04.2017 “Nationality” Counter Set Series

Publisher/Date:
Critical Hit (2017-2020)

Product Type:
Counter Pack

Country of Origin:
United States

Contents:
For contents of each Nationality Set (if known), see descriptions below.

Commentary:

Although Critical Hit had already been selling its countersheets individually for several years, in 2017, Critical Hit started releasing a series of counterset-only products, largely centered on various nationalities or armed forces in World War II, occasionally with variant colors.  The reasons for Critical Hit to do this were largely three-fold: 1) they are products that require no playtesting or development, which are Critical Hit’s two weakest areas; 2) they are easy to produce and can be produced in virtually endless variations; and 3) there are many ASLers out there who simply have no self-control at all when it comes to buying products with counters.  Put all this together and it appears that Critical Hit may have discovered a new little cash cow (especially as they charge an arm and a leg).  On the bright side, it is actually better for Critical Hit to release products like these rather than scenario packs or HASLs that have not been playtested or developed.

Desperation Morale describes all of these nationality sets in one combined entry, because in many cases there may not be a lot to say about an individual set otherwise.

The general physical quality of these countersets is okay; Critical Hit has finally learned how to do counters. Many of the countersheets do suffer from die-cutting that does not go far enough to the edges of the counters, making it more difficult (and occasionally risky) to separate the counters from their counter-trees (and also leaving large nibs on the corners of the counters).

There are also least a few proofreading issues with some of the counters.

Nationality Set 1: U.S.  NS1 consists of 4 countersheets (2 with 5/8″ counters and 2 with 1/2″ counters; 912 die-cut counters total) depicting the U.S. Order of Battle, with the counters rendered in an olive drab green instead of the brighter green color of official U.S. ASL counters.  With an asking price of $59.95, that means $15 bucks per countersheet. The set contains a basic U.S. OB (i.e., no USMC, etc.).  For comparison’s sake, MMP sells Yanks at $128, but Yanks comes with 6 countersheets, not to mention Chapter H, 8 geoboards and 41 scenarios.  While this counterset appears serviceable, there is a reason why Avalon Hill & MMP did not choose olive drab as the U.S. color and that is because the color is, well, drab. Some purchasers have said that the olive drab counters are a bit hard to discern, which may be possible in dimmer lighting, given their darker hue. Would have been interesting to print white on olive green rather than black on olive green.

Nationality Set 2: Waffen SS. Oh, how things change. Long ago, in a fabulous place called the 1990s, an infamous flamewar brewed up on the ASL Mailing List, at the time a key forum for ASL-related conversation, with Ray Tapio, the head of Critical Hit, severely criticizing Heat of Battle for announcing a product that would include black-colored SS counters (for those unaware of the controversy, many ASLers object to official or unofficial black SS counters because they glorify the infamous SS and because no other subnational armed force in ASL has its own counter color scheme other than the SS). At some point, however, Critical Hit discovered that black SS counters sold and reversed course. Now, years later, Critical Hit has probably produced more black SS ASL counters than any other publisher by a long shot and shows no hint of stopping.  “We are in the business of listening to our customers,” Critical Hit announced in the marketing copy for this product.  Apparently so. NS2 provides SS-loving ASLers with a complete Waffen SS rendered in black.  The set consists of 5 countersheets (2 of 1/2″ counters and 3 of 5/8″ counters; 1,088 die-cut counters total), depicting the SS (with a few red-colored berserk counters thrown in for good measure).  Note that Critical Hit priced this product at $99.95, despite the fact that it has only one more countersheet than NS1, priced at $59.95.  It seems Critical Hit knows its audience: there are some people willing to pay virtually any sum for black SS counters.

According to Critical Hit’s marketing e-mails, NS2 allegedly contains a few “new” counters in addition to black versions of existing official ASL counters, including motorcycle and sidecar counters and a few new AFVs.

Nationality Set 3: Wehrmacht. 5 countersheets with 1,088 die-cut counters total.  In for a penny, in for a pound.  If Critical Hit is going to offer “olive drab” US counters, why not an alternative color scheme for the German Army?  Thus was born its third Nationality Set, which presents the German ASL Order of Battle in a color that it calls “feldgrau.” Note that we say that Critical Hit calls the color of their counters feldgrau, not that it is feldgrau.  Feldgrau, which is a combination of green and grey, and is a color associated with German Army uniforms, would have been a very interesting color for ASL counters.  It is a dark green, so the counters would have to be white-on-feldgrau, but many attractive counters have been made over the years by wargame publishers using the color feldgrau.  Feldgrau, feldgrau, feldgrau.  We even like saying it.  But here is what feldgrau looks like:

