Welcome to the ASLComp only portal here at CH! We've been working on producing VARIANTS since 1994 and it is about time you got your own 'playground' here at our site to keep up on the latest offerings.

Things have been far from stagnant here over the last few years and we're sure you've noticed our laser-like focus on producing historical battlefields and scenarios for you to panzer-push your favorite counters around on. We've also noticed our competitors' offerings and while we respect the presentation that has become standard from BFP and HoB before them, we aim to provide the BEST color military art of any variant counters while 'keeping up with the Jones's' since quite obviously, the market shifted while we were away focusing on our other lines. Needless to say, the ASLer is among the most vocal of all wargamers, almost 100% male (and studies show males post on the internet far more often than women; click here for an interesting NYT Op Ed on that subject)so we will leave it to your collective opinion in re whether you like the new soldier art or not.

And speaking of CH art, it is 100% new and created for YOUR enjoyment!

This page is being updated and while we have obviously chosen to 'go live' .... there is more work being done behind the scenes so please check back soon and often. We will be providing ordering information for upcoming items when it becomes available.

ASLComp Arnhem the Third Bridge is alive and well in a new edition and you can get color copies of the play aids by clicking here.

We are constantly adding new items to our catalog. You can always find the latest additions at the What's New page by clicking here.

Just in case you missed the CONTACT link above, you can drop Maureen a line in customer service by clicking here. You can also reach her during 9-5 E.S.T., M-F office hours at 845-278-9125. We've had the same phone listing and office hours since August of 1994!

In early March 1943 General Paul Hausser threw caution to the wind and ordered his soldiers into the heart of Kharkov, instigating a city-fight that pushed on to Dzerzhinsky Square, re-named "Platz der Leibstandarte" while fighting still raged within nearby buildings. The outcome of the battle led Hitler to sign off on Operation Zitadelle, and seal the fate of German fortunes in the east.

Y'all know how this works by now! A prototype map (top) comes in from a designer's labor-of-love and the good folks with the paintbrush talent turn it into the finished game map at bottom. Kharkov is now sold out in both ASLComp and ATS editions.

Here at CH we are heavily invested in YOU and the publication of tactical-level battlefields is our passion. Another chunk of Stalingrad is about to head out to your place, and will hopefully take its place in your Ostfront historian's heart.

The place is the Krasny Oktyabr (Red October) steel plant. The unit is the 24th Panzer Division, the 'Leaping Horsemen' that were moved into this sector after its workshops and buildings had already been reduced to wreckage. Check back here for the latest news about this impending project and another portion of the Stalingrad battlefield about to join it on the CH printing presses.

Many of our customers know Critical Hit, Inc. has been giving to the New York City Rescue Mission for well over a decade. We plan to continue to support their longstanding mission and have added two new charities to provide a portion of the proceeds of direct sales to. We trust most of you have heard of and are familiar with the Wounded Warrior Project and Autism Speaks. These both serve critical needs of others and if you decide to hold off on your purchase today and click on one of the donation links above, that would be cool with us. We may not make a lot of noise about it, but your hobby purchases here have always helped others and will do more now than ever.

May 6, 2013: Timmes' Orchard Final Edition is now shipping, and uses the small supply of maps recently found in the warehouse, a truly retro experience. The Scroungin' Retro Edition is also now shipping.

All of the color work for OMAHA EAST is printed, and we're putting the final touches on the scenario cards and materials that are printed on our own offset presses. Yes, if you guessed, 'CH added more components than announced to this module, even after I have already paid for it...' you would be CORRECT. An additional COUNTER SHEET + a color play aid for use in scenario play using landing craft -- has been added to this release with NO INCREASE IN PRICE and at NO CHARGE to our valued, loyal advance order squad leaders!

The Personal Leader latest printing is DONE and waiting for pickup along with the additional counter sheet for OMAHA EAST. The Acquisition Marker counter sheet is also done, same status. With the impending release of OMAHA EAST this latest portion of the release cycle will be 100% completed. We thank everyone for their patience, and hope that the addition of FREE COLOR COMPONENTS is a gesture of our goodwill to you all, tangible, and 'our way'.

OMAHA EAST NO ADDITIONAL COST COMPONENT ADDITIONS they are (above), another full sheet, plus a half sheet AND a full color scenario LC Stack play aid ... have been added to all copies of OMAHA EAST (and the EAST+WEST MONSTER) at no cost to you. With the new sheets you'll receive a stack of additional HS and markers ... something we know you all would prefer. The LC Stack play aid card makes playing scenarios that involve Seaborne Assaults (and LC) easier by allowing you to simply have your LC counters on the map. These additional components are our way of saying THANK YOU to one and all for your support of this game publishing endeavor! Oops, almost forgot to mention ... a COLOR Destroyer play aid card is also included!

With status being marked 'all caught up' ... check back here shortly for MAJOR RELEASE NEWS. First Q of 2013 was one of the best ever for CH, coming off two strong years and we owe it all to YOU, customers that are into their tactical-level gaming and want to be put 'there', in the thick of the action on a wide array of battlefields. And we aim to return your goodwill and support in kind. What that means is twofold (or perhaps, threefold, or manifold). The time is over for the middleman to get between the customer and the folks that create the labors of love you find all over this page. At this time we have no plans to ship OMAHA EAST or the new products to wholesalers that are not in good standing due to late payment of bills. This game release is just too significant to risk on the 'hope' they will pay and sadly, we've experienced payment problems going back to early 2013 that have forced us to choose another direction. If you have ordered OMAHA EAST through a retailer that is not currently getting product direct, have them drop us a line and we'll be happy to serve them, and YOU in the process. Please note, retailers that are not in good standing due to past issues with bounced checks, trying to buy product with declined credit cards, and the like will not be receiving product. We regret any invconvenience and are happy to serve you with this and any other product purchase through our site. To sum it all up: Retailers in good standing will be getting their copies of OMAHA EAST. If you paid a retailer in advance for Omaha East—and they expect to get it from a wholesaler, have them contact us as we want to see YOU taken care of. It is that simple.

The folks behind the Cree light bulb ad have a funny take on change and the embracing of it ... and who doesn't love a bagpiper? How many in our audience remember Kurt's Bagpiper rules? CH is changing over to 100% Cree light bulbs and embraces recycling 100%. All scrap and setup stock from the printing process is recycled and we re-use corrugated cartons for shipping.

EVERY MAN A HERO: Or Captain. Or Corporal. Or just, thank you for sharing our passion of tactical-level gaming all these years! And we want to thank you with a $40.00 value in the form of PERSONAL HERO-SHIP (or leadership) in the new releases. Order any 3 of the following ASLComp items and you will receive a sheet with two named leaders/Heroes/SMC in the product, using soldier art utilized in that module. YOU ARE IN THE GAME, as close to the action as can be.

Here's the list: FATEFUL STAND—DESERT WAR:1941—GETTYSBURG—ROMAN GLORY II—RED CHRISTMAS II. Simply put your preference for leader nationalities and ranks in the memo section of the order form and we'll create the art and include it with your copies of the games.

FREE USA SHIPPING AND HALF PRICE OVERSEAS SHIPPING: Order any 6 of the following new items and your USA shipping is FREE and we'll absorb HALF the cost of International postage up to a maximum of $20.00 off actual postage per international customer. Here's the list: FATEFUL STAND—DESERT WAR:1941—GETTYSBURG—ROMAN GLORY II—RED CHRISTMAS II—Counter ATTACKS 1—GRAZIANI'S ADVANCE—GATES OF HELL. ***ALL ORDERS are manually billed, so you will not be billed shipping for orders that meet the required total. In addition to FREE and REDUCED shipping, you'll also receive the 2 free personal leaders—total value of this combined incentive is upwards of $95.00. THIS OFFER EXPIRES MAY 31, 2013.

SPECIAL PRICES/ADVANCE ORDERS: All items reflecting a Specials price (in red on the item page) is an immediate bill, no cancel order that is a contract to create your item upon ordering. You can order with confidence based on our 19+ years of creating product and the depth of our catalog.

MORE PRODUCT NEWS: BoB—Normandy is back in stock. Also back in stock with a new counter print-run is THIRD BRIDGE 4. You can scroll down to get product details on this page. Click here for BoB and here for TB4.

MORE PRODUCT NEWS: The Acquisition marker sheets are done and now shipping.

WHEN COUNTERS ATTACK: The result is Counter—ATTACKS! 1—The SS Legions. The man that brought you the article, "The ASL® Brotherhood" back in the day, Brian M., has crafted a set of 8 brand new scenarios that delve into early to mid-war Waffen SS battles that preclude all of the 'superman' mythology and gets right down into the heat of pitched firefights from the Upper Aisne River in 1940 to Krasny Bor in 1943. The action is intense, and there is nary a 6-5-8 to be found in these geo-board based future classics. And what's more, Bri-Guy has the sequel, Counter Attacks #2 Steadfast Allies (which will have Hungarians--Austrian 1918 helmets and perhaps a St. Stephan cross in the upper right corner—denoting Hungarians) lined up to thank you for your support of CA—1!

WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU GET: You'll need the following geo-boards (available at our site) to play the included actions: CH1, CH2, W1, W2, W3, and W4. If you have been following the product line, you already own all of those (Gembloux II, A Few Rare Men, and Fire & Ice). Otherwise, they are available separately so you have complete control. In addition to 8 freshly crafted scenarios, Counter—ATTACKS! 1—The SS Legions comes with 2 full sheets of color die-cut counters, including new soldier art for 1940 Waffen SS MMC/SMC, British and Italian SW in Russian brown, T-28 m34 and T-26 m37 tanks in Winter whitewash and more.

SPECIAL BONUS OFFER: Order CA—1 direct and receive FREE copies of boards W1-W2-W3-W4, a $28.00 value!

We've assembled a new product release schedule for the remainder of 2013 that we hope you agree has some compelling additions to our line, dating back 19 years. The battlefields of Villers Bocage, Bastogne, Kursk, Hurtgen Forest, Gettysburg, North Africa will be visited, a renewal of all of your old scenario chestnuts and then some, with Auld Lang Syne Geo Board releases ... is coming too. The Great War starts, the CH Annual begins a new magazine tradition ... and that's quite a tactical-level tabletop-full. You are warmly invited to join us on the next leg of the journey via the counters, maps, and boards that drive it all.

The warm weather ... at least in the Northern Hemisphere ... is finally headed our way. What better time than NOW to bring you back to the dead of Winter. It is the Battle of the Bulge and once again some of the finest soldiers ever birthed by a great nation ... are standing firm ... against the violent force of an entire Panzer Division. There is no turning back on the road to Bastogne, the linchpin to Hitler's last offensive ... and the scene of A Fateful Stand ... replete with new counter art, a full collection of combat counters in Winter gear and camo schemes. Baby, it's cold outside! But we aim to warm the hearts of tactical-level gamers north and south of the equator.

NOVILLE, BELGIUM, 19 December 1944: Team Desobry (named for Major William R. Desobry, Commanding Officer of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division) assembled in the Noville area at 2300 hours on December 18. Because the unit arrived in the area during the hours of darkness, full advantage of the natural defenses of the terrain could not be made. Desobry set up a perimeter defense of the town under Captain Gordon Geiger of Battalion Headquarters Company. He sent forward three outposts, each consisting of a depleted platoon of infantry and a section of medium tanks. One went east on the road to Bourcy. Another went northeast on the Houffalize road and the third set up its roadblock at some crosstrails on the road towards Vaux. Desobry's outpost line was about 800 yards from his main body and engineers were instructed to install minefields in support of the roadblocks. Mines could not be laid due to a steady flow of American stragglers down these same roads. Despite having orders to incorporate stragglers into his lines, with the exception of a platoon of armored infantry from CCR, 9th Armored Division, most of the retreating soldiers took to the cellars of Noville, hors de combat. At 0430 hours on December 19 the stream of stragglers ceased suddenly. At 0530 a group of half-tracks could be heard and dimly seen approaching the block on the Bourcy road. In the darkness the outpost could not tell whether they were friend or enemy. The sentry to the front yelled "Halt!" four times. The first vehicle pulled to a grinding halt within a few yards of him. Someone in the half-track yelled something in German. From a bank on the right of the road, Desobry's men showered the half-track with hand grenades. Several exploded as they landed in the vehicle. There was loud screaming as some of the Germans jumped or fell from the half-track and lay in the road. The rest of the enemy column quickly unloaded and deployed in the ditches along the road. There ensued a 20-minute close-up fight with grenades and automatic weapons and although the roadblock crew was greatly outnumbered, the bullet fire did them no hurt because of the protection of the embankment. Staff Sergeant Leon D. Gantt finally decided that too many German potato-mashers were coming into the position and ordered his men to withdraw about 100 yards. At this the Germans turned their half-track around and ran for safety; they were apparently a reconnaissance element and had completed their mission by finding the American outpost. During the action the two tanks had done nothing although they were within 100 yards of the German column. Sergeant Gantt went to Second Lieutenant Allen L. Johnson and asked him why. Johnson replied that he hadn't been sure what to do. He then fired a couple of Parthian shots down the road but the enemy had already disappeared into the fog and darkness. At dawn the outpost fell back on Noville according to instructions.

ROMMEL GOGGLES ON: What do you get when you combine SIX desert geo-boards together, a fresh pile of color overlays, a collection of MMC, SMC, AFVs and Guns in desert colors and camo ... with 12 BRAND NEW scenarios depicting action in Cyrenaica from February 1941 - April 1941? You get DESERT WAR: 1941, a new take on keeping you and your gaming in the sandbox of the Western Desert using your favorire game system and every metaphor that can be deployed accordingly.

The emphasis here is on medium to larger desert actions, bringing 4-6 boards into play. We're providing you with so much real estate, there is no reason not to delve into actions that recreate the scope of the war in North Africa. What's more, with a new take on Verncular rules for the module, a new version of thje Desert To Hit table from the Rout Report days, plus a fresh batch of markers specific to the desert, you'll only need to own ANY module that provides standard markers (e.g. Prep Fire) to play all of the actions presented within.

YOU supported the Afrikakorps series as we breathed new life into the war in the Western Desert and El Alamein! Ownership of WOA was required but that won't be a problem when you strap on your Rommel's Goggles once again and head into the desert of April 1941 as the Desert Fox pushes into Cyrenaica ... quite against orders ... and unknown to British military intelligence, listening in to everything the Führer has to say ... and assuming no general would dare ignore the G.R.O.F.A.Z. himself. A new counter collection in period color schemes for British and German combatants, new desert geomorphic board and overlay presentation ... and a lot of flying sand!

DESERT WAR: 1941 provides 6 of the new desert geo-board that can be used in any combination, 4 sheets of color overlays to trim out, 3 individual sheets of new color die-cut counters providing German and British MMC/SMC/AFVs/Guns + a 4th FREE sheet of the British 8th Army infantry, plus full color, three-hole punched rules pages, 12 scenarios and a full color Action-Pack style glossy card wrap to keep it all in.

Note: Ownership of Hollow Legions™ is needed for the Italian units in DESERT WAR: 1941 unless you own GRAZIANI'S ADVANCE, shipping at the same time as DESERT WAR: 1941.

HONEY, SADDLE UP MY WHITE HORSE AND GET IT INTO THE CAPRPRONI AS WE'RE HEADING TO CAIRO: Many years ago the Italian Army confidentally rolled, marched and wheeled into Egypt... on the way to an easy conquest. No, not June of 1940. We're talking about oh, about fifteen years ago in the pages of the Operation Compass mag. Well they are coming again, and this time in a companion module to DESERT WAR: 1941 that completes your British/German/Italian North Africa collection and gets you a pile of scenarios from the 1940 campaign through the fiasco at Beda Fomm, remastered to the point of new from their Op Compass editions and then some—plus new scenarios never before published, with two sheets for a nice full Italian OOB. With all this gear you'll be able to go to town in the Western Desert with all of the previous ASLComp Afrikakorps scenarios and the copious materials in DESERT WAR: 1941 and GRAZIANI'S ADVANCE.

