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PanzerBlitz is a groundbreaking board-wargame of armored warfare on the Eastern Front in World War II.
The game is tactical scale (company/platoon sized units) with geomorphic map boards. The 352 counters were 5/8-inch and very striking for their time.
250 meters per hex, 6 minutes per turn.
Avalon Hill Complexity Rating: 6
[From the box back]
...from the other side of the ridge comes the clanking thunder and the ominous dust-cloud that heralds the arrival of an onrushing wave of deadly steel: German armored columns on the attack.
...Russian tank commander's slam shut the hatches of their dreaded T-34's...gun crews prime their weapons and infantrymen hug the earth...
...and there-topping the rise!...a glint of dawn reflecting off the muzzle of the first German tanks...
PanzerBlitz is about to begin!
The game of PanzerBlitz enables you to re-create the drama and furious action of tactical-level armored warfare. Battle-simulations take place on a realistic mapboard which reproduces about twenty square miles of typical Russian terrain. The playing pieces are accurate symbolization of the platoon and company sized units which fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. More than a dozen different “scenarios” are given, each of which allows you to re-create a completely new game-situation in which to exercise your skill as an armor tactician. Prior military knowledge or experience, however, is not needed to play PanzerBlitz-just common sense, clear thinking and a competitive spirit.
IN EACH PANZERBLITZ GAME, YOU GET...
- 352 authentic unit counters
- Big 22”x24” mapboard in full color
- Comprehensive illustrated Rules-of-Play
- Game Situation Cards
-Campaign Analysis Booklet
...PLUS SPECIAL FEATURES THAT MAKE PANZERBLITZ A NEW DEPARTURE IN THE FIELD OF BATTLE-SIMULATION GAMES!
Tactical level combat with weapons range and fire-over-distance. Three section “Geo-morphic” mapboard which can be re-arranged to form dozens of different terrain configurations. Platoon and company sized units which can be combined to form many distinctly different battle formations. Situation cards which allow the playing of several dissimilar games using the same basic rules. Easy-to-handle oversized unit counters with authentic armored vehicle recognition silhouettes. Rules which include such considerations as: Range; Elevation; Obstacles to Fire; Fortifications; Close Infantry Assault Tactics; Weapons Interrelationships, Motor transport; Mines; Anti-Tank Guns; Mortars; Spotting; Indirect Fire...and much more!
“Panzerblitz” is a German word which literally means “armored-lightning.”
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's not about like being the best
- there are somewhere between 100 and 150 games nowadays it's nine days of gaming
- the thing that's really cool about WBC is that it is very much couched in this tournament structure
References (from this video)
- Tactical combat
- Sandbox element
- Loved the combat model
- Scenarios felt well balanced
- Fun gameplay
- Second most played Avalon Hill war game
- Tactical World War II combat
- Eastern Front in World War II, Russia
- Panzer Leader
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Counter-based — Uses counters for units like tanks and infantry.
- geomorphic maps — Uses maps that can fit together in different shapes for varied terrain.
- Sandbox design — Allows for extensive custom scenario creation and flexible gameplay.
- Tactical combat — Simulates groups of tanks and infantry fighting.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- So it felt like no matter how many times I played this game, every single time it was different.
- I think it captured operational level combat in a way that the other options in that period of time thinking about things like Africa France 1940 that I just didn't quite gravitate towards from a play level as I did with this one.
- So, it is easy and far away the number one game on my list of top 10 Avalon Hill war games.
- But first up, let me introduce the game to you. Midway Naval Air Battle Game.
- For for what it does, I think it captures that whole cat and mouse and strike first or be struck nature of naval warfare.
- But that whole idea of that being the first war game that I got, I remember think that you could have history in a box like this.
- I mean, paper time machines, right, is the the famous quote is what these are. That hit me so strong the moment I opened this box up and it's why I still play, right? Because it's history in a box.
References (from this video)
- Groundbreaking use of geomorphic maps
- Created a sandbox experience
- Foundation for Advanced Squad Leader
- Appealing and fun to play
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- geomorphic maps — Groundbreaking for using modular map boards that could be combined in various ways, creating a sandbox experience.
- Tactical Elements — Dug into more tactical elements beyond just set battles, providing a system for creating scenarios.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- All human progress all innovation is a matter of ideas having sex. That is to say there actually is not any innovation that is just not based on anything else not based on anybody else's ideas right it's all a matter of what ideas already there how can I take and put them together synthesize in new ways to new purposes maybe you know twist it this way a little bit you know you use the word tweak um and then sometimes that new fusion of ideas is indeed adds up to a fundamental new new new new thing or breakthrough right
- It was a sandbox, right? I mean, they g it was a sandbox and we were invited to create and games hadn't done that before.
- I think the greatest innovation would here it is would be a rat and a rat free rule book.
- Yes. War games are innovative.
References (from this video)
- Fun to revisit from a nostalgic standpoint
- Tactically less engaging compared to modern games
- Gameplay felt simpler and easier than remembered
- World War tactical combat
- Russian front
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Tactical combat — World War tactical combat on the Russian front.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This was so much fun to revisit.
- I'm not sure I've played a game that's captured the human side of tactical combat in the way this does so clearly.
- when you're not playing them, you're still thinking about them. And that always, to me, is a mark of a game that's really captured you as a player.
- it's a game that plays a lot better than it looks, which sounds like an insult, but it's not.
References (from this video)
- War
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- A frenetic 10-minute game from Queen.
- This is one of the key games I have not played. This is the sixth one.
- That's a cool name.
- I felt it could have done a little better. Um, it's it's almost too slight for me.
- I found it a little too fiddly, but as you can see, it's moving up in ranks.
- So it it's kind of funny it took him so long to come out with an Axis and Allies World War I game.
- I know I enjoyed it, but also it's 10 years ago, so it's hard to remember.
- This is the prequel to Clue where you're going around trying to kill Dr. Lucky.
- And I found it to be a lot of fun.
- If you like He-Man, this really brings it out.
- I've heard good things about this game, but I have never played it.
- This game is very weird and unique but I like it.
- This is one of the classic war games.
- It's running a kind of like an engine building thing through the space station.
- I liked it, but it has been a while.
- This is the OG Fury of Dracula game.
- I have never played Peanuckle. I know a little bit about it, but it's interesting to see this one kind of rated way here in the middle.
- I find it very odd that they are they're basically the same game. I'm not sure why they have two separate entries.
- Bidding to take Bowolf down a path has almost nothing to do with the theme.
- I liked it fine.
- I do like that you use the box and stuff as terrain.
- This is kind of a holy grail for many people.
- I'm not as big on the horror theme as many other people are, but I know people like this concept here of horror games running around.
- Of the ones I talked about today, I think Masters of the Universe, the board game, um, is my favorite.
References (from this video)
- Enjoyed immensely during youth
- Fostered shared experiences and friendships
- Part of a vibrant wargaming community at conventions
- War
- World War II
- Panzer Leader
- Blitz Creek
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative purchasing — Friends would buy different games and share them within the group.
- Wargaming simulation — The core of the game's appeal for the host and his friends.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- you know, what's next for me and everything like that. Um and I've been thinking about how I've game through my entire life pretty much.
- The ones that have really made a difference.
- And I just wish I can have more of those memories with my grandkids and stuff like that.
- This shows you how much GW's games meant to me, okay? Because I had so much fun and why I'm so annoyed in some ways.
- It's the best parts of of of my youth, you know, not running around being an idiot, but actually enjoying my time playing games and interacting with people.
- in an age of mass production and overkill and all the other drama that comes with the internet and board games nowadays, uh, what are the things that you remember most and mean the most to you?