The 2 Half-Squads

The 2 Half-Squads

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The 2 Half-Squads episodes

  • Episode 346: VC After Midnight
    ASL After Midnight! Finally an Advanced Squad Leader parody song that is about the victorious side of the game, rather than all of our wargaming foibles and faults. Donovan's game must have improved over the years. We finish off our coverage of the rules in section A with the rule 26: Victory Conditions. Now you will be able to go back to all those games you  have on hold and tally up the winner of each one.  That only took us 16 years. 
    Picture of Vincent Maresca's Dice Tower

    SHOW LINKS
    None today

    SHOW TIMES
    00:01 "ASL After Midnight" Song
    7:00 Rules VC 
    30:00 Dave's Digression
    34:00 Rules VC Part 2
    46:28 Total Running Time

    ASL After Midnight
    Lyrics by Dennis Donovan
    Performed by The 2 Half Squad Singers

    ASL after midnight, rolling dice till the dawn

    AFVs all burning wreckage, they're gone, they're gone

    I took the building 'bout 1 A.M. Rolling, rolling.
    Close Combat phase skills showing again, rolling, rolling.

    My squads lit up in his IR light
    Its time to assault move to the right.

    ASL after midnight, rolling dice till the dawn
    AFVs all burning wreckage, they're gone, they're gone

    Got T-34's, 1.8 inch thick steel, rolling, rolling

    Ready to target a German Stug, rolling, rolling
    The dice are heavy, the games at stake
    Can't roll boxcars and see the MA break

    ASL after midnight, rolling dice till the dawn
    AFV's all burning wreckage, they're gone, they're gone

    The air's electric, with Armored power, rolling, rolling
    My dice are hotter, by the hour, rolling, rolling

    The VC Buildings, are mine for the win
    The buildings rockin' as my squads advance in

    ASL after midnight, rolling dice till the dawn
    AFV's all burning wreckage, they're gone, they're gone

     

     

    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.
    47 min
  • Episode 345: Can't Explain (the Rout Rules)

    It's those scary rout rules! Yes, we finally tackle them in the rules section. They read fairly easy but require that 2 page example in the rule book.  Must be a bit challenging. 


    SHOW LINKS
    None today
    SHOW TIMES
    00:01 "Can't Explain (the Rout Rules)" Song
    3:00 Bantero
    16:00 Letters
    25:00 Rules
    58:28 Total Running Time

    Can't Explain
    Lyrics by Dennis Donovan
    Performed by The 2 Half Squad Singers

    These rules here guys

    A10.5 (can't explain)

    Smartest guys in the world

    Yeah, any Rout Rules, yeah

     

    Grofaz (can’t explain)

    Almost grokked them once

    but they (hurt my brain)

    Dizzy in the head when

    reading Rout rules

    They’re really complex,

    you know that it’s true

    They give me headaches

    again and again

     

    A Gordian Knot, dude

     

    Can’t explain

    Just what they mean

    Tried to decipher them dude

    But haven't a clue

    And they hurt my brain

    (can’t explain)

    Yeah, they're giving me a headache, man

    (can’t retain)

     

     

    A bit of help would

    make me real glad

    From the Rosetta Stone?

    That wouldn’t be bad

    I get little glimpses every

    now and again

     

    About what they mean, but

     

    Can't explain

    A single word

    I’ve studied those rules

    Since ‘eighty two

    And still can’t explain

    (wracked my brain)

    Even Oppenheimer,

    (can’t explain)

     

    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.
    1 hr
  • Episode 344: In the Bitterest Stack!

    Jump with us into the box and land on a brand new Bounding Fire Production called Bitterest Day. It includes a wonderful map of the Sugar Loaf Hill area on Okinawa, a sheet of counters, scenarios and more. 

     

     

     

     

     

    SHOW LINKS
    None today

    SHOW TIMES
    00:01 "In a Stack" Song
    6:00 What's in the Box?
    44:30 Contest Draw and New Announced
    50:28 Total Running Time

    In a Stack

    Lyrics by Dennis Donovan 

    Performed by The 2 Half Squad Singers

     

    I have three elite squads,

    I'll move them in a stack.

    With the 10-3 leader,

    now no turning back


    I need two more MF's

    to get across the road.

    I'll chance the minus two

    and hope I don't get hosed. 


    I'm moving all my guys

    I'll move them in a stack.

    If my mentor saw this,

    he'd have a heart attack!  


     My opponent shakes his head

    and chokes on his coffee.

    No I'm not a newbie

    but it sure seems like it, eh?


    I'm sure I'll kick myself

    and catch a lot of flack.

    I'll probably cry poor

    if my guys all get kacked.


