One of my favorite solitaire boardgames is Dan Verssen's Hornet Leader, which is the original game in the Leader series when it was published by GMT in 1991, and also the pinnacle of the Leader series when it was revised and reprinted by Dan Verssen Games in 2010..
Super-great read about some of my favorite games! Disappointing about the Sherman game, but can you win them all? (D10 to find out)
In the paragraph beginning “Thunderbolt Apache Leader” I believe the last sentence should read “In [Hornet] Leader, if Tonto accumulates stress, his F-14…” instead of [Thunderbolt Apache], but I think we all know what you meant.
Ah, thank you for the correction! Corrections are always appreciated.
Yes, Phantom Leader is good! B-17 Leader also has its unique charm, as you know. I have an unreasonable fondness for the F4U, so I wonder if Corsair Leader is any good? It even has B-25s!
I actually need to play the full game first. I’ve only played the modules at this point. You know, that’s what I should have done instead of messing around with Sherman Leader…
Well, there’s a used copy for sale on BGG now if you change your mind. :)
I’ve had that one queued up for a while now. It’s apparently a real masterclass in how to design a solitaire wargame.
I gave up on DVG after the low-energy, low-effort mess that was U-Boat Leader. It was clear that it was rushed and poorly-playtested. Sad to see that DVG has gone off the rails after their glory days of the re-released Hornet Leader and Apache-Thunderbolt Leader.
The only one I’ve ever played of Danny’s is the old ‘Battles for the Ardennes’, which I had as a kid, and which somehow became either destroyed or lost over the decades. I liked it fine (and I like his book on the Bulge quite a bit), but I doubt it holds up all that well nowadays – still could be great fun to play.
Imagine my disappointment to find out this wasn’t a game simulating William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea. A solitaire wargame who’s purpose is to burn Confederated states to the ground.
Really Tom kudos on the excellent sentence of writing and thought. Will stick with us for a long time. Enjoyed reading the piece just for that sentence.
DVG is now devoted to the awful Warfighter franchise which is proving to be a major cash cow for them. Masquerading as a tactical game it is in fact a simple resource management game with no tactics whatsoever. Doesn’t stop them reskinning the game into WW2 and selling those cards ad infinitum.