Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit (1985 Avalon Hill)

Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) stands as one of the most complex and comprehensive wargames ever produced. The 1985 Avalon Hill first edition of the core rulebook and the subsequent Starter Kit series represent the pinnacle of hex-and-counter wargaming and a devoted collector pursuit that has sustained active communities for four decades.

The Origin of Squad Leader and Its Monstrous Successor

John Hill's Squad Leader, first published by Avalon Hill in 1977, was a groundbreaking tactical wargame simulating squad-level World War II infantry combat. Using a hex-and-counter format with a comprehensive rules system, it became one of the best-selling wargames of its era.

The success of Squad Leader spawned three additional modules: Cross of Iron (1978), Crescendo of Doom (1979), and GI: Anvil of Victory (1982). Each added rules, scenarios, and counters that bolted onto the original system, creating a sprawling, partially-inconsistent ruleset.

Don Greenwood, Avalon Hill's game designer, undertook the massive project of creating Advanced Squad Leader: a complete redesign of the system from the ground up with a unified, internally consistent rules system. The result was first published in 1985 as the ASL Rulebook, a massive three-ring binder containing what would eventually become the most comprehensive wargame rules ever printed.

The 1985 First Edition: What Collectors Seek

The 1985 Avalon Hill ASL Rulebook in its first edition is the foundation of the collector market:

The 1985 edition is specifically valued for being the first printing of the definitive ASL system. Later printings incorporated errata, rule changes, and editorial revisions. The first edition represents the "original text" in a rules-as-written sense, though nearly all active players use the most current errata-incorporated version.

The Starter Kit Series

MMP (Multi-Man Publishing), which acquired the ASL license from Hasbro (which had acquired Avalon Hill in 1998), introduced the ASL Starter Kit series in the early 2000s as a dramatically simplified entry point. The Starter Kit #1 contains a reduced rules set, simplified counters, and two 8.5" x 11" mapboards, allowing players to learn the system without committing to the full rulebook.

The Starter Kits became highly successful as standalone products and as entry pathways to full ASL. Original Avalon Hill "starter" products from 1985 era are separately collectible.

Condition Grading for Wargames

Wargame condition assessment follows the board game standard:

For the 1985 ASL Rulebook, condition assessment focuses on:

• The binder itself (cover condition, spine condition, ring mechanism function)

• Completeness of rule pages (all pages present in first-edition state)

• Whether the associated module (Beyond Valor) is present

Market Values

Values for first-edition Avalon Hill ASL material:

The full ASL system in all its modules commands substantial collector interest, with complete collections of all first-edition MMP and Avalon Hill ASL publications representing thousands of dollars.

The ASL Community: Still Active After 40 Years

ASL's community is remarkable for its longevity and activity. Annual ASL tournaments are held worldwide, with the ASL Oktoberfest in Columbus, Ohio, and the ASLOK tournament attracting hundreds of dedicated players. Online communities on VASL (the digital implementation of ASL) allow global play.

For collectors, the community maintains detailed printing variant documentation, valuation guides, and active trading markets. The ASL community's dedication to historical research has also produced a body of historical analysis that rivals academic scholarship on the tactical aspects of World War II infantry combat.

Why ASL Endures

The game's longevity comes from several factors:

• Comprehensiveness: ASL rules cover virtually every aspect of tactical World War II combat, from single-shot rifles to field artillery, air support, and amphibious operations

• Scenario depth: Thousands of official and fan-produced scenarios ensure that no two games need to be the same

• Modularity: Players can engage at whatever complexity level they choose, from simplified Starter Kit combat to full-rulebook complexity

• Community: The active player and collector community creates ongoing demand for publications and events

For a collector, the 1985 first edition Avalon Hill ASL set represents not merely a game but a foundational artifact in tactical wargaming history.

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