
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Panzer: Game Expansion Set, Nr 1 – The Shape of Battle on the Eastern Front 1943-45
- 2–4 players
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2012

2012
Rules assistance for Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 is a board game released in 2012 for 2–4 players and 120–300 minutes per game. It was designed by James M. Day and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Line of Sight.
Panzer is a complete game system designed for small unit actions from platoon to battalion-sized formations in World War 2. The primary focus is Armored Warfare simulation, but Leg (Infantry) and Towed units are also part of the game. Each 7/8” double-sided counter represents a single vehicle, towed gun or aircraft. The 5/8" double-sided leg unit counters represent squads, half-squads and sections, including their attached weapons. It's a modular rules system with Basic, Advanced and Optional rules, which the players can mix and match according to taste - you can keep it simple or make it as complex as desired. All Unit data is included on the full-color Data Cards. The streamlined chit-based command system moves the action along at a brisk pace. The base game comes with 10 Scenarios, some of which are aimed at new players and use only the Basic rules. A list can be found below in the Community Wiki section. Included Panzer units: German: 7.5cm PaK 40, 8.8cm FlaK 36, Marder II, Pz IIIM, Pz IVG, Pz IVH, Pz V Panther, Pz VIB Tiger II, Pz VIE Tiger I, SdKfz 7, SdKfz 10, SdKfz 11, SPW 251/1, STuG IIIG, Trucks; Leg Units German fliers: Fw 190 F-1, Hs 129 B-1/R-2 Soviet: 57mm M43, 76.2mm M39, IS-2m M44, KV-1S M42, Limber, SU-100 M44, SU-152 M43, SU-76M M43, SU-85 M43, T-34/76 M43, T-34/85 M44, T-70 M42, Trucks; Leg Units Soviet fliers: Il-2m3, Yak-9T Panzer includes rules for: 11 unique vehicle hit locations, armor angles and penetration charts for level, rising and falling fire Various ammunition types, e.g. AP, HVAP, APCR, HEAT, HE... Sighting effects Overwatch fire Rate-of-fire Indirect fire, both on-map and off-map Currently there are 4 published expansions for Panzer. Each brings additional geomorphic maps, new units and scenarios: Panzer: Game Expansion Set, Nr 1 – The Shape of Battle on the Eastern Front 1943-45 Panzer: Game Expansion Set, Nr 2 – The Final Forces on the Eastern Front 1941-44 Panzer: Game Expansion Set, Nr 3 – Drive to the Rhine: The Second Front 1944-45 Panzer: Game Expansion Set, Nr 4 – France 1940 A standalone (but fully compatible) Panzer North Africa box is also available: Panzer North Africa Box contents: 3 double-sided full-color countersheets with 88 x 7/8” and 352 x 5/8” counters 44 German counters 44 Russian counters 352 Infantry and Status counters 1 single-sided 22" x 34" map with 1" hexes (different from expansion maps) 16 double-sided 5” x 4” Unit Data Cards 2 Sumary Cards Modular full-color Rulebook with Basic & Advanced Rules Modular full-color Rulebook with Optional Rules Full-color Playbook with information on TO&E, Scenario Design, 10 Scenarios and Unit Summaries 5 double-sided Player Aid Cards 4 10-sided dice
Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 is 120–300 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Line of Sight. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 are: James M. Day. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Panzer: The Game of Small Unit Actions and Combined Arms Operations on the Eastern Front 1943-44 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.