With GRAZIANI'S ADVANCE you'll have a plentiful supply of tanks, guns and men, Mussolini's soldiers, the equivalent of a full module—and enough to break out the medium to large scenarios using the new overlays, etc. ... And speaking of overlays, GRAZIANI'S ADVANCE includes two additional sheets of them to create a realistic Beda Fomm "Pimple" feature and more.

CH breathed new life into the war in North Africa by bringing back labor-of-love ADVANCED TOBRUK ... from the ashes of 1976. No one loves this topic like we do. Complete your collection with us ... and yes, French North Africa troops in authentic uniforms ... Americans in the 1943 campaign, authentic soldier art in color for North Africa ... will come with your support of GRAZIANI'S ADVANCE and DESERT WAR: 1941.

p.s. Did we see a copy of WOA go at Ebay for $229.00?? Whoa!

HERE COME THE LATEST UPDATES: We promised you we'd do our level best to keep the line in print so none of that OOP stuff ... so new folks can get the stuff and ... oops, almost said 'old folks' ... we're all middle-aged! Anyway, so previous owners can upgrade as they see fit. The aim, of course, is to add value whenever we do a new edition, and that means new counter art, new counters, and more. It's not complicated in the case of these latest reprints, you will receive more counters, with new art and the new layout that has been standard for the last few years, how else can we explain it? We'll let the little girl from the AT&T ad take a crack at it (but please ignore the Youtube trolls, as they behave like ... trolls in the comments section).

RED CHRISTMAS II is as new as it gets ... for an updated edition! You receive a collection of Eastern Front Italian MMC/SMC and vehicles/Guns ... everything you need to play the scenarios included. You also receive new versions of the two maps used, Orlovka Ivanovka (that's one villag) and Novo Orlovka (again, one place). The maps are small, easy to dive right into and the format of the scenarios is fast-playing and replayable—and the new edition are WINTERIZED ... making them the most realistic places to fight these battles from military esoterica ... all over again ... but even more fiercely (and with lower rolls!).

ROMAN GLORY II is another new edition with the emphasis on NEW. And that means a new WINTERIZED map, using the new terrain art that has been received positively in our latest releases—evocative of the season of Ground Snow .... brrrrrr! More new counters, providing Russians in winter uniforms—plus winter whitewashed tanks—making the new editions of RED CHRISTMAS II + ROMAN GLORY II the perfect collection for those that want WINTER ... maps and the ability to play all of the scenarios in the two modules without digging into their old counter collection. Roman Glory page here.

HURTGEN/BRECOURT II continues to provide you with new and FREE stuff! You get the Strass historical map FREE with this new edition. You also receive a new edition of the Brécourt Manor map, using the new terrain art that has been received positively in our latest releases—ready to assault again, as seen in the awesome "Band of Brothers" miniseries episode covering the attack. And you guessed it ... the new edition includes an expanded counter set of 101st Airborne-patched AND 83rd Infantry Division-patched MMC/MC to use in the scenarios—everything laid out in the nice new format you've grown accustomed to in the years since the first edition was released.

GEO Contest Winners: The Geo Board Contest was very productive and then some. Contest impresario Alan F. brought his muse, his map-painting talent and the results will be coming your way starting with the Auld Lang Syne collection. You can't spell the famous poem by Robert Burns without an A, and S, or an L, and we put our thinking caps on to find a way for you to enjoy Alan's works in a tangible, printed 8" × 22" format. The Auld Lang Syne collection is the result! Each board [EXC: Boards 2 and 3 are bundled with the CH Annual, see elsewhere on this site] will include 4 scenarios that uses the geo board it replaces, from 1-15. The scenarios will be collected from a variety of available sources, and will be remade using the new boards, laid out in the current format ... and as a bonus will include a sheet of 120-140 color die cut counters that are used in one or more of the scenarios. The fun part is you'll be able to easily slot these new Auld Lang Syne collection geo-boards in for any scenario using the 'classic' boards 1-15, making what was old, new again! Click here to hear the US Navy Band play Auld Lang Syne.

You can click here to analyze the fitment of the hexgrid for Auld Lang Syne with your other geo boards by using this full-size pdf of the actual hexgrid used on the boards. You can also click here to check the fitment against the boards of another variant publisher, again, using the actual hexgrid that is used on the new geo boards.

More on the middlemen: One additional word is in order. By pruning non-performing (wholesalers and retailers that bounce checks, non payers, and so on) portions of the marketing mix we plan to pass a number of benefits on to you (i.e., by taking the piece of the pie the middleman previously reserved for himself -- not inconsequential ... 70% of the sale on average when factoring in the cost of shipping -- back and passing it on to you). OMAHA EAST begins a boxed release cycle. You'll see more color play aids, color rules pages for non booklet format rules. More counters. And most importantly, we'll be providing YOU the best price on the products ... and that means lower prices than those that have been driven up over the last two years.

MORE NEWS: Cassino II has made the journey from prototype to finished game map, news coming soon!

So check back soon for more news and watch your In Box for the upcoming new product release! TFCB!

THERE IS NO NEED TO LEARN A NEW SYSTEM TO GET YOUR GRUNT ON: "We were soldiers once and young"... we were gamers once, and young too! And we feel you owe it to yourself to expand your gaming exploration into other eras ... and plan to bundle material in the upcoming CH Annual to put you in the center of a hot LZ ... at Ia Drang. The time is November of 1965, and the subject is perfect for this scale ... the entire war is arguably perfect for tactical-level simulation. This is no cut-and-paste operation, color die-cut counters including the samples above star in the pitched battle made famous in the book and movie, "We Were Soldiers". Call it 'X' as in 'experimental' ... or better yet as in LZ X-Ray ... better yet ... call out 'snakeyes' as you'd better roll low if you plan on making it out of there in the company of some of the finest soldiers to grace the OD's of the Air Cav, in theater.

PLENTY OF GEO-ACTION IN ANNUAL I: The 'Annual' isn't dead, it's coming in right now, fearlessly coming into a hot LZ! The first issue is color-covered and has a plethora of new content that aims to keep you interested from front to back. We welcome back Ostfront scenario designer extraordinaire, the one and only Mike Klautky, with his "Wolf and the Bear Trilogy", a 3-scenario set that takes YOU to the massive armored clash that ripped across the battefield at Oboyan, during July 1943. And what makes it EVEN MORE FUN is the inclusion of TWO BRAND NEW GEOMORPHIC BOARDS with the issue that you can not only use for all three Wolf and Bear actions, but also seamlessly use to spruce up ANY scenario that uses boards 2 and 3 as these are part of our new collection of AULD LANG SYNE GEO BOARDS that will replace classics 1-15 and allow you to get your "Buchholz Station" on, not to mention enjoy "The Guards Counterattack" ... with the comfort of a retro experience and enough new challenges to make what was old, new again in a relaxing and enjoyable presentation.

And like all of the new GEO boards, you can click here to analyze the fitment of the hexgrid with you other geo boards by using this full-size pdf of the actual hexgrid used on the boards. You can also click here to check the fitment against the boards of another variant publisher, again, using the actual hexgrid that is used on the new geo boards.

The new ANNUAL also includes a batch of BRAND NEW SCENARIOS set on geo boards and that continue the populara TOTAL AXIS PACK presentation ... that's 7 more scenarios, all with Eastern Front themes. And for those ready to get their GRUNT on, the issue includes a color map of LZ X-Ray and all the combat counters (plus new marker types) needed to play out the seven scenarios included in that module. From "Into the Valley" to "Broken Arrow" the action escalates to a climax known to all that have seen the movie, "We Were Soldiers" .... but shhhhh ... we don't want to give it away!

Hurtgen HELL ... "You cannot be serious": In a reply to this Johnny Mac quote, ..."you are damn right we are". The scenarios and counters are done and the map prototype is being finished ... and it is another significant battlefield recreation. One could build an entire module around Schmidt. Or Vossenack during the dark days of November 1944. Meter after meter ... of Germeter. Or one could wrap the entire battle up in one module with an impressive wingspan of map area ... guess what our choice was (ok, close your eyes and answer without looking at the 3-map battlefield we have in store for you!)

"Tiger, tiger!": Here's an idea. Paint up a pile of tanks in Normandy 1944 camo schemes. Above is one from the collection. Then recreate the village of Villers Bocage and the surrounding countryside, site of one of the most famous battlefields of the entire campaign. Just to give the new AFVs someplace to fight it out all over again ... in cardboard of course. Then put your favorite tactical-level gamers smack-dab in the thick of the action as the lead flies hot and heavy ... see where this is all leading to? That's right, Michael Wittman and company is coming to your gaming table with an evocative map and colorful game piece collection, so check back soon.

GEO Boards now: The complete collection of colorful, evocative geo-boards are now up at the site and ready to order. They make a great way to spruce up your gaming now, use for new designs, DYO, or just to collect and enjoy. All geo boards are 8" × 22" and fully geomorphic—they fit together on all 4 sides for endless combinations. Four of the boards are 'winterized' for even more flavor. There is no need to wait for the AULD LANG SYNE board collection to launch ... you can nail these NOW for immediate shipping.

THERE IS NO NEED TO LEARN A NEW SYSTEM TO GAME THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EPIC AMERICAN STRUGGLE: Someone else once said they were going to do it, then they didn't. Or they couldn't. Heck as Huck Finn, they may have then declared, 'it couldn't be done...' if we recall correctly. Then again, none of us are getting any younger so don't get your britches twisted on the semantics. See, we know it can be done, and we, YOU and us together, are not only going to do it, we're going to explore the era and have a lot of fun getting our black powder out, shouting our LOUDEST REBEL YELL ... cuz no matter what side of the Mason Dixon Line your sympathies find their fine selves, we're all Americans in the Battle of Gettysburg!

Now before you get all prone and fail to earn your own personal Red Badge of Courage just cuz a little lead is a'flyin' from them thar camp followers that are too cowardly to march to the sound of fire and like to shirk and lay back at the camp, raiding the ruck sacks of honorable soldiers ... trust yourself as much as we trust that YOU, a cardboard warrior, student of tactical-level conflict ... able to wrap your intellect around Chapters A-G (you can throw out F and G, and almost all of E and D) ... will find a few simple rules easy to grasp and fun to implement. GETTYSBURG: Turning Point 1863 is all about addition by subtraction, no Stukas, no Panzers, and no ... well no a lot of things. You'll have less control over your pieces so forgive them if they all decide that a Human Wave ... er, Bayonet Charge, well you get the point ... is what is called for, even if YOU the omniscient gaming god thinks otherwise. It's best to let the action play out, experience the smell of black powder, and roll low.

EASY DOES IT: Instead of porting ASLComp material over to our ATS system this one is coming back at you the other way. Bring the right spirit and we just know you'll enjoy the action. Rules provided in the Special Rules pages include: Solid shot vs. case shot and canister; artillery caissons and limbers; color guards; new SMC types including Battery Commanders, adjutants and couriers; and a Point of Aim format for direct fire and distribution of casualties that is easy to learn and implement, i.e., very playable, but provides the flavor of the Civil War era of warfare.

ATS GETTYSBURG: TURNING POINT 1863 gets you into action with maps and scenarios for Bliss Farm and McPherson's Ridge. The counters are present colorful new art throughout. The game is boxed (there is a box delete option for overseas customers wishing to save on postage). For those that want MORE expansions are already in hand, starting with ATS GETTYSBURG: DEVIL'S DEN and we'll take it as far as you want to as the Battle of Gettysburg will only turn 150 once and none of us are getting any younger .... so don't hold off until the 200th anniversary to dive in!

Open the GATES OF HELL AND PLAY ON THE LARGEST KURSK BATTLEFIELD EVER PUBLISHED AT THIS SCALE: Our Ponyri: Devil's Domain rolled the Elephants into the heart of downtown and now the battle just got escalated to include two new linking mapsheets that create one massive Eastern Front conflagration ... on your gaming table. The maps link 'long-ways' and that means you will deploy your forces across a rollicking six foot long × four foot deep spread when you combine the two games. You will NOT need to own Devil's Domain to play GOH (but you'll want to!) GATES includes a new set of scenarios, as many as any stand-alone module. You also receive a brand new COLOR die-cut counter collection in Eastern Front camo and colors for both sides ... all the combat counters you need to play, just bring your own markers! And to keep things in command, a separate DEVIL'S DOMAIN UPGRADE KIT is being made available with a new set of counters for that product PLUS a MONSTER scenario that covers ALL FOUR maps ... DD + GOH. And since Devil's Domain is SOLD OUT and out of print, we'll make a new edition available so no one has to miss out on the action at one of the most hotly contested battlefields in Eastern Front history.

MORE ON THE MAPS: The graphic above depicts the layout of the PONYRI mapset that is provided between DEVIL'S DOMAIN and GATES OF HELL. On the left (in red) are the two maps from DD, Map 1 and Map 2. On the right (in mustard) are the two maps that will be included with GOH, Map 3 and Map 4. Each map sheet comes in at 2' × 3' (actually the latter measurement is rounded down, it is 37.5" in length to be exact), creating an overall paper battlefield of 4' × 6' when layout out all four map sheets. Of course, many scenarios in the two games play on one of the maps at a time, so there is plenty of opportunity for gaming in low, mid and high intensity environments.

MORE ON DEVIL'S DOMAIN II: The materials in the Devil's Domain Ponyri I Upgrade Kit will be included in DD2—and any known errata input into the scenarios from Devil's Domain I. You will want the Upgrade Kit if you already own DD1 (or nail it to get more counters, we embrace your freedom of choice!)

MORE ON THE DEVIL'S DOMAIN UPGRADE KIT: This set comes with a new set of counters + 6 BRAND NEW scenarios for Devil's Domain + the MONSTER scenario covering ALL FOUR maps. You will receive ALL the combat counters needed to play DD, the 6 new scenarios, and the counters needed as additions to those provided in GATES OF HELL to play the MONSTER 4-MAPPER.

The new soldier art is in for OMAHA EAST and there will be new infantry SQUAD and HS counters for the Americans and the Germans to go along with the new leaders created for the special. Here's a sneak peak at the new OMAHA EAST leaders that will soon bear YOUR NAMES:

KALININ, RUSSIA, 14 October 1941: After overrunning any Russian defenses in front of them, the 1st Panzer Division had taken Subzoff on October 11 and Staritza on the 12th. After reaching the Volga, it was discovered all the remaining bridges had been dropped into the water before any intervention could be organized. Gathering the remaining fuel and ammunition, Eckinger’s battalion was equipped to press the armored thrust forward, which it proceeded to do, often times sharing the only roads with retreating and panic-stricken enemy troops. The Germans finally reached the outskirts of the industrial city of Kalinin, only 90 miles northwest of Moscow. On the 14th, the order was passed down to again launch the attack with the aim of seizing the still standing road bridge across the Volga, 2 kilometers inside the city. It would not be easy; the advance was greeted by furious Russian resistance. Nevertheless, Eckinger, a reputation for using the “shortest way” in battle already established, moved his battalion to within sight of the 250 meter long bridge. Without waiting for support, his lone infantry company, supported by a handful of tanks and armored vehicles stormed the enemy stronghold, forcing a dispirited enemy to flee. Demolition wires were cut and the bridgehead, the only bridge over the Volga the Germans would capture for the entire war, was consolidated when a Panzer III came up alongside Eckinger’s half-track.