    We might get blown away

    by ignoring all the facts.

    It's not easy moving out,

    when facing a kill stack

     

    My guys will hopefully

    survive 20 down 2.

    I need to get into

     

    the woods in hex G2.

     

    If I look hard enough

    into the rule book.

    Maybe I will find an out

     

    before my goose gets cooked!

     

    Maybe the Dice Gods

    will cut me a little slack.

    No cover anymore

     

    it's too late to turn back!

     

    I see the turns go by

    the end is getting close.

    Desperate times they call

     

    for desperate measures dude.


    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
    51 min
  • Episode 343: Number 9 in the News

    We hope that you enjoy the reprise of  Dennis Donovan's ASL Journal Number 9 parody song that we open with. We take a look at the Mobelwagon and Ostwind in our Armored Fighting Vehicles segment and then touch on What's in the News. What we are playing lately is scenario FB8: For Want of Crust or Crumb. If you watch on Youtube you can be among the first to see the newly framed art from Hedgerow Hell.  Or just look to the right. 

     

     

     

    SHOW LINKS
    Richard Bog's Plane Found
    D-Day Commemorative Coin
    D-Day Changed the Sand
    Clarence Bud Anderson Passes
    D-Day Map Makers


    SHOW TIMES
    00:01  ASL Journal Number 9 Song
    3:00 Chitty Chitty Chat Chat
    10:30 What Have You Been Playing Lately?
    17:00 Armoured Fighting Vehicles
    30:40 What's in the News
    44:24 Total Running Time

    ASL JOURNAL 9

     Dennis Donovan - lyrics and 'singing'

    Jim "MixMasterJames" Bera - audio


    I took my troubles down to Gaming Fools
    You know that game store that grog nard dude
    I went in Sunday when he opened up at nine
    ‘Cuz he plays A.S.L. and, he plays it all the time.
     
    At ASL I am a flop with it
    I haven’t won a game since 2006
    He did a face palm and he sighed a mighty sigh
    Said what you need my boy is, ASL Journal 9
     
    He grabbed one and rang me up and gave me a wink
    He said it will improve my game in under a week
    It’s got a cool CG that’s called Suicide Creek
    Scenarios, and articles, still in the shrink
     
    I stayed up reading until dawn that night
    I started playing every weekday night
    And when I beat my friend for the thirty-second time,                    
    I hugged my copy of, ASL Journal 9
     
    It’s play-tested well, they’ve worked out all of the kinks
    The 2 Half Squads they did a box art RE-view I think
    You'll soon be a 10-3 just like ol’ Colonel Klink
    Paid one-oh-five, it’s so worth it!  That's what I think!

    I go to every tournament in sight                                                       
    I became GROFAZ almost over night
    And when I cornered Chas at ASLOK twenty nine            
    He signed my copy of A-SL Journal 9
     

    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by Bounding Fire Productions, and kind donations from listeners like you.
    45 min
  • Episode 342: Cirillo and Deller Return

    It is part two of our interview with Bill Cirillo and Sean Deller. The conversation about Twilight of the Reich. and a little Festung Budapest continues. Stick around after the interview to hear about the new contest we are currently running. 

    Twilight of the Reich at MMP





    SHOW TIMES
    00:01 Yanks! (Song)
    4:00  Interview
    49:20 Contest
    54:42 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.
    55 min
  • Episode 341: Cirillo and Deller: They're Stellar!

    We are honored to have Bill Cirillo and Sean Deller join us in discussing all things Twilight of the Reich. As well as a little Festung Budapest in this two part interview. The sun is setting so you better get listening.

    Board with Major Overlays. Mini-Campaign?
    SHOW TIMES
    00:01 Right into the Interview
    4:45 Creation of Twilight of the Reich
    41:05 Possible New Project
    50:01 Total Running Time
    LOS Examples

    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)
    51 min
  • Episode340: Rushing Berserkers with Dennis

    he dashing Dennis Donovan appears once again in the Broadcast Foxhole with us and we have a
    roarin' berserk time. We revisit Dennis's Russian Berserkers song that originally appeared in Episode 154.  In the Box is Winter Offensive Pack #15 and our rules segment finishes the basic nationalities in such as the Axis Minors, Ethiopians, and Swedes.

    SHOW LINKS

    Bitterest Day at Bounding Fire

     

    SHOW TIMES

    00:01 Russian Berserkers Song with Lyrics by Dennis Donovan; Sung by The 2 Half-Squad Singers 

    1:45 Chitty Chitty Chat Chat

    13:05 What's in the Box?

