Achtung Panzer! Rule Review

Achtung Panzer! is becoming one of our favorite games to play in Bellefonte.  For tank games it has replaced What a Tanker which is a great game as well. 

My Reviews are going to be graded like classes in College; A,B,C,D,E.  At the end we will get a GPA which will determine if this game makes distinguished honor roll, honor roll, passes or fails.  A good game should at least pass with a C average.

The categories I will be grading are 1) Presentation/Product/Package, 2) Game Rules/Mechanics,             3) Historical/fantasy Cannon Accuracy, 4) Cost/time, 5) Good Time and Memories

1) Presentation Package, Achtung Panzer as a Product/package is amazing.  What else do you expect from warlord games.  The rulebook is great and easy to read with plenty of pages to photo copy for everything you need from cards and markers.  All the tanks are available through their website with cards.  (However, we use my flames of wars miniatures because the game is not dependent on scale.)  Almost perfect package.

A

2) Game Rules and mechanics.  I love how this game works in phases with special orders for your drivers, gunners and commanders to take.  It turned a war game into a role playing game.  Warlord games did a great job of making you feel like your driver and gunners skills matter and all the rolls are on a d6.  no modifiers and for a crunchy ruleset the tables are not complicated either.  Issuing orders is like cat and mouse similar to Johnny Reb 3.  (the best part of that rule set.). no complaints.

A

3) Historical accuracy.  Each tank is specifically stated out.  Kenny got to use both his 37mm and 70mm guns on his M-3 Lee.  Firing between smoke and armor piercing rounds gives the player the chance to sit in as a tank platoon commander and really experience the choices they had to make.  Drive through a building sure but watch out for the basements.  For a simple ruleset this hit the mark

A

4) Cost/time.  This one is hard for me.  If you are brand new to the hobby with not miniatures or set pieces.  Achtung Panzer could be costly if you buy everything from warlord games up to $500.  However, if you just buy the rule book and tanks from flames of war.  Your cost is less than $100.  And if you have been wargaming for years.  you have it already so it's the cost of the book.  Because of the starter pack cost on the website I will ding it a little.  As for time, the game takes 3-4 hours to play to satisfaction. A little longer than What a tanker. Which also lowers the score

B+

5). Good times.  Wow, this game has never failed us.  It is quickly becoming one of our favorite games to play week after week.

A

This became a nearly perfect games score and one of the highest reviews I have ever given.

GPA is 3.86.  Magna Cum Laude. You want a great table top game do not forget Achtung Panzer!