Rediscovering Thunderbolt Apache Leader

Got some hobby supplies sent up from the Canberra Strategic Reserve, including a few games, delivered by Comrade James Safehand post! Amongst them was this gem by GMT Games in 1992: Thunderbolt Apache Leader.

Box is a little battered/loved!

Comrade James introduced me to this in 1994 when it was only a few years old, and I got my own copy at the time. It was my first of many GMT games and that we played together, but I always loved how immersive and narrative TAH is. We played a particularly good set of campaigns together while at sea in 2007 but sadly the war diaries have been lost.

Contents are all still in great condition!

Interesting Fact: This game was the first one that veteran games artist Roger B McGowan (you'd recognise much of his work) did entirely on Computer - revolutionary at the time! See more of his work on Twitter @RBMStudio1

There wasn't a lot of additional material brought out for it at the time, but I did manage to track down this little article from a small wargaming magazine Called Panzerschrek,- this article is from Issue #7 in 2001

TAH has since spawned a whole array of games in the "Leader" series. The Game's designer Dan Versson left GMT Games, started his own games company (DVG) and released a revised version of TAH a decade or so ago, taking the game's mechanics (and graphics) in a different direction.  I'm sticking with my classic edition!

Great Solo Wargames

Amongst my other gaming meanderings over the years, I have played a number of solo boardgames.  This came up in the context of some other chatting but I thought it might be worth mentioning a few of my favourites here and seeking recommendations from others for new ones.
In no particular order:

B-17 Queen of the Skies.  A classic AH game.  Despite many a wound, crash landing and dreaded BIP (AA burst in plane, usually with fatal consequences), I don't believe I have ever finished 25 missions in the same plane or with anyone left from the original crew.  A great game, after a dozen missions or so it can however feel like there is too much chart filling and 'lap of the gods' destiny rolls.

BTW here are a range of great expansions for this game, for playing out of Italy or flying an RAF Lancaster in Bomber Command.  It also spawned a sequel game many years late B-29 Superfortress.  I helped play test that but it dodgiest have the same tension and excitement of the original game.


One of my 'bucket list' gaming activities is to be in one of those massed convention games where everyone plays bombers on the same mission together.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1032/b-17-queen-skies

EDIT - looks like B-17 QotS has been updated as Target for Today by Legion Wargames here: http://www.legionwargames.com/legion_TFT.html

Ambush!  (and its sequels Move Out, Purple Heart, Silver Star).  A wonderfully narrative campaign system in which you command a squad of GIs through the latter stages of W2 in the ETO.  Strongly recommended but you'll need a bit of time to do this one right.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1608/ambush

Patton's Best
Command a Sherman Tank in Patton's Third Army from Operation Cobra onwards.  Great mechanic for Tiger Fear - where any unidentified German tank/gun effects you as it it was a Tiger/88mm until you ID it otherwise.  Really drives scouting and pushing forward to recon properly and quickly ID new contacts.  Would love to see this game refreshed with a new version.

The was an expansion for driving a Sherman of the Canadian Amy and a home-brewed variant for commanding Panzers on the Russian front during the Fall of the Reich era that I haven't played but look rather good.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4556/pattons-best

The Hunters and Silent Victory
My solo submarine games of choice that I've been blogging about lately. Love these.

Thunderbolt/Apache Leader
I know DVG did a refresh on this a few years back, but I still prefer my original GMT version.  Lots of other sequel games on this game mechanic too, though most seem rather lacklustre and less successful.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2154/thunderboltapache-leader

Nemo's War
Play Captain Nemo and drive the Nautilus around the seven seas on your variable missions.  Discover Atlantis, defend yourself from the navies of the world's Great Powers and fight the giant squid! A new second edition was recently funded via KS and looks fantastic.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39232/nemos-war

Wings over France
Command an RAF Squadron France during the Bloody April campaign of 1917.  Not for the faint of heart.  Duels, death spirals and getting jumped by Richthofen and his Aces in Jasta 11.  An excellent set of mechanics make up for the graphically dull game components and make for some exciting adventures over the trenches.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5988/wings-over-france

Luftschiff
Command your own airship of the Imperial German Navy or Army during WW1.  Like Wings over France this is not a graphically impressive game but the game design and mechanics are well researched and captivating.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/959/luftschiff

Toe-to-Toe Nu'klr Combat with the Rooskies
A quick to play delightful game, this is a real hoot.  Definitely in the beer and pretzels category, its themed on the classic movie Dr Strangelove.  If you liked that then you will have a blast with this game.  And if you loved that movie then you are going to really love this game!  I'm definitely in the latter category so check the blog for more gaming notes and AARs here:
http://tasmancave.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Toe-to-Toe


In fact I love this game so much that I designed a follow up game to bomb Commie targets in other places too, but it never got up.  Fun though :-)


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There are many others but these ones have been my favourites over the years.  There is a definite platform simulation trend to this collection too, which reflects my RPG/immersion preference for solo gaming.

I'm sure I missed many other favs, but I would welcome recommendations to expand my retinue

Thunderbolt Apache Leader: Redux

You might recall me rambling on about the game Thunderbolt Apache Leader late last year:
http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2010/12/thunderbolt-apache-leader.html

Well the new edition is now available for pre-order at DVG:

THUNDERBOLT-APACHE LEADER (TAL) - IS UP FOR PRE-ORDER!

http://www.dvg.com/.sc/ms/dd/ee/41/Thunderbolt-Apache%20Leader

We are very proud to return this classic game to the world! Like the rugged A-10 Thunderbolt and AH-64 Apache showcased in the game, TAL keeps coming back for more!

We have maintained the original design while adding extra features. TAL builds on the Air Leader game system used in Hornet Leader and Phantom Leader, and then takes it down low into the weeds of the modern battlefield. Hornets and Phantoms get to fly high. Thunderbolts and Apaches fly low. Really low. In TAL you'll find yourself zooming through canyons and popping over ridge lines to blast unsuspecting enemy tanks, troops, APCs, and more.

You can now take every pilot from Newbie through Ace!

In addition to the aircraft appearing in the original game, we've added all the newest weapon systems including the A-10C, AH-64D Longbow, MQ-1 and RQ-1 Predator UAVs. Unlike the original game, you can now select AV-8B Harriers and AH-1 Cobras as part of your squadron!

To support all this mud-moving aviation hardware, we've added 55 cards and a second counter sheet!

Thunderbolt Apache Leader

I just found this review of an old favourite- the solitaire game: Thunderbolt Apache Leader, by GMT and published almost 20 years ago.

Basically its a solitaire game in which you fly a combined squadron of Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and Apache gunships and slay all in your path.  The game has a tactical component, which then impacts upon the strategic games.  You manage your crew and aircraft, doing all the mission planning incl weapon loadouts. 

http://wargamecenter.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/review-thunderbolt-apache-leader-gmt/#comment-206

More at BGG here: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2154/thunderboltapache-leader

and a pdf version of the rules is available here:
http://www.gmtgames.com/living_rules/TAL_Rulebook.pdf

Its one of my all time favourites  as it can also be played as a coop game - indeed I fondly recall a North Korean campaign I played with Comrade James while at sea together in 2006 – he took all the helos and I had all the A-10s as I recall. That meant we had different roles for the overall tactical goals. Great stuff indeed!

Now looooong OOP, I will be REALLY interested to see what the new version (boxed pictured) will be like next year.

Dan Verssen is the designer who left GMT and started his own company, Dan Verssen Games: http://www.dvg.com .

I understand that the cards and graphics will be updated, and the DVG website talks about some updated weapons, but no details yet what that means mechanics wise.  Good news if you are trying to find a copy of this great game.