Publisher/Date:
Le Franc Tireur (2019)
Product Type:
Periodical
Country of Origin:
France
Contents:
20-page magazine, 17 scenarios on color cardstock, Italian nationality chart/play aid.
From the Cellar Pack 9 continues a change started in From the Cellar Pack 8, which changed what had been a series of scenario packs into a series of magazines accompanied by scenarios (much like the flagship Le Franc Tireur magazine that the company already produces). This is despite the mental anguish that such a change creates for anal retentive ASLers (i.e., most ASLers): “It’s a magazine! But it says it’s a PACK! Make it stop, make it stop!”
Actually, as a magazine, From the Cellar Pack 9 is a lot more modest than Pack 8, which had over 50 pages of magazine content. Pack 9 contains only 20 pages of magazine, none of which is substantial (content includes an article positing the playing of a scenario where one side rolled only 2s and the other side only 7s, a short historical article, and a comic strip).
The product also includes an Italian Nationality chart/play aid that was intended as an insert for Le Franc Tireur Issue #14 but was unintentionally left out.
That leaves the scenarios. Many of the scenarios are not original scenarios but rather are reprints. However, they will nevertheless be new to the majority of ASLers, because they are reprinted from the pages of the long-running French wargaming magazine Vae Victis, which for many years has included one or more ASL scenarios in most of its issues–but in French, not English, making them rather inaccessible. LFT says that some have been “slightly readjusted” for balance. The cards do not contain information about the Vae Victis issue in which they originally saw print.
It appears that 10 of the scenarios are former Vae Victis scenarios while the remaining 7 are original scenarios from the LFT crew. The Vae Victis scenarios are fairly old; the newest of them was originally printed in 2011, while most saw print much earlier.
Collectively, they represent a diverse group of actions set variously in Poland 1939 (Poles vs. Germans); Germany 1939 (French vs. Germans); France 1940 (French vs. Germans [2 scenarios]); Hong Kong 1941 (Canadians/British vs. Japanese); Soviet Union 1941 (Soviets vs. Germans [Spanish], Soviets vs. Romanians) and 1943 (Soviets vs. Germans [2 scenarios]); French North Africa 1942 (Americans vs. Vichy French, Free French vs. Germans); France 1944 (American/Free French vs. Germans, French partisans vs. Germans [2 scenarios]); Yugoslavia 1944 (Communist partisans vs. Germans); and Indochina 1945 (British/Japanese vs. Viet Minh, French vs. Viet Minh).
Boards required to play all the scenarios include 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 33, 36, 42, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 53, 57, 63, 71, 81, 1a, and 9a. Note that one scenario, FT271 (The Lock of Colmar), requires board 81 from Forgotten War, MMP’s Korean War module. Only one scenario uses any overlays.
The scenarios represent a pretty balanced mix of small, medium, and large-sized actions. Two scenarios utilize both OBA and Air Support; no scenarios use the Night rules.
Several of the scenarios depict interesting actions. FT273 (Former Foes), a scenario set in Indochina in October 1945, features British (Indian) and Japanese troops fighting on the same side against Vietnamese guerrillas (it also features randomly appearing guerrilla units). The British used Japanese units in Vietnam and on the island of Java to help maintain control after the Japanese surrender; thus the strange bedfellows (you can find another such scenario here).
FT269 (End of the Rope) is a nice little scenario set in Hong Kong that features a Canadian/British attack (the Canadians using Allied Minor counters!) against a small Japanese position on a hill. The British have some strong supporting elements but these can’t move until at least one Canadian unit gets to a Level 2 hill hex. Your Humble Author had fun playing this scenario at ASLOK 2019.
FT266 (A Fine Mess) features a 1940 French attack (with 5 S35s) against a small but well armed force of Germans. In contrast, FT267 (Thugny-Trugny [the name of my 13th level half-troll fighter/magic-user]), is large and meaty France 1940 action with a German attack/French counterattack featuring 25 squads and 5 AFVs against 20-odd French infantry and motorcyclists. Lots of action in this one. FT261 (The Battle of Algiers) features a relatively rare American-Vichy French action depicting the Americans’ ill-fated Operation Terminal.
Overall, the scenarios are a good mix of actions, with a lot of interesting situations–and there are a lot of scenarios. That makes this product worth getting. The magazine could have easily been left out entirely, though, as it adds little additional value.
Completely agree with you. Especially on the magazine. It doesn’t add anything to the pack.