Episode 236: How to Defensive Fire During the Holidays Like a Pro

Dave editing at his local Photos dining place. 

Greetings Cheery Holiday Listeners,
We believe you will forgive our slightly longer than usual banter, when you hear the heartfelt sharing that is included therein. Please remember to see your doctor.  In our Rules segment we cover First Fire rules and marvel that it took us nearly eleven years to get to them.  Learn all about First Fire in our usual kind of quiz show format.  You get to see what you know as you try to guess the answers along with us.  Review those FFMO and FFNAM modifiers while you listen.
Get over to the new Italian ASL company and pre-order Brevity Assault and Biazza Ridge.

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Banter
15:00 The Rules Rule
47:00 Letters
1:13:40 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Advancing Fire Game Company

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


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Episode 235: Dashing Dave Ramsey and the ASL Archive

Dave Ramsey ASLer and ASL Archive Manager

Dave Ramsey operates the fantastic Advanced Squad Leader website The ASL Archive. You kind find a trove of interesting ASL material here, publications, scenarios reviews, opponents wanted and even a source that tells you the average length of a scenario. The audio quality is a bit uneven and we apologize but you will learn of all the angles that you can get on a scenario in this interview with Dave.


SHOW TIMES
55:10 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Illuminating Rounds on Youtube
Barkmann's Corner Early Animation

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

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Episode 234: Hooked on the Swedish

What a great opening song, thanks to Dennis Donovan again! Speaking of the Swedish Volunteer pack Dave discusses his latest game from said pack, SV9 Mexico and Morocco.  A new segment about books premieres in this episode. You may be saying to yourself...."self, haven't the Half-Squads always talked about WWII books?" And you would be correct, however Dave's review of Brackman's book about the Tokyo War Trails, titled The Other Nuremberg, goes into more detail than the normal banter.
We finally get to taking a gander at Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit #4 thanks to Ritterkrieg.com.

SHOWTIMES
0:01 Hooked on the Swedish Song
3:20 Banter With Special Offers So Listen Closely
16:50  What Have You Been Playing Lately?
29:30 Book Review
39:35 What's in the Box?
1:11:05 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!

Hooked on the Swedish

Concept:  The2HalfSquads

Lyrics:  Dennis Donovan

I just played the Swedish, Versus the Ruskis, 
Somewhere in North Finland, 1943

Yeah, I saw those, Counters blue on white, 
For the first time, Earlier tonight, now..

I…, I’m hooked on the Swedish
And I don’t mean IKEA
I mean the Volunteers

The Swede pack’s sweet as candy, But it’s hard to find
It runs about one thirty, From an auction house on-line

It’s quite the smorgasbord:, 14 scenarios
One hundred plus counters, Historical notes

Chapter H and, Chapter A updates
Give it a whirl, It will turn you on

I..., I’m hooked on the Swedish
And I don’t mean IKEA
I mean the Volunteers

Go and get one, Before they’re all gone
Give it a whirl, Get your ASL game on!

I, I’m hooked on the Swedish
And I don’t mean IKEA
I mean the Volunteers

I’m hooked on the Swedish
And I don’t mean IKEA
mean the Volunteers

Said I’m hooked on the Swedish
And I don’t mean IKEA
I mean that ABBA band

Hooked on the Swedish

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Episode 233: Counterstruck!

Hello Fans, Friends, and Family,

Sorry for the slight delay in publishing, we won't name names but....Dave forgot to keep our scheduled time.  A time that was already delayed due to scheduling issues.  But, anyway.

We hope you enjoy the wonderful opening song by Dennis and Stephen Stewart.  

The contest for the French Broken Ground Design Counters ends December 15th. Simply send us a gmail with French Counters in the subject line and you will be entered into our drawing.

For Box Art Review we run a special compare and contrast of bonus pack #7 and #10 viewed side by side. Dave adds an in depth look at the scenarios of Hatten in Flames.


The beautiful shot glasses with Clink and Drink printed on them along with our logo are available now in limited quantities (only 14 to be exact). Send us a gmail asking if there are any available and we will let you know what you need to do to get one....if you are one of the lucky 14 that is

.

SHOWTIMES
0:01 Counterstruck Song
5:10 Banter With Special Offers So Listen Closely
19:13  Box Art Review and Shot Glass Fundraiser Details and Unicum Taste Testing.
27:00 Actual Box Art Review
35:00 What's in the Box?
45:00 Hatten Scenarios in Depth
1:09:30 Total Running Time

Rally Phase Records ™ presents!

Counterstruck   

To AC-DC’s “ Thunderstruck”

Concept & Lyrics: Dennis Donovan

Vocals & Mixing:  Stephan Stewart

So I thought

In the middle of an ASL match (Counter!)

I looked ‘round

And I knew there was something I lacked (Counter!)

