SCOPE:The Game of Western Front Tactical Warfare, 1942-1945
TAHGC CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Third and largest Squad Leader
expansion gamette. Players command the full arsenal of U.S. fighting men and
weapons.
GAME BOX DESCRIPTION: GI adds the complete American arsenal
of fighting men and machines to your Squad Leader repertoire, while expanding
and enriching the most acclaimed historical gaming system yet devised.
YEAR PUBLISHED (EDITIONS): July1982; 2nd edition rulebook
published December 1982.
CREDITS
Design & Development: Donald Greenwood
Scenario Design: John Hill, Rex Martin, Jo Mishcon,
Arnold Blumberg, Don Greenwood
Special Armor Consultant: Robert McNamara, Arnold Hendrick
Production Assistant & MVP: Jon Mishcon and J.
Suchar, M. Suchar, and J. Kenower
Cover & Scenario Art: Rodger MacGowan
Board & Counter Art: Scott Moores, Dale Sheaffer,
Don Greenwood
Playtesting: Courtney Allen, Don Chappell, Jim Collier,
Jerry Cottrell, Charles Crain, Mike Crane, Richard Hooks, Bob McNamara,
Bob Medrow, Jon Mishcon, Joe & Mike Suchar, Don Munsell, Michael Musser,
Mark Nixon, James Stahler, Fred Timm, John Loth, Brian Martuzas, Steve
List, Dave Quigley, Andrew Maly, Pat Nicely, Russ Hall, Tim Fuchs, Ken
Stein, Matt Kovacevich, and the Memphis Area Playtesters.
Printing: Monarch Services
Composition: Colonial Composition
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2
WGA COMPLEXITY SCALE (1-10): 5
TYPICAL PLAYING TIME (HOURS): From 2 hours for a short
scenario; 6+ large scenarios.
MAP SCALE: 40 meters per hex
UNIT SCALE: Individual squads, leaders, support weapons
and vehicles.
TIME SCALE PER TURN: Two minutes
NUMBER OF GAME TURNS: Function of scenario played; typically
5-10 turns
GAME INVENTORY: 1040 two-sided 1/2" diecut counters,
528 two-sided 5/8 diecut counters, five 22x28" mounted mapboards, 36-page
illustrated rulebook and designer's notes, 14 scenario cards (#21-32), 2 Quick
Reference data Cards, terrain overlays to further vary existing mapboards.
WBC & AVALONCON HISTORY: No GI: Anvil of Victory specific
tournament has yet appeared in Avaloncon/WBC but rather contained within the
Squad Leader Tournament since 2000. Tournaments allow players to compete at
any of the four PREASL rulesets at the lower ruleset compatibility of the
pairing (SQL, COI, COD, GIA). Side competitions for the Best Personal Leader
Competition and Eliminating the previous years PLC winner occur in parallel
to tournament championships. SQLA encourages competitive play but also welcomes
and mentors new and 'rusty' players who wish to participate. SQL has run 30+
FTF and PBEM to date and is the administrator for both Boardgame Player Association
PBEM events and SQL AREA Player Ratings.
PBEM TOOLS: VSQL VASSAL
module is available and has become the standard for PBEM and real time Internet
play with full capability for Squad Leader and Cross of Iron play. A COD &
GIA extension for COD and GIA is available to support several SQLA PBEM informal
round robin tournaments. The full COD & GIA counter set and charts exist
within this extension.
PBEM OPPORTUNITES: Contact Wargame
Academy if interested. A Boardgame Player Association PBEM tournament
can be organized by WGA pending suitable interest. The SQLA GIA Circus event
is underway and can accommodate new players.
WARGAME ACADEMY COMMENTS: Barely edged out by COI as my
favorite gamette to my favorite wargame with over 200 AREA rated games completed,
majority by mail/email. Major rule addition is clarification of earlier rules,
new TO HIT system used as a basis for ASL's, infantry smoke capability and
American units. US forces, my favorite nationality to play, requires new tactics
to overcome their limitations and maximize their strengths. Similar to flying
a Me110 instead of Me109; move firepower but often outclassed unit by unit.
I have played few of the actual scenarios as mostly used DYO capabilities.
WARGAME ACADEMY GAME TOOLS: Multiple play copies, unpunched
games, softcopy rulebook, charts, maps, Order of Battles, all rulebook editions,
and extensive related magazine archives. Counter library, maps, and charts
in Claris Draw; maps and counters in GIF format.
