12.1996 Time on Target Issue #3

Alternative Titles/Edition History:
aka Focus on German Rare Vehicles

Publisher/Date:
Kinetic Energy (1996)

Product Type:
Periodical

Country of Origin:
U.S.A.

Contents:
28-page magazine, 13 inserted scenarios on cardstock, 64 die-cut counters, 8 color pages of Chapter H notes, scenario play aid, 4-page supplement, possible teaser scenario.

Commentary:

The most coveted of the Time on Target issues, Time on Target Issue #3 (TOT3) includes a small countersheet with beautiful rare German AFVs on them, and a baker’s dozen of scenarios with which to play them. The theme of the issue, as the countersheet suggests, is “German Rare Vehicle.”

Article content includes an analysis of TOT45 (Dogs of War), an interview with Thomas Jentz (editor of two books on German AFVs), an article on a self-propelled demolition carrier in ASL, an article on vehicle-mounted artillery observers (featured in the previous issue), an article on a Marching Fire SSR, and designers’ notes and playtesters’ comments for the included scenarios.

The German rare vehicle counters and Chapter H notes allow Kinetic Energy full reign in their desire for ASL esoterica; almost every vehicle, it would seem, has a strange CA, obscure vehicle notes, special modifiers, or practically a chapter to themselves (in the case of the demolition carrier).

The 13 scenarios represent a wider range of actions than previous TOT issues presented, largely because the theme of German rare vehicles allows possibilities from multiple fronts and time spans in the war. Actions include:

• Norway 1940 (British vs. Germans)
• Libya 1942 (Indians/South Africans/British vs. Germans)
• Soviet Union 1942 (Soviets vs. Germans), 1943 (Soviets vs. Germans [2])
• Yugoslavia 1943 (Communist partisans vs. Germans)
• Italy 1943 (Indians vs. Germans)
• Netherlands 1944 (British vs. Germans)
• Hungary 1944 (Soviets vs. Germans)
• Belgium 1944 (Americans vs. Germans)
• Germany 1945 (Americans vs. Germans [2])
• Czechoslovakia 1945 (Czech communist partisans vs. Anti-Soviet Russians vs. Germans)

There are about an equal mix of Germans vs. Soviets, Germans vs. British, and Germans vs. Americans, with a couple of oddball actions thrown in.   The size mix is good, too, with a variety of small, medium, and large scenarios.  Two of the scenarios use the LaGleize map from Kampfgruppe Peiper as alternative terrain:  TOT44 (…A Dish Best Served Cold) and TOT43 (Jagdtiger, Jagdtiger). The remainder use standard geomorphic scenarios (no DASL).  Six of the 13 scenarios have OB; several have air support.  One scenario, TOT34 (Parry and Riposte), uses desert rules, another uses night rules.

Overall, the scenarios in this issue are pretty SSR-dense, especially TOT35 (Death Knell at Kalach), TOT37 (Breaching Maloarkhangelsk), TOT44 (A Dish Best Served Cold), and TOT45 (The Dogs of War).

That latter scenario, though, TOT45 (The Dogs of War), is one of the most famous scenarios in all of ASLdom, the only published three-player scenario to date where each side is fighting both other sides.  Most of the SSRs set up the three-player-turn nature of the scenario; the actual scenario itself is small, fast-moving and fun, making it a true classic.

None of the other scenarios aspire to that; many of the most playable ones are sadly imbalanced, a common feature with Kinetic Energy products.  However, several are worth trying, including TOT36 (Balkan Barbecue), TOT35 (Death Knell at Kalach), and TOT41 (Tiger at the Gates).  Overall, though, it is the counters and The Dogs of War that make this issue of TOT so desirable.

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