Tiger Leader (2015) Board Game

Tiger Leader is a wargame set in World War II, focusing on the German tank battles on the Eastern Front. Released in 2015 by Dan Verssen Games (DVG), it offers a solo gaming experience where players take on the role of a German tank commander leading their unit in various missions.

Game Components of Tiger Leader

Map

Cards

Counters

Hex map pieces

Terrain hexes representing different regions like Europe, North Africa, and the Russian winter

Unit and officer cards

Resource management tokens

How To Setup Tiger Leader

Setting up Tiger Leader involves selecting a campaign and performing initial setup. This includes building a kampfgruppe with infantry, armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), and artillery, and recruiting officers to lead these units. The game requires laying out randomized terrain hexes to represent the battlefield, which can vary significantly depending on the campaign and region.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Campaign Selection: Choose from various campaigns set in World War Two.

Unit and Officer Management: Recruit and assign officers to lead different units.

Resource Management: Manage resources to maintain and upgrade units.

Combat: Engage in weekly battles against enemy brigades with the goal of reducing or destroying them within five turns.

Terrain and Tactics: Use terrain hexes to influence battle tactics, with different terrains offering varying levels of cover.

Victory Points: Earn victory points based on the damage inflicted on enemy brigades.

Campaign End: The campaign ends after a set number of weeks, and the player’s total score is calculated.

Player Experience

Tiger Leader offers a engaging and narrative-driven experience, focusing more on the puzzle and strategy aspects rather than historical simulation. Players spend their time making strategic decisions on unit deployment, resource allocation, and combat tactics. The game is praised for its replayability, with multiple campaigns, missions, and special events. However, it is not without its flaws, including some errors in the manual and unit interactions that could have been resolved with more playtesting.

Pros

High Replayability: Multiple campaigns and varied battle scenarios.

Engaging Gameplay: Lots of interesting decisions at every segment of the campaign.

Quality Components: Sturdy and easy-to-read maps, cards, counters, and hex pieces.

Narrative Experience: Players enjoy the progress of their officers and units.

Cons

Manual Errors: Some systemic foibles and errors in the manual.

Lack of Simulation: Not a historical simulation but rather a puzzle and narrative game.

Playtesting Issues: Some sloppy editing and playtesting noticeable in unit interactions.

Personal Thoughts on Tiger Leader

Tiger Leader is ideal for solitaire wargamers who enjoy strategic decision-making and narrative progression. It is not perfect, with some errors and inconsistencies, but it offers a fun and engaging experience. Players who appreciate the ‘Leader’ system and are looking for a game that combines resource management, combat strategy, and officer development will find Tiger Leader appealing. However, those seeking a strict historical simulation may find it less satisfying.

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