Phantom Leader Deluxe Edition Review

[@DriveThruReview]

That Flight Path business looks like a great addition. That was one of the awkward (if minor) parts of the original was always rolling to see who attacked what. Can't wait to get this and put on Flight of the Intruder in the background.

[@Jedra1000]

I have this on pre-order and can't wait to receive it. Great comparison review Marco. I am liking the flight-path and firing section restrictions too - do you see any reason why we could not retro-fit these into Hornet Leader?

[@jasonjlittle]

Bought this yesterday looking forward to playing it this weekend. Luckily I got the last copy. DVG games are very hard to come by up in Canada and shipping from the US is insanely expensive.

[@TheHawkeyede]

Marco, your reviews are just awesome :)...you really know when you are hooked on a game :)

[@iconocast]

"....now it is an eagle... " i loled. should put that on the box

[@Dre2Dee2]

Where did you get those counter trays? They look super handy. :)

[@raygun6271]

Happy to confirm it is a great game! Just got it and my record is 1-1. (Dismal - Adequate) Playing the rubber game 3 as I type this. Wish me luck😀

[@Lkellvyn]

I think the big question now is whether Hornet Leader: CAO or Phantom Leader Deluxe is better. I don't have either yet; I was planning on dropping hints about HL for my birthday but PLD now seems like HL with bonus mechanisms (politics, flight path, restricting attack chits), making it a stronger game than HL. How would you compare the two?

[@adzi6164]

veeeeeeeeeeeery late, but, franklt, HL and PL are rather different, enough to consider them equal on more objective level, but appealing to different tastes. In Phantom Leader, you have to struggle with less modern gear, which makes executing missions and combat much different than in HL (with less ranged weaponry, attack angles restrictions, and flight paths), while you constantly get replacement for lost soldiers, which are more endangered during combat - but, while Politics do play a part in selecting targets, doing that is still rather simple. HL gives you more range and modern gear to play with, but the combat field is, effectively flat, and you don't have any restrictions in movement - yet, if you lose someone, you have one less pilot from then on. You don't have any political pressure, but target cards can interact with others, and some can even force a "defense mission" ending the campaing in failure if you don't win.

[@nikmaza6515]

Am I imagining things or did I read somewhere that they are making a Hornet Leader Deluxe edition?

[@Viewfromtheturret]

All three games in the series are excellent. Thunderbolt Apache Leader is the most complex and interesting but some of that is personal taste. Hornet Leader is the easiest and the new PL:Deluxe is in the middle. All give a good feel for their respective genres/periods. PL:Deluxe is a worthy upgrade.

[@chadvader974]

Hornet Leader of This? CANT DECIDE! :O

[@adzi6164]

can help you: In Phantom Leader, you have to struggle with less modern gear, which makes executing missions and combat much different than in HL (with less ranged weaponry, attack angles restrictions, and flight paths), while you constantly get replacement for lost soldiers, which are more endangered during combat - but, while Politics do play a part in selecting targets, doing that is still rather simple. HL gives you more range and modern gear to play with, but the combat field is, effectively flat, and you don't have any restrictions in movement - yet, if you lose someone, you have one less pilot from then on. You don't have any political pressure, but target cards can interact with others, and some can even force a "defense mission" ending the campaing in failure if you don't win. Also, for Hornet Leader there's a Cthulhu-themed expansion.

[@SallianceMedia]

DVG games are great. Phantom Leader is pretty cool but I'd have to say Thunderbolt Apache Leader is the best one.

[@colinmacmillan2944]

Glad you said that - it's the one I ordered. :-)

[@supercommando440]

The counter tray isn't INCLUDED in the deluxe version?! Cripes that is so so LAME.