We were able to get RETRO PAK III on the presses with the new stuff. RP III is 8 scenarios + color cover, long out of print (15 years) from ASL News (formerly Euro Pack I). All designed by European desginers, with all errata input, new art and the latest presentation. The set includes 2 × Eastern Front + 2 × Poland 1939 + 1 × Indochina 1940 + 2 × Belgium 1940 + 1 × Holland 1940. There are lots of new uses for those CH counter from recent releases! All eight scenarios use standard geo boards 2-41 (thus the 'retro' approach. These are PRINTED AND READY FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT, POSTAGE APPLIES NORMALLY.

Okay, 'uncle', there is more awaiting you in the form of FREE GIFT GEAR! ORDER ALL FOUR NEW ITEMS (RR2 + KHARKOV + BIRGUBI + MAJUPHAM) and we're going to press the 'Eastern Front' button one...more...time for YOU. By now you have those nifty Summer 1944 German MMC/SMC counters ... so we figure on getting you some new battlefields for them to conduct their harmless, no one gets hurt, cardboard campaigns on. And that means the former Total Eastern Front Pack 1 is back in a new edition. New as in new layout, new art. all errata input and three overlays ...plus a new half-board overlay to spruce things up. Order all four of the new items and get OSTFRONT PAK 1 and the NEW HALF BOARD OVERLAY ABSOUTELY FREE!

At this point it is unlikely that a reminder is needed to our customers but here goes for the new folks. The August/September 2012 (RR2 + KHARKOV + BIRGUBI + MAJUPHAM) are sold direct at a discounted price with the FREE items listed above based on an immediate bill, no cancel—including at Paypal, 'no whine' (that last a bit tongue-in-cheek but we men understand one another) policy. Your order is a contract we fulfill by manufacturing your items after the order has been paid for.

International orders will be billed the actual postage at USPS.COM with no additional postage or handling charge by Critical Hit, Inc. -- they decide on the postage, we're sorry it's gone up too -- but have no control over that. US Orders are also billed the postage amount at USPS.COM -- aka US Postal Rates.

Now that we have all that billing and shipping info out of the way, a word is in order about 'the process'. Our regular customers know Maureen bills all orders manually. You'll get a personal, direct email with any and all postage costs. There is no 'auto bill' program running, no billing shunted off to a third party biller. It's all personal, by hand, the old-fashioned way. We use our use of technology to make prettier counters and maps. If you're new to our system you should also know that we have years of product release cycles behind us and many more ahead. The only variable has been time ... not product. And our regulars know that when a little more time is needed on a product you almost ALWAYS get extra counters, scenarios and other components at NO ADDITIONAL COST ... we never, ever come back and ask for another cent if a product is expanded after your payment and never will.

Ok, that was a lot of information. If you haven't already, you are warmly invited to scroll down to see the new items to order for creation just for you as well as the new items ready for immediate shipment.

KHARKOV, UKRAINE, 10 March 1943: The SS Forces under Obersturmbannführer Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer led his recon unit to drive through the Russians and form a blocking position in the southeast section of the surrounded city, around the cemetery. Meyer's men passed through the city center and held a blocking position despite being surrounded for two days, armed with the new MG 42 belt fed machine guns aided greatly in their defense, until contact was reestablished by a sister battalion commanded by Major Peiper. Lt. General Rybalko's forces in the city were composed of a Tank Brigade and NKVD security troops of his Third Tank Army. General Rybalko ordered his units to block the German units from moving through the city, establishing defense lines along the small river meandering through Kharkov. The local militias were called up to aid in the defense of the city and many were thrown piece meal against the SS units armed with new "wonder" weapons. Those new weapons included the MG 42, whose rate of fire almost doubled over the previous MG 34, from 600-800 rpm to 1100 to 1200 rpm. The German forces would begin to have a new type of problem, an inability to maintain a high enough level of supply of ammunition to take advantage of the high rate of fire of the MG42. Many soldiers interviewed after the battle were quoted to say that the rate of fire was so high it was impossible to discern acoustically the individual shells firing. Many cited that the machine guns sounded like the tearing of canvas.

On 12 March, the LSSAH made progress into the center of the city of Kharkov, breaking through hardened enemy defenses in the northern suburbs. What followed was a house-to-house bloodbath as the Germans pressed ever closer to city center. By the end of the day, the division had reached a position just two blocks north of Dzerzhinsky Square. The 2nd Panzergrenadier Regiment's 2nd Battalion was able to surround the square, after taking heavy casualties from Soviet snipers and other defenders, by evening. When taken, the square was renamed Platz der Leibstandarte. That night, 2nd Panzergrenadier Regiment's 3rd Battalion, under the command of Joachim Peiper, linked up with the 2nd Battalion in Dzerzhinsky Square and attacked southwards, crossing the Kharkov River and creating a bridgehead, opening the road to Moscow Avenue. Meanwhile, the division's left wing reached the junction of the Volchansk and Chuhuiv exit roads and went on the defensive, fighting off a number of enemy counter-attacks.

In the aftermath of the debacle at Stalingrad it almost defies belief that German soldiers, in this some of the last elite units available on the Eastern Front ... would plunge into the heart of a massive urban center and initiate house-to-house combat. But that's exactly what took place in Kharkov during the winter of 1943 and the results were a victory ... of sorts. The decline of German fortunes in the East were halted and the desire of Hitler to launch another offensive, to eliminate the Kursk Salient, was whetted. The battle also pointed some historians toward an answer to the 'what if' ... as in what if Hitler had assigned Waffen SS units to attack Stalingrad.

Ruweisat Ridge, EL ALAMEIN LINE, EGYPT, 15 July 1942: The Allied counterattack against his positions on and south of Ruweisat Ridge had been successful in dislodging Rommel's forces from the Ridge. Fearing a rout might develop if he lost this anchor position in his line, the Desert Fox ordered an immediate counterattack to retake Pt. 63. The Germans timed their counterattack to coincide with the setting sun. Rommel was determined to regain his hold on Point 63 before darkness fell. The fighting was furious and Axis forces suffered heavy losses in both men and their ever-dwindling armor. Rommel would regain Point 63 but the cost would rob him of any chance at pushing on to Alexandria. General Auchinleck would be relieved soon after this engagement. But he had succeeded in stopping Rommel from entering Alexandria and the Suez Canal.

The Battle of El Alamein continues to excite wargamers and for good reason. It was a unique battlefield, a departure from most of the fighitng that had taken place in the Western Desert and along the Via Balbia ... to that point in the campaign. Alam Halfa ... Ruweisat Ridge .. Deir El Shein ... 'Snipe' ... Miteirya Ridge ... Kidney Ridge ... Tel el Eisa ... all historic places where the outcome between Rommel and Montgomery ... the Deutsches Afrikakorps and 'Tommy Atkins' ... was decided.

More years ago than any of us want to admit ... CH 1.0 brought you one of many designer-driven modules. The time has come to launch a multi-module exploration of the Battle of El Alamein and the place to start it again ... as Carrell said it in Foxes of the Desert, 'the war started breathing again' ... at EL ALAMEIN: THE BATTLE OF RUWEISAT RIDGE. The new module is just that: new. As in a new map with the latest map art and physical changes based on additional research. It's fully remastered. Plus new color die-cut counters.

For those that have been building a CH color die-cut counter collection ... and it is an ever expanding endeavor ... a missing nationality is filled in with EL ALAMEIN: THE BATTLE OF RUWEISAT RIDGE. We think you will agree it is HIGH TIME for Tommy Atkins ... in the form of British 8th Army MMC and SMC counters ... to make their appearance. And they duly appear, just in the nick of time. See, Rommel, 'Wolf' and everyone in his Mammut and HQ tent were already thinking about donning a crisp shirt, dress uniform ... for the victory parades through Cairo and Alexandria.

EL ALAMEIN: THE BATTLE OF RUWEISAT RIDGE includes 4 sheets of color, die-cut counters (2 × infantry sheets [280 counters each]+ 2 × vehicle sheets [88 counters each]) bonus coloir-die cut counters, a brand new map, a Platoon Leader 3.0 campaign game and a set of scenarios that all play on the historical map. Rommel Goggles are not included.

Bir el Gubi is a cross-roads on the Trigh el abd and the route from el Adem to el Guasc. It was the location of a fierce struggle during Operation Crusader, a deployment of armor the British hoped would rid them of Rommel's aggression in the Western Desert and end the seige of Tobruk. It would not come to pass, partly due to unanticipated Italian resistance. British historian Richard Humble stated the following about Italy's performance during Operation Crusader, "…Crusader should be remembered as the battle in which the Italian army can claim to have recovered its self respect". Bir el Gubi served as an unexpected redemption in North Africa for the maligned Italian Army.

With the recent launch of PLATOON LEADER 3.0 new CGs are coming that will provide colorful overlays, interesting situations, and bonus die-cut counters.

Near the River Udy, UKRAINE, SOVIET UNION, 12 February 1943: Jochen Peiper became the commander of III Battalion, Infanterie Regiment 2 of the 1st SSLAH on 14 September 1942. A legend soon grew around his Blowtorch Battalion during the 1942-43 battles around Kharkov. Many of the unit’s vehicles sported a blowtorch symbol, earned, according to Peiper, following the use of halftrack-mounted soldiers to mount high-speed attacks on enemy-held villages. Thatched roofs were burned in the process, leading to the unit’s moniker. During the third battle of Kharkov 3rd Battalion had to push some 48 kilometers (30 mi) through enemy lines to rescue the surrounded 320th Infantry Division. As the German rescue column, ambulances laden with wounded, headed for friendly lines they found the route across the River Udy blocked by elements of Army Group Popov. A running battle ensued between the rescuers and Soviet elements, including reinforcements from 1st Guards Tank Army. An exit route was finally secured … but only for retreating ambulances. The only remaining bridge, a damaged span over the Udy would not carry tanks and half-tracks. The weary soldiers of 3rd Battalion were ordered to find, and open, another escape route … for themselves. A task duly accomplished with few casualties.

If you love a good Eastern Front slugfest, the MAJOR UPHAM BATTLE PACK is for YOU. It's also for you if you occasionally hanker for a knock-down, drag-out fight in Stalingrad. A Russo-Polish armored showdown in 1939? Yes, it's in there and more. This new pack is from a prolific designer and ASLer raconteur ... with a nom de plume of Major Upham. Or Colonal Upham. When you get to know him, you can call him Jack Upham. Whatever the mode of address, he's spent godzillion hours head-down over these 10 scenarios, with his bestest gaming buddies and we present the results to you with new color overlays as MAJOR UPHAM BATTLE PACK! Please note, we're finalizing the overlays so the appearance from the example on the cover is suubject to change ... but we promise it will be cool!

GAVRUS, 29 June 1944: B Company of the Argylls bore the brunt of the first assault made by 10th SS “Hohenstaufen” in Normandy. As waves of Panzer Grenadiers broke against the Argylls’ position, B company PIATs drove off the accompanying tanks. By evening, the enemy had infiltrated the sunken road behind B Company, driving a wedge between it and the rest of the battalion. The position of B Company’s forward 11 Platoon became difficult, as it was engaged front and rear. Difficult, but not impossible, so long as ammunition held out. Captain Mackenzie, 2 i/c B Company, was leading 11 Platoon. Earlier in the afternoon, he used the platoon PIAT to drive off three enemy tanks that were manoeuvring along the hedges north of the Bougy road. By evening, he and his Platoon had been given up for lost. But just before sunset, he led the fourteen survivors of 11 Platoon back into the Battalion perimeter. He had only withdrawn from the fight when his 2 inch mortar had taken a direct hit and the platoon had no rifle ammunition left. He brought out all but his most seriously wounded. Mackenzie’s gallant stand won him a Military Cross.

Many years ago military historian par excellence Ian Daglish joined CH to launch the first in a string of historical modules created by onsite research. What followed was a successful career as a military history book author, penning titles including Operation Bluecoat and others for Pen & Sword. Before his research went into books focused on the British experience during the Battle of Normandy, Ian's work was brought to the fore in the form of two modules known as Scotland the Brave I and II. These publications have long been slated for new editions and the time is finally here, NOW, in the form of ORDERS FOR THE MAJOR and SHOUT FOR PIATS.

Times have changed, art has changed, and we continue to strive to create the most eye-pleasing tactical-level game cartography and color counters to provide you with an interesting and evocative experience. Both of those elements make the ORDERS FOR THE MAJOR equal to a brand new approach, with color die-cut counters, maps that simply DEFEAT the earlier versions on every level, and more. More as in scenarios using the new and popular layout plus optional scenario OOB tweaks that pop the action in tournament-sized actions ... to meatier versions. The product stays true to design Daglish, and the new OOB changes are provided as additional content for those that want to boost the octane and push the redline ... and up the Panzer count ... in their gaming.

The new counters include more Tommy Atkins (i.e., British nationality MMC/SMC/SW), an all new set of Waffen SS in yet another one of their camo patterns (never before published), PLUS AFVs and Guns in Normandy camo.

Clarification: The back cover says 15 scenarios for OFM and SFP—the two products contain 20 scenarios between the 2 of them (treat Crossing Sweepers as #10).

GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON, 27 June 1944: The Cameronians expected to find Grainville cleared by 11th Armoured Division. This expectation was confirmed by a squadron of the Fife and Forfars who believed the village was clear of infantry but warned of the possibility of enemy tanks. Fond hopes were rudely shattered at 20:00 hours, as D Company moved into the ruins, supported by two troops of 7th RTR. The place was enemy held, opposition was heavy, and three of the Churchills were quickly knocked out. All through the long summer’s evening, the battle raged to and fro over the ruins of the small town. Finally, the Cameronians and their supporting armour pulled back for the night, and shortly after so did the Germans. At midnight, the Cameronians’ M.O. and Padre ventured into the rubble to search for their wounded and found Grainville deserted. The Cameronians would be back.

Raise your hand ... or optionally SHOUT to your mates for a Projecter Infantry Anti Tank (aka "PIAT) ... if you like the idea of a SIX FOOT LONG historical map with campaign game and macro scenario to play on it. Oops, that pretty much means you're shouting at the top of your lungs for a copy of OMAHA or BERLIN from CH ... we just can't get past the desire to provide you the longest, largest tactical-level battlefields this side of joining a pile of geomorphs at a convention (may we suggest the new Museumfest in Michigan). If you wanted to know if the new British in Normandy releases, i.e., the new editions of the maps ... connect, the answer is "yes". If you wanted to know if these new editions, unlike their predecessors, total about 6' in length ... again, check. Affirmative. Yes. If you want to know what it feels like to collect your Panzerkampfwagen Vg platoon around a hamlet ... and stare over a klick away in game distance .... and order your cardboard Frundsbergers ... panzer marsch! You'll need to mount up and take to the turret in the form of a copy of SHOUT FOR PIATS ... and ORDERS FOR THE MAJOR.

Of course if you want to know what it's like to order your Firefly troop (complete with AFVs bearing a troop leader pennant, see the sample directly above) ... to stop the jerries from going anywhere, let alone forward ... we suggest OFM and SFP ... on the double! Either way, you'll note the road signage says 'this way to Hill 112' and 'this way to Villers Bocage' ... both places that are in hand and coming from CH to build an unprecedented British in Nornandy collection of tactical-level modules ... start engines!

