
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,467
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Breakout: Normandy
- 2 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 1992

Rules assistance for ASL Annual '89
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
ASL Annual '89 is an expansion for Advanced Squad Leader released in 1989 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John Hill (I), Jon Mishcon, James Stahler, Rex A. Martin, Bob Medrow, Brian Martuzas, Rick Troha, Charles Kibler, Bob McNamara, Steven Swann, Mark C. Nixon, Jeff Cebula, Craig F. Posey, Howard Sylvester, Eugene Murrell, and Jay Kaufman and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Secret Unit Deployment, and Modular Board.
The first issue of Avalon Hill's magazine/supplement for ASL, containing articles and scenarios. The ASL Journal series from MMP is the same concept, but is not tied to a yearly schedule. Early issues (such as this one) contained Squad Leader scenarios and content as well as ASL fare. From the Table of Contents: A Nation of Workers by Craig F. Posey A Question of Balance by H. Sylvester & E. Murrell The Evolution of Small Unit Tactics by John Hill Piper's Lament by Eugene Murrell Gunned-Up in the Desert by Mark C. Nixon Man and Superman by Craig F. Posey Comprehensive Index by Jon Mishcon How to Win an ASL Tournament by Jon Mishcon One-Half FP by Jay Kaufman Updating the Oldies by Jim Stahler Another Shell in the Tube by Robert Medrow ASL Scenarios: A1 Tavronitis Bridge A2 Bofors Bashing A3 Decent into Hell A4 Beyond the Blue Beach A5 Holding the Rear A6 The Price of Impatience A7 Slamming of the Door A8 The Agony of Doom A9 Midnight Massacre A10 The Borders are Burning A11 Silent Death A12 Savoia! DA1 L'Ecole Normale DA2 Last Act in Lorraine DA3 Back to School SL Scenarios: A1 On the Borderline A2 Sbeitla Probe A3 Regalbuto Ridge
ASL Annual '89 supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for ASL Annual '89 is 180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists ASL Annual '89 for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
ASL Annual '89 has a complexity rating of 4.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
ASL Annual '89 belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Secret Unit Deployment, and Modular Board. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of ASL Annual '89 are: John Hill (I), Jon Mishcon, James Stahler, Rex A. Martin, Bob Medrow, Brian Martuzas, Rick Troha, Charles Kibler, Bob McNamara, Steven Swann, Mark C. Nixon, Jeff Cebula, Craig F. Posey, Howard Sylvester, Eugene Murrell, and Jay Kaufman. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists ASL Annual '89 as an expansion for Advanced Squad Leader. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Advanced Squad Leader to use it. Check that your edition of Advanced Squad Leader is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.