The Tactical Training Series was designed by Alan Yngve and others in the mid-to-late nineties. Anyone learning Squad Leader then probably used the TTS scenarios at some point. Alpha, Beta and Gamma introduced me to the tactics of fire and movement with programmed instructions and commentary in a way the confined streets of Stalingrad could not. In my opinion, it remains the best tool for learning the system. Although Alan Yngve and Advance Phase are no longer active, the TTS is here for those interested in learning the system. -- Scott
(see bottom of page for links to even more scenarios!)
A note on scenario use: As with all scenarios on www.Advancephase.com, please limit your use to personal purposes and ALWAYS give credit to the scenario designer for his/her efforts! Links to this site are welcomed, copying and re-publishing on a different site are not.
LEARNING BY PLAYING: Squad Leader (copyright and TM, TAHGC) will appear to most people as a fairly complex game, and this will not be an erroneous impression. However, initial play of Squad Leader can be relatively easy, deferring much of the inevitable complexities of squad-level tactical combat to an incremental introduction method. Elaboration on these comments at Learning by Playing.
The original Squad Leader "programmed instruction" method is ideal for helping the "squad Leader" (actually company commander) learn the ropes as he/she advances into this system. However, the original SL scenarios do not actually do a very good job of helping a player learn tactical combat implementation. This circumstance is undoubtedly due to initial game design decisions, choices that were made well before it was known how popular the game would become. The two biggest problems with the original scenario set are: (1) city combat tends to be an exception to normal tactical maneuver and decisions, which makes it harder to translate the lessons _out_of_ the city and (2) the original system does a terrible job of properly easing the player into vehicle use.
It is these difficulties that are meant to be dealt with through this alternative "programmed instruction" sequence of scenarios. There is an effort to introduce tactical issues of maneuver, firepower, mass, leadership, vehicles, special weapons (among others) as the player proceeds through these scenarios. Of course, the original 12 scenarios from the SL game are always available for additional play, and all players are urged to consider their use as well, particularly once all of the relevant rules sections have been introduced through this alternate system.
GAME SET ONE: The first TTS Game Set comprises the first three scenarios of the series (see Alpha, Beta, and Gamma below). This set of scenarios strives to do three things; introduce the basic concepts of the SL game system in a way that they must be implemented by the players on the field of play, create a balanced setting that can challenge the most experienced players, and provide quick-play scenarios that can be used to introduce new players to the Squad Leader system. For more commentary.
ALPHA: FORCED MARCH (v1 .3, Alan Yngve, 1996)
[Board 4, FIVE turns, Russians attack Germans]
One of the toughest challenges in learning Squad Leader well is the art of infantry maneuver. This scenario assigns a maneuver order (victory condition) to the Russians and challenges the Germans to block its successful execution, also through the use of maneuver. Most Squad Leader scenarios will have one force on the tactical offensive, this will be the force that must achieve an active victory condition objective, as is the Russian situation in this case.
Scenario links: TEXT, GRAPHIC, VSQL Start
BETA: HASTY ASSAULT (v2.4, Alan Yngve, 1998)
[half Board 3, FIVE turns, Germans attack Russians]
Russia, October 1942: The concept of battlefield maneuver is easy to grasp conceptually, but hard to effectively orchestrate. The addition of assault tactics and the frequent requirement for an attacker to displace a defender from their positions will always significantly complicate a tactical problem. Successful attacking skills are only developed through experimentation and practice, but within the Squad Leader system, this too can be a very enjoyable process.
Scenario links: TEXT, GRAPHIC, VSQL Start
GAMMA: THROUGH THE GAUNTLET (v1 .4, Alan Yngve, 1999)
[half Board 3, FOUR turns, Russ & Germ both attack]
Russia, October 1942: Although the rules are not particularly well organized for the "vehicle learning" approach of this Tactical Training Series, it is best to start vehicles with basic movement and facing. By using the more vulnerable trucks and half-tracks, this scenario can demonstrate well the options available to infantry when opposing vehicles. Consider this your opportunity to "learn to drive" in the Squad Leader system. But then, there is much more to this scenario than just the introduction of vehicles!
Scenario links: TEXT, GRAPHIC, VSQL Start
GAME SET TWO: The second TTS Game Set comprises the last three scenarios of the series (see Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta below). This set of scenarios challenges the player to further explore the implications of battlefield deployment. This is the next big hurdle to tactical success in the Squad Leader
system, since most SL scenarios will challenge the defender, and to a lesser extent the attacker, to find deployment configurations that meet the immediate
tactical requirements. For more commentary.
DELTA: BACK TO THE SEA (v2.1, Alan Yngve, 2000)
[half Bd 2 & half Bd 4, FIVE turns, Germans attack Amer]
Normandy, June 1944: The Americans in the Squad Leader system are a very different type of force than the Germans and Russians. With basic squads combining a higher inherent firepower and a lower morale, the 666 squad is both extremely powerful and quicker to break and double-break, all while being immune from the effects of DM. Leaming how these differences affect Americans command needs on the battlefield is both challenging and intriguing.
Scenario links: TEXT, GRAPHIC, VSQL Start
EPSILON: TANKER DELIGHT (v1.3, Alan Yngve, 2000)
[Boards 2 & 4, FOUR turns, Amer/Russ attack Germans]
August, 1944: Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) in the basic Squad Leader game are fair1y well suited for the infantry support role, for this is an infantry game. The next step is to explore how AFVs interact when opposed by enemy AFVs and/or Anti-Tank guns. This is best demonstrated by removing the accompanying infantry so that the vehicle issues will be isolated. With vehicle mobility two to three times that of infantry, this scenario should be a test of constant
maneuver and deployment.
Scenario links: TEXT, GRAPHIC, VSQL Start
ZETA: HITTING THE WALL (levels zero and one completed, Alan Yngve, 2005)
[half Bd 2 & half Bd 3, FIVE turns, Amer attack Germans]
Germany, December, 1944: This final scenario in the Series introduces the remaining types of fortifications in the basic Squad Leader system and some of the weapons and tactics that can be used against them. The scenario demonstrates how the force characteristics of the defense can affect the tactics of the assault. In fact, defensive deployment decisions with a variety of fortification options will often force the creation of a defensive plan, a fascinating process in itself! The Americans are challenged to use a combined-arms assault to clear the critical road connection.
Scenario links: TEXT, GRAPHIC, VSQL Start