Squad Leader Scenarios
Squad Leader was a game system depicting tactical combat in the Second World War. The game, as well as the three follow on gamettes, was notable for its open-endedness, a trend in tactical board wargaming beginning from the late 1960s, and at least as early as far as Avalon Hill was concerned with PanzerBlitz. The use of geomorphic mapboards and counters representing small tactical entities gave the game great flexibility and the ability to represent a wide array of units and situations.
These situations were formulated for the player in the form of Scenarios. The original Squad Leader game came with 12 of these scenarios pre-made, and "official" scenarios, numbered in sequence, followed on in the three sequels, or "gamettes". There were also many "official" scenarios (that is to say, scenarios published by Avalon Hill) in The General Magazine or sold as special releases (such as the so-called Rogue Scenarios).
Scenario Format
Each scenario of the original four game releases was printed on an 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock with the following elements in place:
- Scenario number
- Illustrative graphic
- Historical overview
- Board configuration and orientation
- Listing of rules sections introduced
- Victory Conditions
- Turn Record Chart
- Countermix and historical identity of scenario forces
- Scenario Special Rules
- Variations
- Historical Aftermath
Scenario Number
The "official" scenarios were numbered as follows Squad Leader - 1 through 12
Cross of Iron - 13 through 20
Crescendo of Doom - 21 through 32
GI: Anvil of Victory - 33 through 47
Illustrative Graphic
These were simply an illustration evocative of the events portrayed in the scenario, usually a black and white artist's interpretation of an actual Second World War photograph. Rodger MacGowan did the artwork for the original SL, COI and COD scenarios and Charles Kibler took over with GI: Anvil of Victory (and continued to do the artwork for Advanced Squad Leader scenarios as well).
Historical Overview
A short one-paragraph description of the overall military situation, placing the scenario in context, possibly introducing one or two of the personalities portrayed on the map. Prefaced by the actual location (usually the nearest town or city) and date of the action.
Board Configuration and Orientation
A graphic representation of which boards to use (or which portions of boards), how to orient them to each other, which direction was considered "north" (important for outlining setup, entry and exit areas), and placement of terrain overlays (if any).
Listing of Rules Sections Introduced
The four Squad Leader games used Programmed Instruction to teach the game system; each official scenario released directly with the games listed the rules sections introduced with each scenario.
Victory Conditions
Squad Leader used very imaginative sets of victory conditions, some of which were often quite complicated. Conditions were set under which each player might consider the game to have been won, or in some cases, conditions which would indicate the scenario had been played to a draw. The Victory Conditions were modelled as closely as possible to real life military objectives, as well as the historical situation being modelled. Therefore a scenario based on a deliberate assault on a village might specify occupation at game end of particular buildings on a particular map to be indicative of victory in that scenario. A scenario based on a withdrawal might specify that a certain number of units had to be exited from the map in order to achieve a victory in a scenario, with the opposing player required to stop such exiting in order to achieve victory.
Turn Record Chart
In most cases, fixed time limits existed for scenarios, and one side (Axis or Allied) was required to set up first and/or move first. The turn record chart also listed turns on which scheduled reinforcements would (or might) arrive.
Countermix and Historical Identity of Scenario Forces
Each scenario in the official game releases was based on an actual historical event (with the exception of Scenario 26 which was based on a hypothetical operation). As such, historical names were provided to the forces of each side (somtimes vaguely, as in "elements of the 62nd Army") and other times very specifically down to the company or event platoon level.
Countermixes were specified for both players in concrete terms, with number of units being specified as well as where they were to set up (or enter, if arriving after game start as reinforcements).
Scenario Special Rules
Scenario Special Rules (or SSRs) provided even more flexibility to scenario designers in achieving a historical feel to their situations. All manner of rule modifications could be specified here in order to achieve particular effects on gameplay.
Variations
Suggestions on minor alterations to force mixes, victory conditions, turn length or other game conditions were suggested here as a guide to providing assistance to one side or another in a scenario, for example if balancing a scenario between players of unequal skill, or if the scenario was felt to be "unbalanced" (biased) towards one side.
Historical Aftermath
A one paragraph recount of the actual historical outcome of the situation being depicted.
Scenario Listing - Official Scenarios (Games and Gamettes)
Scenario Listing - Other Official Scenarios (Avalon Hill)
Avalon Hill released Series 100, consisting of ten new scenarios for Cross of Iron, in 1979. The scenarios were designed by Courtney Allen (SL playtester and designer of Storm Over Arnhem).
Scenario 101 |
Blocking Action at Lipki |
Scenario 102 |
Slamming of the Door |
Scenario 103 |
Bald Hill |
Scenario 104 |
The Penetration of Rostov |
Scenario 105 |
Night Battleat Noromatyevka |
Scenario 106 |
Beachhead at Ozereyka Bay |
Scenario 107 |
Disaster On The Dneiper Loop |
Scenario 108 |
Block Busting in Bokruisk |
Scenario 109 |
Counterattack On The Vistula |
Scenario 110 |
The Agony of Doom |
Avalon Hill released Series 200 with 10 new scenarios for Crescendo of Doom.
