The sheer awe and joy experienced when my best friend and I open his newly purchased Panzer Leader game, which he had bought with the money he earned from his paper run. We had never seen anything like it, Panzer Leader open us up to a whole new world of military board gaming. It took us a day to work up to cutting out the counters out, with the care of a surgeon, and only after we had decided to read and thoroughly understand the rules first. Panzer Leader was a quantum step from playing chess and miniatures and after thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of playing different games since opening that box, I still cherish that day. Panzerblitz was fun, as it added a different take on one of the friend's group's favourite games, Panzer Leader.
Speaking for myself, it was games like these that put me off traditional board games, most of them anyway. Someone would say, "Hey, how about Risk?" And I'd shake my head, "You need to play Panzer Leader, Risk is for Kids!". heh.
@@yourseatatthetable yes very true, the level of sophistication made other games seem 'lame'. Risk and games like it are easy to learn and play making the genre accessible to the masses, like playing checkers instead of chess. But without the awe and satisfaction of watching a scenario play out, plus the learning experience from reading and playing these games was a historical lesson I probably would never have gotten by traditional means.
Panzerblitz and Luftwaffe were my first war games. My Mom gave them to me Christmas Day 1970. She got them from the Montgomery Wards catalog. That was a great Christmas. Thanks for reminding me.
I taught 3 coworkers to play Panzerblitz during lunch breaks in the locker room at a GM foundry in the late 70's. It was the first war game for all of them, and they loved it. Thanks for the memories!
In the same way age has convinced me that my childhood was actually sepia-toned, I've also come to believe that those old AH game boxes always looked like that. Even brand new.
Back when the games came with high quality cardboard map boards, nice colors, etc. Those games are simulations as much as games. Playing them as a kid could put a person way ahead of their peers in the military. The military does simulations all the time, massive simulations... getting paid to play war games... BTW, he might have unloaded his infantry one hex away from the town. That way after an overrun attack the Russian tanks would have been sitting in the open, and surviving German infantry could move one hex and still do a close assault, then spot the next turn. Miscellaneous, the Russian SU-76 should have a defense factor of 6 or 7, at most. It has thin armor and an open top.
Thanks for making this, I have great memories of playing this as a kid. I lost most of my AH games from that time but managed to keep a handful including Panzerblitz.
I got that game in 1970. I think it was my second or third wargame. My brother and i played it many times, as well as our friend Bill. I still have it, and the box condition is in worse shape than yours..lol. Lots of great fun and a catalyst for learning WW2 history...a love that remains.
I got Panzer Leader as my first wargame back in the '70s. Still have it plus PanzerBlitz (my copy looks like Raymond's - it followed me through my 20 year Army career). I remember in The General that they posited a computer game based upon PanzerBlitz and it's a real time machine looking at how they viewed the future of computer wargaming.
Imminently enjoyable game. Along with PanzerLeader, these were remarkably well tuned to actual results in the field. Kept me entertained in college when I should have been studying!
My first true hex n counter war game. 3 copies. Counters need storage upgrade. Bought some generic Avalon Hill game boxes so I can use plenty of counter trays.
I was interested in computer wargames when they began to appear on the scene. At first I did not have the right computers. Later, I was to busy with work and life to follow the development. I did try some early ones and liked them. I do not know how they progressed but I sense that it must be hard to duplicate the physical war game experience.
Bellissimo, io lo avevo, quante sessioni di gioco c'ho fatto.....poi come un cretino l ho regalato. Insomma avevo tanti giochi dell' Avalon hill e non so più che fine hanno fatto. Peccato. 🇮🇹✨
Yes, I had a lot more games than I have now. I am not sure where they all ended up over the years. I am going to play a game of Panzer Leader here soon.
Interesting to see the sleeved version. For me, only my copy of Luftwaffe is sleeved. I wish to make two suggestions. First, if you lost your turn marker, use two spare units, one from each side, as turn markers rather than pencil writing on the scenario card. I treat my games like heirlooms for my wargaming son. Second, have you tried the opportunity fire optional rule to prevent Panzer Bush syndrome? Perhaps, your rules are from an early edition, or you are not using the optional rule? I find it adds greatly to realism while not really impacting playability much.
