The 2 Half-Squads: Advanced Squad Leader Podcast

Join us for the exciting conclusion of the St. Louis ASL 2026 Interviews.  Maurizio from Italy, Larry from lands unknown, and Bob, Dave and Stanleto from Illinois.  

SHOW LINKS
None today





SHOW TIMES
01:15 Maurizio Grassi
10:00 Larry Zoet
22:30 Dave Goldman, Bob Bendis, and Stanledo
42:12 Total Running Time



The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions, and kind donations from listeners like you.
The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.
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Stanledo Sleeping

What?!?  ANOTHER12 minutes of banter?  Yes, but at least you get to hear about Jeff's work and Dave's Aldi Adventure.  But there's more!  A great way to make your own playing cards for the games you love! Then we get into the meat of the show with the entertaining, and informative, long time Advanced Squad Leader player Gary Fortenberry.  This second half of our conversation with Gary covers some of his time with Avalon Hill, thoughts about the rules, the transition to MMP from AH.  We talk about tournaments, other games, Curt Schilling and our dads. Did you know that there is a Magic the Gathering/Poker player connection? After listening to this show, we can say "Now you do!"

SHOW LINKS

Apollo's Templates

SHOW TIMES

01: Chitty Chitty Chat Chat

12:00 Gary Fortenberry48:01Total Running Time
The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions, and kind donations from listeners like you.

The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.
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After 12 minutes of banter that covers Jeff's annual fishing trip and  Dave's Civil War trip we get into the meat of the show with the prodigious and informative long time Advanced Squad Leader player Gary Fortenberry.  In this, the first half of our conversation with Gary covers some of his time in the military, the early days of the famous fanzines like, Fire for Effect, In Contact and of course, Gary's ASLUG publication.  Jeff and Dave get a personal lesson on how to use the special boards that Gary designed, like 1a, 2a, etc.  NOW we will always remember how to align them. The conversation ends with his time at Avalon Hill.  Next up, part two!

SHOW LINKS

None

SHOW TIMES01: Chitty Chitty Chat Chat12:00 Gary Fortenberry44:36 Total Running Time

The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions, and kind donations from listeners like you.

The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.
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Our interviews from St. Louis ASL continue in this very episode!

First man up is Dave Pope, a fascinating individual who has developed some scenarios and is working on a project to demystify the Advanced Squad Leader rules. It would fix some grammar issues, utilize more bullet points, and he wants to work with MMP on it. Dave would like to start a gaming group in the Southwest Missouri area and is looking for players. Contact us if you are interested in joining!

Second interview is Rich Domovich, who gives us an update on his ASL adventures. He attends several international tournaments every year. Amazing!

Steve Tinsley joins us for his first appearance on the show, and we finish the show with another visit with Paul Works who gives us an update on the Kansas City ASL stuff including the WWI development, and some new scenario packs in the works.

SHOW LINKS

St. Louis ASL

SHOWTIMES

00:01 Banter

07:50 Dave Pope

19:20 Rich Domovich

25:20 Steve Tinsley

29:30 Paul Works

48:38 Total Running Time

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This show is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions and our Patreons!

Theme song by Derek K. Miller of Penmachine.

The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our YouTube channel.

Jeff sends Dave forth to the St. Louis ASL Tournament (finally)! What an exciting adventure. He returns with 10 interviews that will fill many a show. And, fill it with quality content, instead of the usual blather. 

First interview is Jim Burris, the tournament director. Jim gives us an update on the standings, the history of the tourny, and some rule tips too!  Francis Biss was kind enough to talk with us for the first time, telling us of his start in gaming and tournament experiences. Francis is an original Purple Boxer!Apologies for the audio quality, Dave was struggling with the equipment while on the road. 
We finish the show with another visit with Doug Kirk who gives us an update on the Advanced Squad Leader events in his life, as well as his ASL preferences.  