MAMAEV KURGAN, STALINGRAD, RUSSIA, 27 September 1942: Acknowledging the damage done to his army in assaulting the southern and central sections of the city, General von Paulus had systematically reconfigured his forces for a fresh assault. Two shock groups were formed, with one consisting primarily of the 100th Jäger Division, whose task was to clear and control Mamaev Kurgan, followed by an advance into the Tennis Racket and the Bannyi Ravine and finally to occupy the Krasnyi Oktiabr workers' settlements. Paulus' counterpart, General Chuikov was well aware of these preparations and had planned appropriate spoiling attacks, though he was unaware of the fresh German reinforcements. His attack was disrupted before it could even begin, with waves of Stukas strafing his advancing forces. His strongpoint on the crest of the burial mound was destroyed. Bombs and artillery cut down the attackers, decimating their ranks and allowing the following German advance to gain ground. The jägers advanced two regiments abreast and captured the western slopes, but initially failed to take the southern slopes. The 227th Jäger Regiment's vigorous assaults, supported by intense artillery, destroyed the Russian ability to hold on. The Germans would secure the summit that evening (though some bypassed remnants would harass the Germans on the southern and western slopes for the next few days). By day's end, the 95th Division retained a foothold on the northern and eastern slopes of the burial mound, but was down to only 400 effective fighting men.

The Battle of Stalingrad has received no shortage of treatment in the wargame realm since Red Barricades^TM first focused the attention of ASLers on the factory complexes of the doomed city. No tactical-level game has ever treated the titanic and unique battle for Stalingrad's Mamayev Hill, aka Mamayev Kurgan ... until NOW. From the first thrusts of Hitler's Wehrmacht on 13 September to the last days of 1942 the hill changed hands time and again. By 27 September the Germans had again captured half of Mamayev Kurgan. The Soviets held their own positions on the slopes of the hill, as the 284th Rifle Division desperately defended key strongholds. The defenders held out until 26 January 1943, when the Soviet winter offensive known as Operation Uranus, relieved them, in the process trapping and destroying the German VI Armee in the tomb of Stalingrad.

When the battle ended, the blood-soaked hill known as Mamayev Kurgan was plowed up and under ... and mixed with blood and fragments of shrapnel (between 500 and 1,250 steel splinters were later counted per square meter). The earth on the hill had remained black in the winter, as the snow kept melting in the many fires and explosions. During the spring of 1943 the soil of Mamayev Kurgan remained black. No grass would sprout in its scorched and blood-soaked soil.

It's time to come out of the factories ... at least until CH's Krasny Oktyabr hits the streets ... and have a unique Stalingrad-themed experience as you fight to hold, capture, or re-capture Mamayev Kurgan. Interested in accurate, color Molotov Projector counters? Check. Panzers in Eastern Front summer 1942 colors? Check. And a battlefield like none you and your cardboard soldiers have ever contested? Check and mate. It's time to get your Schmeisser strapped on, hitch a ride on the pack of a Panzerkampfwagen IIIj ... and get to where your Feldwebel tells you to get. Raus!

North of BORISOV, RUSSIA, 4 April 1943: Operation Lenz Sud had commenced in hopes of finally reducing or eliminating the growing Partisan force near Borisov. As the German forces began the push the partisans were ready and awaiting for an ambush. The Partisans were not trained soldiers and the tactics of the partisans were simple and the challenges put on them by their leaders were less than would be expected from a military unit. Surprise and ambush were their best tactic. Their spot chosen lay on both sides of the Narotch stream. Having capturing a German field gun earlier and using their long hidden anti tank gun—a leftover from the retreating Russians in 1941—the ambush was prepared. Mines were placed, demolition charges were planted by explosive teams smuggled behind German lines and now the wait began. One Partisan survivor remembered: “We would ambush the Germans on the Narotch stream bank. We knew the Germans planned to come to the aid of the guard from the other side of the stream. Our commander, Sagalchik, was also a guide, as he had lived in Miadel for many years and was familiar with the area. When we arrived everything was quiet. Suddenly shots were heard. We lay down and awaited the Germans. When we received the sign to attack we ran to the houses where the Germans and Lithuanian sharpshooters were. The battle lasted a few hours and the Germans dispersed.” Within an hour the fight was over leaving the battlefield in partisans hands. The Germans suffered 40 dead and over 50 wounded. “Lenz-Sud’ was off to a bloody start.

Here at CH we're into firsts. We like to delve into esoteric fronts and combatants. We don't base our creative decisions on the bottom line. We live to provide our fellow gamers opportunities to explore their labors of love, pet topics, to read-up, research ... literally 'disappear into the stacks' of their private libraries and public archives. In Bandenkrieg: HELL BEHIND THE EASTERN FRONT each and every one of those touch-points are struck like a chord. A map by Larry Winslow ... a design that has been augmented, added to ... since inception. Actions that have never seen the light of day on a historical map. It's all 'in there' and then some.

If you love new color die-cut counters with a purpose ... i.e., scenarios that use them ... you'll get Polizei MMC/SMCs. You'll also get Schuma MMC/SMC, new AFVs in black with German designations including the LKW ZIS (with Russian LMG), PzKw T26B 738(r), PSW 42 ADGZ, PSW BAF 203(r), Pzkw T-70 743(r) ... and more! And this motley crew of polyglot 3-4-7 and 4-3-7 squads with their under-powered AFV collection has to take on the OOB of Russian Partisan counters ... all new, color die-cut beauties ... on their home turf. Besides home field advantage, the Partisans are armed with captured weapons, guile, and livestock. Yes, counters for all of the above (including SW Gleaning counters via a variant rule .... for guile) are provided.

C'mon! You didn't think CH would forget owners of WITCH'S CAULDRON with the nice new maps created for BRAVE BUT DOOMED? You can bet you bottom Pegasus on the fact that you're going to love the new maps. And want them. We want you to have the experience playing on them represents. What that means is ... the BRAVE BUT DOOMED MAP UPGRADE SET is for you. And you and you and you (counting heads).

The maps are remastered with all new art and also redesigned to eliminate ambiguous building/road combinations from the first edition. The result is a map-set measuring 3' × 4' that plays within the Village Terrain rules in the ASLRB, simplifying and streamlining play for purists ... and all players. The Map Upgrade includes a setup card listing all changes to scenario OOBs and VCs resulting from the remastered maps.

The new ATS Omaha West release resulted in more orders than anticipated ... and the end result was a new map edition for the popular and ground-breaking Battle of Normandy module. Our policy is to improve any new rendition of our game maps and the THREE 24" × 36" mapsheets included in Omaha West are no exception. Unlike Oosterbeek (Brave But Doomed), the maps remain the same hex-wise, but receive new art for ... well basically for everything from woods to buildings to water to printed trenches to orchards to hedges. Not to mention walls. We feel the end result is an overall upgrade in appearance and the new maps reflect the art that will be used in the upcoming OMAHA EAST product and new D-Day modules in the works. Please note, previous maps will align normally with the new maps that are coming and are perfectly compatible.

As an added bonus, a sheet of infantry counters (280 color die-cut counters) from the first edition of FIRST WAVE AT OMAHA will be included FREE with direct orders of the OMAHA WEST MAP UPGRADE SET while supplies last.

VIERVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE, 0630 Hours, 6 June 1944: The 743rd Tank Battalion didn’t have any illusions about D-Day. Unlike other units, they fully expected to be hurled at the beach first, paving the way for the infantry and all of the following waves. They were expected to make the landings easier for following units, but even with a successful bombardment they knew there would be hell to pay on the beach. In Company A, two of each group of three Shermans was standard; the third was a bulldozer model. Each tank had been specially waterproofed and had large ‘fishhook’ ducts mounted over the engine compartment. The rough surf had caused the officers in charge of the landing to conclude at 0505 hours to cancel the planned launch of the 743rd’s DD tanks in the water, and instead carry them ashore on their LCTs. The neighboring 741st Tank Battalion infamously lost 27 of their 32 DDs after launching them, with only a few sharp crews with small boating experience able to handle the sensitive craft in the high seas. Landing at the same time as the doomed infantry of the 116th Regimental Combat Team, the tankers didn’t find the going much easier. The LCTs took a pounding—they were the first big targets to hit the beach. Two LCTs were sunk during the approach, and only eight of Company’s B’s sixteen tanks actually made it to shore. An 88 shell knocked out the first Sherman off the ramp of LCT-591. Company CO Captain Ehmka’s LCT landed right at the Vierville draw, and Ehmka and many of his men were killed before they could unload. Across more than 400 yards of open beach, the surviving tanks had a terrible time picking out the guns firing on them, while they were exposed except for what the drivers could keep under water without flooding. Instead of supporting infantry who could threaten the gun positions, the tanks found themselves alone in the surf, surrounded by a great many bodies of the 116th. And they were stuck on the beach, trapped by the great anti-tank wall at Vierville. Walking among his tanks, trying to coordinate their actions, the 743rd commander, Lt. Col. Upham, got drilled in the shoulder. Still, the crews tried to stay alive while they looked for targets they could hit. Finally all of the work was rewarded when the survivors moved through the D-1 exit at Vierville just before dark, then rolled a precious half-mile inland. Lt. Harold Beavers was Company B’s only unwounded officer, and he earned the DSC. “They shot the hell out of the Germans,” an officer of the 116th said of the 743rd, “and got the hell shot out of them.”

The FINAL COUNTDOWN BEGINS for a simple reason. The very last stock of OMAHA WEST is in hand and the new maps will be included with your order. We knew the time would eventually come, when the popular D-Day module would eventually be SOLD OUT for good. That time is just about now as we're down to the last few copies. Then it will be on to OMAHA EAST and beyond... As long as you see the OMAHA WEST FINAL COUNTDOWN EDITION page at our site you'll be sure to get a copy. When the last stock is expended the page comes down.

NEW COUNTERS: The following changes are official and reflected on your OMAHA WEST counter sheets: To reflect more ammunition on hand for the landings 5-4-6 American squads have Assault Fire/5-3-6 squads receive a smoke exponent. To reflect the increased lethality to their crews, M4DD tanks have a CS5. Engineer squads have a smoke exponent of '5' printed on their counters (and are thus not increased to '7' by being defined as Assault Engineers). All 5-5-7 squads/HS are Assault Engineers (H1.22) and Sappers.

STALINGRAD, SOVIET UNION, 13 October 1942: The major German attack on the Tractor Works of October 4th had been stopped in its tracks by the 37th Guards. The 6th was quiet before they launched another thrust with two infantry divisions and masses of tanks. Zholudev’s Guardsmen were pressed slowly back, but not without exacting a heavy toll on the attackers. A lull settled over the area after a fantastic success was scored by a Russian Katyusha rocket salvo, which wiped out an entire German battalion west of the railway bridge over the Mechetka. As both sides re-grouped, Yeremenko stepped in and ordered a counter-attack against the western outskirts of the Tractor Works, which was launched by the 37th Guards and one regiment of Gorishny's division on the 12th. The attack was quite a success-in Stalingrad terms. Zholudev's men gained 300 yards and Gorishny’s 200 after fighting for the whole of the 13th. It was all for naught, as on the 14th Paulus launched his supreme effort to take the city.

Don't we wish we could all turn back the clock 15 years? A little more hair on top, maybe still driving that convertible before the kids came along. Flipping on the tube to watch John Elway lead his Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl (not to mention Terrell Davis rushing for 1750 yards that season.) The very same month Elway and company put themselves in the record books the original DZERHEZINSKY TRACTOR WORKS was released as the first-ever independent Stalingrad historical module ... replete with small hex map, gray-backed scenario cards, and other testaments to the amateur era of variants.

Well guess what? While supplies last you CAN turn back the clock ... in the form of a retro edition of DTW. We call it retro ... because it is. That's due to a 'barn find' (aka warehouse find) of some cases of the original map and cover sheets. Yes, if you purchased the last batch of ASLComp release cycle items you received a copy of RETRO DTW absolutely FREE. But if you didn't pull the trigger there, or want another copy before it is gone for good ... we have some copies with your name on them while supplies last. Original cover and map, new layout and art for scenarios and SR booklet plus a 5th bonus scenario. As long as the ordering page is up you can order. The set also includes 2 campaign games.

STALINGRAD, SOVIET UNION, 11 October 1942: While the German Generals pored over their maps, Russian General Yeremenko stepped in and ordered a counter-attack against the western outskirts of the Tractor Works, which was launched by the 37th Guards and one regiment of Gorishny’s division on the 11th . T-34 tanks from the Russian 84th Tank Brigade carried Soviet soldiers into the fray. For their part, the German infantyman loathed house-to-house fighting. And their generals, often far outside the city, had no idea what they were sending their men into. Sometimes the enemy was physically unrecognizable, with every man’s uniform impregnated by the same dun-colored dust. The Russian commanders moved their men as close to enemy lines as possible, to make it harder to safely bomb and shell the Russian troop concentrations. The battle degraded into countless murderous confrontations, and visibility was never more than 100 meters during much of the battle. Still skilled in the combat arts, the German soldier largely lost his tactical advantage in a battle that became more and more to the liking of his enemy.

A set of 6 action packed scenarios are available for owners of DZERHEZINSKY TRACTOR WORKS RETRO edition. They are former Stalin's Fury plus new material ported to play on the full-sized map that was ONLY published with the original DTW. The scenarios feature the new layout and art shared by all the current ASLComp releases.

CH has an approach to tactical-level games that depict the Finnish theater: PLAY THEM ALL!!!! Avalanche, AH, they bring them out ... we have to have them. And there is no expectation that other publishers have a decorated Finnish WW II veteran in the family ... nor have personally visited the country. Let alone publish an interview with Reino Tapio in the upcoming CH Annual magazine. Our approach is to delve into the minutiae ... and seek to bring it alive in cardboard for the tactical-level gamer.

Experimental tanks like the T-100 and the SMK: check. Guns installed in pillboxes on the Mannerheim Line: check. Special pillboxes from the Mannerheim and V-T Lines: check. Camouflaged captured trucks with loads in their beds: check. Pulkkas to drag your heavy weapons: check. Maxim 08 HMG: check. Early theater SS Nord: check. Kasapanos ATMM: Check. Three types of Soviet Aerosani and a scenario for them to race around shooting things up: check.

Imagine a perfect world, one where a LC Inherent crew is no longer "represented by a 1-2-6 vehicle crew of some nationality (e.g., Chinese, Italian or Axis Minor) [just imagine the nutmail, 'why do I need to own the Chinese to play Omaha Beach...?!?]. Well, imagine no more, OMAHA WEST includes these Mae West-equipped LC crew counters in the event the Inherent crew of your LCs needs to take counter form.

North of SUJEWO, SOVIET UNION, 25 June 1944: On 23 June the first German counter-attack in the Army Group North positions known as the ‘Panther Line’ failed to regain all of the ground held by the enemy. Preparations immediately began to expand the ground won, until the Russians cold be forced out of their positions. The Germans began deploying forces to renew the attack in the northeast corner of an area known as ‘The Balcony’. Before German reinforcements were organized, elements of the Russian 23rd Guards Rifle Division struck, hitting the 407th Regiment, dug in on the ridge line on the north flank. Caught without artillery preparations, the Germans were forced to fight it out with the weapons on hand. The two divisions facing one another were old foes. And the fight was to take place on familiar ground—these same hills had been fought for during the Soviet spring 1944 offensive. Following that clash the Germans narrowly emerged the winner. The current Russian assault quickly devolved into close-order fighting, as the Guardsmen mounted the ridge and started to dig the Germans out of their holes. The Russians soldiers repeatedly massed and assaulted German lines, coming from both the north and east. Somehow the defenders held off the Soviet waves. The Guardsmen soon fell back to lick their wounds and await their next orders. There would be no respite for the bloodied landsers.

