In February 1941, Erwin Rommel was ordered to stabilize the situation in North Africa after British troops routed the Italian army. This game simulates Rommel's campaign from April 1941 until his defeat at the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942.
Components
The magazine pull-out edition had the following components:[1]
One 22 x 34" paper hex grid map, scaled at 12 mi (19 km) per hex
200 die-cut counters
12-page rules booklet
SPI also published the game in a "flat-pack" box with integral counter tray and clear plastic lid.
In the Avalon Hill boxed set, the map was mounted, and a 6-sided die was included.[1]
Gameplay
Each turn, which represents a month of game time, is divided into 4 phases for the Allied player, and then the same phases for the Axis player:
Supply Determination Phase
Movement Phase
Combat Phase
Replacements and Reinforcement Phase
New rules
This game used several unusual rules:
If a unit survives an attack, it can counterattack at double strength.
Supply units, which must be set up in a chain, do not move themselves, and can be captured by enemy units.
Units have 50–60 Movement Points, considered a very large number in comparison to other wargames[2]
Publication history
PanzerArmee Afrika was designed by Jim Dunnigan, with the system design and graphics by Redmond A. Simonsen and game development by Irad Hardy and Hank Zucker. It was first published by SPI in Strategy & Tactics #40, and also in a "flat-pack" box.[1]
After SPI was taken over by TSR in 1982, TSR sold off some of SPI's games to Avalon Hill, including Panzergruppe Guderian and PanzerArmee Afrika. Avalon Hill printed a revised edition of PanzerArmee Afrika in 1984 in a "bookcase" box.
Reception
In his 1977 book The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming, Nicholas Palmer called it an "enduringly popular operational-level game." He noted the "lightning movement emphasized with movement factors up to sixty." Palmer also highlighted the "controversial Command Control system [...] realistic and extremely irritating for the player affected!" He concluded, "Moderate complexity, good choice of strategic and tactical options, rather realistic."[3]
In a post-publication discussion in Moves #17, SPI R&D staff agreed that if both players were aggressive, gameplay would favour the Allied player; but if the Axis player was content to simply occupy Tobruk and defend it, the result was almost guaranteed to be an Axis marginal victory.[4]
In The General, Bob Medrow felt that the revised Avalon Hill edition took away the "reasonably careful and conservative" play option that had guaranteed a German victory in the older SPI edition. He concluded that the new rules made a good game even better, saying, "For years, [the SPI edition of] PanzerArmee Afrika was a favorite among garners looking for a fast-moving, exciting challenge. [...] The Avalon Hill Game Company is to be congratulated on keeping this game on the market — and even improving it."[5]
In Volume 25, Issue 6 of The General, Martin Shaw made an in-depth analysis of the strategies and tactics of this game and warned players the game was never over until the final skirmish, pointing out, "In this game of desert warfare you should never give up, as it is very easy for you to leave a seeming gap in your lines so your opponent can fatally overextend himself as he rushes through that gap." Shaw concluded, "Victory in PanzerArmee Afrika will usually go to the bold, but rarely to the reckless. And that, in conclusion, sums up this intriguing, challenging game best of all."[2]
In The Guide to Simulations/Games for Education and Training, Martin Campion commented, "For a short game, PanzerArmee Afrika gives the feel of the North African campaign well. The supply rule is abstract and difficult to remember, but the rest of the game moves smoothly." Campion concluded, "The game shows many of the factors that were important in the campaign, but it does not show that Axis supply was erratic, a fact which continually influenced Rommel's plans to attack."[6]
^ abc"PanzerArmee Afrika: Rommel in the Desert, April 1941 - November 1942 (1973)". Boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
^ abShaw, Martin (1986). "With Rommel (and Monty) in the Desert: A study of Axis and Allied Play in PAA". The General. Vol. 23, no. 6. pp. 27–31.
^Palmer, Nicholas (1977). The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming. London: Sphere Books. p. 166.
^"PanzerArmee Afrika Brainstorming". Moves. No. 17. February–March 1981. pp. 13–16.
^Medrow, Bob (1985). "Over Burning Sands: A Tour Through PanzerArmee Afrika". The General. Vol. 22, no. 1. pp. 5–8.
^Campion, Martin (1980). "PanzerArmee Afrika". In Horn, Robert E.; Cleaves, Ann (eds.). The Guide to Simulations/Games for Education and Training. Beverly Hills CA: Sage Publications. p. 506. ISBN0-8039-1375-3.
