directly from MMP for a lightweight scenario pack is a tough pill to swallow. If you need it in your hands immediately, go ahead and order directly. But if you have the patience to wait a bit, you can add it to an order from Ritterkrieg and get free shipping!
Board 99
This pack comes with the brand-new board 99, featuring a “village on a hill” alongside a green hill complex, brush, and cliffs. We’re one board away from having geomorphic board 100. I remember when Cross of Iron came out and getting board #5 was a big deal!
While the new artwork looks excellent—especially on standalone historical maps or pocket maps—it introduces a visual consistency issue for long-time players. This is a hill I’ll die on. Dropping a map with a brand-new art style into an established ecosystem of nearly 100 geomorphic boards (which have remained largely homogeneous from boards 1 to 97) is visually jarring. It’s a fair critique for players who value a uniform look across their game setups. Something ASL has prided itself on for almost five decades.
I know many of us clamor for a visually updated game, but save it for new, standalone ASL products. New historical coming out? Go wild with the maps and counters, and I’ll be the first to be excited about it!
The Scenarios
As with most Winter Offensive Bonus Packs, this one features three scenarios, all designed by Pete Shelling, and thankfully, every single one of them puts the new Board 99 to use. Here is a quick breakdown of the scenarios:
| Scenario Name | Setting | Forces | Highlights & Key Details |
| Two Kinds of People | Normandy (June 6th, Morning) | Americans vs. Germans | Uses Boards 61 & 99. Features pillboxes, wire, trenches, AT guns, mines, and Duplex Drive M4 tanks with skirts. Victory is based on exiting American VPs off the south edge. |
| All That Glitters | Luzon, Philippines (1945) | Partisans vs. Japanese | Uses Boards 11 & 99 (with overlay X13). Partisans are represented by US 4-4-7s (considered Elite for demo charge usage only). Features Wet EC, pinewoods, and no kindling. |
| Conference Approved | Chongshan, Korea (1959) | US Marines vs. North Koreans | Uses half of Board 99 (the village side). Pits North Koreans against 7-6-8 US Marines backed by two M26 Pershing. Victory involves Americans exiting VPs. |
The Final Verdict
Despite the minor frustrations with shipping logistics and the geomorphic board art-style blending, Winter Offensive Bonus Pack #17 is a solid, punchy addition to the ASL lineup. Pete Shelling delivers a great variety of theaters—from the iconic beaches of Normandy to the jungles of the Philippines and the often-overlooked Korean War.
It is a small, straightforward pack that supports a fantastic historical charity. Just be smart about where you order it from to avoid paying double the product’s value in shipping!
Contents
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one 8″ × 22″ geomorphic mapboard (99)
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three ASL scenarios
Where to Buy
Academy Out!
GET TO THE CHOPPA…!!! 
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