How To Play: Panzerblitz

Background, rules overview and playthrough of Avalon Hill's groundbreaking Panzerblitz
Note that this is a new system for me, and I'm trying to use Panzerblitz "rules as written" for the most part.
0:06 Background- The Tiger I Tank (Panzerkampfwagen VI)
4:35 Rules Overview
4:50 Components
6:13 Sequence of Operations
7:21 Movement
9:38 Transport
11:21 Blockages
12:39 Wrecks
13:14 Mines
13:56 Fortifications
16:03 Combat
18:25 Line of Sight
27:55 Overruns
29:47 Close Assault
30:54 Playthrough- Situation 1- White Russia
Vassal Module
obj.vassalengi...

[@markh63]

Excellent video probably the most complete and comprehensive video,I’ve seen on panzer blitz great job.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

I really appreciate that Mark! You've definitely made may day. Its a great game- but it does have its quirks.

[@jobu88]

Nit-pick: at 17:07 you say "Every unit firing on specific defending unit may combine their attack factors together." The wording should be ".....firing on specific defending unit MUST combine their attack factors." The point is that a defending unit cannot be attacked multiple times in the same turn by different attackers, anyone that is going to fire at a defender must combine into one attack. "COMBAT" section of the rules, paragraph E.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Yup, I'll put that in the errata. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll put that in the errata video.

[@Phillybrarian]

Love the intro to the game by way of historical background. You have a very clear and methodical way of presenting the rules and the play by play. Easy to watch, easy to follow, easy to understand. Hope there will be more. Thank you!

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

You made my day Phillybarian. I really appreciate hearing that. Its a good feeling when people "get" what you're trying to do, and it gives me motivation to make more!

[@wrecklass]

Wow that takes me back to the early 70s as I was plowing my way through college. A room mate and I got into Panzerblitz after we first tried Blitzkrieg and discovered we really liked these "wargames." My mistake was going to an early Gen Con and learning how the pros play these games. Still it lead to a lifetime of wargaming, boards, minis and video. Thanks for the memory. 👍

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

I really, really appreciate the view and nice comment! Yeah I hear ya on playing with the pros. I used to make some cons, but a lot of those guys were a bit much. As you can tell I'm not a great strategist, I make a fair number of errors, but I'm more interested in the history and just having a good time.

[@wrecklass]

@epicsexycrafttime7475 yep strategy got me in, history kept me interested.

[@CurmudgeonswithDice]

Great introduction to a venerable classic! I think you can only fire into the town hexes if there is someone spotting those hexes (ie a friendly unit is adjacent) or if the attacking unit is adjacent

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Yeah, they're just like wood hexes.

[@johnpirman7680]

Love the intro to the game too Kemper. Very nicely presented!! During game play remember to place wrecks when armored vehicles are destroyed in combat. Also units in towns are treated as one combined defense factor. I've always played PB where you cannot pick and choose units in a town, you have to fire at the whole stack. In closing very nicely done on this presentation, I enjoyed it!!!

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Thanks John, I really appreciate it. You're right about the wreck and town rules (I also shot into towns without a spotter in the playthrough). I'd started and stopped recording the playthrough a bunch of times whenever I messed up a rule, and I finally decided that "perfect is the enemy of good" and just barged through. I do appreciate folks pointing out the errors, as I'd like to make this a series and I can start putting reminders up for forgotten rules. Hopefully I'm planning on getting out a video every two weeks with a background bit (next one is on the t34, errata for forgotten rules and one of the scenarios). Again, I really appreciate you watching it, as well as the kind words!!!!

[@johnpirman7680]

@@epicsexycrafttime7475 I think you did just fine Kemper! I've played Panzerblitz since I bought the game in 1970. From there I added more counters and boards and me and my buddies would play division and corps actions. Then Real life and Advanced Squad Leader came along and PB was put on hold. Just recently I began to pick PB/PL up through Vassal and am loving every minute of the old girls!! It's tough to keep a good wargame down so I gravitated back. Computer wise I play a lot of Campaign Series which is like Panzerblitz and PL on steroids. But watching gentlemen like yourself coming forward with history, rule review and game play is just solid in my book! Keep up with the good standards if not for us old guys, the younger generations!! Thanks Kemper for all you do!!!

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

@@johnpirman7680 greatly appreciated!

[@usapatriot4163]

Great video! Thanks for putting out a quality content on these "classic" old games!

[@usapatriot4163]

It looks like you have 4 "support" weapons (M,A,H etc.) so that would be the reason for the 4 wagons, maybe?

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

​@@usapatriot4163 thanks very much, I really, really appreciate it!Yeah it makes sense to have the wagons (or trucks) hitch up the support weapons. However, I've parsed the transportation rules and under transport Rule G, it says that armor can carry non-vehicular units (so I stuck em with the faster moving armor). I haven't played PanzerLeader yet, but I' wondering if this loophole got rectified there?

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

yup, its a PanzerLeader rule

[@89volvowithlazers]

Bless you the very first game I ever purchased with my own money then had to explain wth it was when my older brothers snagged it out of the bag lol goofy older bros they were the worst and the best. listening to the rules man u just became a time machine again outstanding rules ( if you could distract the table or your oppo easy two hexes any which way lol )

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Thank you very much, glad to hear it took you back.

[@harryrcarmichael]

The rules came back in a very spooky way - it has been literally a 1/2 century since I played Panzer Blitz ( played ASL up through college ).

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

It's a pretty good game. You still get a chance to play these days?

