Episode 327: Sunny Adam Lunney

It is an honor to have the illustrious, bright and optimistic Adam Lunney appear on the show all the way from Canberra, Australia. Yes, this is THE Adam Lunney who authored the books We Together and Ready to Strike.  Once again you can see from his credentials that we are unworthy to have Adam on this lowly podcast.  In spite of that he agreed to discuss his books, his gaming background, and most importantly, his love for the greatest game in the world; Advanced Squad Leader. 

SHOW LINK

Adam's Website

SHOW TIMES
00:01 ASL Favorite Things with Lyrics by Dennis Donovan; Sung by The 2 Half-Squad Singers (originally appeared in Episode 56)

2:30 Interview with Adam

53:46 Total Running Time

Adam's Picture of Normandy 

SONG LYRICS (sung to "A Few of My Favorite Things")

GS on Shermans and Shurtzen on Panthers
Flame-throwing Cromwells and AA on Panzers
Living the chaos that Sniper checks bring
These are a few of those ASL things

Chapters and chapters of tables and rules
The ultimate wargame goes way beyond kewl
Just like those fighters with bombs under wing
And reading to see what those SSRs bring
Rural or Urban, cross streets in quick dashes
When playing night rules remember gun flashes
Winter offensives that last throughout spring
These are a few of those ASL things

When my squad break
When my luck stinks
When I’m rolling bad
I simply remember those ASL things
And then I don’t feel so bad

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.

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Episode 326: Run Through the Jungle with Jim

Jim Aikens returns and shares his thoughts on printing scenario packs and playtesting in general. We open with a blast from the past. The Run Through the Jungle song from good ol' Episode 53.

In the rules segment we cover the Yanks, Americans, U.S.A., troops and their corresponding nationality traits from Rule 25.3. 

SHOW LINKS

USS Iowa Museum

SoCal ASL

SHOW TIMES
00:01 (Don't) Run Through the Jungle Song with Lyrics by Dennis Donovan; Sung by The 2 Half-Squad Singers

12:40 Rules: Nationalities of ASL; Americans 

23:50 Jim Aikens Part 2

51:28 Total Running Time

Lyrics
Whoa, heard it was a nightmare, LOL!, It’s all so true
They told me, “Fear the PTO!”, ‘cause the Japs are on the loose.

CHORUS:
Better not CX in the jungle, Better not advance into jungle
Better not stray in the jungle, Why? You’ll get ambushed, ya see

Thought I heard grumblin’, Playin’ a night rules game
200Yankee guns are loaded, The sgt. cries: “Take aim!”

Over in hex G10, Sgt. Schmutz he spoke:
“Let the privates know my wisdom, Fill the hex with smoke.”

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.

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Episode 325: Breaking in the Grain with Jim Aikens

It is a pleasure to present a look at the SoCal gamers lives, through an interview with the charismatic and wise Jim Aikens. This discussion is so thorough, that we will present it in two parts. In part one we learn about Jim's gaming background and how very well organized this club is, with players who are "pretty far out there" in the wide open spaces of the large state of California, having a set of regional directors. Kleinschmidt can relate to this club because it has Field Trips. They travelled to the Jaques Littlefield AFV Collection, and the USS Iowa. Wow. There are no surfing safaris with these Californians. 

SHOW LINKS

USS Iowa Museum

SoCal ASL

Jaques Littlefield Tank Collector

SHOW TIMES
00:01 Breaking in the Grain Song with Lyrics by Martin Marquis; Sung by The 2 Half-Squad Singers

1:20 Interview 

9:00 Human Wave Rules

37:10 Partisan Rules

43:50 What's in the Box?

1:03:27 Total Running Time

Lyrics to Breakin' in the Grain
We're pinning in the grain, Just breaking in the grain
What a glorious feeling, we rally again
We're laughing at guns, so big on the hill
The sarge's in our hex, and we're ready to charge
Let the green half-squad chase, the H-I-P from the place
Come on with the wave, we have smoke on the way
We run down the plain, in the enemy firelane
Just pinnin' and breakin' in the grain.

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.

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Episode 324: Humans Wave at J14

We like to wave at Humans. We were so busy waving hello, and singing along to the wintry song Human Wave (sung to the tune of The Carol of the Bells), that we forgot to banter for a really long time. Just an average time. Aren't you the lucky ones?

