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MAVERICK'S 20TH CENTURY TACTICAL WARGAMES

Tactical Land Wargames:  Although modern commercial board
wargaming dates back to the 50's, "tactical" games
were not really pursued until the early 70's.
Tactical wargames feature smaller battles and units.
In a tactical game units will generally represent anything
from a platoon of men down to individual men and vehicles
(sometimes known as "close tactical.")

Although some gamers prefer playing on the strategic
level where they can control armies across vast stretches
of terrain, I have always preferred the tactical games.
This collection of modern tatical land-warfare games
includes most all of the board wargames published on
the subject.

Looking for games? I may have some of these for sale!





TACTICAL 20TH CENTURY WARGAMES (PUBLISHER)
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`88' (YAQUINTO)
 Second in Panzer triology.  See Panzer.
ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER (AVALON HILL) *
 See "ASL" listings.
ALERT FORCE (CLOSE SIMULATIONS)
 Modern terrorist assault on U.S. airbase.
AMBUSH (VICTORY GAMES)
 Classic solitaire man-to-man gaming system.  The player
 controls a squad of American soldiers.  Germans soldiers 
 are directed in their actions by a paragraph booklet, 
 profile cards and changing phases of the mission.
 The name of the game accurately reflects the tense
 and bloody nature of most of the scenarios.  Not the
 tops in realism, but a definite nail-biter.  Followed
 up by several expansion modules with new missions as
 well as a Pacific variant called Battle Hymn.
AO SIERRA RANGER EXPANSION (OMEGA)
AO VICTOR RANGER EXPANSION (OMEGA)
 Two expansions for Ranger solitaire system.
THE ARAB-ISRAELI WARS (AVALON HILL)
 Expansion of the Panzerblitz/Panzer Leader system to
 (then) modern AFV combat.
ARMOR (YAQUINTO)
 Third in the Panzer trilogy.  See Panzer.
ASL ACTION PACK 1 (AVALON HILL) *
ASL ACTION PACK 2 (AVALON HILL) *
ASL RULEBOOK (AVALON HILL) *
 The bible for the most detailed game on squad level
 warfare in World War Two.  The entire ASL system consists
 of over a dozen different games that interlink to allow
 players to simulate nearly any small-unit action on
 any front.  Descended from the classic Squad Leader.
ASSAULT (GDW)
 Modern (1980's) European conflict with Russia.   A series
 of four add-on games were released.
ASSAULT ON TOBRUK (SIMULATIONS CANADA)
 WWII
BANZAI/DESERT WAR UP FRONT EXPANSION (AVALON HILL)
 Expansion for the Up Front card game.  See below
 for more information.
BATTLE CRY (3W)
 Expanded the Combat man-to-man game system to the
 WWII Pacific Theater.
BATTLEFIELD: EUROPE (GDW)
 "First Battle" series game of the post-cold war conflicts 
 facing Europe in the 1990's.
BATTLE FOR BASRA (GDW)
 Free introductory wargame featuring a hypothetical battle
 from the Gulf War.
THE BATTLE FOR CASSINO, S&T 71 (SPI)
 WWII
BATTLE FOR HUE, CONFLICT 6 (SDC)
 Vietnam
BATTLE HYMN (VICTORY GAMES)
 Pacific Theater version of the Ambush solitaire system.
BEACHHEAD (YAQUINTO)
 WWII Pacific Theater.
BEYOND VALOR, ASL MODULE 1 (AVALON HILL) *
BLACK WEDNESDAY (THE GAMERS)
 WWII Tactical Combat Series (TCS) game.
BLOOD AND SAND, SQUAD LEADER PACIFIC VARIANT, THE WARGAMER 30 (3W)
BLOOD & THUNDER (GDW)
 Tactical combat on the Eastern Front, 1941-1945.
 Platoon sized units.  Another "First Battle" series
 game.
BLOOD REEF: TARAWA, ASL HISTORICAL MODULE 5 (MMP) *
 WWII
BOOTS AND SADDLES (GDW)
 Stand-alone add-on for Assault.
A BRIDGE TOO FAR, ASL HISTORICAL MODULE 6 (MMP) *
