The 2 Half-Squads: Advanced Squad Leader Podcast

Summer's almost here and that means rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air. It's the perfect time to start our summer study of Offboard Artillery, aka OBA. Fasten your seat belts for a heck of a ride as we blast off for the FFE blast area. Normally hats are not allowed in class, but for this you might want to wear your helmet! We also take a look at Le Franc Tireur's From the Cellar 3, and MMP's A Decade of War. Then proceed to a review of Over the Battlefield: Operation Bluecoat followed by more high culture with a Box Art Review of Kampfguppe Peiper I & II. INCOMING!!! SHOW GUIDE 3:30 Favorite Scenarios 11:00 What's in the Box? 31:00 Book Review: "Ghost Soldiers" & "Operation Bluecoat" 40:00 Box Art Review 47:00 OBA Rules part one Total 1:27 Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

Honestly, there is nothing bungling about this amazing Bounding Fire Productions product, we just liked the Jethro Tull reference. Join us as we ravenously tear into this massive king of the jungle. Follow that with an interview with BFP's very own Sam Tyson for some talk about blood, jungle, and lots of other topics. Then, in keeping with the Pacific theme we offer a review of HBO's "The Pacific", a book review and more. SHOW GUIDE 3:30 Website changes 5:00 What's in the Box 30:00 Charles S. Roberts Awards 31:30 Book Review 37:00 Movie Review 51:00 Interview with Sam Tyson Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

In a classic scenario of suburban warfare, grognards from around the globe engage in a brutal hand-to-dice struggle for supremacy. It's the ASL Open 2010. We were there live covering all the exciting action. SHOW GUIDE 04:00 Interview with Jeff DeYoung 14:00 Interview with David Goldman 30:00 Interview with Jim Burris 50:00 What's In The Box? -- ASL Journal 8 Total running time: 1:25:00 Listen Now: Or download this episode. Right-click here and select to save the file.

Today we fill the broadcast foxhole to capacity and hold our first “round table” discussion. Can you guess the topic? Well, if you answered “Advanced Squad Leader”, you are absolutely correct. Joining us today are three Chicago-area ASL veterans, Louie Tokarz, Rich Spilky and Bob Holmstrom. Add to that mix ASL vet and T2HS co-host, Dave Kleinschmidt, and we have an ASL virtuoso quartet gathered for your listening pleasure. The forum is open and relaxed, and if you like sitting around talking about your favorite hobby with others of like ilk, then you’re going to like this episode a lot. The running time for this show is nearly 90 minutes, but we only got to a small handful of the the topics we wanted to discuss. You know what that means . . . there will be more round table discussions in the future, with lots of different guests. Egad, so much to do, so little time! If you’re looking for Listener Mail, Box Art Review, Quiz Show, History Report and other T2HS regular segments, sorry, but there was no time this time, but join us next time — which will be coming along in a short time. Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

It’s great to have guests and do interviews, but sometimes it’s nice to get back to basics. This time it’s just the two of us and The Rule Book, hunkered down and in it deep. The main topic of this episode is Bypass Movement. It must have pained the Starter Kit designers to make the decision to leave out the bypass rules, and the introduction of bypass must be one of the top most compelling and enticing reasons to step up to Full ASL. If you don’t know anything about bypass, you’re going to learn a lot. If you already know bypass, you’re probably going to learn something new. In any case, don’t let this episode pass you by. Of course, we also read some Listener Mail and find out “What’s In the Box”. Dave does a movie review of “Hart’s War” and Jeff imparts some of his vast knowledge of grenades. It’s Halloween, everyone, and this is one sweet treat. Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

Admit it — you LIKE playing with GUNS. The more, the better. You don’t want just one or two to choose from. You want LOTS of guns. Well, we guarantee you there is no better selection among ANY game on the planet than those available in ASL. Even the best video games pale in comparison to the bevy of beautiful, blazing artillery pieces provided in even the most basic of ASL modules. With that in mind, we present this first in a planned four-part series. Hardly comprehensive coverage, this is just a primer to the wonderful world of ASL guns. So gather your gumption and “Get thee to a Gunnery!”. And you won’t want to miss the News Report. We have lots of goodies to talk about. We also have a double-feature of “What’s In The Box?” and Jeff reviews “The Longest Day”. <a HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthe2halsqu-20%2F8001%2F7204f835-419a-46ab-b347-57459f4cd13d&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A> Show Links: West Coast Melee East Side Gamers Gamers Armory World War II - in HD Sacred Jewelery by Robin Hallett Mention “The 2 Half-Squads” in the seller notes and you’ll get your purchase beautifully gift wrapped AND Robbie will include a free gift. Each piece is hand made to order, so don’t delay. C4 Corner Cutter Mention “The 2 Half-Squads” when you order and receive a dollar back. It’s the “Buck-in-the-Box” promotion. Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

In this last episode of 2009 we decide to have a little T2HS year-end office party. Join us for some casual ASL talk with an old friend, a new friend, and a special guest. Here's an outline of our topics: Listener Mail Box Art Review What's In the Box ASL New Year Resolutions Quiz Show: Guns Part 2 Movie Review: The Longest Day rebuttal & World War II in HD. This is our longest episode to date, running about 1 hour and 48 minutes and we're trying out a more compact audio format to reduce the file size. Please let us know if you have any comments about the audio quality. Dig it! Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

