Episode 106: Steve Dethlefsen Speaks

It is time for Christmas and this year we have a rather special gift for you, an interview with Steve Dethlefsen of Heat of Battle fame. Dave remembers ordering a ton of cool presents from HOB way back in the day before you were born. Yes, it was during the ancient days of Advanced Squad Leader, when we had to wander far and wide seeking scenarios to play. From a faraway land called California, from the mind of the wise men dwelling there came these ASL treasures.

Join us for this important addition to our History of ASL interviews. It's better than frankincense and myrrh, yes? (Not better than gold, though.)

SHOW GUIDE
2:00  Chat with Dave and Jeff
11:06  Letters
27:10  Steve Dethlefsen
1:02:55 Total running time

LINKS
HOB : God Save the King 
HOB: Cassino the Road to Rome
Mark Watson's ASL Annual Reprint Guide

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Episode 105: The Phone Lines Are Open

Happy Thanksgiving to our USA listeners. Just in time to cap off your celebrations, here is another episode of The 2 Half-Squads. Of course, this show is the last thing for which you should be giving thanks. If all the turkey, stuffing, casseroles, gravy rolls and pie didn't make you feel sick, this episode certainly will!

In this episode we take a close look at the 1990 ASL Annual. Now there's a great piece of Advanced Squad Leader history. Twenty-three years has not made this publication any less pertinent or valuable.

We also do a favorite segment called, "Terrain Time" in which we discuss Runways, Walls, Hedges, and Wall Advantage.  We hope that the information included herein, will help your game.

As usual we accept no responsibility if this episode doesn't help you one bit, but otherwise claim all accolades.

If it ain't the best thing in the world to be thankful for, at least it's 2nd best. Or maybe 16th . . . would you believe 23rd?

SHOW GUIDE
1:00  Banter.....does it ever end?
10:00  Letters
25:15  Old Man Dan's Funeral
26:30 What.... More Letters?
41:52 What'cha Been Playing Lately?
46:50 What's in the Box?
1:07:15 Terrain Time: Walls and Hedges.
1:38:16 Total running time

LINKS
FSB Prison (anyone know who created these? We want to give credit where it's due.)
Hong Kong Wargamer mentioned again.
ASL Annual '90 in the ASL Archive

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Episode 104: Guns, Tomatoes and Steel

Having recorded this episode nearly a month ago -- so it's been sitting in the can all this time -- one might think it's gotten a bit stale. But lo and behold, it's still fresh as a daisy and submitted here for your approval.

As you might guess from the photo at right, we're going to be talking tonight about a wonderful product from Bounding Fire Productions, Crucible of Steel. (Our sincere gratitude goes to BFP for this generous donation.) This is one What's in the Box segment you won't wanna miss. Don't yet own this module? Don't worry! There's plenty of time to get it on the top of your Christmas wish list -- right above that "peace on earth, good will etc, etc" part.

Ever seeking to surprise and delight our audience, somehow the show starts with a discussion of tomatoes. While this is certainly a surprise, were not sure how delighted you'll be. But hang on, Letters follows close behind, followed by a listener-submitted entry of Box Art Review.

It's all good. Go ahead and be jealous.

SHOW GUIDE
:30 -- Banter and Letters
19:30 -- Box Art Review of Journal 9 -- written by Dennis Donovan
30:49 -- Quid in Capsa? It's Crucible of Steel
1:10:09 -- Total running time

LINKS
Tarawa extension map (anyone know who created these? We want to give credit where it's due.)
Tarawa extended rules
The Dispatches from the Bunker website is down, but you can contact them by email at aslbunker@aol.com

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Episode 103: Rally 'Round the Rising Sun

Hello everyone. How are you today? We are fine. Really, we are fine.  Because the long awaited Rising Sun has arrived on our doorstep.  We dig into it on this show, and there is a lot of it. But first we read some wonderful letters, and take a look at some interesting scenarios, while discussing what we've been playing lately on the Advanced Squad Leader front.  Rise On!

Dave gleefully opens Rising Sun.

