14 November 2013

Game for a dicey proposition?


Advanced Squad Leader is game of chance. It is also a game of choice. We take our chances with each roll of the dice. Sound choices may limit the impact of chance. Occasionally, a good decision may remove chance altogether, at least temporarily. However, try as we might, we can never rid ourselves of chance entirely. At some point, we must let slip the dice of war. 
Dice can trigger a series of random events that irrevocably change the course of a game. In an instant, fate can undo all the “right” moves. Life is like that too. For example, we can prepare for a road trip by checking the fluid levels, tire pressures, lights, and so forth of our vehicles. But despite our best efforts, there is always the possibility that fate will intervene. A hapless motorist, returning from the ASL Oktoberfest in Cleveland last month, is apt to agree. Part way through Pennsylvania his truck failed its Mechanical Reliability dice roll (D2.51), and became Immobilized (D8.1) on the Interstate.1
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, the driver took his misfortune in stride. He refused to let a chance occurrence ruin an otherwise enjoyable time at ASLOk. Too often we let a roll of the dice ruin our game, and with it, part of our day. Too often we lose sight of what is important. Too often we forget just how fortunate we are. 
Found dead on I-90
We play a game the outcome of which has little, if any, impact on our daily lives. We play for fun, not for kidneys. We play a game while others struggle to put food on their tables. We have a lot to be grateful for, regardless of how many boxcars we roll in a life time of ASL. Having said that, there are those among us who have lived, or continue to live, on the luckless side of the probability bell curve. Life has thrown these people more double-sixes than double-ones.  
With a little help from my friends 
It is probably fair to say that some people in our hobby are currently down on their luck. That should not be taken to mean that they are out of luck. On the contrary, with your help someone will be in luck shortly. 
I am not suggesting that a bit of good fortune will be a game changer for someone fallen on tough times, or worse: cursed to roll greater than seven on average. But we can try. :)
It has been almost six months since our last raffle on Canada Day. On 1 December, we will hold our final contest of the year. This contest differs from past contests. If you decide to enter, you will be entering on behalf of someone else. The contest nevertheless remains a dicey proposition.
Here is how it works. When you enter the contest, you will need to nominate someone for the prize. The nomination is done secretly, via email. Should you “win” the contest, the person you nominated will receive the prize. More than one person can nominate the same person, thereby increasing the odds that the nominee will win—with a little help from his/her friends.
Up for grabs is a handsome dice tower crafted of black walnut, as shown at the top of this post. The dice tower has been designed to work with all of our dice, regardless of size. Also included is a pair of our newest 16mm BattleDice representing the Nationalist Chinese, or Kuomintang (KMT). The prizes will add some randomness to the winner’s ASL game. Whether or not they will improve his or her luck is in the hands of fate. No fear!
Dare Death (gan si dui) and White Sun - Blue Sky
Here is your chance to use your good fortune to improve the fortune of someone else, and without costing you a fortune. Make a sound choice. Nominate a friend today!
How to enter 
Entry is a two-step process.2 
1. Leave a comment at the end of this post containing the following information:
a) your first and last name
b) how long you have been playing ASL
c) how long your nominee has been playing ASL
2. Email the following information to us:
a) name of nominee (person you want to win)
b) town and country where your nominee lives
Our email address is: battleschool at rogers dot com
The deadline for entry is midnight, 30 November 2013.
Good luck to your nominees!
Notes
1. The driver was nonplussed, passing his Personal Morale Check with ease. He waited patiently, as tow-truck driver, and then mechanic, walked him through a lengthy and convoluted Refit Phase. Several hours later a die was rolled (FB17.6131), and our stoic driver was on the road again.
The owner of the vehicle was ribbed for driving a Ford. Interestingly, almost half of the jeeps (American Vehicle Note 54) produced during World War II were built by the Ford Motor Company. The lack of red Movement Points (MP) on the vehicle counter suggests that Ford vehicles were not always Found On Road Dead. ;) 
2. You need to be following Sitrep as a Squad Leader. To join Sitrep as a Squad Leader (follower), click on the blue “Join this site” button in the “Squad Leader” panel (to left of this post), and follow the instructions. 

