Panzer 3rd Printing Unboxing / GMT Games - Historical Game - World War 2 - James M. Day

[@SoloBattles]

My wife laughed, "Even I recognize the Panzerblitz cover!"

[@SoloBattles]

I should clarify, she was talking about herself!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Hahaha! Homage to a classic, for sure. :)

[@willannand9988]

Actually, James M. Day's first edition of Panzer was back in 1979. While a designer at Yaquinto, James came out with 3 games that were ahead of their time.... '88, Armor & Panzer. The trio covered all three fronts during WWII and were excellent games.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Oh, nice! I didn't know that. Thanks so much for sharing, I have become study. :)

[@willannand9988]

Is there a way to chat in private here? Or are kyou on Facebook?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Hi! No private chat here, but my email is in the channel description (click on the channel info from the main page). Also on Twitter at @gzblitz. :)

[@thecustardprophet8434]

This looks a lot of fun. I love how they have provided levels of difficulty to the game - so those less experienced players can start with something that they can manage.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, for sure! I was pleasantly surprised that the basic game rules were so manageable. I feel pretty confident I can get started playing pretty quickly with this one, then just keep adding rules as I go.

[@uustakker185]

It's a heavy game but it's also my favorite! I hope we see a playthrough in the future. Love your channel.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks, Kristof! Much appreciated. I'm actually surprised by how manageable the Basic Game feels, and that you can for the most part add in advanced rules modularly. I think it'll make for a fun learning curve as I work up through the full game. I would definitely like to bring some sort of gameplay video to the channel, just not sure when yet. :) Thanks for stopping in!

[@yourseatatthetable]

Nice to see a classic war game still being printed. Awesome stuff.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Although the box looks like Panzer Blitz, it's actually a totally different game. :) The cover art does do homage to the original, though. :)

[@yourseatatthetable]

@@ZillaBlitz I was wondering about that.

[@yourseatatthetable]

@@ZillaBlitz I have the original and Panzer Leader. Used to play 'em both quite a bit with friends back in the late 80's. Did a video on both for my channel, I believe.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Oh, nice! I'll have to check that out.

[@joeyj6808]

Yeah, the box alone almost made the sale for me many years ago. I've been hemming and hawwing over getting this game since it first came out. (btw, idk why I missed this video a year ago...but I'm glad YT recommended it)

[@ZillaBlitz]

Panzer North Africa might be a good option at the moment? On P500 price on GMT and just about ready to ship. :)

[@QuayleTBird]

A historical point ... Panzerblitz began as an S&T Magazine game by SPI. Later, it was sold to AH to publish in their format which had a wider publication network and better graphics capacity. There's a very interesting story behind it. Thanks, as always for a great components review.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Wow, I have become study! I never knew that. Very cool bit of Panzerblitz trivia, thanks! :)

[@joeyj6808]

Pink vs Blue! I remember! You can still get a pdf of the original countersheets for that system

[@campsawyer]

Yes, the cover was done for a tip of the hat to Panzer Blitz. Complexity is tough, many details that drive up the numbers. Solitaire version in France module is a first person type of solo game. Rules are very good but not great, there is concepts that must be digested through multiple plays. I do like the ease at which advance and optional rules can be added without adding all of them, very immersive approach. Maps are very functional as you play you appreciate that for spotting and LOS. Highly detailed maps would be much harder for game play. Vehicle cards are the key and best is you are a numbers junky. Much like baseball cards with stats and numbers. If you like Trobruk, you will like this more. Look forward with the your play through videos.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! There definitely seems to be a great number of mechanics covering a lot of the smaller details of armored combat. In many ways it starts to feel like an armored ASL as you get into the optional rules. And yes, I can appreciate the functional nature of the maps. I'd rather have something basic and functional than pretty and dysfunctional. Now I just need to carve out some time to create some videos for it. :)

[@uwebech5825]

Thanks Zilla. I don't have any of this series yet but I do have MBT which is the same game system but for modern and contemporary tanks. Awesome game system with great attention to detail as far as those data cards go. Penetration of armor at various ranges and angles seems bang on (so to speak).

[@ZillaBlitz]

I've looked at MBT as well, and it looks very good, for sure. I'm more interested in WW2, but MBT might be something to look at in the future. I've seen some of the tank mats for the game and they look fantastic. You like it a lot, I take it?

[@uwebech5825]

@@ZillaBlitz I do. I started with the first edition of MBT many years ago and just upgraded to the latest edition which is much better organized, has data cards instead on tables, and the rules are better written as well. I'm an ex-tanker from the cold war era, so it speaks to me. 😎

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ah, very cool! And thanks for your service! MBT sounds like a good addition, for sure. Sorry it took a while to reply, the replies to replies can sometimes slip by me. :)

[@Stumptonian1]

Looks interesting - I will definitely put this one on my radar.

[@ZillaBlitz]

So many expansions too! It's a whole war's worth of stuff in this series. :)

[@Stumptonian1]

@@ZillaBlitz Already put this one and the France 1940 on my GMT Wishlist

[@ZillaBlitz]

Nice! I have picked up France as well, and hope to take a look at the solitaire rules in a bit.