The update to "Tigers to the Front" is here and includes new color die-cut counters, two additional scenarios, new art, the new layout, all errata input and the usual balance tweaks. What's more, instead of a 'no map' version for previous owners, everyone gets the map. The action brings you right into the turrets of the Pzkw VI Tigers of the 502 Schwere Panzer Abteilung, 94th Grenadier Regiment, and 1st Shock Army and other hard-fighting combat elements. You receive all the vehicles used in the scenarios in camo-colored editions, plus a new set of German MMC/SMC counters in new poses and uniforms—to provide a unique Eastern Front gaming experience. The set includes 12 scenarios, a Special Rules booklet, two sheet of color die-cut counters (296 counters in all), and an historical map of the Panther Line positions. Ownership of Beyond Valor^TM is required but owners of the recent CH Berlin release "Final Days" will have all of the Gun and infantry counters needed to play the scenarios in a 'CH only' counter presentation using the counters provided in ASLComp Panther Line.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above. Click here for the 'no map' version of this product.

TOLVAJARVI, FINLAND, 11 December 1939: General Mannerheim himself placed Colonel Paavo Talvela in command of all Finnish troops in the threatened Tolvajarvi/Ilomantsi sector north of Lake Lagoda. In order to prevent the entire Mannerheim Line from being outflanked Talvela had to stop the Soviet advance and if at all possible push them back. Therefore, Talvela planned a strong counterattack to halt the Soviet drives in this area. However, before Talvela could launch his counterattack on the 11th, he suffered a nasty surprise on his own left flank. A Soviet battalion had marched undetected through the wilderness and fell upon his flank. Without warning the Russians burst from the woods upon Talvela’s supply line northwest of Tolvajarvi Village. There were no defensive works here and few combat troops either. By all rights the Finnish HQ staff and the support personnel should have been routed from the field but something strange happened. The first target overrun by the Russians was a field kitchen where large vats of sausage soup were simmering. After the attackers caught a whiff of the soup, the majority of them paused and began to eat. The momentum of the original attack vanished and the startled Finns received a priceless interval of time in which to recover. And recover they did. What followed was an engagement dubbed the Sausage War by the Finns that was close, brutal and without mercy. Later front line troops from the east arrived to sweep up the survivors. Many of the Soviets died by the bayonet some with sausage still on their lips.

CH led the way almost 20 years ago with its Jatkosota variant when production was cut and paste and publishers were still adhering to unmounted counters. Fast-forward two decades and prepare for the heat of FIRE AND ICE ... as well as the bitter cold of Finland's version of 'General Winter'! In this final compilation of 1939-1944 scenarios set on the Finnish Front, things have taken a turn for the colorful, as in new color die-cut counters depicting elite Ski Troops, Soviet 1940 soldiers, and Finnish vehicles and Guns—all printed on a gray counter with full-color art.

The set also includes two new 'winter' geomorphic boards that you can click here to analyze the fitment of the hexgrid with you other geo boards by using this full-size pdf of the actual hexgrid used on the boards. You can also click here to check the fitment against the boards of another variant publisher, again, using the actual hexgrid that is used on the new geo boards. Then, get set for a truly 'winter' presentation, replete with new background, hills, and depicting a typical Finnish village and wooded countryside.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above.

LA FIERE, NORMANDY, 6 June 1944: Following their successful drop, intact and in almost perfect order, Able Company of the 505th P.I.R. moved speedily to their D-Day objective: the Merderet bridge at La Fiere. The large manor house adjacent to the river bridge had been occupied earlier that night by a detachment of the 1057th Grenadier Regiment of the 91st Division: 28 men in all. First to draw fire from the vicinity of the manoir was Lieutenant Presnell of 1st Platoon. His team was followed soon after by the remainder of Able Company, and later by a succession of groups including elements of all the scattered parachute regiments of the 82nd Airborne Division. Each in turn advanced to contact and made their uncoordinated moves against the manoir, quite unaware of the presence of numerous friendly forces. The German resistance was finally worn down, the outpost soon surrendering to a band of 82nd paratroopers who promptly moved on to Cauquigny. As fire slackened about the manoir, Able Company displaced forward to take up positions around the bridge. As they dug their foxholes, the sound of approaching tanks could be heard across the Merderet River.

Talented module designer and military historian Ian Daglish (dec.) left us all too soon in 2011. Ian's craftsmanship combined expert map recreations and historical research, as well as a burning passion for all things to do with the Battle of Normandy. La Fiere was the place it all started, CH's exploration into the historical module, Ian's collaboration, and the beginning of what would culminate in his successful career as a published military history author for Pen & Sword books. And now Kellam's Bridge is back in a new edition with standard hexsize map, new counters, new art, the original historical and game-play booklet in a new version, and more. You receive 325th Glider Infantry Regiment-badged MMCs, the correct Hotchkiss tanks in 1944 colors with APCR, historical named leaders. You also receive a bonus set of Glider counters for use with other scenarios that use them in both Waco CG4 and Horsa models.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above. Click here for the 'no map' version of this product.

Snakeshead Ridge, Near CASSINO, ITALY, 18 February 1944: Two attempts by the 4th Indian Division to take Point 593 had failed. Capture of the point was critical to support the attack directed against the Monastery. During the dark hours of the morning of the 18th the 4/6th Rajputana Rifles, 1st Royal Sussex, and a Co. of the 1/9th Gurkha jumped off in yet another attempt to capture Point 593 and Point 569. Despite heroic efforts by the platoon leaders of the various companies, the Germans held out resolutely on Point 569 and could not be pushed back off the reverse slopes of Point 593. As dawn approached, the German counter attacks began and gradually built in intensity. Due to the nature of the terrain, the issue would be decided with hand grenades. The Germans hurled counterattack after counterattack at the Indian lodgement on the forward slopes of Point 593. As the day wore on the 4th Indian Division. casualties mounted. The assault companies that nearly had carried the position in the morning were only tattered remnants of their former selves. It was too much; orders were issued to fall back to friendly lines. The Germans reoccupied Point 593.

When "Carnage at Cassino" was being finalized during 1998 CH was in its folio phase and the map was created by an artist that has long since replaced. Also replaced since then were two American presidents, film-based output for the creation of game maps, among other facts of the times. For years we've heard a call for a new generation edition of CAC and now it's here ... replete with fully remastered map, color die-cut counters with original military art, new layout and more.

Included in the 'more' is the fact that the new maps is LARGER in area than its predecessor (as well as physically larger). Better to depict the battle and to tie-in with the upcoming Cassino Abbey map (see playtest prototype below), finally in hand and poised to complete the series.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above.

OOSTERBEEK, THE NETHERLANDS, 17 September 1944: Hurrying down the Utrechtseweg towards Arnhem, 3 Battalion were surprised by a German staff car rolling through the intersection in front of them. Many of the men in the lead platoon opened fire, killing Arnhem Commandant General Kussin and his aides. As the echoes of gunfire faded away, the now-primed men of 3 Battalion moved on. As they neared the next crossroads they suddenly came under fire themselves. Blocking the way was a German position centered on a self-propelled gun, part of SS Major Krafft’s No. 2 Company. B Company’s No.5 Platoon was in the lead and quickly took several casualties, including the platoon PIAT. None of Lt. Cleminson’s men had primed Gammon Bombs to hand, so with no real way of tackling this menace the men scattered and sheltered in some nearby houses and gardens. Major Waddy tried to launch an attack, but found the fencing between houses made maneuver very difficult. The paras engaged the Germans with their Brens and Stens while others hurriedly tried to turn an exposed supporting 6-pounder anti-tank gun. The German SPG blew up the Jeep, striking down the gun crew an instant before it could fire. After this brief but intense gunfight, No. 2 Company pulled back, afraid of being outflanked by the paratroopers, taking with them a number of British prisoners. 3 Battalion hitched up their gear and moved on, already far behind schedule.

BRAVE BUT DOOMED allows you to recreate the classic struggle of the Battle of Arnhem on a never-simulated-at-this-scale rendition of the battlefield. And to do it in the ultimate detail, house-by-house, at 50 yards scale. This module does not purport to answer whether Monty’s bold gamble to cross the Rhine and break into the heart of Hitler’s Third Reich could have succeeded. Nor does it have anything to do with whether ‘Market Garden’ aimed one or more bridges ‘too far’. Instead, BRAVE BUT DOOMED puts the gamer literally inside the hexenkessel, hammered by two Waffen SS panzer divisions day after day.

Here comes another great collection of color die-cut counters! All the British airborne you need to play the scenarios plus additional Waffen SS counters for owners of Hell's Bridgehead 3 (or the counter sheet that came with that product, available separately) to fill in and make it a CH combat party. All of the British MMCs come badged with the Pegasus and they are going to look just GREAT down on that massive battlefield created by the TWO 24" × 36" maps included with this module.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above. Click here for the 'no map' version of this product.

West of the Minturno-Santa Maria road, SANTA MARIA INFANTE, ITALY, 12 May 1944: To carry on the unfinished mission of the weakened and helpless 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion was ordered forward. About 1115 Companies K and I jumped off toward Hill 103. On the battalion right flank the 1st Platoon of Company K—its three squads abreast and deployed in a skirmish line—pushed down the northern slope of the knoll in the face of heavy machine-gun fire from the S-Ridge as well as from the forward slope of Hill 103. On the platoon’s left, the 2nd Squad advanced under partial cover of terraces across the draw and a short distance up the southern slope of Hill 103, where it was stopped by machine-gun fire from the crest and from the rear. The 1st and 3rd Squads on the right could advance only to the draw at the base of the hill before enemy fire pinned them down. On the left the 2nd Platoon of Company K pushed on down the knoll to the draw south of Hill 103. Hardly had the platoon reached the draw when a machine gun on the northern slope of the knoll started firing on the platoon from the right rear, forcing the men to seek cover. Well-placed snipers on Hill 103 also trained their rifles on Company K. In visual contact with Company K and on its left, the two leading assault platoons of Company I moved up the western slope of Hill 103 a few yards beyond the farthest advance of Company K; then, enemy fire from mortars, artillery, and machine guns halted their attack. The 1st Platoon, Company I, advancing on the right, also reached the western slope of Hill 103 and suffered much heavier casualties than the other assault platoon. By the time the platoon reached Hill 103 it had barely the strength of one squad. Half an hour after both companies had begun their attack against Hill 103 they were stopped cold.

Feedback says that "Bracchi Hills" was one of the most linear depictions of war at this scale ever published, almost man-for-man and truly a small unit actions kind of module. A close second was CH's Pointe du Hoc. The new edition, HELL IN THE LIRI VALUE continues the tradition with new color die-cut counters, new art, the new layout and some treats in the form of a set of 88th Infantry Division-badged MMC counters to celebrate the feats of this fine unit on the road to Rome during 1944. And since much of the German defense was hinged on pillbox positions, you also receive a set of new, overhead art Pillbox counters to site your MGs from.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above. Click here for the 'no map' version of this product.

Gemencheh Bridge, Malaya, 14 January 1942: In Malaysia, intensive Japanese air attacks on Commonwealth troops added to the pressure of the Japanese advance down the western part of the peninsula. The British Command planned a series of delaying actions as the men of the III Indian Corps slowly retreated southwards into and through the lines established by the newly arrived Australians. Bridges along the road would be left intact to heighten the effect of disorganized flight by the Indian troops, but were actually meant to lull the Japanese into becoming over-confident and careless. Meanwhile an ambush was set up by the veteran 2/30th Battalion AIF, at a small wooded bridge over the Gemencheh River about seven miles west of Gemas. Shortly before 1600 on January 14, Japanese soldiers on bicycles passed through the ambush position while the Australians waited for the motorized transport section. Just a few minutes later another bicycle column began crossing the bridge, and the Australians decided that the ambush would be triggered by setting off the demolition charge under the bridge. The charge hurled timber, bicycles and bodies skyward in a very deadly and satisfying blast. Almost simultaneously, the three platoons of ‘B’ Company hurled grenades among the enemy while sweeping the open area with fire from Bren guns, Tommy Guns and rifles. While attempting to call up artillery fire on the Japanese, the Australians realized that their field phone wire had been cut in some manner. While the lack of artillery was frustrating, there wasn’t much need of it, as the Japanese had been caught completely off-guard. The Commanding Officer now ordered the Australians to withdraw eastwards into the battalions positions at Gemas. During the withdrawal, some of the Australians squads ran into Japanese soldiers from the first bicycle unit that had been let through. Small individual skirmishes flared up and died down just as quickly, as the Australians made their return to the battalion that evening and night.

About a dozen years ago Total Pacific Theater Pack I crawled out of the jungle, not realizing the war was over. It apparently had survived on insects and lemon grass, with an occasional helping of brackish water. The year 2012 brings with it color die-cut counters, a new geomorphic board, new art, layout, and the usual errata/tweaks input and the result is DIGGER PACK I. The scenarios feature an Australian-laden bunch of actions and to bring it all together, you receive 296 counters for use with this product and ALL of your scenarios starring some of the best warriors this side of modernity. You also receive new markers including the Cleared Fire Zone (rules included) as well as a handful of other counters used in the scenarios.

DIGGER PACK I also includes a new PTO-themed geomorphic board that is used in a bunch of scenarios and replaced Board 37. You can click here to analyze the fitment of the hexgrid with you other geo boards by using this full-size pdf of the actual hexgrid used on the boards. You can also click here to check the fitment against the boards of another variant publisher, again, using the actual hexgrid that is used on the new geo boards.

As an additional bonus, the packaging has been upgraded to include the 4-color cover you see above.

HOTTON, BELGIUM, 21 December 1944: After revealing itself prematurely, the spearhead group of the 116th Panzer Division remained quiet for about ninety minutes. During that time, the Americans had time to improvise a defense. A roadblock was established in the Rue Haute using Bailey bridge components. Command was assumed by Major Fickessen of the 23rd Engineer Battalion. Fickessen organized 200 men from various staff, messengers, engineers, as well as supply and rear echelon troops. At 0900 hours a group of four Panthers slowly moved from the heights toward the east of town, probing for a way to the bridge. They first tried the Rue Haute, spotted the roadblock, and clanked off to some nearby gardens. One Panther continued on alone and returned to the Rue Haute a little farther up the road. There, the massive Panzer faced off against a diminutive Stuart, which was quickly destroyed. The Panther then engaged a Sherman, brewing it on the second shot. The German crew then backed away after seeing some anti-tank mines sitting on top of the ground. The retreating Panzer was struck on its side by shots from an AT-gun and some bazookas near the south bank of the Ourthe. The crew quickly bailed out, leaving the German platoon leader, Oberleutnant Köhn, pressing forward. He entered the Rue des Ecoles near a second building without being engaged, but then reversed back the way he came, fearful of unseen enemy. Back among the gardens, Köhn halted his tank and was attacked by a Bazooka team. The Panzer leader rotated his turret to face the threat but unbeknownst to him, a lone Sherman from the 7th US Armored Division had been found in the repair shops at Marche and requisitioned to bolster the south bank defense. Sited near the bridge, at the corner of Rue Parfonry, it was offered a rear shot and with two rounds from its 76mm gun, the Panther was brewed. The other two tanks pulled back after half-hearted attempts to reach the Rue des Ecoles near the railway line. As a side note, the south bank defenders also engaged a lone German 75mm gun-armed half-track, spotted near the Ti-Château’s heights, and destroyed it with fire from their 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun.

