Review: Zero Leader from DVG - The Players' Aid

[@strelnikoff1632]

Very good. I just bought this and love it. Ideal for a guy like me that is very conversant with this history. The aces extension is great too. I play this in between turns of Pacific War or Vietnam 65-75 as a break.

[@StackingLimit]

Great review. I have Corsair Leader and now want to get Zero Leader after watching this. I think playing them together will be the ultimate DVG experience.

[@chuckseegert6812]

As the designer of Zero, I agree!! They are fun separately and together they are a real blast. My favorite part is how each target you destroy actually has an effect on me in real time!!

[@thunderccr5056]

Thanks Alexander, great review! It would be good to see Grant and your good self link these games (Zero/Corsair) and duke it out. Mostly because many of us won’t get a chance to do that and also you both have a great friendly rivalry that’s built up over the years!😁 Take care mate!

[@chuckseegert6812]

I would love to see that!!

[@chuckseegert6812]

What a great review!! I loved it!!! Thank you!!

[@rogue7744]

I really enjoy all the DvG Leader games, very well made and alot of fun. ty for the review!

[@uwebech5825]

Thanks for another great review Alexander. Just got this one in the mail and was interested to hear your spin on it (SIC) before I unboxed it. Looking fwd to giving it a go.

[@NefariousKoel]

Hornet Leader also has "Scramble!" mission card(s) in it. Depends on which campaign you're doing, as some of them doesn't have that as a possible mission type.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Thanks, I haven't played that one so good to know!

[@bobthebretonnian]

Well I am playing Zero Leader and loving it. Just bought Corsair leader and thinking about buying Hornet Leader. This review made my mind up to buy this game.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Love the Modern Jet Fighter versions of this series. A little faster playing.

[@jobu88]

Something that works better in Zero Leader than in Sherman Leader or U-Boat Leader is that you're managing individual pilots rather than formations or submarines. Somehow it's more fun tracking each pilot's progress compared to your combined-arms land force or a submarine fleet.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Agreed. Like that in Phantom Leader, and Thunderbolt Apache leader too

[@jobu88]

@@ThePlayersAid I've been eyeing Thunderbolt/Apache Leader, it looks like a fun take on modern ground war. I have Sherman Leader and both of the submarine games, U-Boat and Gato Leader. All of them are great fun. Your channel is the bomb as the kids say, keep up the great work.

[@strelnikoff1632]

One of your best reviews. I am picking up a copy tomorrow. I'm just realizing there is a Vietnam version (Phamtom Leader). As a Vietnam vet (ground pounder) I will probably get that one as well. Do you know if there are any games that simulate Việtnam helicopter gunship missions?..,,a Cobra Leader if you will..,

[@probusthrax]

@The Player's Aid, you really like Zero Leader, what is your favorite Modern and WWII Leader games? It looks like I would like them all. The new Spruance Leader looks awesome!

[@ThePlayersAid]

Gun to my head, I would keep Phantom Leader and Thunderbolt/Apache Leader. Spruance does look very interesting, and I'm curious about how well it works with the differences in the mission resolution.

[@drbasseri]

Of all the solo DVG games similar to this, which would you recommend? Or, is it mostly based on theme? I'm personally pretty tired of the ww2 allies vs axis theme, so an axis POV or another theme would be better. Thanks for the videos btw!

[@PitterPatter20]

I can only comment on the air force ones, haven't played the tanks or submarines, but I'd say the big differences are about variety and challenge. Israeli and Hornet leaders both have a lot of variety to them, especially because they span a longer time frame. Israeli spans the largest time, IIRC 1948 all the way to the 2020s. Israeli also has more features than previous titles (unless you get the expansion packs for the older games). I can't comment on Phantom leader. Apache Leader is a notably different game. The other games are more of a game about bombing targets behind the lines, whereas Apache Leader is focused on close air support and destroying enemy unit formations. It most definitely has a different feel to the other games, it almost feels more like a traditional battle than a precision air strike. The other Axis-themed games in the series are Tiger Leader and U-Boat Leader, and both play quite differently to the air force games from what I understand. I'd recommend any of them really.

[@ThePlayersAid]

Genuinely just start with the theme. It's the most reliable indicator that you'll enjoy it.

[@NefariousKoel]

As others stated, go with the theme you might enjoy most. The simplest of the Leader series, in my experience, is Hornet Leader or Phantom Leader. They're mostly the same core gameplay, albeit with different aircraft, weapons, and opfor for each since they're different eras. Phantom Leader is generally more up-close and "dumb" weapons so you'll usually have to fly all the way through the defenses to get up close & hit your target while Hornet Leader hosts a wider variety of weapons and ranges/altitudes they can be fired from. Of course, enemy air defenses are usually more capable in HL too, so your route planning can require more thought on the best approach too. Ultimately, between those two, it's about whether you want to do '60s - '70s Vietnam missions with USN or USAF forces (F-4s, A-4s, A-7s, F-105s, A-6s, etc) or do '80s - '10s USN missions in various conflicts with various F-18 models, F-14s, A-6s, A-7s, AV-8s, etc. They're both great with lots of decision making and planning to do. I prefer Hornet Leader a bit more than Phantom Leader, but that's mostly due to having more weapon and opponent variety to deal with, therefore a bit more calculating to do in the decision making. Plus the weapons/defenses have a bit wider variety, depending on campaign chosen, since it covers a longer time period. One more note: Some people don't like doing "High Score" victory point results, which the Leader system uses. Fortunately they have a tiered hierarchy of how well your outcome is, if you succeeded. I suggest shooting for a normal victory total, minimum, when you start playing. After succeeding at that, shoot for the next higher level and consider anything less as a Defeat from then on. As you get better, set your required victory level before starting the campaign. It's a great way to ramp up the difficulty and pressure you to take more risks as you get better at the game.

[@drbasseri]

Thank you all for the awesome and helpful answers

[@nydaloth]

Are the sites floating on water?

[@nydaloth]

What game do you prefer, Phantom Leader or Zero Leader?

[@ThePlayersAid]

Phantom

[@kublaikhan5633]

Have a look at Atlantic Chase by GMT games Alexander , it’s on another level .

[@ThePlayersAid]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZa9aYKZfad2i8k

[@wartable]

Rules lacking in examples….good luck trying to figure out a Dogfight card. The production quality is good but the rules are an absolute disaster.

[@kublaikhan5633]

If you already have Hornet Leader or Phantom Leader or Corsair Leader you are wasting your money.

[@bneil4059]

a good war game is never a waste of money