The 2 Half-Squads

Interesting listeners want to know.  Is it Dave and Jeff, or Jeff and Dave? Well everyone knows that these things are done alphabetically.  That would make Dave and Jeff  the official way of addressing the hosts of The Two Half-Squads, the one and only podcast dedicated 100% to the greatest game in the world: Advanced Squad Leader.

In this episode lot's o' lovely letters from our lucky listeners cover such topics as tournament announcements and other things of ASL interest. We review Arnhem: The Third Bridge by Critical Hit and offer it up as the perfect prize in for our newest contest. To win this CH product simply send us an email with "Dave and Jeff" in the subject line, or "Jeff and Dave", but putting "Dave and Jeff" will get you entered into the contest TWICE. You will need to pay part of the shipping unless you live in the continental U.S.

Our What's in the Box segment also includes a look at Broken Ground Design's full compliment of full color Axis Minor counters for use with Advanced Squad Leader. 

SHOW TIMES

1:00 Maybe Interesting Conversation

10:00 Letters

33:00 What's in the Box?

44:00 Contest Announced 

50:00  More What's in the Box?

SHOW LINKS

Canadian ASL Tourny

Heroes ASL Tournament UK

Arnhem: The Third Bridge on BGG

Axis Minor Counters from Broken Ground Design

We decided not to link any of the music mentioned in the show.  There is such a thing as evil.

Another amazing interview.  This time we snag David Roth who utilized 25 research books and other sources including some interviews with survivors of the battle in order to design this amazing module. . He tells us of the challenges and joys of producing such a marvelous game for Bounding Fire Productions. Learn some history of the battle while you listen.  Corregidor: The Rock contains a beautiful map and David gives us a thorough tour of the terrain and we get a preview of David's upcoming projects. Super!

SHOW TIMES

1:00:20  Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

ASL Open Registration and Scenario List 

CASLO XXIII

Nadir Elfarra of Advanced Squad Leader Fame

We actually never discuss the ASL Ladder.  We just put it into the title because it rhymes with Nadir, our guest. Nadir Elfarra has been a long time contributor to the world of Advanced Squads Leader. He was with the players around Los Angeles, Mark Neukom Steve Dethlefson and Eddie Zeman and many others who were all producing ASL stuff.

He has worked on Parkers Crossroads, done lot's of art for various publications.  Operation Watchtower was his design and his original map can be found here at Desperation Morale,  Nadir has been a play tester and proof reader for Decision Games as well  as Multi-Man Publishing. 

The quality of the audio varies but shouldn't be too distracting.

This interview is loaded. Enjoy.

Total Running Time 

48:something

Bob Joins us again and we open with some BEARS talk, and since that will appeal to very few of you we also have a discussion about Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Trilogy and Russians in general. What we have been playing lately includes scenario ASL 173: Father Sunshine, and WO 20 Sealing Their Fate.  What's in the box? gives us an opportunity to review the Russian counters from Broken Ground Design as well as the new Multi Man Publishing product for the Advanced Squad Leader game system, Hatten in Flames. While we have that game out in front of those the Muses spoke and asked us to do a Box Art Review. So we did.

Jeff found a full view of the original work that does verify his Poker Dog observations as you can see. 

SHOW TIMES

0:01 Song An Overun

3:00 Opening Conversation

18:30 What Have You Been Playin' Lately?

26:20 What's in the Box? Broken Grounds Russian Counters

36:00 Box Art Review

48:00 What's in the Box? Hatten in Flames

1:12:30 Total Running Time 

LYRICS to "An Overun"

Lyrics by Dennis Donovan, Performed by Megan Kleinschmidt and The 2 Half Squad Singers

I saw him at the open and my heart stood still


I’ll do one one-one, an over run?


I needed some CVPs and it fit the bill


I’ll do one-one-one, an over run

Yeah, he’s on a hill
, Yeah, an easy kill


Went into hex G1
one-one-one, an over run

Knew not what I was doing, but I had to try


I’ll do one-one-one, an over run


The con-cept seemed easy, but my-oh-my .


I’ll do one-one-one, an over run

Yeah, I had to try ...
Yeah, it’s do-or-die
... Yeah, I love this rule.


To do one-one-one, an over run

I declared one-one, an over run


I’ll do one-one-one, an over run

I attacked with 7 FP and I rolled a 5

I did one-one-one, an over run


Rolls like that are gonna get his guys


I did one-one-one, an over run

Yeah, it went just fine
....Yeah, ‘till I hit that mine
.....Yeah, if ya get immob’d


It’s half FP on, an over run

Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

An over run run       

I did one-one-one, an over run

A very Happy New Year to you all!  We wish all of you the best for a wonderful 2019 and many

more. The power goes out on was while recording which proves to be a fortuitous event, because when we resume recording weeks later we are graced by a visit from Bob Holmstrom as he makes a return to the broadcast foxhole. During What's In The Box?, we look at many of Broken Ground's new counters for ASL, including the panzerfaust counters, the IIIFT residual and fire lane counters. There are also FFE counters that have the firepower of the OBA right on them.  And if you are tired of using those motorcycle counters for your bicycles you will be thrilled to find these new bicycle counters that include pertinent information like the fact that bicycles gain movement when heading downhill.  To wrap up this episode we play Quiz Show. So grab your bell and play along with us!

SHOW TIMES

1:00 Banter

7:30 What's in the Box?