Moving images of the Battle of the Bulge often include German soldiers in their long greatcoat scuttling across the fields from their dark forest lairs, the men of the Volksgrenadier divisions. Now YOU can push cardboard around while you play out the epic stand at Hotton on three fully remastered maps from Devils In the Woods/Sudden Full Contact in one updated edition that includes bonus counters and a total of 20 scenarios in all. All of the scenarios are laid out in the new format and owners of our recent Nordic Twilight/BDF II releases should have all the combat counters needed to play without needing to dig into their standard-issue collection when combined with the new counters provided with ASLComp DARKEST DECEMBER.

As an added bonus, if you ordered any of the new items scheduled to ship in November 2011 as part of a BULGE AMMO BOX bundle, or separately, you are eligible for super special prices. International customers pay the USPS postage, but we'll try and get everything into as few Flat Rate envelopes as possible so you can rest assured you will be saving a ton of cash.

BOADILLA, SPAIN, 14 December 1936: The Civil War in Spain brought a wide variety of international volunteers and mercenaries to that troubled nation. Following upon the narrowly defeated Nationalist drive on Madrid during the Autumn, the Nationalists thought to renew a more limited offensive to complete their aim of isolating the nearby city of Madrid. The Nationalists assembled 18,000 infantry and cavalry organized into four mobile brigades, supported by elements of the German Condor Legion, and a large contingent of 155mm guns. Opposing them were the famous International Brigades, composed of left-wing dissidents, exiles, communists, and socialists. These enthusiastic volunteers were determined to stop the fascists. The brigade at Boadilla was the Thaelmann Battalion, consisting mostly of German communists and some Englishmen. The fiercely-independent ideologies of both sides promised for particularly vicious fighting. The Nationalists began the attack with the heaviest artillery bombardment of the war. The Nationalists attacked Boadilla and successfully seized it the first night. A counterattack by two of the Republican International Brigades and a detachment of Russian tanks forced the Nationalists to withdraw from the town the next morning, only to see them counterattack later that day, successfully trapping the Thaelmann Battalion inside the town. A terrible fight ensued throughout the town. Casualties were heavy for both sides as each side funneled more troops into the fighting. All Republican counterattacks to relieve the besieged comrades failed. Elements of an Russian armored detachment engaged the panzers of the Condor Legion inside the town square, while elite Spanish Moroccan Infantry fought their way into the fortified Marketplace and the nearby Castle Duque de Sueca. The Thaelmann Battalion and their Spanish and International brethren were forced to fight their way out of the town, leaving many dead behind. This costly fight left the Nationalists with a modest victory in having seized Boadilla and the surrounding territory, while both sides (especially the International Brigades) were heavily depleted in strength.

Years have gone by with requests coming in for a reprinting of GUERRA CIVIL, the Spanish Civil War historical module—you have been heard. But the request for a reprint has to be rejected. Instead, a fully remastered product, with all new counters. new geomorphic boards, scenarios laid out with the new format and art, not to mention all new color military art adorning the die-cut counters. Plus some extra scenarios and re-written Special Rules and notes pages. It comes to you during November 2011 as CONDOR LEGIONS and is sure to be evocative of this important time in pre World War II military history.

TOKTONG PASS, KOREA, 27 November 1950: Fox Company, under the command of Captain Barber, U.S.M.C., was positioned along the main supply route on a hill, later renamed ‘Fox hill’, overlooking the Toktong Pass. Barber and his reinforced company had arrived at 1500 houurs that afternoon, and barely had time to dig foxholes before the sun went down. He positioned his 3rd platoon on top of the hill, the 1st platoon on the right, 2nd platoon on the left, and Lieutenant Brady with his 60mm and 80mm mortars at the base of the hill near some buildings. Brady had just enough time to register the 80s on the rocky hill northeast of Fox Hill before dusk. The Captain put his unit on 50% alert, trying to match up veterans with the new kids, allowing two men per hole with one awake and one asleep through the night. A full moon rose at 2300, and the night was clear and cold with a temperature about 20 degrees below zero. At 0115 hours the Captain conducted an inspection and found many of his sentries sleeping. He roused the NCOs and encouraged them to stay awake, then lay down to sleep at 0155. At 0230 he awoke to heavy firing north of Fox Hill, and he heard his aide Corporal Ashdale shouting, “Here they come!” The 3rd platoon was under heavy attack and the perimeter was hit in three different places at the same time, including Lieutenant Brady’s area. The 3rd platoon was taking casualties and beginning to fall apart as a defensive force, when one of its soldiers, Private Cafferata, “…stood up and began firing two M-1 rifles as fast as a fellow wounded Marine could load.” He moved up and down the line, batted CCF grenades away from his position and killed 15 enemy soldiers in close combat. Later that morning he was wounded while grabbing a grenade, but still he fought on. Finally a sniper’s bullet caused him to sustain further wounds and he was evacuated. His actions and uncommon valor won Cafferata the Medal of Honor.

The first release of Toktong Pass sold out rather quickly and is now OOP. Problem is, those Chicom soldiers keep forming up, blowing their bugles, their whistles, and heading for the high ground! Not to worry, all new art has recreated the color, cardboard, winter-uniform clad Marines required to hold off the Communist Hordes and they are ready for YOUR orders on Fox Hill and the heights overlooking the vital Toktong Pass. Hold the pass or your fellow Marines, falling back from the 'frozen' Chosin Reservoir ... will be cut off. It all comes at you as THE CHOSIN FEW, and includes all the combat counters you need to play the scenarios plus scenarios in the new format, with the new art, and Special Rules pages to tie it all together. The helicopter rules model also takes a whirlybird nudge forward in development as you drop supply canisters (and hopefully for the Marines ... recover them before the Chicoms do.) This product comes in two versions, with and without the Toktong map, to provide previous owners of Toktong Pass even more savings.

THIRIMONT, BELGIUM, 15 January 1945: By the end of 1944 the German offensive in the Belgian Ardennes was definitely stopped. But the Allies still had to push the Germans back behind the Siegfried Line before they could resume their strike into the Reich. By January 13—eleven days after it was launched —the counteroffensive had expanded far enough to the east along the battle line to engage the American 30th Infantry Division into the fight, with the capture of St. Vith as a first objective. While its sister regiments were plowing south over the hills, the 120th Regiment was locked in a bitter three-day struggle for Thirimont, a ridge village which controlled the east flank of the attack. By irony of fate, this village was defended by the 1st Battalion of the 9th Fallschirmjaeger Regiment, the same unit, whose soldiers so full of confidence, earlier rode on the tanks of the powerful Kampfgruppe Peiper, and had traversed Thirimont one month earlier on the way to the Meuse bridges.

About 15 years ago Euro Pak II brought ASLers a bevy of Battle of the Bulge scenarios and proved to be one of our best-sellers ever. It's long been out of print ... and deserving of an update. And an update, and then some, is exactly what it has received! Two new geomorphic maps, both depicting rivers, scenarios updated, all known errata input, plus the new layout and art. PLUS some additonal bonus BULGE scenarios AND a FREE copy of the Wingen-sur-Moder counter sheet providing vehicles and AFVs shown on the image above. All in all it comes at you as BULGE PAK I (a hint that, yes, there will be a BULGE PAK II).

‘IRON TRIANGLE’ OUTPOST PORK CHOP HILL, 1025 Hours, 6 July 1953: At 1025 hours on the night of July 6th a massive artillery and mortar barrage preceded an onslaught by 700 soldiers from the CCF 200th Regiment, 67th Division. The sounds from the crashing shells concealed the oncoming Chinese, until they burst forward in what was described as “a moving carpet of yelling, howling men--whistles and bugles blowing, their officers screaming like women driving their men uphill.” In a bunker CP just beneath the crest of the hill Corporal Dale W. Cain heard his radio come alive with reports of “enemy in large numbers”. Company A reported hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches. The battle was fought in a driving monsoon rain, making evacuation of the wounded difficult, as well as re-supply. As the battle swayed back and forth, the Chinese made repeated pushes to take the hill while both sides unleased a storm of artillery fire upon the struggling soldiers. During the course of two days, parts of four companies defended Pork Chop. At dawn on July 8th, the rain ended for a time and the initial defenders withdrawn. A fresh unit, 2nd Battalion of the 17th, counter-attacked and re-took the hill, then settled in to prepare a defensive perimeter for the coming night.

We suspect the majority of you out there have witnessed the movie "Pork Chop Hill" more than once, with its stirring performance by Gregory Peck. If you are like us, you've seen it over and over again. It's just that good. Our feelings about this film are on par with those we reserve for YOU, our customers, the historical wargamer with the imagination and daring to break out of the rusty cage, genre-wise, that someone once told you was the only place you could maneuver your cardboard warriors. And it is for YOU, the decisive "Lt. Joe Clemons" of tac-sim gaming (and owner of the BULGE AMMO BOX bundle), we are happy to provide you with a FREE BONUS copy of ASLComp BATTLE OF PORK CHOP HILL. It includes an historical map and 4 bonus scenarios and requires ownership of THE CHOSIN FEW ... not a problem for BULGE AMMO BOX BUNDLE guys!

Along with your free Pork Chop Hill module, Bulge Ammo Box owners will receive a new overlay for Condor Legions at no charge. Scroll down to find out about all the FREE bonuses that are part of the final release edition of Pork Chop Hill, including new color die-cut counters, an expanded map and BONUS scenarios. Click on the links for the new releases for special prices and also note a special price for Pork Chop Hill is in effect for non Ammo Box buyers.

UPDATE: Pork Chop Hill has been upgraded with two sheets of BONUS color die-cut counters, the map has been doubled in size to a full-size mapsheet, and you receive two additional bonus scenarios. Ownership of CHOSIN FEW is required to use this product.

Berlin, GERMANY, 28 April 1945: The 5th Army attacked across the Landwehr Kanal on a broad front and was able to establish several small bridgeheads on the north bank. The Russians packed as many tanks and guns into the crossing points as possible while combat engineers built pontoon bridges in areas where infantry had been able to get across on make-shift rafts or by swimming. The Germans were not quiet while these enemy preparations were taking place. The remaining SS and Volkssturm troops in the sector were deployed as close as possible to the canal with orders to counter-attack and eliminate the enemy crossings. Also, the internal security troops at the chancellery were mobilized under party bosses along with the remaining Königstigers to reinforce the thin front line. Before this last group could reach the main line of resistance the Red Army attacked out of its bridgeheads. Tanks moving out from the Belle Alliance Platz area quickly ran into the French SS of the Sturm Battalion “Charlemagne” and were stopped with heavy casualties. However, the combined force of the attack forced the French back one block. The attack towards the Anhalter Station also gained little ground against the reconnaissance battalion of the 11th SS Division “Nord”. Neither side achieved victory as the Germans were unable to throw the enemy back across the canal while the Russians were unable to break the line and capture the Reich Chancellery. The battle developed into three more days of slow bloody street-fighting until the last defenders of Berlin could be crushed under the Red Army steam-roller.

TYRANT'S LAIR 2 is the final chapter of our ASLComp exploration into the famous battle. The new edition includes a campaign game that uses all four maps for a massive urban battlefield. Additional copies of the counter sheets are available for those that want to play the CG and everything you need to play the über monster scenario, 'The Downfall" is included with BERLIN—FINAL DAYS + the new counters provided in TYRANT'S LAIR 2.

Once TYRANT'S LAIR 2 and BERLIN FINAL DAYS are sold out, the guns of Berlin will go silent and our sights will be on other battlefields, our task of building the largest urban tactical-level battlefield ever published .... complete.

KIBBUTZ DEGANIA A, ISRAEL, 20 May 1948: Having just captured the police fortress at Samakh two days earlier, Colonel Abdel Wahab Bey al-Hakim redeployed his forces to assault the kibbutzim on the southern edge of Lake Tiberias. His goals were to capture the bridge over the Jordan river just north of Degania A and clear a path to link up with other Arab forces on their drive on Haifa. However, the Jews were putting up stiffer resistance than he expected. Still, he had tanks on his side. As the Syrian AFVs advanced to the perimeter of Israel’s oldest kibbutz, and home of Major Moshe Dayan, the Israeli Commander of Lower Galilee, the leading tank was hit with multiple Molotov Cocktails. Other tanks and armored cars were now under assault as a PIAT team joined the fray. The infantry was too far behind to assist the armor effectively and the attack was repulsed with heavy Syrian losses. Wahab then turned his force south toward Degania B but was again turned back. Shortly thereafter, the Israelis brought up their first artillery pieces of the war, two old French 65mm field guns, and began shelling the Syrian positions in the valley. This forced Wahab to withdraw to safer ground. A burned out hulk of an R35 from that day still remains where it was lost at Degania A as a tribute to the defenders.

GENESIS '48 2nd Edition is a new generation ASLComp module that literally re-starts everything with YOUR hand on the wheel. In charge, your voice heard loud and clear. You've made it known that you like those BFP/HoB watermark style counters so we're taking aim to make the best variant counter along those lines, ones we'll be proud to have the "CH" emblazoned on. And what that means is the best overhead vehicle and gun views, professionally drawn soldier art second to none. And a data presentation you can understand easily.

The ground-breaking GENESIS '48 module sold out a decade ago, and has been awaiting a new edition for years. Additionally, the follow-on game, bringing in 1967 and 1973 actions has been waiting patiently for delivery to your gaming tables. Bringing together these two elements has resulted in an all new GENESIS '48 2nd Edition complete with counters and scenarios for 1948 and 1956, with the first taste of 1967 and 1973 actions. The Israelis get a new nationality color and a plethora of new counters are provided for Arab and Israeli armies. What's more, the soldier art is also new, none of that which was used in the first edition is carried over.

"G48 provides an incredible wealth of detail on AFVs and guns in the conflict, fully as interesting as anything in Chapter H..."

The above quote is nice,and accurate. That said, GENESIS '48 2nd Edition aims to polish every rough edge of its predecessor, while adding value in the form of new counters and situations. Rules such as the "Molotov Tank Hunting Hero" and others have been streamlined. Squad types have been reduced appropriately and redundancy in rules addressing their use edited down. Scenarios continue to use mostly non-desert, daytime situations and are moderate to small in size and play on geomorphic boards. An all new Kibbutz geo board is provided and a separate JERUSALEM '48 historical map-based module is coming with a fully remastered map that utilizes larger hexes than its predecessor. Thus, GENESIS '48 2nd Edition is a 100% geomorphic board product with 16 exciting scenarios and a LARGE COLLECTION of 1000+ of new counters!

In keeping with the CH approach used in the Berlin and Omaha releases successfully, all you'll need to own is your ASLRB and a collection of marker counters. EVERYTHING YOU NEED in terms of color, die-cut counters is provided in GENESIS '48 2nd Edition! Punch it out and play, no more hunting through tray after tray of old counters to get into the action.

STONNE, FRANCE, 15 May 1940: Soon after the withdrawal of the H39s of the 1st Company of the 45th BCC at 0730 hours, the heavy tanks of the 49th Battalion followed. After several passed through the seemingly empty streets, and in the absence of friendly infantry, the Char B1bis’ took position at the south edge of the village while the Gross Deutschland cautiously infiltrated the town with more and more support weapons. The next move by the French was another incursion by Char B1bis’, three of them ending up destroyed. Alarm was given at the higher echelons but the 10th Panzer command thought that the tanks of the 8th Regiment were still accompanying the IRGD infantrymen, so no reinforcements were sent. At 1030 hours, the main attack kicked off. Heavy enemy return fire was faced and progress was slow and murderous. Then the anti-tank nest was destroyed and the French infantry reached the gardens and houses, the pressure forcing the Germans to withdraw to a position four miles north of Stonne, covered by the fire from their StuG self-propelled GUN Company.

