When was PanzerBlitz published and who made it?
PanzerBlitz was published in 1970 by Avalon Hill. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan, who originally developed it as Tactical Game 3 for Poultron Press in 1969 before selling the rights to Avalon Hill.
Questions about PanzerBlitz
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many copies did PanzerBlitz sell?
By August 1996, PanzerBlitz had sold 275,000 copies. Designer Jim Dunnigan later placed the total at 320,000 units over 25 years in his 2000 book Wargames Handbook, calling it an extraordinary sales figure.
What innovations did PanzerBlitz introduce to board wargaming?
PanzerBlitz introduced geomorphic mapboards that could be rearranged into different battlefields, vehicle silhouette counters instead of abstract military symbols, and a Design-Your-Own scenario system called Situation 13. It also pioneered tactical-scale simulation, representing companies and platoons rather than the brigades and divisions common in earlier wargames.
What is Panzerbush Syndrome in PanzerBlitz?
Panzerbush Syndrome refers to a rules exploit in which units could move from one wooded hex to another without being targeted by non-adjacent enemies, even if they had moved in full view of the opponent. Critics considered it a significant flaw in realism, and it became a scornful nickname for the game itself.
What was PanzerBlitz's setting and scale?
PanzerBlitz simulates armored combat on the Eastern Front of World War II between Soviet and German forces. Each hex represents 250 meters, each turn covers 6 minutes, and playing pieces represent company-sized Soviet infantry and platoon-sized German infantry, along with individual vehicles.
What games were influenced by PanzerBlitz?
PanzerBlitz directly influenced Avalon Hill's own Squad Leader and Advanced Squad Leader, as well as the companion titles Panzer Leader and The Arab-Israeli Wars. SimCity designer Will Wright also cited PanzerBlitz as one of his influences in designing his later works.