 WWII Arnhem, September 1944
BUNDESWEHR, ASSAULT SERIES MODULE (GDW)
CHIEFTAIN, ASSAULT SERIES MODULE (GDW)
CITY-FIGHT (SPI)
 Unique double-blind game of modern urban combat.
 Highly detailed.
CLOSE ASSAULT (YAQUINTO)
 Man-to-man combat in the European Theater WWII.
 Uses random initiative draws to reflect the 
 uncertainties of close tactical combat.  The same
 system was adopted to reflect modern scenarios
 in Firepower.
CODE OF BUSHIDO, ASL MODULE 8 (AVALON HILL) *
COMBAT (GAMEFORMS)
 Early man-to-man game covering WWII Normandy.
 Followed up by adaptations to other theaters
 (Battle Cry and Iron Cross.)
COMBAT! (CRITICAL HIT) *
 A contemporary tactical WWII game system in the style of Squad Leader and Advanced Squad Leader.
COMBINED ARMS, S&T 46 (SPI)
COMBAT COMMAND, S&T 30 (SPI)
COMMANDO (SPI)
 Odd combination of man-to-man small unit actions
 with a simple set of role-playing rules grafted on.
COMMANDO ACTIONS (YAQUINTO)
 WWII European Theater small unit actions.
CONCRETE JUNGLE (BTRC)
 Man-to-man counter-terrorist and SWAT style actions.
CRESCENDO OF DOOM, SQUAD LEADER MODULE (AVALON HILL)
 Second expansion module for Squad Leader.
CROIX DE GUERRE, ASL MODULE 10 (AVALON HILL) *
CROSS OF IRON, SQUAD LEADER MODULE, THIRD EDITION (AVALON HILL)
 First expansion module for Squad Leader.  Extensively
 revised the armor rules.
DESERT STEEL (WEST END)
DESERT WAR (SPI)
DOOMED BATTALIONS, ASL MODULE 11 (AVALON HILL) *
EASTERN FRONT TANK LEADER (WEST END)
 Platoon/company scale WWII armor games with rules that
 emphasize formations and command/control.
EN POINTE TOUJOURS! II, VAE VICTIS 31 (GROUP HISTOIRE)
EN POINTE TOUJOURS!, VAE VICTIS 16 (GROUP HISTOIRE)
FIREFIGHT (TSR/SPI)
 Modern European conflict.
FIRE TEAM (WEST END)
 Modern European conflict.
FIREPOWER (AVALON HILL)
 The Close Assault system updated to simulate
 modern era man-to-man combat.  The basic game
 is extremely simple and loads of optional rules
 allow for as much realism and complexity as the
 players desire.
FOXHOLE (ONE SMALL STEP)
 Simple platoon scale WWII game set on Russian Front.
A FROZEN HELL (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
GD'40 (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
GD'41 (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
GI'AC MY (FAN TAC)
 Man-to-man miniatures rules for Vietnam War.
GI ANVIL OF VICTORY, SQUAD LEADER MODULE, SECOND EDITION (AVALON HILL)
 Third expansion module for Squad Leader added
 even more rules and new American counter set.
GRUNT (SPI)
 Game of unconventional warfare in Vietnam.  Was 
 re-done as Search and Destroy.  Originally appeared
 in S&T 26.
GUERILLA (MAPLAY)
 Squad/section/platoon conflict in the 1963-1966 war
 between Malaysia and Indonesia.
GUNG HO!, ASL MODULE 9 (AVALON HILL) *
HAMBURGER HILL, COMMAND 5 (XTR)
 Vietnam
HEDGEROW HELL, DELUXE ASL MODULE 2 (AVALON HILL) *
HETZER SNIPER, SNIPER EXPANSION (TSR)
 Man-to-man combat in Europe, 1940-1944.
H-HOUR (BALBOA)
 Man-to-man combat between Germans, Russians and Americans
 in WWII.
HOLLOW LEGIONS, ASL MODULE 7 (AVALON HILL) *
HUNTERS FROM THE SKY (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
IDF (AVALON HILL)
 Middle East tank-to-tank combat in the 60's and 70's 
 using the MBT game system.
INSURGENCY (BATTLELINE)
 Game of guerilla warfare inspired by Vietnam but set in
 a fictional province.
IRON CROSS, S&T 132 (3W)
 Expanded the Combat man-to-man game system to the
 WWII Russian Front.
KAMPFGRUPPE PEIPER I, ASL HISTORICAL MODULE 2 (AVALON HILL) *
KAMPFGRUPPE PEIPER II, ASL HISTORICAL MODULE 3 (AVALON HILL) *