My mind raced,

And I thought what could I do? (Counter!)

And I knew

A named counter, I needed one too (Counter!)

One with MY name 

I figured out

Getting ones tough

That tore me apart

I’ve been

Counterstruck!

Well maybe someday?

Nah, forget it, but then this went down:

Went to the Texas, Team Tourney and I saw me some

They had counters 

Counter sheets with attendee’s names

They are so cool

They’re all 9-2s

Yeah, yeah they, they blew my mind

And I was shaking at the knees

I just could not believe

What an amazing find

I’ve been

Counterstruck

I was shaking at the knees

There was a counter of me!

Counter struck, Counterstruck, Counter struck, Counterstruck

It’s alright, I just got mine

It’s alright, I’m lookin’ fine, fine, fine……

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Episode 232: How Many Half-Squads Does it Take to Make a Podcast?

Lately Dave has played SV7 Probing Korsus from the Swedish Volunteers Pack.  We cover Stream-Woods hexes, Light Woods, Prepared Fire Zones and Towers in our Terrain Time segment. That is a ton of terrain and it moves us nearer to the end of the terrain rules section in the Advanced Squad Leader Rule Book. At the end of the episode we tack on some recorded ASL talk from a meeting of the PAASL club, you may enjoy some guys just talking about ASL.


SHOW TIMES
1:00 Chit Chat
11:30 What Have You Been Playin' Lately?
19:30 Allied Minor Counters from Broken Ground Design
23:00 Terrain Time
47:45 PAASL Chat - Just Talking ASL
56:00 Total Running Time


SHOW LINKS
Nashville Parthenon
Scenario SV4 Robing Korsus in the Scenario Archive

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Episode 231: A Very Narrow Corridor of Normal

Not sure that opening the show with banter about aging bodies is, by any stretch of the imagination, a good idea, but of course we do it anyway.  Then we discuss getting stuck in the mud in your Kayak.  Kayakers beware. During the letters segment we take a look at the new Pacific Theater offerings from Broken Ground Design. Exciting stuff. We introduce you to a few other authors of WWII related books and you can check out their links below. Finally, grab your conductor hat and get on board as we depart the station to cover Railroads and Steeples during Terrain Time.
Toot-toot!

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Banter
17:30 Letters
41:00 Terrain Time
1:13:52 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS:
Griff Hosker - Author
Broken Ground Counters Explained
Adam Lunney- Historian, Author, Loyal Listener
Ritterkrieg #83 Announcement
Bounding First Fire Tournament 2019

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Episode 230: Dave, The Fonz, and Me

At the start of this episode there are a few issues with Dave's volume. Darn. But it is corrected relatively quickly. Yay.
Together we discuss our visit to Comic Con and our wonderful time with Henry Winkler. Then Dave tells what it is like to become an almost empty nester, then he gives us an update from the Palatine Area Advanced Squad Leaders (PAASL) game club. During that report, you will hear from Will Marrerro, Dan Janezik, Mike Stubits, Ron Schatz, and Bill Forg. They discuss Scenario RPT 55: Coudehard Cache, Scenario HG-2 Konista Crackdown and Scenario 43: Into the Fray.

Letters are as fascinating as usual.

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Banter
13:00 Letters
31:00 PAASL After Action Report
58:45 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Bunkers in Greece
Wild West Fest

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

The Greeks attacking the hill on left and woods on right.

Near the end. Success in taking the hill and most of the village.

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Episode 229: Andrew Rogers Man of Hatten

We are honored to have the privilege of interviewing the designer of Multi-Man Publishing's Advanced Squad Leader Historical Module Number 9, Hatten in Flames, Andy Rogers. He is an interesting person to talk with. The game is a wonderful module with 8 scenarios and 2 campaign games based on the World War II battle. Check out the amazing website linked below to learn more about the battle and have a listen to this episode to learn more about the game.

SHOW TIMES
1;00 Intro
3:00 Interview
1:02:35 Total Running Time



SHOW LINKS
Andrew Rogers Hatten Website Download this episode (right-click and Save)

Episode 228: It's Greek to Me

Welcome to another fascinating episode of the one and only podcast dedicated 100% to the greatest game in the world, Advanced Squad Leader. Mike Stubits joins us again as Dave banters a bit too long perhaps but he recounts his wild adventures while in Greece. Just check out these photos from a most romantic Air B&B.  That ought to get you interested. In our What's in the Box segment we look at Broken Ground Designs' Hungarian counters. Get your bell ready to ring in and play along with our Terrain Time segment on roadblocks. There are several after action reports in the PAASL recordings. Dan and Dave played Scenario WO13 All The Stops.  Mike and Rich played FrF93 Wiener Walzer.  ASL newcomer Vince played Ron in S1 Retaking Vierville. Get some advice on how to play them here.