Welcome to THE STONNE HEIGHTS, a new edition of the France 1940 module created with extensive on-site research by Pedro Ramis. This new edition includes SIXTEEN scenarios and three Platoon Leader campaign games, all laid out using the new format. More importantly, owners of GEMBLOUX II and this product will have the entire OB of combat counters needed to play the scenarios provided (you'll need some of your standard counters for the CG). That means French AFVs, Guns, MMCs, SMCs and SW plus early-war Germans! All using full color original military art created just for you! The counters included with The Stonne Heights include additional AFVs (more Char B1 bis tanks than ever before in action in a scenario), new AFV types, etc.

Previous owners of the Stonne 1940 releases have not been forgotten. A 'no map' edition is available so you can save money and get the new materials only. Click here to get the NO MAP version.

BARAQUE DE FRAITURE, BELGIUM, 20 December 1944: The German effort to encircle or bypass American forces in the Ardennes offensive required aggressive, even reckless exploitation of any breakthrough. Invariably, this strategy resulted in unexpected and vicious confrontations. One such conflagration involved the leading force of the German 560th Volksgrenadier Division and the recently deployed American 203rd AAA Battalion at a tiny Belgian crossroads called Baraque de Fraiture. A small company sized patrol of the 560th’s Kampfgruppe Schumann encountered heavy automatic weapons fire at the small crossroads while traveling north along the N-15 highway. The 80 men of this bicycle-mounted reconnaissance unit lost 12 men dead and 14 captured from the deadly M16 (nicknamed ‘Meat Choppers’) and M15A1 anti-aircraft half-tracks and the men of the 203rd AAA Battalion. In this instance, German aggressiveness proved costly. Although this first battle of Baraque de Fraiture was to be an American victory, the German forces to follow were determined to take this vital position.

CH has teamed up with Front Line Productions to bring you a Battle of the Bulge battlefield recreated faithfully for our ASLComp customers. Just how did this come about? Aw, c’mon! You know here at CH we’re all about recreating 20th Century military history at 50 yards scale. And that means maps, LOTS of maps. In the case of the fateful engagement at the Baraque de Fraiture crossroads, that meant taking the original Front Line prototype and honing it through an onsite research trip, creating an detailed historical map in the process. Add tanks, guns and men and voilá, tactical-level gaming has a new battlefield, in this case an ASLComp variant that is a must-have for hobbyists of Beyond ValorTM and YanksTM.

BARAQUE DE FRAITURE documents the onsite visit and its conclusions in the expanded 12 page booklet included with the product. You also get a batch of well-crafted and cool scenarios to use the new 24” x 36” map with. A total of nine scenarios are provided, all printed on 110 lb. heavyweight card, and two using geomorphic boards.

What we think will make you sit up and pay attention is the inclusion of all the AMERICAN combat counters needed to play the scenarios provided. You also receive all the German counters needed for owners of HB3 (or the counter set from HB3, available separately). Your new American MMC/SMC/SW collection is perfect for use with NORDIC TWILIGHT too ... for those that want a CH-variant counter only presentation on the map!

Previous owners of Baraque de Fraiture have not been forgotten. A 'no map' edition is available so you can save money and get the new materials only. Click here to get the NO MAP version.

CREHEN, BELGIUM, 12 May 1940: At 0800 hours the 2nd DLM retreated from Hannut, to avoid being overwhelmed by German supporting units. Soon after, the Germans were engaged by another French strongpoint at Crehen at 8:30 A.M. In this position, the 2nd Cuirassiers, commanded by Captain Sainte-Marie Perrin and armed with 21 French Hotchkiss tanks, took on the best the German panzer force had to offer. The action rapidly grew hotter as Perrin's Hotchkiss squadrons engaged the Panzers from a series of prepared positions, even as the Germans approached on the center of Crehen. Despite the loss of Captain Perrin early in the engagement, the French unit stood and fought it out with the enemy, both sides taking heavy losses. As the supporting infantry of the Dragoons suffered losses, the responsibility for the defense shifted to the French tankers. Part of a German column advanced into the town center, while the rest performed a flanking maneuver around the defenses. By 11:00 A.M. the surviving Dragoons had retreated to Merdorp while the ten remaining Hotchkiss tanks broke out to Thisnes. Losses had been inflicted on the German attackers, but the French armor was being inexorably forced back.

Welcome to GEMBLOUX II, an updated edition of the popular Battle of France 1940 module. The emphasis is on the word 'new' because it is all NEW. And updated. The scenario layout you love, the new counter art, and more. A new 8' × 22" board replaces the previous 'Village 42' half-board overlay. What's more, you receive two copies of two bonus counter sheets. That means full color French MMC/SMC/SW, Guns, and early-war German infantry, AFVs and Guns. And if you enjoy the all-original military art we are creating to enhance and freshen your tac-sim experience then these are for you!

VROENHOVEN, BELGIUM, 11 May 1940: By mid-afternoon of 10 May, infantry elements of the 4th Panzer Division took over the bridgehead at Vroenhoven, relieving the exhausted paratroopers. During the evening, the infantry pushed west to free the main road and north to join with the Velwezelt bridgehead. Two platoons of the 2nd Company were all that remained of the Belgian troops near the Vroenhoven Bridge. On the morning of the 11th, the Germans started to attack towards the south to completely secure the bridge area. As the lead panzer elements were crossing the bridge, three Fairey Battle aircraft of the Belgian 5Ëme Escadrille appeared over the Albert Canal and began a bombing run against the bridge. Because their initial mission was to bomb wooden footbridges, the planes were loaded with puny 50kg bombs instead of the more potent 250kg bombs normally available. Lead by Captain Glorie, the three Battles made a first bombing run though withering anti-aircraft fire. Due to either the wounding of the observer or a malfunction of the bomb release system, Battle number T-70 of Captain Glorie, followed by the T-63 of Adjudant Delvigne, turned about and made a second run. Both were shot down after hitting the bridge. Une vaine mission de sacrifice!

Welcome to FACING THE BLITZ, an updated edition of the Albert Canal map and scenarios that were included in CH 7/1. A second edition map was printed after the initial print run was sold out and is included with this version. No worries, if you already own the map, a 'no map' edition is also being made available so you can get the new counters and updated scenarios and save some cash. Click here to get the NO MAP version.

St. Homme Crossroads, south of THULIN, BELGIUM, 23 May 1940: The Germans reacted quickly to the enemy threat. The commander of the Infantry Regiment 469, Oberst von Tschüdi, ordered his 1st Battalion to enter Thulin and eliminate all French resistance there. Following their orders, German soldiers swept toward the village. Men of the I/469, supported by the 105mm guns of the 2nd Battalion, Artillery Regiment 59 attacked from the west. Meanwhile, the Aufklarung Abteilung 269 moved on Thulin from the northern flank of the village. This would be no walkover. Groups of French defenders were engaged in the nearby village of Le Quéniau and at the St. Homme crossroads, to the south of Thulin. In a show of what could be achieved by a small but resolute group of French soldiers, the defenders of Thulin stopped the Germans in their tracks. The weight of enemy manpower and materiel soon was brought to bear on Pucinelli’s brave men. The defenders were overwhelmed in the village and Pucinelli, injured, was captured at his command post. All resistance in Thulin did not end with Pucinelli’s demise. A small group of die-hards destroyed all of their equipment and arms before a few groups of men slipped away. Despite the heroic defense, by 1100 hours the HQ of the 269 Regiment reported to division HQ that Thulin had fallen and hundreds of prisoners were in the bag. This small engagement would be but a footnote in the Battle of France 1940.

Here at CH we think it is high time you leap into the saddle of your Gnome et Rhône AX2 motorcycle and race off to the front where your brothers-in-arms are awaiting the orders tucked into your knapsack. What, you don't own a Gnome et Rhône AX2 motorcycle, circa 1938 production model and used by French troops during the 1940 battles? Not to fear, you'll be freshly equipped with your very own ride, finished in stunning green-brown, albeit in a cardboard edition! That's 800cc of motive power—although a little slower than the BMW R75 the generic 'motorcycle' counters are designed around—good enough to get you where your orders tell you to go.

Welcome to A FEW RARE MEN, a new pack built around the CH 6/2 scenario designs of ultra-creative British ASLer Phil Nobo. The theme is the Battle of France 1940, with actions spilling into Belgium and everything has been remastered, twweaked, new art, new layout, new geomorphic board. And the board is inspired by the design of yet another GEO BOARD CONTEST winner, a win-win really since it's all about bringing the work of your fellow ASLers to the fore and no publisher has feaured more designers than CH ... not even close.

There is only ONE WAY to get a copy of A FEW RARE MEN. And the good news is that for YOU, that manly bundle-man, the cost of this $39.95 value is absoultely FREE. Scenario cards, geomorphic board, color counters .... FREE. Nail down a copy of the MANLY BUNDLE (GENESIS II + THE STONNE HEIGHTS + BdF II + GEMBLOUX II + FACING THE BLITZ [and note -- you may order the 'no map' editions of any of the items offered that way and still be eligible as a Manly Bundle-man]) and in addition to lots of new color counters, geomorphic boards, stirring situations (aka "scenarios") and a celbration of your fellow hobbyists and their labors of love ... you get an almost FIFTY DOLLAR VALUE (once shipping is factored in) as our gift.

A FEW RARE MEN will not be sold. It is only available to the ultimate cadre, strong, disciplined, expert tacticians, outside the box thinkers, lovers and soldiers ... 'the most interesting men in the world' ... MANLY BUNDLE-MEN.

WINGEN-SUR-MODER, FRANCE, 4 January 1945: Shortly before the crack of dawn on 4 January sleeping American soldiers were suddenly awakened by what some on the scene described as “the most intensive machine-gun and automatic weapon fire that any had ever heard.” Disoriented GIs awoke to the sudden outburst of fire but there was no panic. German forces pushed out of the Low Vosges forests to capture Wingen-sur-Moder, situated along the road net needed for Operation Nordwind. The attacking enemy forces struck Wingen at the first light of day and rapidly moved through the village. In the confusion that followed, Company A lost communications with Companies B and C, and for a time the Company was without radio contact with the Battalion CP in the Kirchberg. Within the company perimeter confusion made it difficult for the platoon leaders and platoon sergeants to get their men organized. Nearly every squad was on its own. Their reaction to the sudden attack was left to the judgment of the individual squad leaders. By 0900 hours the Germans had captured and occupied the town, the high ground to the northeast of town, and established a bridgehead on the south bank of the Moder River. They immediately went about establishing a perimeter defense around the village then prepared to continue their attack southward toward Saverne.

During the first days of January 1945 German forces pushed out of the Low Vosges forests to capture the towns that lay along the snow-covered route of attack. One of these towns was Wingen, along the Moder River. American units there were initially caught by surprise as battle-hardened troopers from the 6th SS Mountain Division stormed in and captured the town. American reinforcements were soon pouring in from the west and the south and despite bitter fighting, by January 5th the German offensive had been brought to a standstill. Lacking exits from the Vosges, planned armored reserves stood idle and Operation Nordwind ended in failure.

Wingen sits in a small valley along the Moder River between Bitche to the north and Saverne to the south. Described in the following bucolic terms, “...the village and the surrounding area looked very much like a winter scene one might expect to find on a Christmas card back home. Smoke rising from a few chimneys made the houses appear warm and inviting...” Wingen would erupt on 3 January 1945 and become the focal-point of Operation Nordwind.
This module consists of eight scenarios, all playable on the Wingen-sur-Moder historical map. The map seeks to recreate this wooded region, and specifically allow for the investigation of combat problems inherent to a built-up area with river, bridges, and buildings laid out realistically in a manner unlike that which can be depicted on geomorphic boards.

Welcome to the NORDIC TWILIGHT*, a map-based VARIANT module that depicts the fierce fighting in the Low Vosges by the 6th SS Mountain Division during Operation Nordwind. NORDIC TWILGIHT contains eight scenarios, all playable on the new map included. You also two copies of two new die-cut counter sheets and an expanded 28 page SR and historical notes booklet. Bring your own ASLRB, Americans and markers and have at it!

*Credit to Peter Mudge for the excellent title!

ARNHEM, THE NETHERLANDS, 17 September 1944: Of the three British routes for the march into Arnhem from the drop zones, only the 2nd Battalion’s ‘Lion Route’ by the Rhine were the British able to actually reach the bridge. The Germans obviously understood 3rd Battalion’s intentions along the Utrechtseweg, so Lt. Col. Fitch detached Major Lewis’ “C” Company and sent it along a side road in a flanking attempt. The instructions to the lead platoon commander, Lt. Wright, were simply “That’s the bloody way. Get moving!” Following the railway as the evening light failed, “C” Company made amazing progress while taking out an armoured car, dodging other enemies and losing only one man. The company finally neared the bridge from the north in total darkness. Major Lewis went forward to report to Brigade Headquarters as the company closed on the perimeter. Unfortunately, a reserve from Kampfgruppe Knaust was forming up nearby. A short-range firefight broke out, forcing the paras to fight their way forward. Large numbers of the inexperienced Germans were cut down. On the British side, several men were killed and wounded as they maneuvered through the gardens. As the German command established order, they were able to cut off and capture most of two platoons. Thus, of the “C” Company men who had so nearly reached their objective, only some 45 managed to slip into the perimeter.

Welcome to the THIRD BRIDGE 4, an updated edition of the popular Battle of Arnhem module. TB4 includes 112 5/8" color die-cut counters and 100 ½" counters, providing all the British 1st Airborne 'Red Devils' SMC and MMCs needed to play the scenarios. You also receive all the 5/8" counters in BLACK (German) and CREME (British) colors for all the scenarios—just birng your black counters from HELL'S BRIDGEHEAD 3 and all you'll need are the markers from any release to get into the colorful and epic combat.

The new edition also includes scenarios using the Ponyri-style layout, the latest edition of the SR booklet, and some new toys including the air-dropped Welbike Mk II and the British Jeep with K-Gun. Optional tweaks to the scenarios freshens the play experience, includes the new toys, and calms traditionalists that find such things scary. You can find a no-map version here.

MABATANG, PHILIPPINES, 0830 hours, 12 January 1942: The 1st Battalion rode out the initial Japanese offensive facing little action on their front, enabling the unit to provide support for Colonel Fry’s more heavily engaged units. The commander of 1st Platoon, A Company, Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger, led his men through the night, moving from hole to hole, facing nothing more than occasional sniper fire. Nininger, a West Point-trained, 23 year-old, was born to be a warrior and had no intention of letting enemy snipers go unpunished. During the morning of January 12th, Nininger directed his men to fire into the woods’ edge, where he suspected enemy snipers were lurking. He then gathered stragglers from 3rd Battalion, and along with his men headed into the dense vegetation to root out the Japanese. Enemy fire sent Nininger and his men back out of the brush. Undaunted, he ordered his charges to push back, and they attacked again. When the young lieutenant was wounded he continued to encourage his men to move forward, even managing to work his way to the front. The 23 year-old warrior refused evacuation, declined medical help, and went back at it, rallying his soldiers for a third push. This time he personally took the point, throwing hand grenades and killing Japanese soldiers as he inexorably moved ever onward. At about noon on the 12th the valiant lieutenant finally succumbed to his wounds. For his actions 2nd Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger posthumously received the first Congressional Medal of Honor awarded during World War II. His, he first Medal of Honor awarded during World War 2 was not the first to be won, although Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger was not aware of the distinction nor is it suspected would he have cared.

Welcome to the ON THE ROAD TO BATAAN, a historical VARIANT module that depicts the fierce fighting for the Abucay/Mabatang Line from 11-15 January, 1942. Situated on the on the Bataan Peninsula, this position ran through Mauban on the coast of Manila Bay (east side) to Mabatang on the coast of the South China sea. ON THE ROAD TO BATAAN contains eight scenarios, all playable on the historical map included. You also receive a set of Special Rules and two copies of the new die-cut counter sheet (a total of 269 color die-cut counters) with Philippine Scouts SMC/MMC, new SW, etc.

