Panzer Leader (game)
Encyclopedia
Panzer Leader is the sequel to Avalon Hill
's Panzerblitz
game. Like its predecessor, it is a tactical platoon level hex and counter board wargame
depicting WWII
tank and infantry combat on the Western European front
. It features 4 geomorphic map tiles, which can be put together in a variety of ways to play the provided scenarios (which are printed on cardstock, showing all the necessary information for a scenario) or home-made scenarios. The 20 provided scenarios cover various battles on the Western Front, with most of the scenarios involving the Normandy campaign or the Battle of the Bulge. Two scenarios cover the amphibious assaults on Omaha and Gold beaches and include special rules for naval fire.
While based on Panzerblitz, the rules were cleaned up and included additional mechanics such as for air attacks and engineers. Several optional and experimental rules are provided, including one for opportunity fire to prevent "PanzerBush" tactics.
The Panzer Leader map boards were interchangeable with the Panzerblitz maps, and one could combine the two sets to make a larger battlefield. The scale was the same with the two games. The German units were interchangeable, and if one wanted, they could try a "what if" scenario with American/British forces vs. Soviet forces.
An extension kit covering the tanks of 1940 was also published. These were for the France 1940 campaign, and was meant for play with the Panzer Leader game.
Beyond merely coming up with additional scenarios for the existing Panzerblitz game, the idea of a new game featuring the western front
, was an obvious one and the merits of different approaches were debated outside of Avalon Hill during the early '70s. As an example of this fervor, a proposal in Panzerfaust No. 51 inspired three different articles in response in No. 53.
In its time, Panzerblitz and Panzerleader were very popular among the wargamer crowd, but its popularity fell away to what is considered the next generation of tactical WWII games of Squad Leader
and Advance Squad Leader.
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
's Panzerblitz
PanzerBlitz
PanzerBlitz is a tactical-scale board wargame of armoured combat set in the Eastern Front of the Second World War. The game is notable for being the first true board-based tactical-level, commercially available conflict simulation...
game. Like its predecessor, it is a tactical platoon level hex and counter board wargame
Board wargame
A board wargame is a wargame with a set playing surface or board, as opposed to being played on a computer, or in a more free-form playing area as in miniatures games. The hobby around this type of game got its start in 1954 with the publication of Tactics, and saw its greatest popularity in the...
depicting WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
tank and infantry combat on the Western European front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
. It features 4 geomorphic map tiles, which can be put together in a variety of ways to play the provided scenarios (which are printed on cardstock, showing all the necessary information for a scenario) or home-made scenarios. The 20 provided scenarios cover various battles on the Western Front, with most of the scenarios involving the Normandy campaign or the Battle of the Bulge. Two scenarios cover the amphibious assaults on Omaha and Gold beaches and include special rules for naval fire.
While based on Panzerblitz, the rules were cleaned up and included additional mechanics such as for air attacks and engineers. Several optional and experimental rules are provided, including one for opportunity fire to prevent "PanzerBush" tactics.
The Panzer Leader map boards were interchangeable with the Panzerblitz maps, and one could combine the two sets to make a larger battlefield. The scale was the same with the two games. The German units were interchangeable, and if one wanted, they could try a "what if" scenario with American/British forces vs. Soviet forces.
An extension kit covering the tanks of 1940 was also published. These were for the France 1940 campaign, and was meant for play with the Panzer Leader game.
Anticipation
Panzerblitz is considered to be revolutionary in the history of tactical wargames and brought many new players into the hobby. When it was released in 1970, the few wargames available for purchase were generally larger scale strategic wargames that did not delve into the same kind of unit detail.Beyond merely coming up with additional scenarios for the existing Panzerblitz game, the idea of a new game featuring the western front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
, was an obvious one and the merits of different approaches were debated outside of Avalon Hill during the early '70s. As an example of this fervor, a proposal in Panzerfaust No. 51 inspired three different articles in response in No. 53.
In its time, Panzerblitz and Panzerleader were very popular among the wargamer crowd, but its popularity fell away to what is considered the next generation of tactical WWII games of Squad Leader
Squad Leader
thumb|Squad Leader game package.Squad Leader is a tactical level board wargame originally published by Avalon Hill in 1977. It was designed by Hall of Fame game designer John Hill and focuses on infantry combat in Europe during World War II...
and Advance Squad Leader.