Panzer Leader (game)

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Panzer Leader is the sequel to Avalon Hill's Panzerblitz game. Like its predecessor, it is a tactical 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 info for a scenario) or home-made scenarios. Most of the provided scenarios revolved around the Battle of the Bulge or the Normandy Invasion, with special rules for naval fire included for the latter scenarios.

An extension kit covering the tanks of 1940 was also published.

[edit] Anticipation

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It is easy to miss at this distance in time the electrifying effect that Panzerblitz had had on the wargaming community (as well as the people who discovered wargaming through it). At the time, it was something of a revolution due to it being one of only a few tactical wargames, and people wanted more.

Beyond merely coming up with additional scenarios for the existing 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.

While Blitzkreig was entertaining it was to simplified and to slow. Panzer Leader made it more realistic, a true artful game of strategy and know how to do the senerios provided. It taught you skills in playing war but was not true to life in results thus unplayable. Dice are no substitute for reaction times and surprize. Todays video games are getting better but lack true play. If your going to have a series of games like `Call of Duty' for Americans, then why not for the Enemy units. I would love playing the under dog against superior strengths, Not the other way around. Having the Superior hand is not always the best way to train people how to fight a war.