Customers keep demanding BERLINFALL OF THE 3RD REICH, the OOP historical module come back in print. We have to listen, these are known as 'orders' around here and we appreciate the interest. Here's our plan for deployment:

1. a) Super limited, bill and fill print run.
2. b) Map updated to BerlinTyrant's Lair look.
3. c) Counters updated to Ponyri style and include Ponyri Eastern Front infantry and SW sheets + new counters!
4. d) Scenarios updated to Ponyri style.
5. e) All errata and updates input plus some new scenario tweaks!
6. f) Two new scenarios for owners of BerlinTyrant's Lair ... to sweeten the pot.

What a-d above means is that... everything is new. The map was fully remastered, including re-interpretating roads to better adhere to ASLRB rules standards, same for some of the buildings. To differentiate this product from BFot3R we're calling it BERLINTHE FINAL DAYS OF THE 3rd REICH and creating each copy just for you, the customer that wants it before it is, as the name implies... in its FINAL DAYS as this is planned to be the last re-print before OOP, E-Bay markups, and all that. When you order your copies, you can rest assured: you will get your copies. Billing is immediate, followed by printing and shipping via Priority Mail (and International Priority Mail). This is a 'no whine, no cry, no cancel' offer. If you plan to whine, cry or cancel while we create your copy, please do not order!

Only the ultimate die-hards can hold out in the FINAL DAYS and if you don't meet that description, this product is not for you. For everyone else, we expect to have your item in hand 30 days or so from the end of ordering and the TINY print run will be for a handful of copies over the order quantityand we're allowing 10 days to order then cutting that off to get the presses rolling.

*PAYPAL INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR POSTAGE COST WHEN MAKING PAYMENT BY TOTALING YOUR PURCHASE PRICE + APPLICABLE SHIPPING. IGNORE ALL OTHER CHARGES LISTED AS "SHIPPING" AND CREDIT CARD CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL ONLY BE CHARGED FOR APPLICABLE POSTAGE + PRODUCT PURCHASE PRICE.

HELLS BRIDGEHEAD 3rd EDITION (HB3) is NOW SHIPPING and comes in TWO editions:

1. a) All of the materials you see in the HB3 splash screen below
2. b) HB3 no map version for owners of the 2nd Editon map

We couldn't let ASLCOmp PONYRI represent CH's Battle of Kursk offerings all by itself! We take our Kursk tac-sim gaming too seriously for that. To cure that ailment and make one of our most popular titles ever new again... the clash along the Psel River is back, with an ALL NEW counter set that provides ALL the German units needed to play + tweaks to the scenarios where we saw fit + the two BONUS HB #7 and HB #8 + bonus TIN PAN HILL Sevastopol scenario + bonus Battle of the Bulge scenario you can use your new counters with + color TIN PAN HILL map + HBSR laid out in booklet form just like DEVIL'S DOMAIN.

Here's the bottom lineIf you want to play all of the scenarios from HB3 using these counters, the next step is clear: GRAB ONE OF THESE BEFORE THEY ARE SOLD OUT AS THIS IS A VERY LIMITED PRINT RUN. If you want to play other scenarios you own using these counters, refer to the immediately preceding instructions.

Some additional bits of pertinent information:

1. 1) This product SHIPS IMMEDIATELY. This is not an advance order, "pre-order", or anything else except, click>pay>ship.
2. 2) If you live in the USA, your total cost for shipping = $4.95 ... the exact cost of postage for a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope.
3. 3) If you are an INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER your total cost for shipping = $11.95 for Canada and $14.95 everywhere else* ... the exact cost of postage for an International Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope ... AND we'll stuff as much as possible into one envelope (think this product and 2× modules or equivalent) to keep your shipping costs down ... AND the handling time (=cost) of all those Customs Forms will be our GIFT to you.
4. *PAYPAL INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR POSTAGE COST WHEN MAKING PAYMENT BY TOTALING YOUR PURCHASE PRICE + APPLICABLE SHIPPING. IGNORE ALL OTHER CHARGES LISTED AS "SHIPPING" AND CREDIT CARD CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL ONLY BE CHARGED FOR APPLICABLE POSTAGE + PRODUCT PURCHASE PRICE.

And to save Maureen time to pack more orders, we anticipate you may have some questions below:

• Q. How do I know if I already have the HELL'S BRIDGEHEAD 2nd Edition map?
• A. Check the screen-shot directly below. That is the 2nd edition map and cannot be mistaken for the 1st edition version.

• Q. I already have HB with the 2nd edition map so I don't want to have to pay for it again. That just isn't right!!!!
• A. Hold your horses, Nellie! You can buy this product minus the map, we did that just for you.

• Q. I have HB 1st edition and I am perfectly fine with the old map and just don't feel like ponying up for the brighter, nicer-looking new one.
• A. No worries Gunny, go ahead and purchase the version that comes without a map.

• Q. I like Tiger tanks, especially ones found on inky black counters. Are there Tigers in these scenarios and if so, is it okay if I yell, "boom!" when my Tiger scores a critical hit against my brother-in-law's KV when we play these?
• A. We admire a man that appreciates a Tiger tank, needless to say. We digress. Yes, the Tiger tank plays a prominent role and players are encouraged to use their choice of shout-out when they roll low, especially CH low.

• Q. Like, I order this today and it mails today and you eat all the costs except postage and did I ask if it is printed and ships right away?
• A. Yup Yup. Yup. And yup!

• Q. Okay, one last one and now I gotcha! Like in geeksquad post, ooh I can't wait to.... uh, my question. Well since you aren't providing any kind of advance order I bet you aren't giving me any kind of discount... I can't wait to get my fingers going ... and... what!?! What was that?
• A. My dear panzer-pushing comrade, of course you will get a discount. A discount and immediate shipping and the lowest shipping ever ALL using Priority Mail.

Directly above is a close-up sample of the new PSEL RIVER/HELL'S BRIDGEHEAD map, with Ponyri-style palette and art. In addition to new art, some new slope hexsides have been added to this new edition. Before any of our dear panzer commanders get their knickers twisted up, they can pencil in slopes on the following hexsides: T1/U1, Y9/Y9, JJ7/II8, JJ7/JJ8, KK8/JJ8, KK8/KK9, FF13/EE14, FF13/FF14, JJ14/II15, JJ14/JJ15, KK15/JJ15, KK15/KK16, U12/U13, and U12/V12. For everyone that ordered HB3 with the 2nd Edition map that wishes to upgrade to the new version, we've sweetened the pot as follows: With your copy of the new map you will also receive a FREE GIFT in the form of the Kharkov Urban Chessgame Minimap + Scenario set for use with your HB3 Waffen SS counters. There will be no other way to snag this little gift—it is only reserved for those that ordered HB3 complete product DIRECT or buy the complete product that includes the 3rd Edition map.

HAUT FORNEL , NORMANDY, FRANCE, 6 June 1944: The afternoon of D-Day wore on with numerous disjointed actions in the Normandy countryside for the Screaming Eagles. Preceding the main body of C Company was a point of twenty-three men under Lieutenant Morton J. Smit. As the point approached the village of Haut Fornel, a truck suddenly pulled up and twenty Germans leaped out. Smit unloaded on them, dropping ten, and scattering the remainder. Meanwhile, the main force of Company C under Captain Hancock heard the firing and moved forward to investigate. Just then Hancock saw a German battery—two 88s on halftracks—enter the village and halt just to his front. Hancock split his force into two groups, seventeen men on a wide sweep to the left and another seventeen under Lieutenant Jack Borchard, to come up from the right. Action intensified quickly, as another gun-towing truck was seen and a German platoon entered the village on foot. Private William Kelly managed to disable one of the 88s with a Bazooka round (the other disappeared). Enemy mortar and machine-gun fire took its toll and halted the American attack. The Germans tried to push forward but were stopped by accurate machine-gun and mortar fire from an 81mm mortar commanded by Lieutenant Rance Cotton of 1st Battalion’s HQ Company. The tables turned, most of the German soldiers turned and fled. Hancock and Cotton then went forward and rounded up thirteen prisoners.

Welcome to the BoB NORMANDY, a map-based VARIANT module that depicts the fierce fighting in the Bocage by the 101st Airborne Division on Da-Day and beyond. BoB NORMANDY contains eight scenarios, all playable on the new map included. You also two copies of the new die-cut counter sheet (a total of 269 color die-cut counters) with 101st AB SMC/MMC, new counters for M5A1 trailers (such as the one they carried John Wayne around in during the film, "The Longest Day"), some extra counters for the HB3 crowd, a new German truck type, etc. All in all, the 101'st Screaming Eagles depicted in the film "Band of Brothers" and the seminal unit history, "Rendevous With Destirny" will literally drop off the sprue on to your Normandy battlefield ... and you can be sure we'll pump out more scenarios to follow Winters, Guarnere, Toy, Talbert and company ... as they move on to new battlefields from Market Garden to the Bulge.

In addition to your 8 scenario BoB NORMANDY set, you'll also receive an additional 2 FREE BONUS scenarios, playable on the new map PLUS another FREE BONUS set of 2 Brécourt Manor scenarios PLUS the large-hex Brécourt Manor historical map. What's more, you'll not only get all this FREE gear but you'll get it at a special price for a limited time only (and see above for the Priority Mail postage-only deal you can take advantage of).

Above is a sample of the color soldier art used in our releases, blown up to over 1,000% of actual size ... to exhibit the detail that goes into the drawings before they are reduced to the size used for game counters. We hope this line-art conveys detail, yet remains distinctly 'retro' in appearance.

**PLEASE NOTE: IMAGES AND COUNTERS SHOWN IN COLOR PRODUCT SPLASH SCREENS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE FINAL PRODUCT**

GWASL^TM is an entirely new way to delve into Great War action. And it brings together topical submissions by Ian Daglish, Pedro Ramis and Mark Porterfield, a veritable who's who of brainiacs that have stepped up and offered their ideas to...YOU...via the presses of CH. We know these variants are not for everyone...and have zero interest...in fact a negative number would be more accurate...in starting a discussion about whether 'World War II über alles', 'official vs. variant'... none of that. Your rigid adherence to one approach is cool with us and no doubt our customers feel the same way. Now for the rest of you, guys with an inventor's curiosity, dabblers, historical simulation fans, looking for an all new experience You know, the GENESIS '48 and DIEN BIEN PHUers out there! You are the ones we are creating this experience for.

Picture in your mind...very simple straightforward SSRs and rules for use in Great War scenarios. A pile of new counters with colorful and detailed art and easy to read data. New geomorphic boards of the 'starter kit' type. Yes, we mean easy to digest rules, an approach crafted by Ian that does away with repetitive and tedious rules-writing and makes getting your cardboard soldiers and tanks down on the boards a breeze. You won't have to picture it for long as you'll be in a position to pull the trigger on some orders that will deliver the goods right to your gaming table. A note on the geomorphic boards. The current collection of boards has some that are fine to depict Great War terrain. But the collection is lacking some crucial period battlefields and that's where the new boards come in.

GWASL will begin with three releases that build a collection of counters, overlays and scenarios sure to entertain you for years to come. And the great part is they'll all be available to order at the same time since they are, as they say in publishing circles, 'in the can'. GWASL I: TANKSCHRECKEN! brings core rules, play aid, plus German and British units...along with new half-board overlays. With GWASL II: THE LOST BATTALION the Yanks aren't 'coming'...they are HERE and bring with them all the vim and vigor needed to put the Allies 'over the top', beyond 'no man's land' and into and clear through Belleau Wood...and beyond! In addition to more new counters and scenarios you get more half-board sized overlays to add to the Great War collection. You don't need us to tell you that GWASL III: THE FLOWER OF A GENERATION brings the French and their Attaque á Outrance and Élan to the fray (yes, there are rules to depict those very nationality characteristics, simple, not wordy!)

Both editions of our BERLIN II products are STILL SHIPPING in limited quantities so don't wait to nail your copy now!

Both new editions of our BERLIN II products include a new color play aid depicting the Zoo Flak Tower, along with updated rules for ranging its guns to on-map targets. You will literally place your gun counters in their emplacements on an accurate rendition of the Flakturm IV.

A new RETRO edition of CH 97 is coming! Check back for news here and at the CH Message Board.

CHantal is back with a message for you. After 19+ years of tactical-level gaming we agree with every word she has to say. Click on the image above to hear it for yourself.

With 4,446 customers signed up at our site and 3,000+ at our message board, is it time to give Twitter a whirl? There is only one way to find out we suppose, and that's to give it a trial run. To save you the trouble some are having with the Twitter link 'widget' created by the people behind the 140 character service, you can head over there and use your existing account—or create a new accountr—and follow Ray CH@CH_Direct. The tweets begin if we get to critical mass in terms of followers, or we'll stay with the current metaphor of website and free CHMB for customer interaction ... until the next big thing comes around. Tweets from here will include product updates, specials, and anything related to tactical-level gaming, military history and ... what have you.

Click on the above image for a stylized note of appreciation sent by a thoughtful customer!

Everything CH manufactures is 100% MADE IN THE USA and always has been.

That's right! We want YOUR geo board submissions once again and suggest Hexdraw as your program of choice to create unique battlefields for your gaming buddies ... not to mention your own entertainment. We're looking for some good urban boards and DESERT geo boards too ... so those will be the first entries to be picked for publication.

The designer of one or more boards chosen for publication receives a $50.00 product credit good for use at our site. Submissions become the property of Critical Hit, Inc. Click here to send your Geo board submission in any file format including TIFF, JPG, GIF, and PNG. Click here for a PDF blank Geo board hexgrid for your use.

 

CRITICAL HIT, INC. specializes in recreating tactical-level battlefields for the historical board wargaming market. In addition a to another new battlefield recreation in the form of DIEN BIEN PHU, new Stalingrad and Normandy offerings are about to ship. Our online catalog consists of 275+ unique offerings, in addition to numerous free downloads. Use the links on this page to enter our 'stockroom' and begin exploring.

Founded in 1994, Critical Hit coined the phrase "Enthusiast Media" to describe the firm's approach to bringing together the publisher and the hobbyist/designer in a unique method of cooperation that strips away everything but a mutual effort to bring labors of love to the fore. This approach has proven successful in the form of many tactical-level wargames in print, and many more currently being prepared for publication.

We currently serve 5,000+ individual customers and 20+ wholesale and other dealers and our ongoing focus is taking their gaming interests to new historical battlefields with a more extensive collection of military maps than any other firm. Critical Hit, Inc. is the publisher of the largest tactical-level/squad level simulations in wargame history with its BERLIN and OMAHA product offerings. Not content at that, both of these titles are slated for upcoming add-ons, expanding the OMAHA BEACH presentation beyond TEN FEET IN LENGTH and BERLIN to a massive FOUR 24" x 36" mapsheets in all.

If you're looking for 2,500+ of your fellow hobbyists and what is widely recognized in wargame circles as the friendliest and most informative message board on the internet you can sign up for the CH Message Board. It's a free service provided by Critical Hit and has attracted over 50,000+ posts to date and counting.

Players of Beyond Valor(tm) and beyond will find an extensive collection of VARIANT products published in our ASLComp line. These include everything from full-blown Historical Modules to scenario packs and the longest running magazine in the hobby.

CH is now an authorized Amazon Associate and we'll be selecting titles for your attention and making them available at our site on an ongoing basis. New book selections coming soon!