Beer Run (look closely at the "bombs")

SHOW GUIDE
0:03 ASL Song "I Ran"
3:30 What's With All This Banter?
12:13  Letters of All Sorts
34:10 What'cha Been Playing Lately?
45:25 What's in the Box?
1:04:06 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
JD JESTER Tutorials  
Rising Sun on Triple Point Blank Fire Blog
Rising Sun on Boardgame Geek 

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Episode 102: Can't Stir 'em With a Stick

Sad to say Jeff was unavailable for this one. However, we do have Dave, Aaron, and Old Man Dan for your amusement and edification. This show contains a review of the latest issue of the Banzai Newsletter from the Texas ASL gents, as well as the latest issue of Special Ops from MMP.  The conclusion of the rules section on the Japanese, covering HIP, AT DC's and more arrives here just in time for you to break out Rising Sun and play Advanced Squad Leader in the Pacific. Listen on!

SHOW GUIDE
1:30 Letters
12:27 Call-in Letters
17:15 Rules
36:00 What's in the Box?
49:00 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
CIA Study on Airpower vs. Bridges 
Vietnam Underwater Bridge
Warsaw Uprising Film
Playing Cardboard ASL Online

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Episode 101: T2HS Greatest Hits Part One

Greatest hits? Were there ever any real hits? Probably not! Never-the-less we are taking this time to bask in the glow of our 100 episode accomplishment by looking back at some highlights -- or maybe lowlights -- from the first 20 installments of T2HS. Ah, the nostalgia -- or is it nausea?


SHOW GUIDE
2:00:45 Total Running Time

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Episode 100: EPISODE 100!

It's hard to believe but this is EPISODE 100! We guess we never really doubted that we would make it this far. It's kind of easy when you are having this much fun.

This is the audio-only portion of the live broadcast we did via Google HangOut. You can check out the full video here. Creating a SHOW GUIDE for this one was a challenge as the ASL discussion was free flowing. There are some outstanding tips from Rich Spilky buried in here.

We'd like to thank the guests that joined us in the broadcast foxhole and via Hangout, and to all our listeners for making this podcast fun and --we hope -- valuable. We hope you enjoy this milestone episode.

Tim Klepaczyk as guest.

Jeff plays the T2HS theme song live!

Robin, Rich and Jared, arrive to talk ASL.

SHOW GUIDE

1:30 Mats Olsson
6:15 Acoustic Theme Song
7:00 Tim Klepaczyk
24:00 Stephen Hicks
27:00 Eddie Carlson
31:00 WWII Mini's
37:00 ASL Slideshow
55:00 Robin and Rich Spilky
1:04:00 Jared Spilky
1:23:02 Total Running Time


SHOW LINKS
Episode 100 on Youtube Channel



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Episode 99: Cleetus Returns

Hard to believe this is Episode 99, and that the big 100 is next on the docket! Time flies when you are having fun. We are very pleased to have Cleetus and Bob return for more Advanced Squad Leader fun and mayhem. It's amazing how many of the letters we receive lead to such interesting discussions. You can find out for yourself in our Letters segment. We take an in depth look at the ASL Annual '89. Thought we could review all of them, so why not start at the very beginning? It's a very good place to start. We end by covering the Trip Flare rules. Watch your step!

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Banter About Stuff
4:00 Letters (including a nice discussion of rules newbies miss)
21:15 What's in the Box
55:15 Trip Flare Rules
1:03:20 Total Running Time

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Episode 98: Bridges and Box Art, Baby!

Have you ever wondered about the finer points of the Bridges rules?  Would you be interested in a story about a man who went fishing, and caught a Panzerfaust?  Do you think that by listening to a Box Art Review segment discussing the Advanced Squad Leader Journals #7 and #8, that you could increase your cultural awareness and sensitivity?  Well, have we got the show for you! Join Cleetus, Dave, Jeff and Bob, as they discuss these topics and many more.

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Banter....bout Games.
11:27 What'cha Been Playing Lately?
29:31 Box Art Review
43:00 In the News
1:00:00 Terrain Time: Bridges
1:30:02 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Philipine Newspaper Writers They're Real!
See, we told you so! Here they are again.
Fishing for a Panzerfaust
Canadian war time Diary
Bomb in Budapest
Bye-bye Bunkers

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Episode 97: Night Witches and Banzais

It's a simple show, from some simple gents, with simple minds.  There's a little bit of chatter to get us started, then we are off to the races with another batch of letters.  Jeff presents a report on the death of Nadezhda Popova. She was one of the Night Witches (some spell it Nightwitches) of the Soviet Air Force. We continue with the Pacific preparation mode that we have been in lately, as we take a look at Bret Hildebran's very nice article called, The Art of the Banzai, from Journal #9.....#9......#9.....#9......

