Avalon Hill Game - PanzerBlitz - A look back at this great game and how it was played

[@gowensbach2998]

Panzerblitz was my very first wargame. I was young, and I thought when I first looked at it was this: "Damn, You need a College Degree to understand this!" So a neighbor of mine told me he would learn it and get back to me. Later, he told me it was great! So I learned it. Man...that opened doors! I became an avid AH game collector. Sadly, I only have a few now. But anyway, PB still remains in my heart.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I know how you feel Gowensbach, I am now buying all the old game I had back then.

[@gowensbach2998]

@@NerdWorkshop1 I have picked up a few as well…at crazy prices. To think I had at least 60 titles that would be worth a fortune now! Oh well, carting them around and storing them would have been difficult.

[@thedeaforc]

Played in the 80s and love it. Played it with my brother, when he had leave from the army.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

80s is when I played it too. Thanks for watching The Deaf Orc.

[@josepha9313]

This one I still have, bought it around 1980 when I was in college. These games were much easier to decipher and understand at 20 than when I was 10. Very enjoyable and fun game, I played the heck out of it solitaire. A few years later I progressed to Squad Leader.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Squad Leader always seem the natural progression from this game at the time. I have Squad Leader, but still have never played it. One day I will.

[@Jackdaw5]

Panzer Blitz remains in my heart too. I have many happy memories of it, and Panzer Leader. I've just got back into boardgames after a 40 year absence and was tempted to buy those old games again for the nostalgia, but I got GMT Panzer and its expansions instead and - so far - haven't looked back. Bye PB/PL and thanks for the memories :-)

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I also have all the GMT Panzer games, but I still like playing PB and PL. Thanks for watching Ian.

[@rodento3220]

Wow this brings back memories... I played in the mid 80s and miss it now. I think now that we are finally retired we are all getting back in to wargames!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I am with you there Ro Dento, I play this a lot in the late 70's

[@gowensbach2998]

This was my first wargame. But I have to say, I was a kid back then. When I bought the game, I looked at the rules and thought "You gotta have a college degree to learn this" and a neighbor of mine looked at it and told me he would look it over and tell me how it was. Days later he returned it and said it was pretty good, so I knuckled down to learn it. Opened up the door to many more games and years of of wonderful hobby.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I agree, back then it was a complicated game. but I todays standards, not so much. Thanks for watching Gowensbach.

[@yourseatatthetable]

It's a timeless table top war game. I've had it, and Panzer Leader since the early 80's. Great video.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I agree, both are very timeless games for sure. Thanks for watching.

[@jimlogan5789]

Still have my original AH panzer blitz game. Just opened up for kicks my 1970 AH Krieg Spiel game. It had interesting rules. Just recently unpacked my AH game I had in storage boxes for years, and place them on a bookshelf. I think some of my oldest games Tactics II ($6.98) U-Boat ($5,98) and Blitzkrieg ($7.98) back in the day. Prices sure have changed.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

The prices have changed a lot Jim. I had the Kriegspiel game too. I purchased my New PanzerBitz in 75-76 for $10. and I used the $1.00 off Coupon in the General and the free shipping coupon on the order form, total price with shipping $9. Found a used game I purchased a couple of months ago at $45 and $15 shipping. $60 total +tax. bit of a price difference for sure.

[@Rich944inSK]

Thank you so much for the trip down memory lane! Like many others, my 40 year love affair with wargaming began with the iconic Panzerblitz, circa 1982. Panzerblitz and PanzerLeader consumed hundreds of my gaming hours in the early 80's. I've thought about finding a nice original example, but ended up downloading both game elements (and many variants) from Greg's Panzerblitz site. I've found most of 30+ year old games often have a musty smell to them.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I agree, I spent a good number of hours with this game in the 80's too.

[@steveatkinson9123]

Loved these games. Still have all three plus 1 extra each of Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader. Some freinds and I took it a little farther. Combined the best of all 3 games rules and went 3D with GHQ micro armor on 3x6 foot boards. It was a blast.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

that would be fun

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

Thanks for posting this nice video. This game brings back great memories playing with my brother in the 1970s and then my two boys in the early-mid 2,000s. PB, in spite of its deficiencies (Panzerbush syndrome most notably) had some real groundbreaking aspects like the geomorphic board, multiple scenarios, and DYO scenarios. That publication you referred to was the "Wargamer's Guide to Panzerblitz". It was a fantastic little booklet which unfortunately I lost years ago.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I still have mine and refer to it all the time. Thanks for watching.

