The 2 Half-Squads: Advanced Squad Leader Podcast

Summer is fast approaching and so is the next episode. We just can't believe how fast time flies. Or how SHOCKING this episode is. Scott Mullins discusses how to track your ASL games, using the ASL Archive and other methods. Matt Zajak discusses his background and his campaign games with his buddies, as well as his favorite miniature ancients rule set, favorite Advanced Squad Leader tournaments and scenarios, basically all things ASL. Most importantly Matt discusses his travels to Russia and help with the Ponyri game. We even dare to chat about our wives (and it's all good).

Dave forgets that he has played 1,402 games so far.

How about that opening song? The lyrics were provided by Rob Banozic and the song was performed by The 2 Half Squad Singers. It originally appeared on #205

SHOW LINKSBox Cars Again BlogWWII Wayfinder on Youtube

SHOWTIMES
00:01 Song: He's Got Really Hot Snake Eyes
04:00 Banter
08:10 Scott Mullins26:45 Matt Zajac
1:00:05 Total Running Time

REALLY HOT SNAKE-EYES(to the tune of "Bette Davis Eyes"Lyrics by Rob Banozic)
His rolls are always lowI've never seen 'em highHis dice are never coldHe's got really hot snake-eyesHe'll turn the MGs on youYou won't pass a check twiceIt's cold as East Front snowHe's got really hot snake-eyes
And they'll break you, they'll crit-hit youThey're the bones that will defeat youThey're atrocious, 'cause he always gets theRolls that make the stacks crushGod! why do I always roll so high, he's got really hot snake-eyes
You like your +3 stoneThe place to stand and fightBut all you do is moanHe's got really hot snake-eyesHe'll take a '1' shot on youAnd roll those wicked diceUntil you give up, tooHe's got really hot snake-eyes
They'll DM you, when he plays youTrash your plan with the dice he loans youThey're ferocious 'cause he always gets theRolls that make the stacks crushAll the boys think it's just fine, to get really hot snake-eyes
And they'll break you, they'll crit-hit youThey're the bones that will defeat youThey're atrocious, 'cause he always gets theRolls that make the stacks crush
All the boys think it's just fine, to get really hot snake-eyes
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MMP does not want you to know about all the other games that exist in the world. We would never spend time on this show discussing games like Dungeons and Dragons, Settlers of Cataan, or Twilight Imperium, because we are such Advanced Squad Leader loyalists and Fan Boys.  Or would we now? In this very show, Jim Burris gives us an update on the St. Louis Tournament and what HE has been playing lately. James Treu gives us his gaming background and says hello. We also manage to read a few letters.  
SHOWTIMES
0:01 Small Talk
8:30  Jim Burris23:30 Letters41:00 Contest Winner Announced
42:00 James Treu
47:39 Total Running Time
SHOWLINKS
Matt Quinton's Youtube Matt Quinton's Discord 

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It's an unbelievable show with stunning bombshells dropping all over the show. We continue our interviews from March Madness with Rick Reinesch, who gives us a great insiders take on the new Mannerheim Cross as well as many other interesting tidbits.  Jeff DeYoung also graces us with an interview and we have a thoroughly enjoyable time hearing the bombshell that Jeff drops on us. AMAZING!


SHOWTIMES
0:01 Small Talk
8:30  Rick Reinisch
40:00 Jeff DeYoung
55:30 Total Running Time

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In the Box we find Slaughter at Ponyri. In this episode we take the time to have a first look at the components and the terrain rules included with this powerful looking game. 

We continue our interviews from March Madness with Dave Mareske, who give us a great preview of the new March Madness 2025 Scenario Pack Snake Eyes, as well as many other interesting tidbits.  On with the show!Opening song is a new one, Minimum Move!

SHOWTIMES
0:1 Song Minimum Move!
2:00 Interesting Chat
10:00 What's In the Box?
37:18 Interview with Dave Mareske
54:21 Total Running Time

Minimum Move
(based on Minimum Wage by They Might Be Giants)
Lyrics: Louis Padol
Vocals: The 2 Half Squad Singers


"Minimum Move"

SHOWTIMES
0:1 Song Minimum Move
2:00 Interesting Chat
18:00 After Action Report
45:00 What's in the Box?
1:03:40 Total Running Time
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Dave made it to March Madness and all Jeff got was a lousy T-Shirt.  Actually it is a cool T-Shirt of the Korean design.  Dave got the 2025 T from Kansas City ASL guys that has all participants on the back as various leader or  Hero counters. There will be a lot of interviews in the show this year and we will start with Paul Works and Dan Best, who give us a great preview of the WWI game as well as many other interesting tidbits.  On with the show!

Opening song was a repeat from episode 204, DC Hero.

SHOWTIMES
0:1 Song DC HERO
4:00  Interesting Chat
18:00  Interview with Dan Best and Paul Works
54:21 Total Running Time

DC Hero

-- Concept: Dennis Donovan
-- Lyrics: Dennis Donovan, Rich Spilky, Stephen Stewart
-- Vocals: Stephen Stewart
-- Mixing/Technical: Jim Bera

Playin’ ASL, in the P.T.O.