KAMPFPANZER, S&T 41 (SPI)
THE LAST BATTLE, TW2000 EXPANSION (GDW)
THE LAST HURRAH, ASL MODULE 6 (AVALON HILL) *
LEATHERNECK, BATTLE HYMN MODULE (VICTORY GAMES)
LEROS (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
MATANIKAU (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
MBT (AVALON HILL)
 Modern tank-to-tank combat in Europe.  Followed by IDF.
MECH WAR '77 (SPI)
MECH WAR '77, DESIGNER'S EDITION (SPI)
 Tactical armored combat in the 1970's.
MECH WAR 2 (SPI)
MOVE OUT AMBUSH MODULE (VICTORY GAMES)
OCTOBER WAR, S&T 61 (SPI)
 Platoon scale treatment of 1973 Yom Kippur War.
OPEN FIRE (VICTORY GAMES)
 Solitaire tank-to-tank game of WWII armored combat using 
 a solitaire system slightly similar to Ambush.  Player 
 commands a platoon of American tanks in one of six missions
 against the Germans.
OPERATION APOCALYPSE, VAE VICTIS 10 (VAE VICTIS)
 Squad level Vietnam wargame inspired by the helicopter assault 
 in Apoclypse Now.
OPERATION DRAGON ROUGE (SIMULATIONS WORKSHOP)
 Modern counter-insurgency
ORTONA (SIMULATIONS CANADA)
 WWII
PANZER (YAQUINTO)
 First in a trilogy of tank-to-tank armor games.  Uses a
 miniatures style approach with plotted movement and detailed
 data for all vehicles.  Geomorphic maps and terrain overlays
 add to the open ended replay value.
PANZER '44 (SPI)
 Tactical armored combat in Europe, 1944-45.
PANZER BATTLES, S&T 73 (SPI)
PANZERBLITZ (AVALON HILL)
PANZERLEADER (AVALON HILL)
 Classic tactical armor game.  Panzerblitz came first and
 Panzerleader followed with some modifications to the game
 system and some extra chrome.
PANZER COMMAND (VICTORY GAMES)
 WWII Eastern Front (Fall 1942-Spring 1943.)
PANZER GRENADIER (AVALANCHE) *
 A contemporary tactical WWII game system in the style of Panzerblitz.
PARATROOP, S&T 77 (SPI)
PARATROOPER, ASL MODULE 2 (AVALON HILL) *
PARTISAN!, ASL MODULE 4 (AVALON HILL) *
PATROL! (SPI)
 Man-to-man combat in the 20th century with a focus on
 rural encouners.
PATTON'S BEST (AVALON HILL)
 Well done solitaire game.  Command a single tank moving
 through the European countryside and fighting German
 units controlled by the game system.
PBI (THIRD MILLENIA)
 WWI
PEGASUS BRIDGE, ASL HISTORICAL MODULE 4 (AVALON HILL) *
PEGASUS BRIDGE, S&T 122 (SPI)
 Solitaire treatment of the D-Day raid on Pegasus Bridge.
 Similar to and by the same designers as the solitaire
 AH game Raid on St. Nazaire.
PLATOON (AVALON HILL)
 Introductory style amn-to-man Vietnam War game using 
 "hidden" units.  Counters are held upright by plastic 
 clips.  Based on the movie
PURPLE HEART AMBUSH MODULE (VICTORY GAMES)
A RAGING STORM (THE GAMERS)
 WWII TCS game.
RAID ON IRAN (BAGGED) (STEVE JACKSON GAMES)
RAID ON IRAN (BOXED) (STEVE JACKSON GAMES)
 Simple microgame treatment of the attempt to rescue the
 hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Iran.  Concentrates on
 the struggle in and around the Embassy.  Simple game, uses
 area movement style map.
RAID ON ST. NAZAIRE (AH)
 Solitaire game recreating British commando raid on
 the St. Nazaire port.  The player commands the British
 forces and the game system controls the German defenders.
 An interesting and tense playing design, similar to that
 used in Pegasus Bridge from S&T 122 which was done by the
 same designers.
RAID!, S&T 64 (SPI)
 Game of commando actions from WWII to 1970's present.
RANGER (OMEGA)
 Solitaire system of modern patrolling operations
 designed by a Ranger.
RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE, S&T 91 (TSR/SPI)
 Modern
RED BARRICADES, ASL HISTORICAL MODULE 1 (AVALON HILL) *
