The 2 Half-Squads

The 2 Half-Squads

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The 2 Half-Squads episodes

  • Episode 256: Goldman's Gold

    Todays show covers the terrain gems from Onslaught to Orsha II. That includes slopes, culverts, cupolas and a little bit more. We do apologize for the poor audio quality.  Covid is taking it's tech toll. 

    We follow that up with an in depth report from David Goldman about the ASL Open's first fully remote tournament played on VASL.There is a lot of valuable information in this interview. It's golden. You can learn about the in's and out's of such an endevour. Did you know that players still have conflicts regarding available time when they play digitally, even though the schedule is expanded?  Did you know that some players don't play on VASL?  What Rubes!  We've been playin' on VASL since way back in....since....well...oh wait, yeah...nevermind.  We wouldn't want to call any newcomers names.  How rude would that be?

    SHOW TIMES
    :30 Chit Chat
    9:00 Terrain Time
    31:35 Goldman ASL Open Interview
    1:12:21 Total Running Time





    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Ritterkrieg, Bounding Fire Productions, Broken Ground Design   and kind donations from listeners like you
    1 hr 13 min
  • Episode 255: Dinant in the Box
    Finally, we break open that box containing Croix  de Guerre and Dinant and revel in the wonderful  Advanced Squad Leader counters, maps and more.  Dan Dolan must be proud.  This game even has some NEW French counters, The Vichy French and Free French. We finish with a discussion of virtual gaming and the St. Louis Tournament with Jim Burris. 

     

     

     DON'T FORGET TO WATCH THE EPISODE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

    SHOW LINKS
    Ritterkrieg's Croix de Guerre at the Right Price!
    Early Discussion of Dinant on Game Squad  
      
    SHOW TIMES
    00:02 Banter
    8:00  What's in the Box?  
    34:00 Jim Burris Interview
    1:06:04 Total Running Time

    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Ritterkrieg, Bounding Fire Productions, Broken Ground Design, and kind donations from listeners like you.
    1 hr 3 min
  • Episode 254: Beanies Galore!

    Storms in Chicago, disaster strikes, cars stuck on lifts in garages without power, gaming table order attempt disasters on Kickstarter; these are just a few of the topics in Chit Chat. In the Box are both, the new Ritterkrieg Counter Stackers, and the rest of Onslaught to Orsha II (the parts that we didn't get to in our previous episodes).  Add in a look at Scenario HS2: War Without Quarter from Operation Watchtower, and you have yourself a nice little show mostly about Advanced Squad Leader!

     

     

     DON'T FORGET TO WATCH THE EPISODE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

    HS2: War Without Quarter from Operation Watchtower

    SHOW LINKS
    Ritterkrieg's Stack Guards
    Slopes Play Aid
    Onslaught to Orsha II  
      
    SHOW TIMES
    00:02 Can I Go Back to Turn Four?
    2:00 Chit Chat 
    16:00 Mysterious Benefactor and Call In.
    23:00 What's in the Box? 
    48:00 What Have You Been Playing Lately?
    1:06:04 Total Running Time

    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Ritterkrieg, Bounding Fire Productions, Broken Ground Design, and kind donations from listeners like you.
    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 253: Chas' Job
    This episode is a whole lotta letters covering a ton of ASL, VASL and T2HS topics. Our listeners bring
     
    their ideas, opinions, curses, praises, corrections, tech issues, playing suggestions and much more to our doorstep this show.  
     
    DON'T FORGET TO WATCH THE EPISODE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
     
    SHOW LINKS
    ASL Map of Players
    Adam Lunney Interview with Veteran
     
    SHOW TIMES
    00:02 Chas's Job Song
    4:00 Lot's O' Letters
    31:00 Free Sniper Counter Offer from Broken Ground Design
    1:00:50 Total Running Time 
     
    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Ritterkrieg, Bounding Fire Productions, Broken Ground Design  and kind donations from listeners like you.
     

    Chas’ Job (Sung to the Tune of Jessie' Girl)  
    Lyrics:  Dennis Donovan    Singer: The 2 Half-Squad Singers. 
     

    Chas he is this guy,

    Yeah, I knows he plays a favorite game of mine

    And he works for a company that’s always on my mind

    Chas has got himself a job and I want to make it mine


     ‘Cuz he gets free stuff all the time

    And he gets paid to go to ASLOCK, I just know it
    Yeah ‘n’ he’s designing stuff  with the guys,
    Late, late at night


    You know, I wish that I had Chas’ job!

    I wish that I had Chas’ job!
    Where can I find employment like that?