Scenario 201 |
Sacrifice Of Polish Armor |
Scenario 202 |
Under Cover Of Darkness |
Scenario 203 |
Bitter Defense At Otta |
Scenario 204 |
Chance D'une Affaire |
Scenario 205 |
Last Defense Line |
Scenario 206 |
Fighting At The World's Edge |
Scenario 207 |
The French Perimeter |
Scenario 208 |
Road To Kozani Pass |
Scenario 209 |
The Akroiri Peninsula Defense |
Scenario 210 |
Commando Raid At Dieppe |
The Rogue Scenarios Series 200, so called because they used boards 9, 10 and 11 which were not "official" boards of the series at that time, was released with scenarios R211 to R223 and utilized rules up to and including Crescendo of Doom. Some of the scenarios in this set also caused consternation in that multiple copies of several boards were necessary if one wanted to play Scenario R220, which combined Scenarios R218 and R219 into one large scenario played in three parts - a foreshadowing of the later Campaign Games in Historical ASL. These scenarios (and one other) featured Canadian units, which had not been done up to this point in "official" printed SL scenarios.
Scenario R211 |
Auld Lang Syne |
Scenario R212 |
On The Road To Andalsnes |
Scenario R213 |
Traverse Right...FIRE! |
Scenario R214 |
The Front In Flames |
Scenario R215 |
Hasty Pudding |
Scenario R216 |
A Small Town In Germany |
Scenario R217 |
The Whirlwind |
Scenario R218 |
Operation Switchback |
Scenario R219 |
Scheldt Fortress South |
Scenario R220 |
Clearing the Breskens Pocket |
Scenario R221 |
Vitality I |
Scenario R222 |
Infatuate II |
Scenario R223 |
Night Drop |
Avalon Hill finally released Series 300 with additional scenarios for GI: Anvil of Victory.
Scenario 301 |
The Clearing |
Scenario 302 |
Stand Fast |
Scenario 303 |
Thrust and Parry |
Scenario 304 |
Riposte |
Scenario 305 |
The Duel |
Scenario 306 |
The Rag Tag Circus |
Scenario 307 |
Point D'Appui |
Scenario 308 |
Han-Sur-Neid |
Scenario 309 |
The Roer Bridgehead |
Scenario 310 |
Trial by Combat |
The Wargamer Magazine also released scenarios 81-90, and a further pack with scenarios numbered 91-100 in 1982.
Scenario 81 |
A Bridge Too Near |
Scenario 82 |
To Lose A Battle |
Scenario 83 |
The Final Attempt |
Scenario 84 |
Le Paradis |
Scenario 85 |
The Far Bank |
Scenario 86 |
Raid on Vaagso |
Scenario 87 |
The Bruneval Raid |
Scenario 88 |
The Backwater of War |
Scenario 89 |
Cherkasskoye |
Scenario 90 |
The Bridge at Kanev |
Scenario 91 |
Assault At Wadelincourt |
Scenario 92 |
Patton's End Run |
Scenario 93 |
Cassino Station |
Scenario 94 |
Hill 112 |
Scenario 95 |
The Attempt To Exploit |
Scenario 96 |
Scratch Force |
Scenario 97 |
The Breaking Wave |
Scenario 98 |
Night Assault |
Scenario 99 |
Cooperative Venture |
Scenario 100 |
A Day At The Races |
The final "official" scenarios issued by Avalon Hill for the original Squad Leader game were in the first two issues of the ASL Annual.
| Released in | Number | Title |
| ASL Annual '89 | Scenario A1 | On the Borderline |
| ASL Annual '89 | Scenario A2 | Sbeitla Probe |
| ASL Annual '89 | Scenario A3 | Regalbuto Ridge |
| ASL Annual '90 | Scenario A4 | King's Castle |
| ASL Annual '90 | Scenario A5 | The Professionals |
| ASL Annual '90 | Scenario A6 | A Meeting of Patrols |
Additionally, a mini-campaign game based on fictional British Commando raids appeared in ASL Annual '92, featuring 13 "missions".
The majority of official Squad Leader scenarios printed by Avalon Hill were later redone for Advanced Squad Leader and released in either The General Magazine or in the ASL Annuals. The ASL Journal has also continued the tradition of releasing redone SL scenarios for ASL but has indicated no intention to support the original SL game system with new scenarios. Multi-Man Publishing has also issued scenario packs with redone SL scenarios, notably "GI's Dozen" which had several scenarios from both GI: Anvil of Victory and the Series 300 set redone to ASL standards, and even some scenarios available only through free download at the MMP Website, which redid some of the Rogue 200 series scenarios.