Dan planning a move in WO13

SHOWTIMES
1:00 Dave's Amazing Greek Odyssey
20:00 Contest Winner Announced
25:00 What's in the Box?
34:00 Terrain Time
46:00 PAASL Talk
1:06:40 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!


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Episode 227: Pachyderms and Pillboxes

Mike Stubits joins Dave and Jeff in the Broadcast Foxhole as he discusses his gaming background and his tournament experiences.  He is freshly back from the St. Louis Tournament that he attended with Rich Spilky.  And he recounts his adventures and the wonderful generosity of the Texas ASL boys!

You can brush up on your pillbox rules during Terrain Time, which doubles as a kind of Quiz Show so pack up your pachyderms and your ASL kit in your trunk, and play along!

SHOW TIMES
1:00 ASL Tournament Talk
29:00 Terrain Time
1:06:20 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Pachyderms at Brookfield Zoo
Boardgame Geek Pillbox Questions



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


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Episode 226: Red Factories for Snobs

Some banter brings talk of the American Civil War in gaming, and in the book about the Civil War, Battle Cry of Freedom. The discussion of that book leads us to a discussion on economics, (wait, did we just say economics?) yes, we did. 

The letters from our fascinating listeners are as interesting as usual, and if anyone knows where the current ASL Ladder is located please let us know.  Because interesting listeners want to know.

We then take a deep look in the box, and finally find Red Factories by Multi-Man Publishing! There is a lot of content to see, the original Red Barricades maps are here, as well as those for the new Red October game. That is four mega maps! Also included are some new counters, as well as reprints of those from Barricades.  We take a gander at all of these excellent ASL accessories. It's a sneak peek into Advanced Squad Leader heaven.

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Too Much Chat, but it's Fascinating Chat
20:00 Letters
32:00 What's in the Box?
57:00 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Battle Cry of Freedom Book
Red Banner from DC Conscripts


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

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Episode 225: Quarter of the Way to One Thousand

Scenario 114 Cautious Crusaders from Armies of Oblivion by Multi-Man Publishing is featured in our What Have You Been Playin' Lately? segment. You can actually hear Dave whine about vehicle bypass freeze moves . . . whine, whine, whine. We open the box and discover Winter Offensive Bonus Pack #10. Four scenarios and two of them funky boards are included. Another glance in the box reveals the counter sheets to Red Factories. What, we haven't covered that yet?


SHOW TIMES
1:00 Banter
10:35 What You Been Playin?
28:00 What's in the Box?
52:00 What's also in the Box?
1:03:03 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!

Scenario 114 Cautious Crusaders

Stupid vehicle bypass freeze!

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Episode 224: Bupkiss (Bubkes?)

Scenario SV8  Mud and Blood 

Lots of letters get us off on the right foot on this show. You can always rely on the listeners to provide some great material. Tournament announcements, commendations, questions and answers (although not very good ones, from us). What's in the Box? examines the Polish and Romanian counters from Broken Ground Design and...wait for it....the new contest!  BING, BING, BING, simply get on Twitter if you can, Tweet at #T2HSPoles state that you would like the Polish counters and you will be entered in the contest.  We realize there could be some complications with this method including the fact that if you are not on Twitter you will hate us, but we will just have to figure it out as we go. Contest ends July 31st.  What we have played lately is SV8 Mud and Blood, FrF97 Wrecking the Rentals, and ASL111 Balkan Sideshow.

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Random Talk
 9:30 Letters
37:30 What's in the Box?
47:00 Contest Announced
50:00 What Have You Been Playing Lately?
1:07:02 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Malaya Madmen Singapore July 26, 2019
Canadians and Brits at Arnhem
Duitse aanval bij Westervoort Video 10 mei 1940
Tanker Coin
Wild West Fest ASL Tourny
Possiby a Real Best of List That We Are On
St. Louis ASL Tourny
Peg Leg Porker - Nashville
ASL Balkan Sideshow Controversy on Game Squad

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Episode 223: Simply Spilky

Rich and son Jared

You'd think after 222 episodes we would know our equipment through and through, and all the steps for recording would be deeply ingrained in our minds. Alas, NO. I (Jeff) messed up the audio on parts of this otherwise very excellent episode. Please pardon my blunder. (If you would like a written apology, just send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a check for $22.30.)

Anyway, it's still an excellent show as far as content is concerned. One need only mention the name Rich Spilky and you can be sure there will be plenty of great ASL talk. Tonight Rich is back with more of his player aid tables, and we discuss the four new additions. They're sure to make your ASL gaming easier and more enjoyable. We also discuss a future project he's got in the works regarding the statistics behind drawing OBA cards. And we talk about his recently published replay and analysis of The Last Bid. Finally, his son Jared joins us to chit-chat about gaming from the perspective of a 20-something.