[@davidlavigne207]

The reason you had two Carts left over is because they are supposed to be transporting the Anti-tank gun unit and the Mortar unit that you had the Tank Companies transporting. As far as I remember, Tank units can only transport Infantry units. Towed artillery and mortars require carts, trucks or half tracks to move them.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Yeah I had a guy get kinda upset about that so I researched it out. According to the Panzerblitz rule- Transporting Units, part G- "Armored Vehicle Unit may carry no-vehicular units in a fashion similar to "C" units. Each armored unit may carry one non-vehicular unit.", and towed artillery, mortors, etc. are clearly listed as non-vehicular units earlier in the rule. I think what throws everybody is the PanzerLeader rule V. Movement C. Transporting Units, point 6. "only German armored units (tanks, assault guns, etc.) may transport infantry type units in a fashion similar to C units." The former case isn't necessarily realistic, but I am trying to stay within the PB rules as written to keep things as standardized as possible (and avoid retrofitting PL or even house rules into the equation). If you do find anything different in the PB RAW, let me know.

[@davidlavigne207]

@@epicsexycrafttime7475 Yes you are correct. I was channeling my Panzer Leader version of the transport rules. I haven't played Panzer Blitz in years so I get the two sets of rules confused. Once PL came out I often incorporated the better rules interpretations to PB.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

@@davidlavigne207 Trust me, you're not alone David! In some ways I'm looking forward to moving on to PL. I love PB, but the rules have a lot of hiccups in them. Only 24 more vids to go ;-)

[@rhlm95]

I love your channel. Please keep it up, I especially like the older SPI titles. Perhaps Swords and Sorcery or John Carter of Mars? Anyway great job!

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Hey thank you very, very much! One of these days I'm going to get around to Swords And Sorcery, and if I get really crazy/brave Magic Realm!

[@tholmes2169]

This is awesome. Thanks for posting this.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

thank you very much, really appreciate it

[@CurmudgeonswithDice]

Want to see more scenarios of this game!

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

will do, thanks!

[@mikegrivett1892]

Where can I get the computer program are you using to play the game?

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Its Vassal, its a free open source program and I really like it. There are several thousand modules associated with it, including most of the old AH and SPI games. There's a link to the PB module in this videos description. I've got a video on how to set it up at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep7Id5ejpLBmpK8

[@89volvowithlazers]

as for the rules I have tons of magazine discussions from the zines regarding rules and house rules these rules were tweaked thru the games physical publication, the "errata" was circulated with rule changes and new rule books would have literal cross outs and u could see the copy marks. the rules were vetted my man and every group would tweak the rules quite a bit, the woods hexes u had to be behind hex sides and we played it rationally on the other and come to agreements so yeah we worked the rules and the Avalon Hill thru the General the mag u would get the changes u should go do the deep dive in avalon hill if u have not

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

You're right about the rules being crazy, so far I haven't encountered a game quite like this one. Between house rules, retrofitted Panzer Leader and Arab Israeli War rules, errata and General articles, it's a real can of worms. I decided to try to stick with the original rules as written just for Panzerblitz (which leaves a little to be desired) to keep things consistent. I've got some old generals on order, so it'll be interesting to see what they can add. Again, I really appreciate the kind comments and the view. "Drop in anytime!"

[@kencusick6311]

Was an early game of mine. Wasn’t a favorite. Probably the rules were too new to me. Didn’t get into this type of war game until Tobruck and later Squad Leader. Did enjoy the replay

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. Gonna try to put out a Panzerblitz situation video every once in awhile. I have never played Tobruk, is it pretty good?

[@kencusick6311]

@ it was a step on the way to Squad Leader. You really have to be into all the minutia of gun caliber vs types of armor. Not really suitable for solitaire play.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

@@kencusick6311 good to know, probably put it down the list a ways!

[@mark950-d7d]

I do not believe that A or I class weapons can fire more (further) than through the adjacent woods hex. H and M can arc. A and I class would hit trees. I do not believe that 81 mm mortar units can ride on tanks in spite of their movement factor. I believe they require wagons, trucks or half tracks. The idea is to force the Soviets to cross open ground and undergo withering fire. I would place the mines next to the forts to reduce the total number of units that can close assault the fortifications at one time. I would place the two 88 mm and one security unit in one fort and the 20 mm quad and two security to the other fort. I would place the remaining anti-tank guns and 20 mm anti-aircraft artillery to the edge of the nearby woods to support the forts. Spotting is important for the Soviets to direct mortar fire. The cavalry move 3 times faster than the infantry. The cavalry can move through the woods and spot from its edge. The German engineers and submachine gun units can be placed in the middle of the woods to control this area. The Soviets want to pick off the poorly defended units without sustaining too heavy a losses

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

Those sound like good suggestions on play. When I made the video, in order to try to keep things as consistent as possible I tried to stay with the Panzerblitz rules as written and tried to avoid Panzerleader or home rules (hence the armor units being able to carry non-vehicular units - I address this in my latest video). As for various types of weapons being restricted by terrain, I'd be interested in finding out more, if you can site the PB rule on that, I'd like to put it in the errata section of my next video!

[@mark950-d7d]

@@epicsexycrafttime7475 We ended up playing by my brother's interpretations. There was a newsletter and perhaps an updated set of rules.

[@epicsexycrafttime7475]

@@mark950-d7d Yeah there's huge scads of homebrew rules out there- the game was built for that in so many ways. Panzerleader also changed a lot of the rules (and I think you might be referring to the PL rules when you talk about the prohibition of non-vehicular units being carried by armor). So far the only changes to RAW have been through the errata printed in issues of The General magazine. You still get a chance to play this (or any other games) these days?