Journal #4 (2002) ASL

48-page magazine, including 12 scenarios as pages of the magazine; 1 page hedge overlays; 1 SASL mission

ASL Journal Issue Four (J4) can immediately be seen as a stark departure from its predecessors.  There’s an interesting article on ambush by David Olie.  Several articles are related to carriers, apparently because a number of scenarios feature them (see below).

J4 includes a sheet of 11 hedge overlays for those landscapers in the ASL world. The only other bonus content is a new SASL mission, JM2 (Bloody Omaha), which allows the player to experience a Seaborne Assault.  This ought to make SASL players smile.

Most of the scenarios are smallish, tournament-sized or less.  Half of the scenarios have an emphasis on (Bren gun) carriers and three exotic Indochina scenarios by Laurent Closier also appear.

Actions include:

Belgium 1940 (British vs. Germans)
France 1940 (British vs. Germans [2])
Indochina 1940 (Vichy French vs. Japanese), 1941 (Vichy French vs. Thai), 1945 (French vs. Japanese)
Singapore 1942 (British vs. Japanese)
France 1944 (British vs. Germans, Americans vs. Germans [2])
Germany 1945 (Soviets vs. Germans, British vs. Germans)
The best scenarios in J4 are the Indochina scenarios: J69 (The Army at the Edge of the World), J70 (Just an Illusion), and J76 (Ultimate Treachery).  Also quite good is J74 (Priests on the Line).  J67 (The Lawless Roads) and J68 (Unlucky Thirteenth) are solid and balanced. 

(commentary courtesy of the desperationmorale website)