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PanzerArmee Afrika subtitled Rommel in the Desert April 1941 November 1942 is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc SPI in 1973 that simulates the World War II North African Campaign that pitted the Axis forces commanded by Erwin Rommel against Allied forces The game was revised and republished in 1984 by Avalon Hill Contents 1 Description 2 Components 2 1 Gameplay 2 2 New rules 3 Publication history 4 Reception 5 Other reviews 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditIn February 1941 Erwin Rommel was ordered to stabilize the situation in North Africa after British troops routed the Italian army This game simulates Rommel s campaign from April 1941 until his defeat at the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942 Components EditThe magazine pull out edition had the following components 1 One 22 x 34 paper hex grid map scaled at 12 mi 19 km per hex 200 die cut counters 12 page rules bookletSPI also published the game in a flat pack box with integral counter tray and clear plastic lid In the Avalon Hill boxed set the map was mounted and a 6 sided die was included 1 Gameplay Edit Each turn which represents a month of game time is divided into 4 phases for the Allied player and then the same phases for the Axis player Supply Determination Phase Movement Phase Combat Phase Replacements and Reinforcement PhaseNew rules Edit This game used several unusual rules If a unit survives an attack it can counterattack at double strength Supply units which must be set up in a chain do not move themselves and can be captured by enemy units Units have 50 60 Movement Points considered a very large number in comparison to other wargames 2 Publication history EditPanzerArmee Afrika was designed by Jim Dunnigan with the system design and graphics by Redmond A Simonsen and game development by Irad Hardy and Hank Zucker It was first published by SPI in Strategy amp Tactics 40 and also in a flat pack box 1 After SPI was taken over by TSR in 1982 TSR sold off some of SPI s games to Avalon Hill including Panzergruppe Guderian and PanzerArmee Afrika Avalon Hill printed a revised edition of PanzerArmee Afrika in 1984 in a bookcase box Reception EditIn his 1977 book The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming Nicholas Palmer called it an enduringly popular operational level game He noted the lightning movement emphasized with movement factors up to sixty Palmer also highlighted the controversial Command Control system realistic and extremely irritating for the player affected He concluded Moderate complexity good choice of strategic and tactical options rather realistic 3 In a post publication discussion in Moves 17 SPI R amp D staff agreed that if both players were aggressive gameplay would favour the Allied player but if the Axis player was content to simply occupy Tobruk and defend it the result was almost guaranteed to be an Axis marginal victory 4 In The General Bob Medrow felt that the revised Avalon Hill edition took away the reasonably careful and conservative play option that had guaranteed a German victory in the older SPI edition He concluded that the new rules made a good game even better saying For years the SPI edition of PanzerArmee Afrika was a favorite among garners looking for a fast moving exciting challenge The Avalon Hill Game Company is to be congratulated on keeping this game on the market and even improving it 5 In Volume 25 Issue 6 of The General Martin Shaw made an in depth analysis of the strategies and tactics of this game and warned players the game was never over until the final skirmish pointing out In this game of desert warfare you should never give up as it is very easy for you to leave a seeming gap in your lines so your opponent can fatally overextend himself as he rushes through that gap Shaw concluded Victory in PanzerArmee Afrika will usually go to the bold but rarely to the reckless And that in conclusion sums up this intriguing challenging game best of all 2 In The Guide to Simulations Games for Education and Training Martin Campion commented For a short game PanzerArmee Afrika gives the feel of the North African campaign well The supply rule is abstract and difficult to remember but the rest of the game moves smoothly Campion concluded The game shows many of the factors that were important in the campaign but it does not show that Axis supply was erratic a fact which continually influenced Rommel s plans to attack 6 Other reviews EditFire amp Movement 10 and 60 Europa 6 8 Simulacrum 19 Pursue amp Destroy 17 Wargame News 17References Edit a b c PanzerArmee Afrika Rommel in the Desert April 1941 November 1942 1973 Boardgamegeek com Retrieved 2021 06 01 a b Shaw Martin 1986 With Rommel and Monty in the Desert A study of Axis and Allied Play in PAA The General Vol 23 no 6 pp 27 31 Palmer Nicholas 1977 The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming London Sphere Books p 166 PanzerArmee Afrika Brainstorming Moves No 17 February March 1981 pp 13 16 Medrow Bob 1985 Over Burning Sands A Tour Through PanzerArmee Afrika The General Vol 22 no 1 pp 5 8 Campion Martin 1980 PanzerArmee Afrika In Horn Robert E Cleaves Ann eds The Guide to Simulations Games for Education and Training Beverly Hills CA Sage Publications p 506 ISBN 0 8039 1375 3 External links EditPanzer Armee Afrika at BoardGameGeek Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title PanzerArmee Afrika board game amp oldid 1131020408, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