    Yes, ya know he has it made

    He makes 600K a year, plus some change
    You know, I feel so jealous ‘cuz his job’s A-S-L, dude
    And he gets to go on Gamesquad forums and answer questions, too


     ‘Cause he’s playtesting with the guys

    And he’s workin’ in the game industry, don’t ya  know it
    And he’s taking it by storm
    You got that right


    You know, I wish that I had Chas’ job

    I wish that I had Chas’ job
    Where can I find employment like that?

    Like Chas’ job


    I wish that I had Chas’ job
    Where can I find employment
    Where can I find employment like that?


    And I’m lookin’ on his website all the time

    Wondering why he won’t hire me
    Ask my buddies, I’ve  tried since ‘09
    Guess I should re-submit my resume


    Tell me, where can I find employment like that?

    You know, I wish that I had Chas’ job

    I wish that I had Chas’ job
    I want Chas’ job


    Where can I find employment like that

    Like Chas’ job
    I wish that I had Chas’ job
    I want, I want Chas’ job

    Hääkaa Päälle!

     

     

    1 hr 1 min
  • Episode 252: Too Much Good Stuff, You Hexy Thing
    It was such a pleasure to talk with Michael Koch in our second episode on the ASL scene in Germany. The discussion covers WWII sites to see in Germany when you attend the Grenadier Tournament, the history of ASL, and the wonderful fact that there is just too much good Advanced Squad Leader stuff being published today. What a problem to have! Michael also gives us a detailed look at what it takes to run a tournament and chats about his love for the Hatten in Flames campaign game.  And so much more.
     
    SHOW LINKS
    The Grenadier Tournament
     
    SHOW TIMES
    00:02 You Hexy Thing (Armoured Fighting Vehicles)
    4:00 Interview with Michael Koch
    Total Running Time 
     
     
    'You Hex-y Thing' (Armoured Fighting Vehicles)
     
    Lyrics by Clinton Paine, Performed by The 2 Half-Squad Singers
     
    Armoured fighting vehicles
    Wend along this hex-y thing
    My armoured fighting vehicles
    Could be moving wrong on this hex-y thing
     
    With my first armoured OB
    Move crew exposed down the open road
    Roll for ESB, I need this speed so badly
    My MMCs approach defending infantry
    In PFPh I was shooting at some people
    Now they're firing back at me on the IFT
     
    But my armoured fighting vehicles
    Overrun the hex they're in
    And my armoured fighting vehicles
    Keep rolling on, on this hex-y thing
     
    Where did you come from AT shell?
    How did you know where to conceal those guns?
    Did you know this game is everything I play for?
    Learn the rules, every night and day for?
    Then today I play my first combined-arms action
    Now you're firing next to me, giving it to me
     
    My armoured fighting vehicles
    Have nowhere to run on this hex-y thing
    My armoured fighting vehicles’
    PRCs long for their next of kin
     
    Oh! Curse you, you hex-y thing
    Point blank fire from the hex you're in
    There's no way you can miss my side armour, these flanks are thin
    Oh! It's snake eyes, this hexing thing
     
    Yesterday I mortar bombed those lonely people
    Now your rate of fire sprees serve it back to me
     
    My armoured fighting vehicles
    Are all STUNNED or wrecks burning
    My armoured fighting vehicles
    Face side down or exiting
     
    Oh, pinch me
    Stop retreating!
    Forget about those VCs, greenhorn

    Oh, I concede!

     

     

    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Ritterkrieg, Bounding Fire Productions, Broken Ground Design  and kind donations from listeners like you.
    1 hr 3 min
  • Episode 251: OTO Charts Away!

    Rich returns to the Remote Broadcast Foxhole and has a serious conversation with Jeff about the state of some young Americans lack of historical knowledge.  They also discuss Churchill's books on WWII. The meat of the show is a look at Rich's involvement with the development of Onslaught to Orsha II by Bounding Fire Productions. You get a chance to hear the designer of the new charts included therein discuss said charts. And we take a look in the box at all the components. 

     

    We are now posting our episodes (with more visuals) on Our YouTube Channel. The video version of this episode can be found here.

     

     

    SHOWTIMES

    1:00 Banter

    13:00 What's in the Box?

    1:08:46 Total Running Time

     

     

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

     

    1 hr 9 min
  • Episode 250:The Last Bid vs. Men of Steel

    What better way to start episode #150 than with the witty lyrics of a new song by Dennis Donovan.  Then the studious Rich Spilky joins us and presents his amazing analysis of both, RB5: The Last Bid, and RO5: Men of Steel from Red October. Advanced Squad Leader at its finest.