Show Links

Where in the world is this sharp dressed man?
The Dead Sea in Jordan.

The latest Spilky tables
Robert Medrow's OBA article in The General Vol 24 No 2 (via View from the Trenches web site)
Scenario Replay and Analysis: The Last Bid [RB5]; Rich Spilky (via Texas ASL web site)

Show Times
3:00 Spilky tables
33:00 OBA article
49:00 The Last Bid article
1:05 Chat with Jared



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Episode 222: Jolly Oli Gray

Welcome to episode 222.  We are proud to present our interview with Oliver Gray.  He has a lots of interesting things to say about all of our favorite topics including -- but not limited to -- his counter storage system known as the Great Wall of Raaco, his collection of counters, WW2 history books,  his Battleschool dice, and of course his Advanced Squad Leader collection itself.

He is currently play testing the Konigsberg Pack for George Kellin at Lone Canuck Publishing, and has play tested Scotland the Brave for Ray Tapio at Critical Hit. He has been doing proofreading for Alan Findley of Broken Ground and he is a huge fan of Bounding Fire Productions products. Olli used to run a local ASL club in Scotland where he provided all the kit (he certainly has enough),  and .up until a couple of years ago he had a semi regular get together for ASLers at Highlander Games in Dundee. Olli is a Veteran and served many years in the British Royal Air Force and loves a good old malt whisky. Here's to Olli.....cheers.....clink and drink.

SHOWTIMES
59:45 Total Running Time

SHOW LINKS
Oregon Laminating Corner Cutters

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Episode 221: Adult Sugar; Kiss Emoji

Despite the title of this episode it is, as usual, rated PG. Perhaps Dave and Jeff's natural animal magnetism is to blame. If you are wondering what this conversation is all about you will want to jump right into the letters section where you will be granted understanding as well as access to good old ASL talk. For the most detailed rules discussion, continue to Terrain Time and learn about Narrow Streets. Watch out for that street fighting advantage.

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Too Much Talk (but cool historical movie topics covered)
20:00 Letters 
38:00 Terrain Time
1:09:15 Total Running Time

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Episode 220: Kablooey

We apologize for the bad audio quality in the first 8 minutes. Dave attended the ASL Open, even though he didn't play, he had a great time (surprisingly) watching Rich Spilky and Wes Vaughn play Scenario A28 (reissued as 144) The Professionals. You can hear a discussion of it during banter. The winner of Critical Hit's Arnhem: The Third Bridge is announced.  Terrain Time teaches you how to place and avoid anti-tank mines as you play with armored fighting vehicles.



SHOW TIMES
1:00 ASL Talk (disguised as Banter)
9:00 Winner of Arnhem: the Third Bridge Announced
21:00 Terrain Time
55:35 Total Running Time Download this episode (right-click and Save)

Episode 219: Quiz Taught

Greetings Advanced Squad Leader Fanatics! Welcome to the show. We tie up some loose ends while we finish our review of LFT 14.

Achtung Minen! Yes, learn your mine rules right here and right now, but watch your step, we don't want you to go Kablooey.  Terrain Time is presented in its usual nice "quiz taught" format and it covers the mine rules as well as the wire rules, so listen and learn.

Ciao Rigazza! Hello Ladies!

SHOW TIMES
1:00 Bantero
14:00 LFT 14 Continued
28:20 Terrain Time
1:01 Some Quick Plane Advice from LFT
1:04:42 Total Running Time

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Episode 218: LFT 14 and the Italians

Add caption

Greetings Brothers of the ASL Rule Book, We hope you are doing well and that you will enjoy the wonderful opening song performed 100% (and we mean it when we say it this time) by Jeff Hallett.  We remind our listeners of our contest to win Arnhem: The Third Bridge by Critical Hit.  Enter by April first, and no, we are not fooling. The majority of this effort centers on Le Franc Tireur's newest magazine, issue #14.  Inside you will find the history of the Italians in WWII and in ASL.  It includes a full set of Italian counters with additional paratroops as well as many scenarios.  In the What's in the Box portion of the show, And Dave discusses ASL Scenario SV3 Absolute Markajarvi.

We hope you enjoy Jeff Hallett singing and playing ALL the instruments on Long May We Run.  He composed it for episode #200, you can tell by the wonderful lyrics. For various reasons it appears now.


SHOWTIMES
0:01 Long May We Run
4:45 Banter
19:15 Letters
37:00 What Have You Been Playin' Lately Bro?
50:00 What's in the Box?
1:14:10

SHOW LINKS
Blind Hex Chart
Human Wave Tournament
Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede

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Episode 217: Axis and Arnhem

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.

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Episode 216: Corregidor Forevermore with David Roth

David Roth

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


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Episode 215: Climbing the ASL Ladder with Nadir

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 
48:49ish

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