Classic Squad Leader Day!

There's No Business Like OLD Business!

About ten days ago, we had the first of what I hope will be many Classic Squad Leader Meetings.  This was driven partially to generate more *active* players locally [I say "active" because is seems like everyone I know has played CSL at some time or other], and to indulge in some nostalgia.  It seems for many, the original CSL box was a sort of breakthrough game, the one that got us hooked onto historical gaming, often leading to miniatures as well as more board gaming.

I personally have some fond memories of trying to figure out the demanding rules and secure the Tractor Works as well as Hill 621.  But for me back then it never grew into a passion for the game itself, and I never played all the scenarios.  I certainly pushed through a bunch of them with a few friends, but overall the rules were a lot for a high schooler like me [then there's sports and girls, too...].

When I impulse-bought my CSL box at the FLGS [reported HERE] I figured I now had the gaming experience to actually get through and appreciate the rules and play all 12 of the scenarios.  But it is much better with opponents, of course.  they have tactics and tricks up their sleeves, so you always learn a few new things. I started to check around at every gaming email list I knew, mostly miniature gamers.  I got a lot of responses, many of which were along the lines of "wow!  haven't played in 20 years, would love to give CSL a shot.  I got lost with GI Anvil of Victory / ASL and haven't played since".  

Given this, I figured a clear-cut commitment to play the original CSL rules and structure gaming sessions so that people could ease back into *Classic* Squad Leader, the game they loved, instead of getting lost in the many supplements and developments that came later. 

The stars aligned, and at my American Legion post on a Sunday afternoon, I had no less than nine players, half of whom were "returning" players, and half were people who had stuck with the system and still played, plus there was one person who had always wanted to play but never did.  We quickly agreed to restrict ourselves to CSL 4th ed [conveniently in the Files section of the CSL Fb page] and the first two scenarios.  

We played two setups of "The Guards Counterattack" / "The Tractor Works" each with four players who stuck mostly to their half of the board. These early scenarios are intense, with lots of close-in action, and you will get a lot of practice managing infantry, leaders and support weapons!

I had the Germans in "The Guards Counterattack" and got wiped out completely by a very experienced player, Bill.  I had thought perhaps having played several times would have helped me fare better, but Bill had perfect timing on his attacks. My partner Walt at the Tractor Works fared better but still didn't take the Tractor works from Keith.  At the other board, some hot dice by Kevin pushed veteran player Fred pretty hard, and overall it was a tough game [altho I don't know who won].

We agreed to meet again as a great time was had by all, and it is definitely easier to play cooperatively with a large group as it is likely someone knows the rule that you are trying to remember / figure out, and this speeds up play.

My biggest takeaway from organizing this is that CSL is a game that will draw people back in, as long as it is going to be manageable. Having a pdf of the 4th ed. rules was a big help, as new people needed to look things up while experienced players needed to remember how to go back to 4th ed CSL from Cross of Iron, et al.

Hope this encourages you to get some people together live wherever you are.  It is unlikely that any gaming group is going to be without some CSL fans, and starting small and progressing slowly forward seems to work for most of us.

Until next time, stay strong and go *Classical*!