The Boardgamer’s PANZER LEADER Special Issue

Sample file

Featuring New Counters, New Situations, Historical Corrections and Rules Clarifications 2 The Boardgamer’s Special Panzer Leader Issue Introduction To The Special Issue Of PANZER LEADER By Alan Arvold Back in the early 1970's after the game kind of tactical level wargame, SQUAD the years. Although he received many PANZERBLITZ was published by Avalon LEADER, entered the market. This game of the scenarios that are in this guide Hill, there were many attempts to took tactics to a whole new level, long before this project began and transpose the game to the Western something that both PANZER LEADER started his analyses of them, he sadly Front of 1944-45. Amateur authors such and PANZERBLITZ could never hope to had to decline participation in this as Mike Kelly, Bruce Belcher, Paul Mills, achieve. It appeared that both games project due to pressing personal and Roy Easton came up with rules and were heading for the dustbin by the early matters. His input has been missed. I variant counters for what became known 1980's but then their popularity started to would also like to thank Bill Scott who as "Western Front PANZERBLITZ". But rise again. It seemed that as SQUAD allowed his PANZER LEADER the most prolific of them all was Norman LEADER grew in complexity, eventually tournament at AVALONCON to be a Beveridge Jr. who created whole becoming ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER testing ground for many of the expansions for PANZERBLITZ including in the mid 1980's, its growth in popularity scenarios. Among the play testers rules, scenarios, variant counter sheets, started to slow down as some players were Oscar Kenneth Oates, Joy and mapboards which were published in were scared off by its long playing time Richards, Byron Henderson, and Jay the various amateur wargaming and instead turned to faster easy games Zollitsch. My thanks to them all. magazines of the time. Nor was all this such as PANZER LEADER. With that its creative process confined to the amateur popularity came back though not to the With the sale of Avalon Hill and the gamers. Professional companies such extent of the 1970's, and it remained a subsequent disappearance of the as SPI and Avalon Hill were also good seller. As testimony to this fact after game from the store shelves, it working on a western version of the demise of the old Avalon Hill, appears that the game might become PANZERBLITZ. SPI who originally PANZER LEADER disappeared from the but a memory. However with the developed PANZERBLITZ was first out stores as just about every last copy was purchase by Multi-Man-Publishing of the door with a magazine game called grabbed up by wargamers. Now, at the the rights to republish the game, the COMBAT COMMAND. While the game turn of the century, the only way to get a future is looking brighter. With the introduced many new concepts it was a copy of PANZER LEADER is through redevelopment of both PANZER LEADER and PANZERBLITZ into one further evolution of the PANZERBLITZ second hand sources. system, so much so that the two were system and the tentative release of not compatible. (Not to mention that the Unlike its predecessor, PANZER PANZER LEADER in the next few game also quickly turned into a flop.) LEADER never had a Wargamer's Guide years it looks like that the game will be But at Avalon Hill a different approach produced for it though it certainly here well into the 21st Century. deserved one. With THE GENERAL was taken. Sample file magazine long gone and the At the Hill it was decided to keep the BOARDGAMER magazine becoming heir The basic PANZERBLITZ game system and to its readership, the opportunity has mechanics. However certain changes presented itself to correct this error. Here BOARDGAMER’s had to be made in order to correct the then is the BOARDGAMER's Special known deficiencies that were in the Issue for PANZER LEADER. Included Special Issue Of game system, plus new concepts were are brand new situations never before introduced to expand the game system published, new counters for these Panzer Leader rather than evolve it. The chief situations, many old situations revised, a The BOARDGAMER’s series of unofficial developer, Randall Reed, and the compilation of every published game guides is published by Bruce Monnin, various playtest groups definitely had question answered by Avalon Hill, an publisher of The BOARDGAMER. their hands full during the design and analysis of the new counters that have EDITOR: Bruce A. Monnin development period. But by the early fall been introduced over the years, and ADDRESS: 177 South Lincoln Street of 1974 their work came to fruition and much more. It is our hope the PANZER Minster, OH 45865-1240 the game PANZER LEADER was LEADER players find enjoyment in them. E-MAIL: [email protected] released in Avalon Hill's mail order WEB: www.bright.net/~monninb Again it would be rude of me if I did not PHONE: (419) 628-3332 service. Sales proved to be so good that in early 1975 it was released to retail mention the people who contributed to the Copyright 2002 making of this guide. Again leading the distribution and then sales really took off. way is Michael P. Flagiello. He has Copyrights PANZER LEADER was immensely collaborated with me on several articles in popular among wargamers, it even this guide and provided me with much The game Panzer Leader is exceeded its predecessor in overall information on German TO&Es and unit copyrighted by Avalon Hill/Hasbro. sales. Not only that, the game spawned strengths in many of the battles All images included in this issue are several variants, among which PANZER presented. Deserving honorable mention copyrighted by Avalon Hill/Hasbro LEADER 1940 turned out to be one of is Steven B. Wheeler. Many old gamers and are used with permission. the best expansions Avalon Hill ever will remember his analyses of many of the released. However by 1978 its original PANZER LEADER situations that All articles included in this special popularity began to decline as a new have appeared in THE GENERAL over issue are not official. The Boardgamer’s Special Panzer Leader Issue 3

Inside The BOARDGAMER’s

Special PANZER LEADER Issue

More New Expressions For Another Familiar Face 4 Do Your Own Panzer Leader by Alan Arvold

The Battle For The Remagen Bridge 15 New Scenarios For Panzer Leader by Alan Arvold

New British Scenarios For Panzer Leader 21 British And Commonwealth 1944 & 1945 Situations by Alan Arvold

Panzer Leader Situations 27 A Collection Of Panzer Leader Scenarios by Alan Arvold

Panzer Leader 1940 Situations 44 Variant Situations Updated by Alan Arvold

Panzer Leader Clarifications 49 And Question Box by Alan Arvold

Other Products From The Boardgamer 60 by Bruce Monnin

The Pieces Of Panzer Leader 61 Part 2 by Alan Arvold

The Pieces Of Panzer LeaderSample - Part 3 file 68 Panzer Leader 1940 by Alan Arvold

References From The General 75 by Alan Arvold

More Historical Corrections 77 To Panzer Leader Situations by Michael Flagiello and Alan Arvold

References From The Boardgamer 79 by Bruce Monnin

The Panzer Leader In Normandy 80 Situations From The Normandy Campaign by Michael Flagiello and Alan Arvold

Boardgamer Back Issues 90 by Bruce Monnin

Additional Panzerblitz Counters 91 Required To Play Scenarios In This Issue by Alan Arvold and Bruce Monnin