    36:00 Upcoming Products

    39:00 Rules

    1:06:55 Total Running Time

     

    SONG LYRICS (sung to "There's a Hole in the Bucket" by Dennis Donovan)

    There’s some Russian berserkers! Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    There’s some Russian berserkers! Herr Colonel! Berserk!

     

    Well shoot them, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm!

    Well shoot them, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm shoot them!

     

    With what shall we shoot them?  Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    With what shall we shoot them?   Herr Colonel! With what?

     

    Mit der Flakvierling, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm!

    Mit der Flakvierling, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm Flakvierling!

     

    Der Flakvierling’s kaputt, Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    Der Flakvierling’s kaputt, Herr Colonel!  Kaputt!

     

    Well fix it dear Volksturm, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm!

    Well fix it dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm fix it!

     

    With what shall we fix it?  Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    With what shall we fix it?  Herr Colonel! With what?

     

    With a crew, dear Volksturm, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm!

    With a crew, dear Volksturm!  Dear Volksturm, a crew!

     

    The crew it is broken, Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    The crew it is broken!  Herr Colonel, broken!

     

    Well rally them, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm!

    Well rally them, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm, rally them!

     

    With what shall we rally them?  Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    With what shall we rally them?  Herr Colonel! With what?

     

    With a Feldwebel, dear Volksturm, dear Volksturm! Dear Volksturm!

    With a Feldwebel, dear Volksturm!  Dear Volksturm, Feldwebel!

     

    Der Feldwebel is busy, Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    Der Feldwebel is busy, Herr Colonel, busy!

     

    Doing what, dear Volksturm, dear Volksturm?!?! Dear Volksturm!

    Doing what, dear Volksturm?  Dear Volksturm, doing what?!?!

     

    On the radio, Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse! Oh Scheisse!

    On the radio with HQ, Herr Colonel, HQ!

     

    And what is he saying, dear Volksturm, dear Volksturm?

    And what is he saying, dear Volksturm, saying?

     

    There’s some Russian berserkers! Oh Scheisse!  Oh Scheisse!

    There’s some Russian berserkers! O! HQ, Berserk!


    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.

    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 339: Hakkaa Hokey Paalle Eclipsed

     We sure enjoyed Dennis Donovan's rendition of his humorous song that opened the show. We are dancing to the Hakkaa Paalle Hokey Pokey, as we speak. The lyrics are below.  Mike Ryzy joins us in the Broadcast Foxhole while we read some letters, announce a new contest and discuss the various qualities of two nationalities in the Advanced Squad Leader system; The Italians and the Finnish. Dave and Mike have started a game from the Grumble Jones Pack Scenario MM75: Woodland Pursuit and Mike and Jeff have played some starter kit.

     
    SHOWTIMES
    0:01 Song 
    2:17 Chit Chat
    9:15 Festung Budapest Pictures (Dave's Europe Trip)
    16:00 Remembering Dean Essig
    20:00 Letters
    29:55 What Have You Been Playing Lately
    34:00 Contest Winner and new Contest Announced
    38:00 Rules 
    58:10 Total Running Time

    SHOW LINKS 
    Fundraiser for Dean Essig's Grandchildren
    Bitterest Day
     
     
     
    Rally Phase Records Presents!
    Hakkaa Päälle  (To the air of "The Hokey Pokey")
    Concept and Lyrics: Dennis Donovan 
     
    You heard the gossipin’
    You checked the rumors out
    You started wonderin’
    What the heck it’s all about
    This thing called Hakkaa Päälle
    How on earth is that pronounced?
    Finns are, what it’s all about
    ----
     
    Beyond Valor had some Finns
    When BV first came out
    In “Fighting Withdrawal”
    They chased the Ruskis out
    Are they over-powered?
    We will never quite find out
    'Till Hakkaa Päälle’s out
    ---
     
    Hakkaa Päälle’s job’s
    To flesh the Finnish out
    And, the 3 Winter Wars
    And what Sissis are all about
    HASL Hakkaa Päälle
    Is the fourteenth module
    A.S.L.’s what it’s all about - Hey!
     ---
     
    Said, “Finns or I-tal-ee-ans?”
    When I pulled the counters out
    It’s a gray area
    So I checked the forums out
    It seems in Hakkaa Päälle
    A new color can’t be found
    Do you toss the old blue Finns out?
    ---
     
    When AFVs Russian (rush in)
    Throw kloriharstis out
    Pulkas are for sleddin’
    Not dancin’ - I found out
    These toys in Hakkaa Päälle like
    Fan sleds to get around
    Are what it is all about
    --- 
     
    You turned your playtests in
    You filled the forms all out
    That was decades ago
    Getting printed is in doubt
    You want the Hakkaa Päälle
    MMP, please put it out
    And end the HASL drought
    ---
     
    You put your order in
    You take your wallet out
    You put your card number in
    And ya print the receipt out
    You’ve pre-ordered Hakkaa Päälle
    And in a day or there about
    “Levels reached!” MMP did tout
    ---
     
    At Winter Offensive
    Some great news did get out
    Chas did some Facebookin’
    And got the updates out
    He did some Hocus-Pocus
    And he got the module out
    It’s Finnished, and finally out!
     
