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Zero Leader is based on the Corsair Leader game, with some significant changes. The game focuses on commanding and managing a Japanese aerial squadron in the Pacific in World War Two, with aircraft including the A6M2 Zero, KI-84 Frank, KI-43 Oscar, G4M Betty, and G3M Nell, covering the major campaigns throughout the war from 1941 to 1945.
You will need to select the right mix of aircraft under your command in order to successfully carry out the different types of missions. Each aircraft has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a fighter like the Zero is very maneuverable and deadly to enemy Bandits, but it has limited ability to attack naval and ground targets, whereas a bomber like the Betty can carry a lot of munitions, but are susceptible to enemy bandit and anti-aircraft attacks.
This game also includes additional aspects of Japanese operations such as mechanical and maintenance challenges, invoking samurai spirit, as well as the ability to deploy the deadly Ohka kamikaze aircraft-bombs. There is also an air combat system which gives you more tactical options when dogfighting with enemy aircraft, including manuevering for position, increasing pilot aggression and being affected by the robustness of the aircraft.
Like the other games in the "Leader" series, Zero Leader is a solitaire game. Included in the core box:
1 x Mounted Display 20"x15"
1 x Mounted Dogfight Chart
11 x Counter Sheets (88 counters per sheet)
15 x Campaign Sheets
4 x Player Help Sheets
2 x single-sided sheets
2 x double-sided sheets
386 x Cards (2.5” x 3.5”)
18 x Frank aircraft cards
36 x Zero aircraft cards
36 x Zeke aircraft cards
18 x Kate aircraft cards
18 x Jill aircraft cards
18 x Val aircraft cards
18 x Emily aircraft cards
18 x Jack aircraft cards
18 x Tojo aircraft cards
18 x Sonia aircraft cards
18 x Tony aircraft cards
18 x George aircraft cards
18 x Oscar aircraft cards
18 x Betty aircraft cards
18 x Nell aircraft cards
5 x Frank "Trainee" aircraft cards
30 x Event cards
45 x Target cards
2 x 10-sided Dice
1 x Player Log Sheet
1 x Rulebook
-description from publisher
Corsair Leader - PART 4
- Same rules as Corsair Leader
- Playing the Japanese
- New planes
- New pilots
- New missions
- Playing as the Japanese in World War II aerial combat
- Corsair Leader
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- New missions — Offers different mission objectives for the Japanese player.
- New Pilots — Introduces new pilot characters for the Japanese side.
- New planes — Introduces different aircraft for the Japanese side.
- Same rules as Corsair Leader — This implies it uses the same core mechanics but from the opposing side.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- we could have potentially outmaneuvered as well but i'm just gonna get the i'm just gonna gung-ho get the hits
- the rules are quite clear you do the debriefing on the primary mission before you begin the secondary mission
- it's all about managing your aircraft it's all about skilling them up choosing the right weapons the right squadron spending your so points
- the rules are a struggle i'm still looking things up i'm still struggling with little corner cases here and there and you can see things some of the timing issues are a little bit squiffy on on the rules but tighten things up with a little bit of house ruling
- it's the same rules it's very much the same rules as corsair leader you're playing the japanese turning the tables new planes new pilots new missions