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 

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

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

 Download this episode (right-click and Save)

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.

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

Well, Skype seems to make Dave's voice sound like he is on a telephone. Which, we guess, he technically is.  In the box is Adam Lunney's wonderful book "We Together".  Give it a read. We recount our playing of  AP 118 Wise's War on VASL of course. And then we thought it would be fun to explore the controls on Virtual Advanced Squad Leader live on the air.  We thought it would be fun but you may think otherwise after you have a listen. 

SHOWTIMES

1:00 Banter

12:45 What's in the Box?

21:00 What We've Been Playing Lately!

30:00 VASL Explored

1:00:43 Total Running Time

Here is a show produced entirely in the Kleinschmidt household. We cover a bunch of back logged letters, dating back to February. Shame on us for being so delinquent. But at least here they are now and they are read by our guests Aaron and Laura Kleinschmidt.  Did we ever mention that "Operation Schmidt" should have been called "Operation Kleinschmidt"?    

In the digital box is the newest issue of Banzai from the Texas ASL gang and it is full of the usual tactics, reviews, and great opinions that we have come to expect from them.   Please pardon Dave's sniffles.  We couldn't edit them all out. 

SHOW TIMES

3:00 Letters

32:00 What's in the Box?

100:02 Total Running Time

The promised show about ASL in Germany is here. We have a few letters then we jump right in with the delightful and knowledgeable Kris Koch, joining us in the broadcast remote foxhole for a great interview. Mike Ryzy returns also to help us along.  Enjoy!

1:00 Brief Chat

3:00 Letters

25:30 Interview with Kris

1:02:20 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

Conscripts Tourney in Germany

Grenadier Tourney in Germany

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

Hey, really short write up for this show.,  It truly is, almost, well practically, 100% or so, dedicated to the Greatest Game in the World, Advanced Squad Leader.  We have our knowledgeable, loyal and true friend, Mike Ryzy on hand to help us explain our rookie foray into Virtual Advanced Squad Leader, otherwise known as VASL.   Did you win the British counters from Broken Ground Design?  Listen to find out.

SHOW TIMES

1:00 Banter Then on With the Show

50:00 The Brentrance Drawing

1:00:45 Total Running Time

Lock down continues. The Skype recording is a little sketchy on Dave's end but acceptable. Since we recorded this show the ASL Open has canceled as have most of our tournaments.  The Texas ASL tourney is still on as of now.  It is not scheduled to happen for several months yet.  We open the most excellent New England Volunteers Pack as well as an interesting gift from Dennis. Subsequent First Fire is the topic of our rules section today, and we are joined by a special quest for said segment. 

SHOW TIMES

1:00 Banter

12:15 New England Volunteers Scenario Pack

33:00 Quiz Show: The Rules

56:14 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

New England Volunteers Play Pack 1

Get Your Bob Ross Chia Pet Here

The enthusiasm of Derek Ritter is contagious and it makes for a wonderful interview even though Jeff and Dave were not in the broadcast foxhole together for the first time. Skype seems to suffice as Derek calls in to tell us all about the gaming stuff happening in North Carolina area, the tournament there, and all the new products that have hit the ASL market lately.  There is a lot to hear here so have a listen. Let Derek's fire get you fired up for some Advanced Squad Leader play during your Coronavirus lock down!

1:01:11 Total Running Time

SHOW LINK

Derek's Youtube Channel

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