ATTENTION : ATTENTION : ATTENTION

After 8 years I'm shutting down this website....To open a better, more powerful version!  Start going to Panzergames.info .  It has integrated forums and soon will have all of the features here and way more. There will also be forums for other WWII simulation games that I'm fond of, such as UpFront, ASL and Steel Panthers.  There will be areas for files, links and photos, if you want.  So please start book marking Panzergames.info and start posting!  This is the PanzerBlitz, PanzerLeader, and Arab-Israeli Wars home page.  PanzerBlitz is the popular tactical wargame of WWII tank combat on the Eastern Front, by the Avalon Hill Gaming Company.  The game is played at the division level using a simple system of movement and firing.  The rules are easy and fast to learn.  Two games followed using the same system:  PanzerLeader, combat on the Western Front, and Arab-Israeli Wars, combat in the Middle East from the late 50's thru the 70's.  Both follow-ups added rules to and modified the original PanzerBlitz system, adding realism and correcting some deficiencies.

	Mortars	This Just In: OK, time to start migrating over to the new site. Here's a new poll for you. This one is what would you like to see on the new site? Click here to go to the poll.

Hello;

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Don Greenwood. If you are familiar with Avalon Hill boardgames you may have heard of me. For most of 26 years I headed R&D there and was responsible for the development of dozens of games including such titles as Squad Leader, Third Reich, ASL, Up Front, Age of Renaissance and History of the World. I was also the founder of the ORIGINS gaming convention and ran four of them before and after turning over that franchise to GAMA.

However, I became increasingly unhappy with the commercial emphasis of the major gaming conventions and convinced Avalon Hill to hold their own convention in 1991 with a return to basics that emphasized playing the games and the achievement of the players. That was the birth of AVALONCON and in the decade since it has gained renown in many quarters as the best boardgaming convention in the world.

Why?

Because it draws players from all over the world who know they will be able to compete against other skilled players in the games of their choice. There are no events with only a handful of players because we limit our tournaments to 100 of the most popular games to provide focus. If an event doesn't draw at least 16 players, we don't run it again.

Because our GMs are volunteers who love their games, not somebody trying to make a buck by collecting event tickets. Many of them prepare for their tournaments all year long with private mailings and web pages.

We don't have event tickets or long signup lines. One fee covers all.

Because we applaud the achievements of our players with standardized awards designed just for us. Wins are recorded for posterity and event records are kept. Players vie not only to win, but to better personal bests and are eligible for the BPA Hall of Fame. Yet despite all this emphasis on achievement, comaraderie runs high among people who share the same interests in what has been likened to a big club and the emphasis (and largest prize) is placed on sportsmanship.

Because we have plenty of "B" events in which beginners are encouraged to learn games on the spot. And with 100 tournaments there are always plenty of intriguing choices.

Because we have a "family-friendly" site in a suburban setting with free Juniors events, free parking, major hotel amenities, and light rail access to both the airport and Baltimore's Inner Harbor attractions.

Because we run our game fest six days to give travellers more bang for their travel buck and more opportunities to participate in the events of their choice.

With all this going for us, it's no wonder that when Avalon Hill was sold, our attendees banded together to form the non-profit Boardgame Player's Association to continue this fine gaming conference under its new name: the World Boardgaming Championships. The loss of Avalon Hill was turned into a positive by the addition of tournaments in the best boardgames of the hobby. In addition to the usual Avalon Hill fare, we now offer great competition in: Settlers of Catan, Saratoga, Krieg, Axis & Allies, Euphrat & Tigris Empire, Builder, El Grande, Medici, A House Divided , Rise of the Luftwaffe, Shogun, Formula De, War of 1812, Stockcar Championship Racing, Paths of Glory, Ra and many others.

I know what you're thinking ... why should I travel all the way to Maryland when I can game at my local convention? Well, maybe you shouldn't. If you want flea markets and auctions of used games, we don't have any. Nor do we have any computer games, miniatures, RPGs, CCGs, or other diversions. But if you want a convention for boardgamers run by boardgamers with over 1,000 in attendance that has ONLY boardgame (and non-collectible card game) tournaments - some of which draw over 100 entrants - and an emphasis on the achievements of boardgamers - then we are, in effect, the only game in town.

Intimidated by the competition? Don't be. There are many "B" events where players are encouraged to actually learn the game as they play. But more importantly, the best way to learn to swim is to get in the water. Nobody ever dies on a cardboard battlefield, but many priceless lessons are learned only through experience gained by playing others. The achievement for many is not necessarily to win but to measure gains in one's personal bests against a large and talented field. The best example I can recall is our 26-year, 30-member, Football Strategy league. We had several players who kept playing year after year despite never having a winning season. When asked why they always came back for another beating, they'd reply it was a challenge to see how well they could do. And when three of them eventually went all the way and won the Super Bowl their feet didn't touch the ground for a week.

So what are you waiting for? If we can get dozens of Europeans to cross the big pond every year and a hundred Californians can make the annual cross-country trip, what's keeping you from experiencing the best boardgaming in the world for six days next August 1st - 6th in Hunt Valley, MD? We have a special discount rate with Southwest Airlines. The hotel connects by light rail to BWI airport for a fare of $1.35. We can also help you find a roommate to defray expenses.