Note that this color bears no resemblance to the color of the counters that appear in NS3, which appears to be a light gray somewhat similar to the color of the Finns.  Instead of feldgrau, Critical Hit simply gives users gray (although, ironically, some of the uniforms of the men depicted on some of the counters actually do seem to be feldgrau).  Not only is gray a non-dynamic and relatively boring color for wargame counters, but ASL already has two too many sets of gray counters:  the Finns (light gray) and the Italians (dark gray).  It will be hard to use these counters in scenarios that also contain Finns and somewhat difficult to do so with Italians. In other words, Critical Hit made a poor choice here.  The set consists of 5 countersheets (2 of 1/2″ counters and 3 of 5/8″ counters). The counters are standard German OB counters, plus a handful of red “berserk” counters.  The AFV counters appear to have been converted from the Waffen SS counters of Nationality Set 2, because some of the counters mistakenly retain the blue movement values of the earlier set instead of the red values that they should have.

Not Critical Hit’s best effort here and, since German counters are in easy supply, probably not one that will be too popular.

Nationality Set 4: Winter Waffen SS.  5 countersheets with 1,088 die-cut counters total (not confirmed by DM).Desperation Morale has not viewed this set.  It apparently consists of the same countersheets of Nationality Set 2, only the figure artwork is slightly different to make it look like winter clothing. Given that the counters are already white on black, any differences might be difficult to discern.

Nationality Set 5: Winter Feldgrau with Greatcoats. 5 countersheets with 1,088 die-cut counters total (unconfirmed; Desperation Morale has not seen this product). It apparently consists of the same countersheets as Nationality Set 3, only the figure artwork is slightly different to make it look like winter clothing. You’ve got to be a hoarder to want this.

Nationality Set 6: Early War Russian Winter REDS.  This counter set contains 5 countersheets and 2 half-countersheets (2.5 of 1/2″ counters; 3.5 of 5/8″ counters; 1,316 die-cut counters total) depicting the Soviet OB in an alternative dark red color scheme. Described as “winter,” which must refer to the counter artwork ostensibly depicting winter camouflage, though most people looking at the counters might miss it. Described as “early war” Soviets but has late war guns/vehicles, so that may just be a marketing ploy to get people to think they need to buy multiple counter sets.

Nationality Set 7: Summer 1942 Russian REDS.  This counter set contains 5 countersheets and 2 half-countersheets (2.5 of 1/2″ counters; 3.5 of 5/8″ counters; 1,316 die-cut counters total) depicting the alleged “summer 1942” Soviet OB in an alternative dark red color scheme. Includes 10 Berserk squad counters in a different shade of red and with white values. Unclear why it says “Summer 1942” unless it is to make players think they need to buy multiple sets of counters; the sheets here include late war AFVs such as the IS-2M and the T34/85,

Nationality Set 8: Japanese Army Mustard. This counter set contains 4 full and 2 half-countersheets (2.5 of 1/2″ counters; 2.5 of 5/8″ counters; 1,140 die-cut counters total) depicting the Japanese OB in an alternative color scheme that strongly resembles the color of official Soviet counters in ASL. Total of 1,140 counters.

Nationality Set 9: French Army 1940. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Critical Hit claims it has 1,140 counters but also says it has concealment counters thrown in, which might mean there are as many as 1,316 counters.

Nationality Set 10: Partisans 1941-1944 (red color).  This counter set contains 4 full and 2 half-countersheets (2.5 of 1/2″ counters and 2.5 of 5/8″ counters, with 1,140 die-cut counters total).  It is a set of red-colored counters for “partisans,” which includes 5-27, 3-3-7, and 4-2-6 squad types.  Also contains counters for Re-Arming, Cleared Fire Zones, Berserk Units ( a different shade of red) and Livestock. SW seem a mix of Soviet, German, and British (but no Italian SW, which were used by many forces). Lots of vehicles and guns, which is odd, which are mostly Soviet but include some German. Very strangely contains Sherman tanks.

Nationality Set 11: Free French SAHARA TAN 1941-43. This counter set contains 5 full and 2 half-countersheets (3.5 of 5/8″ counters, 2.5 of 1/2″ counters, with 1,316 counters total.) depicting the Free French in what seems to be either khaki or a light gray/very slightly green color scheme. Basically British-style MMC/SMC, with some French SW (and perennial CH add-ons like Bangalore Torpedo DC counters). AFVs/Guns are mostly French.

Nationality Set 12: Russian 1942 Classic Brown. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly contains 2 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters (560 total) and 3 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (528 total). Based on other products, may also contain a half-sheet of 1/2″ concealment markers (140 counters) and a half-sheet of 5/8″ concealment markers (88 counters). Though it claims to be “Russian 1942,” it may well contain vehicles and guns from throughout the war, based on the contents of other, similar products.

