The 2 Half-Squads

Episode 252: Too Much Good Stuff, You Hexy Thing

It was such a pleasure to talk with Michael Koch in our second episode on the ASL scene in Germany. The discussion covers WWII sites to see in Germany when you attend the Grenadier Tournament, the history of ASL, and the wonderful fact that there is just too much good Advanced Squad Leader stuff being published today. What a problem to have! Michael also gives us a detailed look at what it takes to run a tournament and chats about his love for the Hatten in Flames campaign game.  And so much more.

 

SHOW LINKS

The Grenadier Tournament

 

SHOW TIMES

00:02 You Hexy Thing (Armoured Fighting Vehicles)

4:00 Interview with Michael Koch

Total Running Time 

 

 

'You Hex-y Thing' (Armoured Fighting Vehicles)

 

Lyrics by Clinton Paine, Performed by The 2 Half-Squad Singers

 

Armoured fighting vehicles

Wend along this hex-y thing

My armoured fighting vehicles

Could be moving wrong on this hex-y thing

 

With my first armoured OB

Move crew exposed down the open road

Roll for ESB, I need this speed so badly

My MMCs approach defending infantry

In PFPh I was shooting at some people

Now they're firing back at me on the IFT

 

But my armoured fighting vehicles

Overrun the hex they're in

And my armoured fighting vehicles

Keep rolling on, on this hex-y thing

 

Where did you come from AT shell?

How did you know where to conceal those guns?

Did you know this game is everything I play for?

Learn the rules, every night and day for?

Then today I play my first combined-arms action

Now you're firing next to me, giving it to me

 

My armoured fighting vehicles

Have nowhere to run on this hex-y thing

My armoured fighting vehicles’

PRCs long for their next of kin

 

Oh! Curse you, you hex-y thing

Point blank fire from the hex you're in

There's no way you can miss my side armour, these flanks are thin

Oh! It's snake eyes, this hexing thing

 

Yesterday I mortar bombed those lonely people

Now your rate of fire sprees serve it back to me

 

My armoured fighting vehicles

Are all STUNNED or wrecks burning

My armoured fighting vehicles

Face side down or exiting

 

Oh, pinch me

Stop retreating!

Forget about those VCs, greenhorn

Oh, I concede!

 

 

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

Episode 251: OTO Charts Away!

Rich returns to the Remote Broadcast Foxhole and has a serious conversation with Jeff about the state of some young Americans lack of historical knowledge.  They also discuss Churchill's books on WWII. The meat of the show is a look at Rich's involvement with the development of Onslaught to Orsha II by Bounding Fire Productions. You get a chance to hear the designer of the new charts included therein discuss said charts. And we take a look in the box at all the components. 

 

We are now posting our episodes (with more visuals) on Our YouTube Channel. The video version of this episode can be found here.

 

 

SHOWTIMES

1:00 Banter

13:00 What's in the Box?

1:08:46 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.

 

Episode 250:The Last Bid vs. Men of Steel

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 

 

 

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

 

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

Episode 249: All ASL; Except for the Parts that Aren't

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

 

 

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

 

 

 Download this episode (right-click and Save)

 

 

ASL Extra 26: Broich Bash

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.

Episode 248: Patio or Porch?

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

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