Before Dave set out on his road trip adventure, he managed to cut the freon line on his AC unit at home. Details related in the Banter segment. Yikes!   Go forth ASLer"s everywhere!
SHOW LINKSSt. Louis ASL
SHOWTIMES
00:01 Dramatic Presentation: Dave Sent Forth 1:45 Banter12:30 Jim Burris
24:00 Francis Biss30:00 Doug Kirk38:38 Total Running Time





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Mike has brought along  ASL Action Pack #22: A World at War. We open this box and find 3 new maps and 12 new scenarios and take a gander at this fine product.Does a pin result affect a motorcyclist?  Can a motorcycle Bog?  We don't know but we are about to find out.  It is time to finish the motorcycle rules that we started last show. 
Dennis visits to review the art on the Chef du Pont box. And he provided the lyrics to the opening song, Never Gonna Give it Up.  We think the lyrics are clear enough in the song and don't need to be listed here.

SHOW LINKSAction Pack #22

SHOWTIMES00:01 Song
05:00 What's in the Box?
20:00 Rules 17:00 What Have You Been Playing Lately?24:00 Rules 
59:35 Total Running Time



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Summer is passing quickly and we are celebrating the 250th celebration of the birth of the United States of America!   We read some letters and are glad to welcome Mike Ryzy back into the Broadcast Foxhole. What we have been playing lately covers Mike's cow scenarios, and Dave and Dave's playing of Scenario BFP-174 The Castle of Onega. In the rules segment we cover the ever important rules D12 and D15 (part one, to be continued in episode 390). Did you know that sledges have reindeer pulling them?  How cool is that!?!  We think that you need to learn to drive your motorcycle like Steve McQueen in the Great Escape!  So have a listen to this show. You will be glad you did.

How about that comedy bit? Thank you to Dennis, once again!


SHOW LINKSAlpenfestung
WWII Wayfinder on Youtube

SHOWTIMES
00:01 Comedy Bit
02:00 Banter
11:00 Letters17:00 What Have You Been Playing Lately?24:00 Rules 
52:12 Total Running Time



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Once again, we are super excited to bring back one of Advanced Squad Leader's best contributors, Jim Bishop.  Jim will discuss the in-depth look at his newest article on Tanks in the latest Journal. You will learn how to use tanks to sleeze freeze other tanks, how to win the gun duel, what factors to check before the game to help secure your well deserved victory, and many other things about armored warfare in ASL.  

No banter today. Well it is at the end. 

SHOW LINKS

Bishop Says on ASL Academy

Jim's Astrophotography

SHOW TIMES2:00 Jim Bishop Interview45:15 Total Running Time

This show is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions and our Patreons!Theme song by Derek K. Miller of Penmachine.The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.

Download this episode (right-click and Save)

We are super excited to bring back one of Advanced Squad Leader's best contributors, Jim Bishop.  Jim will discuss the current status of his blog, his thoughts on the process of scenario design and his part in holding tournaments with Fortenberry. He will return on the next show for an in-depth look at his newest article on Tanks in the latest Journal. 

First, we have some banter about Space Food Sticks and Tang and other oddities while giving a sneak peek at some Swag from the next Grumbler Jones Tourney. 

SHOW LINKSGrumble Jones Blog's New LookBishop Says on ASL Academy


SHOW TIMES2:00 Grumbler Swag Gifts and Tourney Slide Show10:00 Too Much Banter Perhaps15:40 Jim Bishop  (The Good Part)40:38 Total Running Time
This show is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions and our Patreons!Theme song by Derek K. Miller of Penmachine.The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.

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If you are ever in the Chicago area, you might want to lunch at Big Ange's. We love their BBQ. Letters includes the usual variety of topics including VASL help, historical facts, compliments and criticism.
Mike Ryzy joins us for part of the show (recorded last time). What we have been playing lately are Scenario BFP-161 Red Ice and BFP-169 Last Minute Heroics.

BFP-162 Red Ice Early in the Game SHOW LINKBig Anges EateryA Time for Trumpets Book
Angel Down on WikipediaFun With Boxes

SHOW TIMES0:1 Banter 11:00 Letters24:30 What Have You Been Playing Lately?48:17 Total Running Time

This show is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions and our Patreons!
BFP-169 Last Minute Heroic End GameTheme song by Derek K. Miller of Penmachine.

The views and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.
Download this episode (right-click and Save)