    We are now going to attempt to post most of the episodes with more visuals on our website. 

    The video version of this episode can be found here.

     

     

    In the What We've Played Lately segment Dave gives an after action report. He and Dave T have been playing scenario HS32: A Few Rounds More, from Multi-Man Publishing's Operation Veritable.  They played it on VASL.

    Go Them!

     

    SHOWTIMES

    0:02 Song "Under a Stun"

    4:00 Banter

    13:00 Analysis of The Last Bid and Men of Steel

    45:00 What Have You Been Playing Lately?

    1:01:55 Total Running Time

     

     

     

    SHOW LINKS

    Wu Wei's write up of his game of HS32 on Boardgame Geek 

    Rich's Article is in this issue of Banzai 24.1 

     

     


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

     

    Under A Stun 

    Concept & Lyrics:  Dennis Donovan

    Editing: Chris Gammon and Dave Wallick

     

    Under a stun

    The crew, whose hatch wasn’t down

    Under a stun

    The crew who was hit by a sniper’s round

    Read Chapter D!

    For differences ‘tween Shock and Stun

    Woe is me, the crew got stung

    They’re under a stun

     

    Under a stun

    The half-track crew, who had a bad day

    Under a stun

    The crew who can’t just drive away

    Blew their MC

    Sad it is

    They’re buttoned up ‘till next Movement Phase

    Seems to me

    For now they’re done

    They’re under a stun

     

    Under a stun

    It’s a tank.. hit .by falling rubble

    Under a stun

    MG TK, number, equals TK Roll

    So please tell me,

    I know they’re stunned, are they broken too?

    Buttoned up, having no fun

    They’re under a stun

    It seems to me, ….oh yeah

    They’ll be back up in a turn or two

    Stun is flipped, when CC’s done

    they’re under +1 (plus one)

     

    Under a STUN

    Those guys suffered a ‘K’ result

    Under a STUN, well

    This turn, they can do nothin’ else              

    Sniper got me, d’oh!  Commander’s dead!

    They’re buttoned up

    and they’re recalled too

    They exit,

    change has come

     

    They’re under a STUN

    56 min
  • Episode 249: All ASL; Except for the Parts that Aren't

    Mike Ryzy joins us once again in the broadcast remote foxhole. The NEW Rules segment themesong makes it's debut, thanks to Aaron Kleinschmidt and The Two-Half Squad Singers.

    Can a machine gun kill a lightly armored vehicle? Find out right here and right now. Then 

    break out your cover of   Onslaught to Orsha 2   

    for the return of Box Art Review. 

     

     

    SHOWTIMES

    1:00 Banter

    14:00 Rules!

    51:00 Box Art Review

    1:01:55 Total Running Time

     

     


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

     

     

     Download this episode (right-click and Save)

     

     

    1 hr 3 min
  • ASL Extra 26: Broich Bash

    Wow, it's been a long time since we put up an ASL Extra for your enjoyment. This one was recorded last year.  Dave Timonen faces off against Chris Walters, who is playing his first game in many years. It's amazing how the rules and tactics come back to him so quickly.  Advanced Squad Leader is like learning to ride a bicycle, once you learn you never forget how to do it.  Dave and Chris are playing Broich Bash, which was originally published in the old In Contact Newsletter.  Then released in an ASL Annual as, A69 (ROAR US 102/German 114).  It was then re-republished as Scenario 200 in YANKS! 2nd Edition (ROAR US 9/German 14). Set up your boards and play along with us. Or use VASL.

     

    SHOW LINKS

    Broich Bash on ASL Archive

     

     

     

     

    The German set up is in the upper left hand corner and the turn numbers for the rest of the photos are uncertain for labeling purposes, but you will easily be able to follow along as you listen. Hear a few tips, and grab some tactical advice as you join us for Broich Bash.

    2 hr 1 min
  • Episode 248: Patio or Porch?

    Mike Ryzy joins us once again as we banter about the film Gettysburg and more. We are always thrilled with the quality of the letters that our listeners send, and the ones we read on this episode, are no exception. VASL tips abound within them. We have quite a few scenarios that we have played lately.  All of them on VASL of course. Take a listen as Mike explains the "connected scenario" scoring system that we are using in the Objective Schmidt series of games.  

     

    SHOWTIMES

    1:00 Banter

    11:00 Letters

    41:00 Give Away Items Announced

    44:00 What Have You Been Playing Lately?

    1:13:55 Total Running Time

     

    SHOW LINKS

    ASL E-Open

    VASL 101 Tutorials on Youtube

    All Quiet on the Martian Front


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

    1 hr 14 min

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