But even if a trip to Maryland isn't possible for you, the BPA still has a lot to offer boardgamers. We currently are running eight PBeM tournaments (Breakout Normandy, The Russian Campaign, War At Sea, Victory in the Pacific, Gangsters, For The People, Bitter Woods, and Hannibal) with more in the offing. Email is leading to a renaissance for boardgames since it allows anyone to find an opponent and the time to play him at your own pace. To heck with Artificial Intelligence ... give me a thinking opponent anytime. I dusted off the cobwebs to play in two of these events after an absence of over 20 years, and although I lost in the first round, I had a great time and can't wait for the next tournaments to start so I can get another chance.

If you are interested, please visit our web site to discover more about us. Better yet, drop us a line with your snail mail address so we can send you our Pre-Registration package which will be mailed in April. Put us in your address book and notify us of any change of email or snail mail address.

But first check out our website at www.boardgamers.org

MULTI-MAN PUBLISHING FILLS OUT ITS ROSTER!

Adding to an all-star lineup which already includes the Advanced Squad
Leader gaming system, MMP is proud to announce a new contract which will
bring the following ‘free agents’ to its roster.

1) UP FRONT- This WWII squad level card game is currently out of print. Work
with prolific gamers/designers Don Hawthorne, Andrew Maly, Ralph Norton and
others has been ongoing. We’re pleased to announce plans to issue an updated
and revised edition of Up Front. Possibilities for inclusion are; the Finns,
Hungarians, Romanians and others, and a cleaned up rewritten (and
simplified) rulebook with a step by step approach to teaching the game
system. The game as you knew it won’t change, but new artwork should
certainly enhance the fun of the best WWII card game ever offered. Plans for
a ‘collectible’ card game version are also in the works.

2) GREAT CAMPAIGNS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR-Joe Balkoski and Ed Beach are
currently working on the 7th module to this fantastic Civil War gaming
system. Due out sometime in 2000, Grant Takes Command(tentative title) will
feature some great additions to this series.

3) PANZER BLITZ & PANZER LEADER-These two titles are almost out of print.
Both need a major facelift, maybe new artwork and possible expansion
modules. Most of MMP (and many other historical boardgamers) cut their teeth
with these titles and we are actively exploring their future. Stay tuned on
this one!

4) AREA MOVEMENT SERIES (Storm Over Arnhem/Thunder At Cassino/Turning Point
Stalingrad/Breakout Normandy)- Breakout Normandy is the only title left in
stock amongst these 4 games in the area movement series. Product demand will
certainly dictate which of these might/will get reprinted. Having said that,
the gaming system itself lends to a lot more topics than the ones currently
in circulation and MMP will seek to offer new modules. Sicily is certainly
one MMP member’s theatre of choice!

5) ACROSS 5 APRILS- Still in stock and available. We are interested in expan
ding this game into its own series and will begin work on a 2nd module when
the ‘team’ to do so is completed and in place.

6) PATTONS BEST- WWII solo tank warfare, still available. We are excited
about the possibilities for expansion of this title to cover more theatres
and time periods and will also be searching for a ‘team’ of folks to aid in
the design of future expansion modules for Pattons Best.

7) BRITTANIA-MAHARAJA-A line of games we are also contemplating expansion
for.

8) WRASSLIN’-Stay tuned for more information on this awesome card game.

As you can see, our plans are certainly bold. We’d like to be a part of a
‘rebirth’ in boardgaming and the above mentioned titles should certainly aid
us in getting there. Product availability and pricing should be announced
within a few weeks, so please watch www.advancedsquadleader.com for any and
all information on these and other MMP products.

Multi-Man Publishing, LLC (11/17/99)
(Whew!!!)

We have a new link in the VARIATIONS section, and some new Q&A.  (10/15/99)

NEW TOPIC:  I have been hoping to have a special "Scenario Month"  in which we put a up a new scenario every day.  This would also be a contest, in which all scenarios would be judged or voted on and a winner announced.  Hopefully we could get some prizes together for the winners.  Please tell me what you think : John.

SCENARIOS:  We have another of JM Renaud's new scenarios (8/30/99)

NEW   More questions have been added to Q&A .  Pitch in with your expertise!(8/30/99)

SURPRISE!  Here's another scenario from JM Renaud.  Please send your feedback to me, he and I really want to hear from everybody on these!  (7/1/99)

OK, OK We now have a new scenario from JM Renaud.  He'd like to hear feedback on the scenario, send your comment to us and we'll pass them on.

Coming Soon:  New Scenarios from J.M. Renaud.  Look for 'em in SCENARIOS.  (5/6/99)

More on mortars in TODAY'S TOPIC.  (10/21/98)

We finally got JD Ehlers' Panzerblitz variant up and running in VARIANTS.  (9/7/98)

What good are Mortars?  Those silly things do so little damage that even by combining them with other units they still seem to have little effect.  Do you have a favorite method for using mortars in combat?  See what people have to say about Mortars. Click HERE and let us know. We'll post the replies as a discussion.  (8/6/98)
 

Click here for rules variations,new counters, anything cool.

Click here for a listing of publication articles, add-ons, and third party products.

Click here for links to other gaming sites, including those that have information on the PanzerBlitz family.

For information about this website, to provide corrections or additions send mail to John, and he'll get back to you as soon as possible.