[@werdna9006]

I hate with a passion the fashion now of paper maps. Board mounted maps from AH were just perfect and I would gladly pay the little extra now for a game to have the maps mounted. This is a great nostalgic video for me. I still have my well loved PanzerBlitz/Leader games from those bygone years.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I still love this game too, and I always get the mounted boards, like you do, when they are available. Thanks for watching.

[@zeedub8560]

First wargame bought (in '82), check. Still have it, check. And Panzer Leader, which I didn't think was as much fun. My favorite PB scenario was the meeting engagement on the map with the big mesa. Played that against my friends, it usually turned into complete chaos. Good times. Panzer Leader's rulebook (edit: and PanzerBlitz's, but I went by the PL one) had a chart that showed how many counters it would take to make entire divisions. I sent off to Avalon Hill for extra PB and PL counters enough to make most of an SS PZ division (was short of trucks). I would line up all 7 boards from both games and set up the division in depth, then throw all the US, British and Russian counters against it. The goal was to cover the map in wreck counters.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

WOW That must have been fun Zeedub85. Thanks for watching.

[@MaxCherepitsa]

Thank you a lot for this warm video. Just getting into a hobby and loved this game considering to get one. And for the game-by-mail part, just wow :)

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Glad you enjoyed it MaxCherepitse, and thanks for watching.

[@paulkenny5052]

I believe this game was originally an SPI design that Jim Dunnigan sold to Avalon Hill. The rules printed on one large sheet of paper folded up like a map was a old SPI style rules, and that is how it came over from SPI. France 1940 was another SPI design that was sold to Avalon Hill. And later, so was Soldier King and Panzer Armee Afrika.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Thanks Paul, that is something that I did not know. The old Map style rules were fun trying to read that while playing.

[@QuayleTBird]

The Game was in an early publication for Chris Wagner and Dunnigan's Poulton Press and was later in Strategy and Tactics 22 .... Titled "Tactical Game 3." Wikipedia has a brief explanation of the design and publication circumstances. The late Redmond Simonsen who was the Creative director/Graphic Designer for SPI was the artist for Panzerblitz and responsible for the famous cover art for the AH version. SPI had a huge innovative influence on the hobby.

[@thetanksofworldwarii-tanka4368]

I wish I still had my copy. I got it when I was a kid in the mid 80's at the gift shop of the Patton museum at Fort Knox.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

That is cool that they sold it there.

[@thetanksofworldwarii-tanka4368]

@@NerdWorkshop1 I remember reading the campaign notes and rule book on the drive home back to Michigan.

[@Nowhere888]

I played Panzer Blitz and Panzer Leader as a kid. Our next door neighbor was former Wehrmacht from WWII and this game was part of his training as Hitler youth. I play Panzer Blitz with the former soldier's son with encouragement of the father. This game teaches real tactics used in WWII is really a training simulator and less a game.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I would agree with that, but I still love the game. thanks for watching.

[@robertlubel734]

i still have my copy of this game and to breath new life into it...I have recently found new map boards on ebay and some new aftermarket playing pieces too.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I just got some new playing pieces and map for Panzer Leader. Thanks for watching Robert.

[@rogerparkhurst5796]

The plastic sleeves to hold the die-cuts was very interesting. I have never seen that before. I wonder why it didn't take off, it looks very practical!!??!!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

They work well for this game. Thanks for watching.

[@joeparvana9549]

Thanks for posting this. Great memories for me. I played it in High School in the early 70s at a friends house, spurred me to buy Panzer Leader. I loved your memory and explanation of play by mail too, I did the same procedure with Squad Leader. Amazed now to look back at it and think of all we did to play.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I agree Joe, we did manage rather well then. But it is great now with Vassal and other online programs. Thanks for watching.

[@jackzimmer6553]

I never played PB by mail. About the only I did PBM for was Afrika Corps. I had forgotten about how dice rolls were handled. I collected and played PB, PL and AIW. Great games for sure!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

It is a good game and so is Africa Corps. I need to get rebuy a copy of that game again. Thanks for watching.

[@Yardbird68]

I still have my complete original PB I bought in 1977 at the "Toy Depot" in Redding, California. Some of my pieces have not been removed from the card yet. It's the only AH game I had.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Very Nice Yard Bird. It is a fun game to play.

[@CAUSELESSREBEL]

One of my 3 favorite games.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

In the top 5 group for me too.

[@jimsmith7445]

I LOVE your magnetic holders... also love your counter holders...BRAVO

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Thanks Jim, Those magnetic holders are at least 42+ years old.