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Talk, Talk, Talk
14:00 Letters
33:00 What'cha Been Playing Lately?
44:45 Art of the Banzai Article Review
1:01:01 Soviet Night Witch Pilot
1:08:02 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
DuckDuckGo Search Engine
Nadezhda Popova
ASL Articles From the General
Banzai Discussion on Gamesquad
The M. Elfstrom Module Dependency Chart

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ASL Extra #16: To The Square

Most Slaski Bridge, Warsaw, Poland, January 17, 1945:  We got a bit rusty on how to produce an ASL Extra episode. The maps we used were a bit large and made the units harder to see.  We didn't give exact locations each turn for the Russians/Poles. We forgot to take a photo of the end game. But at least we are back to producing them.  Here we play the classic scenario ASL9  To The Square,  from Beyond Valor.  David Kleinschmidt's Germans will try to stop the Polish onslaught. The Germans have to defend a building and a board edge. Will Dave Timonen's Poles battle on to victory? Will the German's prevail? We hope you appreciate our work and that it might help you understand the greatest game in the world, Advanced Squad Leader.  In spite of the few errors, it is a glorious presentation. 

LINKS

Photos of scenario ASL9 TO THE SQUARE on our Flikr site

Listen now with streaming audio

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Episode 96: Budapest Slugfest with Bill Cirillo

If we were enjoying some nice Gouda and wine while recording, we could have called this episode Goudafest in Budapest. With casualty totals during the Siege of Budapest nearly equaling those of the Battle of Berlin, our current title seems more appropriate. Bill Cirillo was instrumental to bring Advanced Squad Leader players the historical module Festung Budapest. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of that Festung Budafest link on the MMP site to get many free downloads, including chapter H supplements, debris counters, new versions of the player aids and more. This episode is all Bill Cirillo, as Dave and Jeff share a wonderful opportunity to learn of all that went in to the development of this amazing game. Research, discussions with historians and authors, working with the wonderful folks at MMP, all were needed to make this module the success that it is.  We are glad to be able to get this information to you.

Sean Deller and Bill Cirillo playtesting.

Aerial photo of Budapest as mentioned in the show.

This one just might knock your socks off!

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Small Talk
7:00  Seige of Budapest History
10:40 Interview with Bill Cirillo
1:16:28 Total Running Time

LINKS
WWII: Siege of Budapest article that inspired the module.

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Episode 95: Twelve Heads on a Shelf

Welcome back for another exciting show, somewhere during which we occasionally allude or refer directly to Advanced Squad Leader. Wow, that sentence was awkward, but the show is very smooth. We hope you like it.

SHOW GUIDE
17:30 Call-in Letters
35:30 What Have You Been Playing Lately
44:45 Movie Review  - Enemy at the Gates
1:02:00 What's in the Box? -- Rivers to the Reich
1:21:10 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Monsters of Film Land
Famous Monsters
I'm So Ronery (adult content)
History of Rome podcast
Rivers to the Reich

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Episode 94: No Place Like Cholm

We're officially into summer now -- and we know this not because the Earth's northern semi-axis reached its greatest inclination toward our home star (the Sun), but because Dave is out of school and Jeff has begun mixing icy beverages for recording sessions. We're hoping the relaxed work schedules will allow us to get caught up on at least some of the many topics, products and interviews we've got on the Advanced Squad Leader to-do list.

Herein we finally get a look at Dave's copy of Kampfgruppe Scherer: The Shield of Cholm from the fabulous folks at Le Franc Tireur. It's been burning a hole in Dave's collection for lo these past months, so we're feeling much relief at finally unleashing it. And man, it doesn't disappoint. It's got winter maps, perspective artwork and . . . a girl's high school! Who could ask for anything more?

Of course, we also take time to share some wonderful letters. And Dave gives a right proper book report on Hell & Highwater, a history of the Canada's vital and victorious participation in the Italian campaign.

You're gonna like this episode, even if you live south of the equator!

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Chit-chat
8:00  Letters
27:15 Box Art Review -- Kampfgruppe Scherer
29:30 Whats in the Box? -- Kampfgruppe Scherer
56:30 Book Review: Hell & Highwater
1:16:15 Total Running Time

MORE LINKS
Our Facebook Page
ASL Chicago web site

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Episode 93: Where's the Wasabi?