The Rules covered in this show continue rule 25:Nationality Distinctions. Focusing on Human Waves and Partisans. Remember partisans don't do a human wave. 

SHOW LINKS

Human Wave at DC Conscripts

Human Wave at Wiki

Human Wave Tutorial at ASL Players.net

SHOW TIMES
00:01 Human Wave Song with Lyrics by Dennis Donovan; Sung by The 2 Half-Squad Singers

1:20 Bantero

9:00 Human Wave Rules

37:10 Partisan Rules

43:50 What's in the Box?

1:03:27 Total Running Time

LYRICS to the Human Wave Song
Two squads per hex, Con-tiguous,  A chain of three, With SMC, Not adjacent, To a unit, In Line Of Sight, Even at night, A, twenty, five, point two three. Jive, No HOB, Nor a patsy [PAATC],
Just IPC, No LTC, No pin result, Move by impulse, Cover lots of ground, Enemy’s found, Into their hex, It gets complex, FPF checks, CC effects, “Hürrah!” We cheer, Human Wave’s here,
Very, Very, Very Scary..Humans rush, Very, Very, Very Scary..Humans rush
Russians can send, Men without end, Into the fray,  Most everyday.......... Rushing head-long...

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.

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Episode 323: Bungly in the Jungly

Scenario ON-3 from Operation Neptune

This show's opening number originally appeared in the middle of Episode 50. It is called Bungle in the Jungle with lyrics by Dennis Donovan and performed by one of the worst of The 2 Half-Squad Singers. Letters includes a Robert Barratt's report on the CA guys game day on the USS Iowa. 18 gents gaming away. Amazing! Also David Wiley shares how he got into this hobby, and more. 

Today's Rules segment gets us started on the long awaited rule 25:Nationality Distinctions. Lately Dave and Dave finished Scenario ON-3 Stuck Ducks and we take a look at how that went.  

SHOW LINKS

M60 Patton Tank Info

SHOW TIMES
00:01 Bungle in the Jungle Song Lyrics by Dennis Donovan; Sung by The 2 Half-Squad Singers

3:30 Banter

14:44 Letters

25:15 Rules

48:30 What Have You Been Playin Lately?

58:10 Winner Announced

58:45 Total Running Time

Richard's Picture of USS Iowa

Thinking ‘bout forests of palm trees and collapsed huts
Picked up Code of Bushido (forget ‘bout the rent!)
Down at the game store – got it last Friday
Driving me nuts –waiting for ASL Sundays
Japs and Marines, H-T-H in the jungle
It’s wild and crazy, as are we: “Gung Ho!”
Let’s play Bungle in the Jungle, well, that sounds good to me!
Its ASL scenario
Number sixty-two or sixty-three
It takes place in Burma, 1942
PTO rules in effect, including light jungle
Brits are attacking and the Japs are defending
HA-GOs vs. Stuarts couldn’t be cooler
Our usual wager? “I’ll bet you a dinner.”
This game that we zealots play is a winner
Let’s play Bungle in the Jungle, well, I want the Japanese!
A 2 6 point 5 for balance
With a dr when we disagree
OOB’s full of Desert Rat nasties
I’ll have to ambush him in the kunai grass
He’s a master of ARTY and loves overruns
My emplaced AT Gun rookies lie waiting for him
to light up his Stuarts
spell out his doom
But my plan turned to crap now I sing a new tune!

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.

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Episode 322: Rally Phase A la Gaga

We rally hope you rally liked the Rally Phase song by Dennis Donovan that opened this episode. If you ever find yourself wondering what actions you can take in the Rally Phase just pull this episode up on your phone and have a listen. It will remind you of all the wonderous possibilities. And your opponents will not think less of you, will they?

If you would like a review of the rules that might apply when you capture your opponents cool stuff, then check out the "Rules" segment on captured and unqualified possession.  No, the word possession does not refer to the demonic kind. 

We hope the cool opening song, a new segment and a longer show time make up for the rather long banter at the beginning. The new segment is Armored Fighting Vehicles, in which we take a look at the statistics and history of our various Advanced Squad Leader 5/8 inch counters!

SHOW LINKS

Tank Encyclopedia

SHOW TIMES
00:01 Rally Phase Song

4:30 Banter

18:00 Contest Announced

22:20 Rules

48:30 AFV (Panzer I B)

1:00:06 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. You can also watch the show on our Youtube channel.

Download this episode (right-click and Save)