Good ideas. I did not see opportunity fire in my early set of rules. I was determined just to use the rules in the box. I will do Panzer Leader next and I remember opportunity fire was in the rules for this game.
I enjoyed your piece on Panzerblitz; but you need to read your Situation Cards a little closer. Situation #10 expressly prohibits Russian units from entering Board #3 until a German unit does so.
No, no, I didn't let them enter board three until the Germans did. I had them lined up ready to go on the other board. It probably doesn't come through that way because I gave the recap after the turn. Sometimes I just did one player before filming but on the early turns I completed both turns. I had not played this game in a long time so I expected the Russians to get trounced. However, the way it played for me they did quite well. I think it was the delay involved in taking the town in the center of board three that slowed me down. I maybe even showed some excess caution at advancing. Perhaps if I played the Germans more aggressively, who knows. It merits a replay.
Your die must have more 1s & 2s on them than mine. Even when mustering a 3:1 differential, seemed my best was an "S" result. Axis&Allies is another bad Die game for me.
Brother and I played Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader for hours and hours as teens. 👍🏻
The sheer awe and joy experienced when my best friend and I open his newly purchased Panzer Leader game, which he had bought with the money he earned from his paper run. We had never seen anything like it, Panzer Leader open us up to a whole new world of military board gaming.
It took us a day to work up to cutting out the counters out, with the care of a surgeon, and only after we had decided to read and thoroughly understand the rules first. Panzer Leader was a quantum step from playing chess and miniatures and after thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of playing different games since opening that box, I still cherish that day.
Panzerblitz was fun, as it added a different take on one of the friend's group's favourite games, Panzer Leader.
Speaking for myself, it was games like these that put me off traditional board games, most of them anyway. Someone would say, "Hey, how about Risk?" And I'd shake my head, "You need to play Panzer Leader, Risk is for Kids!". heh.
@@yourseatatthetable yes very true, the level of sophistication made other games seem 'lame'. Risk and games like it are easy to learn and play making the genre accessible to the masses, like playing checkers instead of chess. But without the awe and satisfaction of watching a scenario play out, plus the learning experience from reading and playing these games was a historical lesson I probably would never have gotten by traditional means.
@@gawdsuniverse3282 Well said
@@yourseatatthetable thank you, I think your comment speaks for all of us too.
Panzerblitz and Luftwaffe were my first war games. My Mom gave them to me Christmas Day 1970. She got them from the Montgomery Wards catalog. That was a great Christmas. Thanks for reminding me.
I taught 3 coworkers to play Panzerblitz during lunch breaks in the locker room at a GM foundry in the late 70's. It was the first war game for all of them, and they loved it. Thanks for the memories!
I spent a considerable amount of hours back in the day playing both Panzerblitz and Panzer Leader.
ruclips.net/video/6QOAN12UM7M/видео.html
In the same way age has convinced me that my childhood was actually sepia-toned, I've also come to believe that those old AH game boxes always looked like that. Even brand new.
Back when the games came with high quality cardboard map boards, nice colors, etc. Those games are simulations as much as games. Playing them as a kid could put a person way ahead of their peers in the military. The military does simulations all the time, massive simulations... getting paid to play war games...
BTW, he might have unloaded his infantry one hex away from the town. That way after an overrun attack the Russian tanks would have been sitting in the open, and surviving German infantry could move one hex and still do a close assault, then spot the next turn.
Miscellaneous, the Russian SU-76 should have a defense factor of 6 or 7, at most. It has thin armor and an open top.
This was among the first wargames I ever played. Not bad.
A beloved classic. We would combine several sets for Corps level games!
I played this game boatloads back in the '70's. I thought Panzer Leader was slightly better.