     
     
     
    The 2 Half-Squads is brought to you by our Patreons and Bounding Fire Productions. 
    The thoughts and opinions expressed on The 2 Half-Squads are not necessarily those of the hosts.
    59 min
  • Episode 338: We Ran

    Break out your Box art of Twilight of the Reich and Festung Budapest and put on your art appreciation eyeglasses for the return of Box Art Review. In the Box is the Grumble Jones Pack Vol 1 from the Kansas City March Madness folks. Scenario FB2: The Devils Free to Have a Try is analyzed in this show. 

    The 2 Half Squads are brought to you by the most Amazing Bounding Fire Productions and our Wonderful Patreons.

     

    SHOWTIMES

    0:01 I Ran Parody Song

    4:00 Banter 

    19:00 Box Art Review 

    23:15 Contest Winner and New Contest Announced

    38:00 What's in the Box?

    49:09 What Have You Been Playing Lately?

    1:00:47  Total Running Time 


    SHOW LINKS 

    Bitterest Day

    Grumble Jones Pack at Encircled Productions

     

    I RAN

    Lyrics: Dennis Donovan  Vocals: The 2 Half Squad Singers

    Assaulting down the avenue

    I never thought I’d see a stack like you 

    Thirty-six down two

    With 8-3-8s and HMGs
    That kind of at-tack broke me right into
    A 6 + 1 it’s, true.

    And I ran, I routed far away
    I just ran, I ran towards hex row A
    Low crawl?  No way!

    A DM appears above my head
    A badge of shame for the next turn or two
    The troops hate me it’s true
    The coward’s running faster still           

    Until some woods or buildings come in view                             

    ‘Til cover comes in view


    And I ran, I ran far from the fray;
    I just ran, ‘cuz no quarter’s in play
    In cover I will stay

    Reached out a hand to roll the dice
    I can’t believe I need to roll a two
    To rally?  Need a two!
    Got shot at and rout-ed again
    I’m running like that Forrest Gump it’s true                   
    Soon I’ll be off board two                                

    And I ran, don’t want to pass away
    I just ran, stay and fight? No way?
    We will lose any way

    And I ran, to live another day
    I just ran, what can a coward say?

     

    1 hr 1 min
  • Episode 337: Twilit Partisan Twits

    Join us twits as we look in the box to find Avalon Hill's Partisan, and Twilight of the Reich from MMP. Letters and a new parody song from Donovan and Rider!

     

     

     

    SHOW TIMES
    0:01 Song Partisans, Partisans!
    3:00 Chit Chat About Stuff
    14:50 Letters
    28:00 LFT #16 Board Controversy
    33:40 What's in the Box?
    53:18 Total Running Time

    SHOW LINKS
    ASL EU ROMA '24 Tournament 
     

    Partisans, Partisan  a parody song to Naked Eyes’ “Promises, Promises”

    Concept:  Russ Rider  Lyrics:  D. Donovan, R. Rider  8/2021

     

    When it first came out

    In the late ‘80s

    Never a doubt 

    That it’d be cool

    I remember buying

    Module 4 dude

    To complete my ASL kit

    At first I didn’t care for it

     

    Then played the Partisans!, Partisans!

    Knowing they’re stealthy

    Partisans!, Partisans!

    E.L.R. of 5 is neat

     

    They don’t surrender

    During the route phase

    And don’t disrupt

    No multi-hex fire groups

    Elite they are never

    Nor inexperienced

     

    Broken morale is a six 

    Irregulars are in the mix

    I played the Partisans! Partisans!

    You know I’ll always keep [the]

    Partisans!, Partisans!                             

    On the ‘to play’ list

     

    They’re in the BV counter set

    Are Partisans all Russian?  Nyet          

    There’s lots of other instances             

    Of other National Resistances [by]

    You can play the  Partisans, Partisans!

     

    I thought I’d never play 

    Irregular troops

    Partisans!, Partisans!

    Thought I’d never keep

    Module 4, Partisans!

    But now I believe!    

    The 2 Half Squads is brought to you by our sponsors Bounding Fire Productions and our wonderful contributors on Patreon.
    56 min

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