The Marines vs. Jappos, Code of Bushido
Read all the SSRs, and I started to scheme
Coming up with a plan, when I noticed something:

There is one DEMO, to blow stuff away
And with a gleam in my eyes, I knew I’d found the way:
There’s a Japanese private, in the Second World War
Wasn’t sure how to use one, but he knew for sure

That one DEMO, felt good in his hands
Didn’t take long, to understand
Just one DEMO, will beat the foe
But a one-way ticket, for DC heroes

So he did a banzai           

No way he’d get dropped   
With his H.E. man purse           
Those Yankee Devils will be stopped!

By a DC Hero,
For Nippon he will die!
He’s a DC Hero
He’s got one  DEMO,

DC Hero Yankees will die!
DC Hero   
Yankees will die!
He won’t sur-vive this fight.

On a road without a name, out on Corregidor
There’s a Sherman Tank Dozer, stopped in hex G4
Yeah, this day is his last, filled with lots of pain
That one  DEMO, gonna win the game

So he started chargin’
8 MF enough?
But if he gets wounded 
Gettin to the target will be tough!

For a DC Hero
   for Nippon he will die!
He’s a DC Hero
   for Nippon he’ll die!
YEAH   DC HERO
   Nippon he’ll die!
That one DEMO,   
   Nippon he’ll die!
He’s gonna win
   Gonna win tonight


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This is the moment that Mannerheim Cross is presented to the world!  Bounding Fire Productions is bringing down the hammer with this one.  In this episode we cover the contents of said game. The components and maps and such. The winner of Best of Friends 2 is announced also.

SHOW LINKS
Best of Friends on the Archive
SHOW TIMES01: Bantero
12:01 Contest BoF2 Winner Draw13:20 What's in the Box? 47:03 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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Thanks to Dennis for another roaring song parody to get this show off on the right foot.  Reminding usto establish those fields of fire. Lastly we take a deep dive into Best of Friends 2 Advanced Squad Leader Scenario pack that brings us some of the fantastic work from our friends in Sweden. 

SHOW LINKS
Best of Friends on the ArchiveMario's Dice Towers

SHOW TIMES01: Song Fields of Fire (Lyrics by Dennis Donovan)
2:31 Bantero39:00 Letters40:10 What's in the Box?  Best of Friends 2
54:06 Total Running Time
Fields of Fire  Lyrics

So said the father to his son

“Cover the city on board one,

Same for the big hill to west

Whether in tournies or playtest.”

“Av’nues of approach you must scry

How else to make the en’my die?

Make sure to watch for fire lanes

And to play the bore sight game!”

“Cover the flanks

Against cavalry and tanks

Cover your front

With Fields of Fire!”

“Remember to pre-reg and deploy

Remember rout paths to destroy

Remember always play your best

Remember, ah, I forget the rest.”

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.
Download this episode (right-click and Save)

Get ready to play a lot of VAASAL during this years ASL eOpen 2025. We talk with Dave Goldman who explains how to sign up, how the tournament works and other details.  It is one of the largest online tournaments.  You can actually win some cash prizes! Register today.  And Dave does a deep dive into Action Pack 14. 

SHOW LINKS
ASLOPEN.ORG

SHOW TIMES01: Song PTO (Lyrics by Dennis Donovan)
2:31 Interview with Dave Goldman39:00 Another contest winner40:10 What's in the Box?  AP14
59:35 Total Running Time

Startin’ PTO, with a good friend of mine

It’s the Allies vs. Nippon,  1939

Been wantin’ to get play it now, yeah it’s finally time
We’re gonna bust it out, set it up, check it out, PTO

Wah-waaaah (Yeah, yeah, startin’ PTO) wa wah
Wah-waaaah (Yeah, yeah, learnin’ PTO) wa wah
Wah-waaaah (Yeah, yeah, playin’ PTO) wa wah
Wah-waaaah (Yeah, yeah, lovin’ PTO) wa wah
Wah-waaaah (We’re, doin’  PTO) wa wah

We’ll play it on the main lands, and the Pacific isles
Learning the Chapter G rules, it’ll take quite a while
All the HASLs and campaign games, really drive us wild
C’mon and bring it on, set it up, check it out, PTO

Yeah, I spent all my money, and bought the PTO

(buyin’ it up, sortin’ it out)
Got a Gung Ho and BRT, and then Code of Bushido 

(openin' it up, checkin' it out)
Took it out to our club meet, for tell-and-show, yeah, yeah

(settin’ it up, layin’ it out)
Yeah, it’ the coolest thing around, tell your buddies it won’t let you down
We’re gonna bust it out, set it up, try it out, PTO

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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You can't have a better person than Bret Hildebran to come on the show.  We are lucky enough to have
him grace the Broadcast Foxhole with his wisdom and insight as the Director of Advanced Squad Leader Oktoberfest Tournament in Ohio.  It is the largest tournament in terms of ASL players in attendance. 

SHOW LINKS
ASLOK.ORG

SHOW TIMES
00:31 Interview with Bret Hildebran55:00 Bret draws the contest winner
57:31 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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Once upon a time, Kyle sent us a letter about playing Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit Solitaire (or solo). Kyle plays both sides and he does not have a split personality.  Although, in the picture to the right it does look like his defense has been frustrated by his own attack. Join us as Kyle reminds us why we like full ASL, other games, and most importantly why Starter Kit is so good, and why playing against yourself has it's virtues. 

SHOW LINKS
None Today

SHOW TIMES
00:31 Interview with Kyle Beach51:11 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.
Download this episode (right-click and Save)