RED STAR/WHITE STAR (SPI)
 Hypothetical 1970's conflict in West Germany.
REINFORCEMENTS, ASSAULT SERIES MODULE (GDW)
ROMMEL'S PANZERS, MICROHISTORY 1 (METAGAMING)
 One of two tank-to-tank Metagaming microgames.
 The other was Stalin's Tanks, and both were
 designed by Roger Damon who was also involved
 in the Combat man-to-man game system.
THE SANDS OF WAR (GDW)
THE SANDS OF WAR EXPANSION KIT (GDW)
 An ambitious attempt to cover desert warfare from 1941 
 to 1991.  If the First Battle system doesn't grab you, 
 there are 20 geomorphic PanzerBlitz scale maps that 
 might!  A total of 39 scenarios in the main game and 
 expansion kit.
SEARCH AND DESTROY (SPI)
 Game of unconventional warfare in Vietnam.  A revised 
 version of Grunt.
SEMPER FI! (THE GAMERS)
 Korean War TCS game.
SHELL SHOCK (VICTORY GAMES)
 Intriguing adaptation of the Ambush system to a
 two player game.  One interesting element is the
 open nature of the scnarios.  Forces, objectives,
 and reinforcements are discovered as the mission
 unfolds.
SILO 14 (CENTURION)
 Simple man-to-man game of commando assault on nuclear
 missile silo held by terrorists.
SILVER STAR AMBUSH MODULE (VICTORY GAMES)
SNIPER! (TSR/SPI)
 Man-to-man combat, 1941-1990.
SNIPER! (SPI)
SNIPER! DESIGNER'S EDITION (SPI)
 Man-to-man combat in World War II with a focus on
 urban encouners.
SOLDIERS (SPI)
 WWI combat in the earlier mobile phase of the war.
SOLDIERS (WEST END)
 WWII man-to-man tactical combat in Europe.
SOLITAIRE ASL, ASL SOLITAIRE MODULE 1 (AVALON HILL) *
SPECIAL FORCES, SNIPER EXPANSION (TSR/SPI)
SQUAD LEADER, FOURTH EDITION (AVALON HILL)
 Another all time classic that spawned three sequels
 and the "advanced" to a whole new level of gaming
 in the Advanced Squad Leader system.  Fun squad level
 game placing great importance on morale and command.
SS PANZER, COMMAND 36 (XTR)
STALIN'S TANKS, MICROHISTORY 3 (METAGAMING)
 The second tank-to-tank historical micro from Metagaming.
 See Rommel's Panzers above for more info.
STORM OVER ARNHEM (AVALON HILL)
 First in a series of unique area movement games that
 can effectively reflect the ebb and flow of battle.
 This game concentrates on the battle for Arnhem during
 Operation Market Garden.
STREETS OF FIRE, DELUXE ASL MODULE 1 (AVALON HILL) *
STRIKE FORCE ONE (SPI)
 Free "introductory" hypothetical modern game.
TANK!, S&T 44 (SPI)
TANK! EXPANSION GAME RULES (SPI)
TARAWA, S&T 142 (DECISION GAMES)
TEAM YANKEE (GDW)
 "First Battle" series game based on hypothetical conflict 
 in Europe as depicted in the novel of the same name.
TEST OF ARMS (GDW)
 Post-WWII squad level combat.
THUNDER AT CASSINO (AVALON HILL)
 Second in the Storm Over Arnhem series of area movement
 games.  Involves the battle over the Italian city of
 Cassino.
TOBRUK (AVALON HILL)
 Game of WWII North Africa.  Extremely detailed and notable
 as a "dice destroyer" due to numerous rolls required to
 do just about anything.
TRENCHFOOT (GDW)
 Tongue in cheek man-to-man game of WWI trench warfare.
UP FRONT (AVALON HILL)
 The only card game in this list, a ground breaking simulation
 of infantry combat using a card based system to portray the
 fog of war.
WESTERN FRONT TANK LEADER (WEST END)
 Platoon/company scale WWII armor game with rules that
 emphasize formations and command/control.
WEST OF ALAMEIN, ASL MODULE 5 (AVALON HILL) *
YANKS, ASL MODULE 3 (AVALON HILL) *


* I don't own the items marked with an asterisk.  They are listed for the sake of completeness.

03/30/03

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