20 comments:

Jose L. Serrano said...

First and last name
Jose L. Serrano

How long you have been playing ASL?

After I got my first real job and could afford it, that was in the last decade of the last century. Say some 20 years, give or take a few.

How long your nominee has been playing ASL?

He is an avid wargamer who has been playing games since the eighties. He got acquainted with ALS in the nineties.

Unknown said...

Martin Hicks

I've been playing ASL since my early teens, maybe 1992. I took a long hiatus, but have been back playing for about 5 years.

My nominee is someone local who I have introduced to the hobby. We've been playing ASLSK for about two years, and have also been playing some full-rules ASL scenarios lately. I picked a scenario last week with lots of chrome: OBA, Air support and Winter camo.

Jackson Kwan said...

Jackson Kwan

My first ASL game was in May this year.

My nominee is the chap who messaged me out of the blue one day and intro'd me to my first game! He has been playing forever!!

GrumbleJones said...

Kermit Mullins
Playing since 1978/1989
27 years

Chris Doary said...

Thanks for entering the contest gentlemen. The names of your nominees have been recorded.

Good luck!

Chris

Dickie said...

First and last name

Richard Dagnall

How long you Ben playing ASL?

3 years

Nominee

Playing since SL turned into ASL

Chris Doary said...

@ Richard,

Thanks for entering the contest. Great nomination!

Best of luck,

Chris

Unknown said...

Tim Snider
Been playing roughly for about 2 years.

Nominee:
Playing for 5 years (I believe). But learned as a kid.

Great contest.
Regards,
Tim.

Rob Tyson said...

Rob Tyson
Been playing since 1993.

Nominee:
I believe he's been playing since ASL first came out (sorry, don't know the year). He was one of my first ASL opponents, and just about every campaign game I've played (and lost!) has been against him.

Chris Doary said...

Hi Tim and Rob,

Thanks for your entries. Good luck to your nominees!

Chris

John Adair said...

My name is John Adair. I've been playing ASL for more than 10 years, while my nominee has been playing for about three years. Thanks for the opportunity!

Ritter said...

My Name is Derek Ritter. I added the 'A' to my 'SL' in 1991. My nominee has been playing for the past 10 years (we met on VASL) and found out we lived 15 minutes from each other. He has been rolling boxcars in life lately and could use a change of dice. If he doesn't win, I will buy him a set!

Richard Bing said...

Richard Bing, playing 1-2 years. My nominee has been playing for about 4 years.

Chris Doary said...

John, Derek, and Richard,

Thank you for entering the contest. And thank you for forwarding the names of your nominees.

Good luck on 1 December!

Chris

JohnFarris said...

a) John Farris

b) Been playing since 1989 with a big break from 1996-2005

c)My nominee has been playing since 1993

Love those Battleschool dice!
JOhn

Chris Doary said...

Good day John,

Good to hear from you.

Just finished shovelling about 8" (20cm) of snow off the drive. Not the first snow fall this year, but the biggest so far, and its still falling.

Thanks for entering the contest. Good luck to your nominee (got your email)!

Chris

Tigernaut said...

Lee Hyde, been playing about 18 months. My nominee has been playing for getting on 10 years.

Brilliant idea for this competition.

Jose Tomas said...

Jose Tomas Balaguer

I know about ASL since 1987, in the beginning I bought all the modules, but I hadn't any player, five years ago I known about a group of player in Valencia and I began with SK, now playing ASL full.

My nominee has been playing a long time too, but some years ago must leave by sickness, now is playing a lot and helping people to play better.

Chris Doary said...

Good day Lee,

Thanks for entering the contest. Glad to hear that you like the idea for the contest. We expected more entries, but there are still a few days to go. But really happy to hear that you are still playing ASL. Good luck to your nominee!

Hola Jose,

Gracias por participar en el concurso. Awesome pick for your nominee. ¡Buena suerte!

Unknown said...

Enrico Catanzaro, playing ASL from 1993.

My nominee is one of my few abitual FtF opponents, being myself basically a VASL player.
He plays ASL probably by more time than me.

Great Idea, hope this prize can help someone to think more positive!