One of the notable characteristics and attractions of wasabi is while it burns with some pleasurable intensity, its affects are relatively short lived. Chili pepper chemistry, on the other hand, is oil-based and so its affects are more prolonged. This episode is like a blistering chili pepper; it will blast you with pleasure straight away, yet the burning delight will linger long after we sign off.

Letters are conspicuously absent this time as there is so much other stuff to talk about. After some chit chat about beer and wasabi-laced seaweed, Jeff introduces Dave to Sabaton, a heavy metal band whose songs are based on famous historical battles, including many engagements from World War II. You like "chrome" in your Advanced Squad Leader? How about heavy metal? Then we talk about what we've been playing lately. We pull two nice items from The Box. Jeff reveals his recently acquired copy of Blood Reef: Tarawa and Dave goes through MMP's scenario pack, Best of Friends.

2:00 Somewhat entertaining banter
13:00 Music to Game By
20:00 What've You Been Playing Lately?
37:00 What's In the Box?
1:25:38  TOTAL

Sabaton
Best of Friends
Tarawa
Tarawa: Story of a Battle

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Episode 92: Tank-Hunting, Krupnikas-Drinking Heroes

Hey all! We have another really big show for you here, as Ed Sullivan would say. There are letters that spark all kinds of Advanced Squad Leader topics. Dave presents his review of the classic World War II film Saving Private Ryan. We continue our series on the Japanese with a look at the fanatically fun Tank-Hunter Hero. If you have been wondering what is being played at the PAASL club meetings lately you will be able to find out at the end of this episode. The members give a little report on the scenarios they played. Very enjoyable!

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Banter and Letters
37:00 Movie Review
49:50 The Japanese: Part Two (TH Heroes & Other Rules)
1:13:30 PAASL Update
1:40:30 Total Running Time







LINKS
World of Tanks: Japanese Anti-Tank Assaults
ASLML Hero Q & A
When is a Tank Hunter Hero Removed Q & A on Gamesquad
The Marvelous Drink - Krupnikas

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Episode 91: Round Table #3 The Last of The Last Bid

We know that you will be distraught to discover that this may, very well be, the last podcast about scenario RB5 The Last Bid.  It certainly is the definitive podcast about that scenario. The defending Russians (Tom Barkalow and David Kleinschmidt), have an in depth conversation about their victory against the Germans (Mark Woods and Dave Timonen).  We discuss our triumphs and tragedies, as well as our victories and defeats.  There's great tactical advice, and a heap of Advanced Squad Leader talk, contained here in.........as usual.

The Russian Left (Dave v. Dave)

The Russian Right (Tom v. Mark)

The Center

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 The Last Bid Discussion
8:00 The Last Bid Discussion

36:30 The Last Bid Discussion

1:26:40 Total Running Time

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Episode 90: Counter Attack

We've been doing this for ninety episodes (not including all the ASL Extras) over the last five years, and Jeff is ready for some [more] reward, respect and homage. So today we start the campaign to get his name on a counter. But he can't do it alone. Listen to this episode for details on how to help him in this offensive (adj) offensive (noun). MMP, watch out for Jeff's Counter Attack!

We also open some letters, as usual. And fortunately for Advanced Squad Leader fans, Dave brings us back on topic with a review of ASL Journal 1's article on PTO and two more Journals (5 and 6) for Box Art Review.

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Episode 89: Turning to the Japanese

Greetings honorable Advanced Squad Leader fanatics and listeners of this honorable podcast.  Yasumi-masu. With the impending release of Rising Sun, we thought we'd take a moment to peek through the bamboo and take a gander at the rules for Japanese infantry.  But first, we present some interesting letters, and take a look at FT127 In the Mouth of Madness. Listen well to Sensei David and Sensei Jeffery.
Hajime-masu! (is that Japanese for "Clink and drink?")

Dave's model of Frankenstein

Dave needs to clip his counters

SHOW GUIDE
1:00 Random Banter

8:00 Letters
36:30 In the News

40:00 What We Been Playing There at the ASL Open 2013
52:30 The Japanese: Part One (Infantry)
1:28:25 Total Running Time

LINKS

Curtis Brooks Blog - Playing of FT127 In the Mouth of Madness
A Board Game Geek Look at Code of Bushido
Museumfest Wargame Weekend in Eastpointe Michigan, May 17 & 18, 2013

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Episode 88: Broadway Dracula

Dave's Model of Dracula.