Nationality Set 13: Russian Winter 39-41 Classic Brown. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly contains 2 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters (560 total) and 3 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (528 total). Based on other products, may also contain a half-sheet of 1/2″ concealment markers (140 counters) and a half-sheet of 5/8″ concealment markers (88 counters). Though it claims to be “Russian 1942,” it may well contain vehicles and guns from throughout the war, based on the contents of other, similar products. Presumably the only difference from NS12 is the use of winter camouflage artwork depictions.

Nationality Set 14: German Classic Blue. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it appears to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ counters and 3.5 sheets of 5/8″ counters (1,316 counters total).  May include Assault Engineer squads, as well as berserk, ATMM, and Panzerfaust counters.

Nationality Set 15: Classic Partisans, 1941-44. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it appears to have the same contents as NS10, but in a different color.

Nationality Set 16: Romanian 1941-43. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it may have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total). Not sure why the date range only goes to 1943 instead of 1944. Color scheme used here appears to be some shade of green, but not necessarily standard Axis Minor green.

Nationality Set 17: Hungarian 1941-44.  Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it seems to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total).  Shade of counters appears to be a light green different from the Romanians above as well as the standard Axis Minor green.

Nationality Set 18: Italian Eastern Front, 1941-1943. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it seems to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total).  Color seems to be a gold or golden-brown.

Nationality Set 19: Italian North Africa, 1940-43.  Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it seems to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total).  Color seems to be a gold or golden-brown.  It would not be surprising if the contents were identical to those of NS18.

Nationality Set 20: German North Africa, 1941-43. Not seen by Desperation Morale but probably has the same contents as NS14 or other German (not SS) countersets here. These sheets are in Critical Hit’s version of “feldgrau.”

Nationality Set 21: British Sahara Tan North Africa 1940-43.  Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it seems to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total).

Nationality Set 22: British Western Front 44 Sahara Tan.  Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it seems to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total). It would be rather surprising if its contents were different than those of NS21.

Nationality Set 23: British Western Front 1940 Sahara Tan. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but it seems to have 2.5 sheets of 1/2″ die-cut counters and 2.5 sheets of 5/8″ die-cut counters (1,140 counters total). It would be rather surprising if its contents were different than those of NS21.

Nationality Set 24: Waffen SS Feldgrau. Not seen by Desperation Morale but presumably the same contents as any of the above SS sets, just in a different color.

Nationality Set 25: Waffen SS Classic Blau. Not seen by Desperation Morale but presumably the same contents as any of the above SS sets, just in a different color.

Nationality Set 26: Fallschirmjaeger Feldgrau. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Critical Hit claims this item has 1,192 counters. It contains far more than counters for German airborne troops and may simply be a standard German Army ASL OB.

Nationality Set 27: Greek Forces 1940-41. Not seen by Desperation Morale.  Critical Hit claims it has 1,192 counters. It would be surprising if it were anything other than a standard Allied Minor counterset.

Nationality Set 28: Italians in North Africa, 1940-43 Classic. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but may have 2 1/2″ countersheets and 2.5 5/8″ countersheets (1,000 counters total).

Nationality Set 29: US Classic Western Front.  Not seen by Desperation Morale, but this appears to be identical to NS1 above except with a “standard” US green color.

Nationality Set 30: British Classic Western Front. Not seen by Desperation Morale but seems to have same contents as other British countersets but in “classic creme” (it is not clear how, or even whether, this is different from “Khaki” or “Sahara Tan”).

Nationality Set 31: Screaming Eagles. Not seen by Desperation Morale but seems to be a standard US Army OB in olive drab with some or all of the counters marked with the emblem of the 101st Airborne Division.

Nationality Set 32: All-American.  Not seen by Desperation Morale but seems to be a standard US Army OB in olive drab with some or all of the counters marked with the emblem of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Nationality Set 33: USMC Olive Drab. Not seen by Desperation Morale but appears to have 2 1/2″ countersheets and 2 5/8″ countersheets in olive drab.

Nationality Set 34: USMC. Not seen by Desperation Morale but appears to be the same as above except in the standard ASL American shade of green (described as “chartreuse” here

Nationality Set 35: Screaming Eagles (classic green). Not seen by Desperation Morale. There is an error on the CH website that suggests this is a USMC counterset but it appears actually to be the same counterset as in NS31, except in a different color.

Nationality Set 36: All-American (classic green).  Not seeen by Desperation Morale, but appears to be the same as NS32, except in a different color.

Nationality Set 37: Berlin Counters. Not seen by Desperation Morale, but appears to be a set of 1,000 German and Soviet counters needed to play the scenarios of the latest versions  (Berlin I and Berlin II) of Critical Hits 2-part Berlin HASL (here and here), which unlike previous versions do not come with counters of their own. This seems to make players pay more for the same contents as before.

