Review: Gato Leader from DVG - The Players' Aid

[@ncg4132]

It is truly mind boggling how you guys put up quality reviews and commentary on war board games on such a consistent basis. It must be like a full-time job! Way to go guys and thanks so much for all you do!

[@ThePlayersAid]

Thanks for the comment. I can tell you that our wives are very supportive and allow us to play at least 1 time per week where we will usually get at least 2 games played. I also do solitaire games like Gato Leader late at night after the family goes to bed. I don't sleep all that well so I have some time to not only play but write and shoot these solo videos. Thanks for watching the channel. We appreciate your support.

[@evidentside]

Another straight talking and honest review Grant, enjoyed over a coffee before work this morning. Looking for a sub/naval solo game this on my radar (or sonar!) - review has made up my mind to dive in (no more puns) and try DVG leader series. Thanks for great content.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Thanks Mark. I am glad that we can share some joe in the morning! Thanks for watching and you will definitely enjoy this one. It has made me want to seek out and try other solo sub games like Steel Wolves, Raiders of the Deep and Silent War. I also want to check out other Leader Series games including U-Boat Leader and B-17 Leader.

[@NicoMNiac]

I just recently jumped into DVG games and I appreciate your videos on those games (Warfighter and now Gato). Your videos are easy to watch with a great quality. I think I will go for Gato.

[@jobu88]

Just picked up this game and its sister U-Boat Leader. Thanks for the great review, it made the decision easier to fork over the money.

[@jobu88]

After playing its sister game U-Boat Leader for a month now, all I can say is you DO NOT want to be detected LOL. Once the escorts detect you it's going to get ugly.

[@Jezza_One]

The early war US torpedoes didnt arm themselves, didnt explode and didnt run at the correct depth. Apart from that they were great.

[@andrewburgoyne4728]

Very enjoyable review. Thanks! I know this is designed as a solitaire game. I wondered if it could be tweaked to play cooperatively with my preteen sons, letting them command some of the submarines, etc. Any thoughts on that? Thanks again!

[@xavierpaquin]

Thanks for the review

[@jimsmith7445]

Can't believe you haven't jumped on "War Fighter" by DVG... I know you would love that game... especially the WWII one.

[@ThePlayersAid]

It is on the list and I am sure we will pick it up soon. It does look really good.

[@RubensBarrichello.]

Warfighter is DVG's flagship game imo.

[@j_atkinson]

I have similar issues as well playing the Germans or Japanese in WW2 solo games :) My American bias coming through too. Thankfully, there's plenty of Leader games that I can choose from.

[@MrSuperphil]

Great review.

[@randallstumman8635]

30:35 to detect have to roll equal to or higher than the detect rating, not higher than only.

[@jimsmith7445]

Grant....That was a remarkable review! I acquired "Gato Leader" around two years ago, but had not gotten around to playing it. Thanks to your review, I will get it to my table much quicker... I also own U-Boat Leader as well.*** I don't, as a gamer, have any problems playing the enemy... possibly with the exception of playing the Soviets. The Russians were all too often just a blunt object and the idea of sacrificing wave after wave of human beings bothers me, not just from the tactical standpoint, but from the human one as well. I'm currently "house ruling" as system in AH's old D-Day war game where the Germans and Allies fight one on one in terms of unit strength. The air forces are equal. My idea was simply HOW do the Allies manage to win? YES, let's give the Germans a chance to fully counter attack and blow up bridges and towns with their airforce .Let's see who can outflank who? For the Allies, I give them the ability to invade anywhere they like and as often as they like, using standard supply rules. This is the kind of challenge that allows me to play "WHAT IF"... I am also constructing a WHAT IF scenario where the Russians are the aggressors and the United States and Britain fight with the Germans and Italians (and Japanese) as their allies. For this, I pull out my Panzerblitz and Panzer Leader game. Your game reviews are great... keep up the heartfelt work....

[@ThePlayersAid]

Thanks Jim. Gato Leader is a fun game. In fact, I enjoyed it quite a bit, even more than I did Sherman Leader. For me, there is something about the Submarine war that really intrigues me. I am not on a mission to play other great sub games like Steel Wolves and Silent War. Thanks for watching.

[@miranl7140]

Really getting into solo wargames myself and I am looking at U-boat and Gato leader. How do they compare?

[@jobu88]

This game sorely needs a much larger strategic map. The tiny little strategic map was tolerable in U-Boat Leader, but in Gato it's horribly inadequate. I made my own by hand, about 4 times the size of the one that comes in the game.

[@lufasumafalu5069]

a japanese submarine game against US navy woild be more challenging

[@Jezza_One]

They hardly sunk anything.

[@ScipioAfricanusI]

Whn.you.flpped.through.the.sub.cards.I.did.not.see.S.and.V.class.boats..Do.they.only.have.classes.built.during.the.war?

[@majorborngusfluunduch8694]

At 11:44 there is a mention on the right hand side of the card of the S Boats. Earlier when he was showing the submarines I caught a brief glimpse of the Nautilus, so I assume the other V Boats are present.

[@bmcclure0719]

I thought Alexander was the solo player... :)

[@ThePlayersAid]

He is, but, I am growing more and more interested as I experience more and better designed solo games. I have really enjoyed Sherman Leader (DVG), Gato Leader (DVG), Comancheria (GMT Games), Attack of the 50 Foot Colossi (Tiny Battle Publishing) and D-Day at Tarawa (Decision Games). In my play pile I have D-Day at Iwo Jima (Decision Games), Roger's Rangers (Decision Games), Ceres: Operation Stolen Base (Decision Games) and Armageddon War: Alone in the Desert (Flying Pig Games) to give a try. I also now own the Lock 'n Load Tactical Solo system and want to try that out on one of my many tactical games from them like Heroes of the Pacific, Heroes of Normandy and Heroes Against the Red Star. I am becoming a solo gamer, slowly but surely but will always prefer face to face.

[@RubensBarrichello.]

I also have a hard time playing the AXIS powers. You say bad guys, and both AXIS and allies were bad guys haha. That being said I have an easier time being fascist italy, or imperial Japan, overNazi Germany.

[@flipadip2712]

>can't play as the germans because of reasons

[@jasonq7504]

4:20 click this point to skip by his mindless prattle.

[@jasonq7504]

18:20 Holy fuck! Here’s where he finally starts to explain the fucking game! He never seems to shut the fuck up about his personal whogivesashitgetonwithit!