26:30 Quiz Show

1:04:43 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

Broken Ground Heretical Counters

Holiday greetings listeners. We hope this yuletide season finds you all cheery and staying warm by the fire. What better time than this to have a cup of hot coco and have a listen to the one and only podcast dedicated nearly 100%  to the greatest game in the world....Advanced Squad Leader.  In this episode Dave compiles a set of recordings he had hanging around on his computer, including a look at a scenario or two with local ASLer's Mark Woods, Doug Gries, Bob Holmstrom, and Dave Timonen, and the guys from St. Louis, Jeff Ital and Jim Burris.  Megan joins us to read some letters in Jeff's absence. We finish up with a look at Broken Ground Designs Berserk counters and a reading of the footnotes to Tarawa. Listen while you drive and enjoy.

Jim Burris (above) Jeff Ital (below)

SHOW TIMES

1:00 Letters

8:40 Scenario 166 Skiing in Lapland Analysis

18:30 Scenario O15 Highland Frank

22:00 Scenario Across the Issel

28:15 Scenario J141 Riding With the King

33:30 St. Louis Club Update

 38: Broken Grounds Berserk Counters

58:38 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

ASL St. Louis

Recorded on a wintry night, we managed to finish #211 just before the power went out (forcing the postponement of the recording of #212), this episode features a whole bunch of letters, the announcement of the winner of the game YANKS, and an in depth look at the rest of the scenarios from Korea: Forgotten War.

SHOW TIMES

1:00 Chit Chat

15:00 Letters

33:00 YANKS Winner Announced

37:30 Forgotten War Scenarios Part II

1:08:12 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

ASL Germany - Grenadier Website

If you are quite certain that you want to miss the bantery discussion of some interesting films that Dave and Jeff have seen lately,  as well as info on how crackers are made you can skip right to minute nineteen and get a close look at the Kampfgruppe Scherer Player's Guide. This guide can provide you with a big assist when you play the game.  

We are proud to present the last of our ASL Open interviews, with Bret Hildebrand and Mike Stubits,  and this is one you won't want to miss.  

Why would you want to miss any of them?

0:01 Song SMC's a Goner (lyrics below)

3:03 Banter

19:20 Kampfgruppe Scherer Player's Guide

36:00 Interview

1:04:40 Total Running Time

LINKS

Kulning

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Le Franc Tireur Kampfgruppe Scherer Guide

Order it here at Ritterkrieg

Far Away Coast by the Drop Kick Murphy's

RALLY PHASE RECORDS PRESENTS!!!!

SMC's A Goner             

Concept:  D. Wallick

Lyrics:  D. Wallick, D. Donovan

Vocals:  Stephen Stewart Mixing/Technical: Jim, the Mix-Master Bera Sung to The Smiths' song "Girlfriend In A Coma"

Leader blew morale check, oh no!

I know, it’s serious

He was already broken, ya know

I know, it’s really serious

And do I want him to roll a wound check? No!   

‘Cuz ya know, I would hate anything to happen to him

No, I don’t want to lose him

Do you really think he'll survive?

Do you think he’ll roll less than ‘5’?

Duuuuuuu-uuuuuuuude.

SMC’s a goner, ya know   

I know it’s serious

Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, my buddy   

Goodbye

There were times when I could have rallied him

‘Cuz you know, it’s not like he’s a 10-2 and he just got

Got a field promotion

Now he's taking the check, time to fret

And  he rolled a ‘5’ and he died.

Doooooo’oooooh!

Let me whisper a few bad words

I know it's serious 

Hear the dulcet tones of Dave's nose flute, as well as Jeff's new flute provided to The 2 Half-Squads courtesy of Bill Forg and his amazing 3-D printer.

Many of you have been waiting a long time for the return of Box Art Review. The fine art chosen this episode is from Winter Offensive Pack #9.  Pull up an image from your google search and have a gander.  Beware, it is quite frightening......and just in time for Halloween!

Dave covers a playing of scenario WO11 Across The Issel and scenario ASL172  The Last Attack. We also have a wonderful interview with Chris Garret from the ASL Open.

 The contest for the free copy of YANKS ends November 22nd. We already have tons of entries. Good luck to all you Yankee Devils.

Chris Garret at the ASL Open 2018

SHOWTIMES

1:00 Too Much Boring Banter

10:00 What Have You Been Playin' Lately?

25:00 Box Art Review

41:00 Interview With Chris Garret

58:40 Total Running Time

Disco, rap, space travel and cultural preferences are just a few of the topics discussed before we dive into our coverage of the greatest game in the world - Advanced Squad Leader. 

Join Fred Canzolino and Mark DeVries as they discuss their favorite aspects of ASL.

We announce the winner of our contest for Hot Stove 3, you'll have to listen to find out if you are the lucky winner. There is also a new contest announced. Yes, you can win YANKS.  Just send us an email with the word Yanks in the subject line and you will be entered into our contest to win a brand new game of YANKS, kindly donated by Mark Woods. Enter by the Thanksgiving deadline.   Thank you Mark! Broken Ground Designs' new partisan counters are reviewed in What's in the Box.  We are big fans of these counters.

SHOW TIMES

:30 Banter

15:00 Winner Announced

24:30 What's in the Box?

31:40 Letters 

45:30 Interviews

59:35 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS

Charts of Space Missions