Nationality Set 38: US Early War. Not seen by Desperation Morale, this item contains 2 1/2″ countersheets and 1 5/8″ countersheet for a total of 736 counters.  Note that this product costs $79.95, so purchasers are paying more than $20 a countersheet!

Nationality Set 39: 1939-40 White Finns. Not seen by Desperation Morale, this product provides a white-colored set of Finnish counters, including 2 1/2″ countersheets and 2 5/8″ countersheets for 912 counters total.

Nationality Set 40: White Finns 41-45. Not seen by Desperation Morale, it’s hard to imagine how this product could differ from NS39. The Critical Hit website does not provide any explanation of how it might be different.

Nationality Set 41: Romanian 1941-1943 Classic. Not seen by Desperation Morale, this appears to be identical to the above Romanian counterset except that the counters are in standard ASL “Axis Minor” colors.

Nationality Set 42: Norwegian 1940 Classic. Not seen by Desperation Morale, it would be unexpected if this was any different from the Greek set above except for things like leader names.

Nationality Set 43: Free French Classic. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Appears to be the same as the previous Free French item except appearing in British khaki rather than “SAHARA TAN.”

Nationality Set 44: Spanish Civil War Republican. Not seen by Desperation Morale. An odd item, given that this is not a standard ASL nationality. The Critical Hit description claims this product comes with 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 counters) and 2 5/8″ countersheets (352 counters), but the image on the back of the product as displayed on the Critical Hit website suggests only three countersheets total. Three countersheets is also what gaming store Noble Knight Games displays in a photograph, though it uses the same 4-sheet product description as Critical Hit’s site. The counters are in CH’s SAHARA TAN color.

Nationality Set 45: Spanish Civil War Nationalist.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. As with the above NS44, CH claims this has 4 countersheets but displays an image with only 3 countersheets and, once more, Noble Knight also only displays three countersheets.  The counters are a shade of blue.

Nationality Set 46: Japanese Classic. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Appears to be the same as the previous Japanese item except appearing in the traditional ASL color for Japanese troops instead of the alternative “mustard” scheme.

Nationality Set 47: Polish 1939 Classic.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 2 5/8″ countersheets (352 total). Appears to be in Allied Minor green. Four countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 48: Polish 1944 1st Armored  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 2 5/8″ countersheets (352 total). Appears to be British counters and vehicles (as that is how Polish forces that fought under British command are represented in ASL) printed in Allied minor green color. Four countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 49: Nationalist Chinese.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheets (176 total). Critical Hit claims that “this is the Nationalist Chinese in their own colors.”  Three countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 50: Chinese Communists, 1937-1949.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheets (176 total). Presents the Communist Chinese in their own color–some shade of green. It is not clear what squads, if any, beyond 3-3-7 partisan squads are featured here. Three countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 51: Polish Carpathian Rifles, 1941-42.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheet (176 total). This is a set just for the brigade-sized Polish unit that fought under British command in North Africa (and is hardly represented in any scenarios). Presumably British counters but printed in light green, perhaps Allied Minor green. Three countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 52: First Polish Army, 1944-45.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheet (176 total). The First Polish Army was a force organized by the Soviets from Polish and Ukrainian prisoners. Presumably the set here consists of Soviet counters printed in Allied Minor green. Three countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 53: Belgian Army 1940.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheet (176 total). Allied Minor counters, presumably but not necessarily with AFV/Guns limited to those Belgians had.  Three countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 54: Dutch Army 1940.  Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheets (176 total). Allied Minor counters, presumably but not necessarily with AFV/Guns limited to those Dutch had.  Critical Hit claims KNIL troops are also represented here (troops in the Dutch East Indies), but representing all the vehicles there would require additional Chapter H treatment, which does not seem to appear here, so KNIL vehicles may not actually appear here.  Three countersheets for $59.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 55: Indian Troops in WWII. Not seen by Desperation Morale. Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 1 5/8″ countersheet (176 total). The counters appear to be in standard British colors, so it is not clear what, if anything, actually distinguishes them as “Indian” troops. Three countersheets for $49.95 is pricey.

Nationality Set 56: Classic Hungarian, 1941-1944.  Not seen by Desperation Morale.  Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 2 5/8″ countersheets (352 total). The counters appear in standard two-tone Hungarian colors. Unspecified “bonus” counters are also allegedly provided.

Nationality Set 57: Winter Classic Hungarian, 1941-1944.  Not seen by Desperation Morale.  Allegedly consists of 2 1/2″ countersheets (560 total) and 2 5/8″ countersheets (352 total). The counters appear in standard two-tone Hungarian colors but apparently with different troop graphics.  The only differences from the previous set appear to be minor cosmetic ones.

Back to Top