Choosing a title for an episode can be challenging -- especially when we can't figure out what we blathered on about for 90 minutes. So sometimes it's easiest to just dip in and grab a bite, which we have done here. And with vampires being all the rage on TV and movies, we just might lure a few new listeners to the show. Imagine the horror when they realize we're talking about a war game.

But rest assured, while we do actually discuss Broadway Dracula -- and a lot of other crazy stuff -- we still pay plenty attention to Advanced Squad Leader.

We start with letters of course, which is always a treat. Thank you to all who write us. And thank goodness for gmail filters which have been great at shielding us from all the hate mail. Then, there's plenty to discuss with What Have You Been Playing Lately? But Dave steals the show with a bountiful What's In The Box.

Enjoy. And that's an order!

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Episode 87: 20% About the Greatest Game in the World

Well, 20% about Advanced Squad Leader ain't bad......in fact we think this episode is downright good.  We let the Letters dictate the ASL content of most of this episode, and cover a potpourri of interesting and arcane topics.  You won't want to miss the discussion of some Irish beverages or the book reviews of The Angry Hills and With the Old Breed.  Jeff is unable to remove his critics hat and continues with a review of the MGM film Attack! Dave just can't stop with the Red Barricades info and covers the footnotes to RB Chapter O.

SHOW GUIDE
2:00 Random Thoughts

17:00 Letters
39:00 Whatcha Been Drinking Lately?

43:00 Book Reviews
1:04:00 A Discussion About Teaching WWII
1:06:00 Film Review Attack!
1:15:00 Red Barricades Footnotes

1:31:30 Total Running Time

LINKS
Youtube World War II Videos

New Russ Gifford Training Sessions Here
Red Barricades Cellars on Gamesquad
The Angry Hills 
Attack! Trailer
With the Old Breed

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Episode 86: Get Your Barricades On!

This show begins with a bit of banter followed by some scenarios we have played lately. Hear an in-depth discussion of the Red Barricades rules. We covered a few of those rules in the last episode, and this time we cover the rooftop and cellar rules that apply to all Advanced Squad Leader scenarios, as well as the additional rules that were added specifically for Red Barricades. Oh, and of course, we don't forget the culverts, storage tanks, and Molotov Projectors.

Turn 6 of The Last Bid

SHOW GUIDE

2:00 Very Silly Banter

8:30 Whatcha Been Playing Lately?

28:30 Red Barricades Terrain: Culverts, Cellars, Storage Tanks, Rooftops and  MOL Projectors.

1:35:35 Total Running Time

LINKS
Chuck Paynes Look at Red Barricades

Wikipedia Red Barricades
Red Barricades on Youtube

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Episode 85: Lots o' Boxes

It may not be Boxing Day, but there are a whole lot of boxes to go around in this episode. We tried to think outside of the box, but decided that boxes were the way to go. Bob Holmstrom joins us once again as "Box Art Review" makes its long awaited return. Not one, but two...count 'em two.... "What's in the Boxes?" appear here for your listening pleasure. Guess a 2 for 1 sale is always a good thing. We were feeling a little boxed in, so we introduce the Red Barricades rules with a look at sewers and tunnels. These rules apply to all of the Advanced Squad Leader scenarios. We plan to present part two of the Red Barricades rules in episode #86. Look for it soon.

Red Barricades scenario
 "The Last Bid" Set-up

SHOW GUIDE

0:00 Intro

5:00 Letters

11:30 Box Art Review

21:30 What's in the Box? Melee Pack 1
32:37 Red Barricades Terrain: Sewers and Tunnels
1:02:30 What's in the Box? Special Ops #2 & #3 and Operations
1:35:35 Total Running Time

LINKS

Southern California ASL Club
Operations and Special Ops

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Episode 84: Thank God for Tenure

Bob Holmstrom

We're always happy to have guests join us in the broadcast foxhole. Tonight we dust off the third microphone for seasoned Advanced Squad Leader player and friend, Robert (Bob) Holmstrom. Besides his warm demeanor and pleasant humor, he brings his many years of experience playing ASL. Bob's background -- coupled with Dave's -- actually makes this show a serious, credible resource for ASLers. We'll try to fix that in the future!

Dave Kleinschmidt

SHOW GUIDE
04: 15 - Letters
13:30 - What's in the [first] Box? CH #2
29:40 - What's in the [second] Box? Journal 10
48:30 - Playing "The Last Bid"
1:09:30 - Total Running Time

Jeff Hallett

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