Thanks for making this, I have great memories of playing this as a kid. I lost most of my AH games from that time but managed to keep a handful including Panzerblitz.
I got that game in 1970. I think it was my second or third wargame. My brother and i played it many times, as well as our friend Bill. I still have it, and the box condition is in worse shape than yours..lol. Lots of great fun and a catalyst for learning WW2 history...a love that remains.
AH made the best war games back in the day.
My Panzerblitz box looks just like yours and probably has not been opened for more than 20 years - I am going to get it out tonight
One of my all-time absolute favorites - so elegant and fun (and instructive). Those Panzer V's, man!
I got Panzer Leader as my first wargame back in the '70s. Still have it plus PanzerBlitz (my copy looks like Raymond's - it followed me through my 20 year Army career). I remember in The General that they posited a computer game based upon PanzerBlitz and it's a real time machine looking at how they viewed the future of computer wargaming.
Imminently enjoyable game. Along with PanzerLeader, these were remarkably well tuned to actual results in the field. Kept me entertained in college when I should have been studying!
I loved this one! we had such a great time with it, I was Single and in the military at the time, so I had a lot of free time.
Panzer Bush! I remember it well!
My first true hex n counter war game. 3 copies. Counters need storage upgrade. Bought some generic Avalon Hill game boxes so I can use plenty of counter trays.
thanks for doing this!!!!
I enjoy these games so a video replay is fun to share.
thank you for bringing back great memories
We need a PC version of Panzerblitz and Panzer Leader. No boards or counters to get upset.
I was interested in computer wargames when they began to appear on the scene. At first I did not have the right computers. Later, I was to busy with work and life to follow the development. I did try some early ones and liked them. I do not know how they progressed but I sense that it must be hard to duplicate the physical war game experience.
Company of Heroes 1, 2, and 3 are close. The tried to make CoH2 like Squad Leader.
@@OhhJim good to know. Thanks!
A classic ;)
Bellissimo, io lo avevo, quante sessioni di gioco c'ho fatto.....poi come un cretino l ho regalato. Insomma avevo tanti giochi dell' Avalon hill e non so più che fine hanno fatto.
Peccato. 🇮🇹✨
Yes, I had a lot more games than I have now. I am not sure where they all ended up over the years. I am going to play a game of Panzer Leader here soon.
It would be great you make a video on that game.
those old version of panzerblitz are the best because the backs of the counters are black and red rather than white
hard to hear starting at 7:50
Interesting to see the sleeved version. For me, only my copy of Luftwaffe is sleeved. I wish to make two suggestions. First, if you lost your turn marker, use two spare units, one from each side, as turn markers rather than pencil writing on the scenario card. I treat my games like heirlooms for my wargaming son. Second, have you tried the opportunity fire optional rule to prevent Panzer Bush syndrome? Perhaps, your rules are from an early edition, or you are not using the optional rule? I find it adds greatly to realism while not really impacting playability much.
Good ideas. I did not see opportunity fire in my early set of rules. I was determined just to use the rules in the box. I will do Panzer Leader next and I remember opportunity fire was in the rules for this game.
Overall nicely done :)
Subbed. 👍
I enjoyed your piece on Panzerblitz; but you need to read your Situation Cards a little closer. Situation #10 expressly prohibits Russian units from entering Board #3 until a German unit does so.
No, no, I didn't let them enter board three until the Germans did. I had them lined up ready to go on the other board. It probably doesn't come through that way because I gave the recap after the turn. Sometimes I just did one player before filming but on the early turns I completed both turns. I had not played this game in a long time so I expected the Russians to get trounced. However, the way it played for me they did quite well. I think it was the delay involved in taking the town in the center of board three that slowed me down. I maybe even showed some excess caution at advancing. Perhaps if I played the Germans more aggressively, who knows. It merits a replay.
Yes! Panzer Bush!
Awesome ASMR video...
Your die must have more 1s & 2s on them than mine. Even when mustering a 3:1 differential, seemed my best was an "S" result. Axis&Allies is another bad Die game for me.