[@danderson5084]

They messed up the data cards - supposed to be a set for each side and not German one side / Soviet the other. How they did that with a third printing, I don't know. Apparently GMT provide replacements.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, I got a replacement set automatically sent out when I ordered a different game about a month later. I think you just have to contact them if you haven't gotten them. (I wasn't aware of the error at the time of recording this.)

[@michaelheppler991]

So cool - I still have my original game.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Nice! 1st edition? I really need to get this to the table sooner than later. :)

[@thelastmotel]

I found a picture frame that was 24" x 36" (One of those frames without a bezel), and my Panzer map lives in that. It was only a few quid from a craft shop. I just lay it on the table to play, and off I go. I was glad the map was single-sided, as I'd love to do that with more of my paper & thin cardstock maps, but sadly, many of those are double-sided.

[@ZillaBlitz]

That sounds like a creatively awesome solution. :) I have two big sheets of plexiglass that I plop down for games like this. (When I'm not filming, at least. The glare when recording messes with the video images.) I really want to get this one to the table sooner than later. I've been thinking about this for months, now.

[@thelastmotel]

@@ZillaBlitz Thanks! You really need to play it ASAP, as it's such a good game. I love how sort of modular the rules are. You can really find that complexity sweet spot. I'm going to get the 3rd and 4th expansions, for sure, but am still on the fence over the 1st and 2nd. I'm also umming and ahhing over MBT.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, I've watched some gameplay videos on YT and I really think I'll enjoy the gameplay, and that modular nature of building up the complexity seems really conducive to playing and learning at the same time. I've got the expansions, and did an unboxing on the first one so far. It seems to really expand the Eastern front order of battle and the ability to dream up scenarios. Bumping this up the list, I actually almost had it out the other day, then some review copies came in. Soon!

[@thelastmotel]

@@ZillaBlitz Do it!

[@matth5241]

Great video review! Thinking about a purchase. Wondering why there is counter chit data, but also data cards for each combatant? Does the chit data support the basic rules and the data cards advanced and optional rules play?

[@matth5241]

Oh, I get it now. The chit data relates to the data card and movement.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Thanks! I don't have access to the game at the moment, on the road, but I believe the data cards have much more information on them than the counters do.

[@orbitalair2103]

I love the older AH releases of MBT and IDF. I was hoping this would be better, but sadly, at first look, I dont think it is. I bought this game also. HOPEFULLY the North Africa release will be good, as I love the Western Desert games. However GMT moves at a GLACIAL PACE, so we may never get the NA game.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I think the gameplay might surprise you with this, although I agree that the map is not a strong feature of the game.

[@pocketstring3634]

Same, I got exp 4, then finally got the base game. Want the North Africa, but healthy price will probably delay that.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Nice! I'm looking forward to getting this to the table sooner than later. Have you enjoyed the gameplay?

[@pocketstring3634]

@@ZillaBlitz I’ve enjoyed still learning the rules, obviously I’m watching videos. I got a handful of tanks and I’m gonna try and run thru a few turns today, but I love the game. So much chrome and the way it’s presented. That map, though?

[@orbitalair2103]

North Africa is in final art per today's GMT update. So you probably have a year to save up. Ugh.

[@mikekline5661]

Will you be doing a play-through of the game?

[@ZillaBlitz]

It's on my list to do, but ... the list is fairly long. :) With the small unit count and my new camera slider system, this would be really fun to do. Maybe this summer?

[@mikekline5661]

@@ZillaBlitz When you do please use a Scenario that includes infantry, artillery, and an aircraft so we can see it all. Love your style!

[@ZillaBlitz]

@@mikekline5661 Whew! That'd be tricky to start with that. I was thinking like 1 tank vs. 1 tank first. ;) Maybe I can work up to something bigger. :)

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

Mentioned on your other video, but the maps do need an upgrade mainly because they don’t look like real terrain, they look like terrain was placed haphazardly.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Looks like a classic battletech level of rules ie alot lol

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ha! I'm haven't played battletech, but there are definitely a hefty amount of rules here. :)

[@trekanbelluvitsh]

A (very much) advanced "Tank on Tank"? At least the maps look similar.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Yes, VERY much advanced. :) I'm actually making a First Look video for the new Panzer North Africa edition today. :)

[@trekanbelluvitsh]

@@ZillaBlitzLooking foward to it!

[@ZillaBlitz]

It's almost ready...

[@Pozer714]

Looks great! You have a lot of really nice games behind you too I've seen in the other videos! You own a game store?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Ha! No, not yet! When I got back into wargaming about a year and a half ago, I set aside a bit of money to build up a collection of games. There aren't as many as there look to be, to be honest, but ...having said that, I have a backlog now, or perhaps a Shelf of Opportunity. :)

[@Jezza_One]

I wonder if anyone has tried playing this with 1/300 (6mm) tank miniatures?