What better way to start the new year then by getting acquainted with a new friend? Today we welcome Multiman Publishing's Chas Argent to the show. Though Chas joined MMP as a full time employee just recently, he is a well known spirit in the ASL realm. His love of the game along with his organizational skills, commitment, and attention to detail can only bode well for Advanced Squad Leader. Is this the re-dawning of the Age of ASL? We're happy to have an hour of Chas time today to pick his brain about our favorite topic. This interview was recorded using Skype, which has great audio quality, but we didn't have the video running so there's no peek into his office, unfortunately. Dang! It would be like looking into Santa's workshop -- only BETTER. Dig it! Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

It's been just over a year since Rich Spilky joined us in Episode 14: The Spilky Way, and released to the world seven excellent ASL player aid tables which he had been working on for some time. Well, the Rich is back, and this time he's unleashing nine more fabulous player aids that are sure to help speed up your play, bring light to dim recesses of The Rules, and in general improve the quality of your life. Is that promising too much? Well, take a look at Rich's work and let us know what you think. It's "Tables for 2" . . . no reservations required. You can download all 16 of Rich's tables below to download in Adobe pdf format, click here. to download as a Microsoft Windows compiled help file, click here. (Thanks to T2HS listener, Paul Suderman, for his very nice work on this.) Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file. SHOW GUIDE (2:00) Listener mail (17:00) Report from Rich on the New York State ASL Championship (26:00) What's in the Box? A nice surprise from Le Franc Tireur (51:00) Tables for 2 -- Tables of riches from Rich Spilky Total running time: 1:41 LINKS Pictures from the Albany tourny Winter War tournament in Champaign, IL PointCon This episode of The 2 Half-Squads was made possible by: The C4 Corner Cutter Le Franc Tireur and by listener donations. Thanks for your support!

This was a big night for us in the broadcast foxhole. We've had some wonderful interviews in the past, but tonight was something special. This time we had the very great pleasure of speaking with Mr. John Hill. Yes, THE John Hill, from who's fertile imagination sprang Squad Leader. It was an honor to have this war gaming icon donate an hour of time to sit and talk with us about our favorite one of his many splendid contributions to the hobby. Just think of how different our lives might be if not for this giant of the gaming community. Why, if it weren't for John Hill we might all be playing Candyland. SHOW GUIDE (0:00) - Intro (11:00) - Listener Mail (16:30) - Interview with John Hill Total running time: 1:17 Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

Dinner and a movie with your significant other is nice, but what would you say to a game of ASL and a movie? Awesome, huh? If you have a hard time selling the idea to your life mate, don't despair. You can live vicariously through us. Today we present, for your enjoyment, the classic World War II film, Sahara, starring Humphrey Bogart, followed by an after action report of an analogous desert scenario from the ASLUG, "Hart Attack". It's date night for grognards. Thanks. We had fun, too. No need to send flowers, though. Amazon.com Widgets Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file.

Somebody’s blowing smoke and we think it’s us! In this episode we take a look at infantry smoke usage and tactics, then follow up with a short tutorial segment on the same. They say smoking is bad for your health, but this kind might just save the lives of your cardboard troopers. We also present a product review of Le Franc Tireur #12 (revisited) and a first look at LFT issue #10, which is all about the Spanish Blue Division. Fantastic stuff! If you don't know much about smoke rules, you'll want to immerse yourself in this one. Just don't inhale. SHOW GUIDE (2:30) - Letters (16:30) - What’s In The Box? (29:00) - Smoke Part 1 (1:07:00) - First-hand Smoke (a tutorial) Total running time 1:31:00 SHOW LINKS St. Louis ASL Tournament 2010 Naval Wargaming near Milwaukee, WI Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file. Tutorial Photos 1 2 3 4

The topic was too big to fit into one episode -- especially with all our rambling and chit-chat -- so this episode is, again, wholly devoted to the subject of smoke. In particular, Dave covers "big" smoke. SHOW GUIDE 2:00 - Listener Mail 12:00 - What's in the Box 38:00 - Smoke Rules 56:20 - Smoke Tutorial part 2 Listen Now: Download this episode: Right-click here and select to save the file. TUTORIAL PHOTOS 1 2 3 4

It has been a while since our last Extra and it feels good to offer this one up for your approval. This scenario is from Few Returned: ASL Action Pack 3's "Red Don". It looked like it would be fun to play -- and it was! Mimicking the Chicago weather, it was a cold and windy dawning as Jeff's Russians attacked across a frozen river with Dave's Italians set to stop the onslaught and defend the heights. So come on in and learn a few tips about how to play ASL.....or is that how NOT to play ASL? Listen now with streaming audio Or download this episode. Right-click here and select to save the file.

Undaunted by the mistakes and problems in Episode 1, we plunge ahead for 78 thrill-packed minutes.. This time we talk about the release of the long-awaited “Valor of the Guards”. We wonder about how many ASL players there are in the world. Jeff whips out the “Top Ten” list: “Why You Should Play ASL”. Of course we play “What’s in the Box?” and discuss a favorite scenario. Then Dave reveals a short list of rules that he used to forget and gives a little WW II history lesson. This episode includes some intro music courtesy of Penmachine.com We had some technical problems with the audio on this episode. It will not play with an embedded player. You will have to download it. Right-click here and select to save the file.