[@davidcook8230]

When I got back into the hobby in 2020, this was one of my first repurchases along with Panzer Leader. Last week I got Arab-Israeli Wars to complete the series. It is fast and fun. Using opportunity fire is a must to avoid Panzer Bush syndrome.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Nice, David. I still need Arab-Israeli Wars. I agree, Opportunity fire is a must.

[@paulkenny5052]

Did you get the France 1940 add-on for Panzer Leader?

[@davidcook8230]

@@paulkenny5052 No, but I have seen it. Currently, it is on my want to find list. I have also seen some early Barbarossa for PanzerBlitz that looked interesting too.

[@GeoTactics]

My first game and was hooked.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

It was one of my first games too. It will suck you in, that is for sure.

[@jobu88]

Holy cow I had completely forgot about the old practice of using daily stocks to generate die rolls. AHIKS had already come along when I started PBEM so no need to look up stocks info.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

yeah, I guess that is where I step up and say "back in the day, we had to ..." :)

[@josepha9313]

I always asked for an AH game at Christmas. Had all the old titles: D-Day, Stalingrad, Gettysburg, Jutland. A few years ago started buying them again on eBay. Had two shrink-wrapped Civil War titles, Grant Takes Command and Stonewall in the Valley. Never got to open them. I guess I accumulated between 15-20 titles. My wife later filed for divorce (not over the games, haha) and I had to leave it all behind. Such a shame. I guess she threw them all out. I asked if she would ship them to me, she never did.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I can relate to that story :)

[@e-4airman124]

love your 3 d print boxes

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Thanks E-4 Airman. I am getting a bit carried away with the 3D printer for these games.

[@airborneranger-ret]

Yeah, I used to love that game. :)

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I sill like it, but it was a lot of fun back in the day.

[@thomasdehoff5861]

Panzer Biltz was my very first AH game that I purchased, I had the first version with the slip box. It was a great game too bad I could never find an opponent in real life so it was always solo play.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I know how you feel Thomas, I think I only had one game FTF all the rest for PBM back in the 70's and 80's.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Same here.

[@gordonyork6638]

Ditto

[@wehosrmthink7510]

Same here! My first wargame.

[@NoEnemiesHere]

Your channel is a great find for me!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

You are alway welcome here. Thanks for watching. I saw you on Jesters channel last week, keep up the great work.

[@multimedialearning44]

I used wargames in my high school history classes. I used tons of counter clips, the wood shop made me a storage system and the metal shop provided metal sheets so we could store the games between classes. Long time ago

[@NerdWorkshop1]

That would have been a fun class. Thanks for watching Herschel.

[@captainnolan5062]

It was hard for YOU to find opponents. My friends and I had game night at a local bookstore that sold the games, and we had dozens of potential opponents to choose from when I was in my early teens (more, in fact than that I have now).

[@NerdWorkshop1]

That would have been very nice. We had a gaming store some distance away where I might have found some opponents. But back then I would not have been able to afford the gas to get there.

[@captainnolan5062]

@@NerdWorkshop1 Ahhh, but gas was cheap then. Only 36 cents a gallon!

[@sivoltage]

I might make a 3d printed version of this game.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I would like to see that when you do Si Voltage.

[@e-4airman124]

My first game was 1914 followed by Stalingrad , Gettysburg and then so much more. I have everything but I cannot find people to play with here in Central Ohio

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Try Vassal

[@captainnolan5062]

The title should be "how it IS played", it is a game in existence NOW.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

True, but I was showing you how we use to play it by mail. Which no one does anymore.

[@captainnolan5062]

@@NerdWorkshop1 You can use Vassal.

[@captainnolan5062]

Thanks for posting the video. I am keeping you honest by fact checking you. Thanks again.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

As you should and I really appreciate it. Always keep an eye on me, I stray a lot. Take Care Captain Nolan and keep watching.

[@ecmo1226]

PB was the gateway game for so many of us. But, Squad Leader and ASL were my go-to games. I also recently bought Panzer after getting back into gaming, but these days I'm playing more single player stuff. Any chance you would share your design for the chit storage boxes? They look excellent!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Hi Ecmo, Yes the boxes you can get here: www.thingiverse.com/thing:4912567 I scaled them up 25% to get them to fit the Panzer counters. Thanks for watching.