[@ZillaBlitz]

I think the stacking might make it a bit challenging?

[@Jezza_One]

@@ZillaBlitz I think you could actually play these rules on the table top. I believe its origin was a miniatures game its far more complex than Fist Full of Tows 3 but that game allows you play a brigade scale (6mm) with games using upto a hundred tank miniatures. Some people actual go down to 3mm which is probably close to this games scale.

[@ZillaBlitz]

I'm not experienced with miniatures so I'm confident you are speaking with more knowledge than I am. If you give it a try sometime I'd love to hear how it goes. It'd be fun to see this in miniatures format. :)

[@SoloBattles]

This reminds me, every once in awhile we get to discussing advanced/optional rules for Pub Battles. This always ends with the conclusion that we should title that section of the rules as "Not really worth the effort." I do get why PANZER, as a tactical wargame requires this, but it usually spells doom for operational and strategic level games. A clever and elegant rules system won't require lots of rules at that level. Kind of the way sloppy programming requires many more lines of code. That being said, I lament the demand for chrome and complexity (crunch) that many wargamers laud. My opinion is probably a minority viewpoint. It is one of the reasons I applaud the Downfall of Empires system.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Haha! "Not really worth the effort" That's funny. I can definitely relate to mechanics in games where after I'm done learning and using them, I'm like, "That was a lot of work for not so much fun."

[@mathewkelly9968]

Wow I play tabletop wargames with less rules , im sure its learnable ....... even with fairly basic table top games the army lists etc start to mount up though

[@ZillaBlitz]

It does have a miniatures sort of feel to it. I couldn't imagine trying to learn it if it didn't break things down into the 3 levels that it has. It feels very manageable, however. The rules clarity, the gradual learning, and the ease of referencing makes it all seem like it'll work well as a playable game. We'll see!

[@brianfoley1805]

Did you get it to the table yet?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Hi Brian - No, not yet. But your timing is impeccable because I just clipped two of the three counter sheets while watching the Bills-Chiefs game tonight. Basically, the last half of December and first half of January had almost no access to the wargaming table, which was unexpected. But now that things are back to normal I'm making progress again!

[@brianfoley1805]

@@ZillaBlitz just looking at it as my next purchase and love to hear your opinions!

[@ZillaBlitz]

It's a bit hard to say yet without playing, but I'm pretty encouraged by what I've seen so far. I do feel like it's a game system that is going to take time to work through, with the levels of rules. So a pretty big investment of time, but the reward is amazing depth. Especially with the Expansions, you can create and play so many different scenarios. I think it's somewhat in the category of ASL-ish type games (but not that level or complexity) but similar in that you invest time to learn the system and are rewarded with having tons of content to play. And I get a sense from reading other people's stuff, that Panzer is a game that people play.

[@DragonsAteOurName]

Okay, if you ever play this, I will have to remember your complexity scale because all of those rules do look quite intimidating. But another great video like always. Have you gotten a chance to play it yet and how it compares to Panzer Blitz?

[@ZillaBlitz]

Not yet, no, haven't played it yet. For these complicated games it usually takes me a few evenings to make it through the rules. I'm still pretty slow. I finished up a tutorial for Captain's Sea yesterday and now it's time to pick the next game. Still deciding on what to play. I hope to start tonight. Maybe Panzer, or Absolute War, or something else. I want to start a new PC game too. Open for suggestions! (I'm going to do a channel update tonight asking for input.) So happy you got your computer back!

[@DragonsAteOurName]

@@ZillaBlitz I mean, with a rulebook like that, it's totally fine to take a few evenings. I wouldn't say that's slow, I'd say that's completely normal. And especially to actually getting around to playing a session, with the holidays and work and everything, that's gonna take a bit! I mean, I'm still all for you giving Snowrunner a go 👀

[@ZillaBlitz]

In a nerdy way, I actually like sitting down with a big rulebook and spending a few evenings learning how to play. That can be as much fun as playing. :) ~ And I did load up Snow Runner again the other day. I want to see how it works with my wheel and whatnot. I think it might be a good addition, even if I only do a few episodes. :)

[@DragonsAteOurName]

@@ZillaBlitz I think I understand partly. It's kind of like me learning new TTRPG systems, since those rule books are usually nothing short of 300 pages or so. Yaaaay! I think I would thoroughly enjoy watching you play :D

[@jamiebroughman5626]

sold me with 4 on the scale

[@ZillaBlitz]

It's got quite a range of complexity for sure, you can work your way up the scale. :)

[@Phalanx11]

Can YOU!...as the Panzer Leader stop the Soviet hordes.....no.

[@ZillaBlitz]

Challenge... accepted! :)

[@Phalanx11]

@@ZillaBlitz hehehe

[@nickpn23]

The map was a disappointment for me. Thin paper, one-sided.

[@ZillaBlitz]

It would have been nice to have a map set to be able to interlock various panels for more variety, for sure. The expansions fix that, but it'd be nice to have that in the basic game too. :)

[@orbitalair2103]

yet the armor cards are mounted?? derp.