Patton’s Best (1987)

Patton’s Best

Patton’s Best is a solitaire wargame designed by Bruce Shelley and published by Avalon Hill in 1987. The game puts the player in command of an M4 Sherman tank belonging to George Patton’s 4th Armoured Division in Northern Europe during World War II. The game is played on an abstract map that portrays hypothetical territory in Normandy, several tables, and a depiction of the tank. The player controls a crew assigned to the tank and must direct their actions to complete the game’s objectives.

Why is Patton’s Best Popular?

Patton’s Best is a popular game among wargamers due to its detailed simulation of single-tank warfare. The game’s mechanics are designed to be realistic, including rules for machine guns, smoke, and other factors that affect tank combat. The game’s solitaire nature also makes it unique, as most wargames are designed for multiple players.

Game Components of Patton’s Best

– 22″x24″ mounted game board
– Cardboard counters to indicate the actions performed by each member of the crew, the kind of ammunition currently loaded in the main gun, the current state of hatches, turret and gun orientation, and other information
– Dice

Game Setup of Patton’s Best

The game is played on a mounted game board that is divided into hexagons. The player controls a Sherman tank and crew assigned to the 4th Armored Division. The game is played in turns, each one corresponding to 15 minutes of real-time.

Gameplay Mechanics of Patton’s Best

The game is a solitaire wargame that simulates single-tank warfare during World War II. The player directs the actions of each crew member (driver, assistant driver, gunner, loader, and commander) moving the tank and firing its weapons. The game is played in turns, each one corresponding to 15 minutes of real-time. When random die rolls indicate that combat occurs, the action switches to combat rounds, during which the player directs the actions of each crew member. The enemy reacts with actions determined by random die rolls influenced by what the player does.

Game Objective of Patton’s Best

The player wins by earning victory points by knocking out enemy units and capturing enemy territory, and preventing the enemy from doing so.

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