[@charleslatora5750]

I bought two copies last century. Last year I saw a sleeve copy really really cheap and I could not resist So I have three copies now.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I did the exact same thing Charles, but I only have two copies. :)

[@charleslatora5750]

@@NerdWorkshop1 My friend and I would put all six boards out take all the German and all the Russian counters and just have a massive tank knife fight. And we were probably drinking at the same time which probably made for some interesting events, which, at my age, I can't remember thankfully. Well there was that time with a big bottle of Italian red wine with the 5 ft long neck on the bottle...crawling up staircase not fun...

[@Phalanx11]

AH's famous catchphrase on the box...can YOU as the Panzer Leader....

[@NerdWorkshop1]

We think we can. Thanks for watching Vortyx

[@Rollo905]

Good Ole Bookcase Games!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

They are the best. Thanks for watching Ron. I See you fly RC Helicopter - I was a Senior Editor for Model Airplane News for 16 Years. Flew RC all my life.

[@davidbowman5407]

Any chance you could post the 3D print files of the counter holders?

[@NerdWorkshop1]

They are actually available on Thingaverse, they are the ones for SL, Just scale them up 25%

[@robertovolpi]

Maybe I am crazy but I despise opportunity fire. Just house rules to make spotting easier and barrage artillery to make quick movement harder. IMHO the essence of Panzerblitz is manoeuvre, and at this scale opportunity fire seems gamey.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Nothing wrong with not liking opportunity fire Roberto. I actually like playing PanzerBlitz with its own rules and only some time I will incorporate all the advance rules. Thanks for watching.

[@Uhlan_]

Hey, that looks like my copy....wait a minute... ok, it's still there

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Yep, they all do start to look the same after a bit of wear.

[@williamdukeofnormandy1403]

I have a Panzer Leader, & Panzer Blitz, game. Both are slip cover boxes. Leave email if you are interested.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Nice William, I would drop you an email, but I actually have two of each already. Although I don't have a slip cover box of Panzer Leader.

[@w.osterberg9385]

Have you ever thought about doing Blitzkrieg?

[@NerdWorkshop1]

That would be fun, but I don't have that game.

[@w.osterberg9385]

Could you get a copy?

[@captainnolan5062]

You said several times that your units were in "squares." They are actually in 'hexes' and not squares.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

You are absolutely right, I catching myself saying that all the time. confusion is easy at my age. :)

[@captainnolan5062]

@@NerdWorkshop1 I completely understand.

[@steriopticon2687]

"It was really hard to find opponents" No kiddin'

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Yes it was Steri. Thanks for watching.

[@swankiestnerd8277]

Panzerbush!

[@NerdWorkshop1]

yes it was.

[@drednot57]

Panzer Blitz, Panzer Leader, and I think Arab-Israeli Wars all shared the same game system. For the WW2 games, the system worked great, but for the modern conflicts with the Sagger AT missiles, the system didn't work so well. The mechanics for the missiles made them too dominant, AIRC.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

Yeah, not a good system for Modern day conflicts. but a fun game for it's time. Thanks for watching.

[@war_gamer]

but was it 'really that good'? :)

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I think at the time it was, and they are still fun to play now.

[@davidcook8230]

Yes, it was and still is good....fast and fun.

[@captainnolan5062]

How about "A look at this great game and how it is played." We don't say, Hey, how about a look BACK at Chess, and how it WAS played. Chess IS a great game now. Just because it was invented centuries ago doesn't mean it is not a great game that is still played (as in present tense) and we can look at how it IS played now (not how it WAS played, as in past tense). Same with Panzerblitz, which was invented a whole lot later than Chess (as in 'within my lifetime" since I played in it 1971 or so.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

One of the things that is different now in both PanzerBlitz and chess is play-by-mail, both of them can be done with E-mail and the games will move along faster. Dice rolls for PanzerBlitz is much different now when playing by E-mail as compared to playing by mail back in the day. Not to mention how Vassal has change the way we can play all kinds of games. It was just a look back, that's all. :)

[@captainnolan5062]

@@NerdWorkshop1 My point is that this IS a great game now. We can look at Panzerblitz NOW. We aren't looking 'back' at anything. Do we look back at the Mona Lisa, or do we just look at the Mona Lisa and see a great painting?

[@patiencezero-xc9zl]

This game is only fun from a nostalgia standpoint. Dunnigan never really understood tactical armored warfare or doctrine, which is why the design basically is like many other games of the day except the units all have attack ranges instead of needing to be adjacent. Think tactics II with attack ranges....lol. The first edition of the game did not even comprehend opportunity fire, which demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding.

[@NerdWorkshop1]

I agree Patience Zero, but still a fun game for me at least. Thanks for watching.