Post by Whiterook on Jun 10, 2024 17:40:48 GMT -5
In 1974, the Avalon Hill game company introduced the Panzer Leader game, a tactical platoon-level hex and counter board wargame depicting WWII tank and infantry combat on the Western European front.
As is, it features 4 geomorphic maps, with simplistic artwork typical of those times’ manufacturing processes and standards. 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.
While based on its predecessor, PanzerBlitz, the rules were cleaned up and included additional mechanics, such as for air attacks and engineers, as well new spotting rules to prevent what was known as PanzerBush tactics - units could no longer fire from concealment without revealing themselves to enemies. Several optional and experimental rules are provided, including one for opportunity fire to further nullify PanzerBush maneuvers.
The Panzer Leader map boards are interchangeable with the PanzerBlitz maps, and one could combine the two sets to make a larger battlefield, as both games are the same scale. The German units are interchangeable between both games; it should be noted that Panzer Blitz is the Eastern Front, and there are no Russians in Panzer Leader.
So what am I doing, and why is it called a Redux version?
This system, between both the games mentioned above, as well as the next game in that series, Arab Israeli Wars, has seen massive fan-made material, from maps, to counters, to scenarios. and it’s also expanded beyond WWII, into Korea, Vietnam, and even Ukraine! Nationalities have been added, as had rules specific to the varied conflicts.
What I want to do is first, build the new maps into play and use them with the original Panzer Leader game. Next, assemble new counters, and keep the ball rolling! Let’s see where this all goes.
As is, it features 4 geomorphic maps, with simplistic artwork typical of those times’ manufacturing processes and standards. 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.
While based on its predecessor, PanzerBlitz, the rules were cleaned up and included additional mechanics, such as for air attacks and engineers, as well new spotting rules to prevent what was known as PanzerBush tactics - units could no longer fire from concealment without revealing themselves to enemies. Several optional and experimental rules are provided, including one for opportunity fire to further nullify PanzerBush maneuvers.
The Panzer Leader map boards are interchangeable with the PanzerBlitz maps, and one could combine the two sets to make a larger battlefield, as both games are the same scale. The German units are interchangeable between both games; it should be noted that Panzer Blitz is the Eastern Front, and there are no Russians in Panzer Leader.
So what am I doing, and why is it called a Redux version?
This system, between both the games mentioned above, as well as the next game in that series, Arab Israeli Wars, has seen massive fan-made material, from maps, to counters, to scenarios. and it’s also expanded beyond WWII, into Korea, Vietnam, and even Ukraine! Nationalities have been added, as had rules specific to the varied conflicts.
What I want to do is first, build the new maps into play and use them with the original Panzer Leader game. Next, assemble new counters, and keep the ball rolling! Let’s see where this all goes.
