Panzer General: Allied Assault is a Panzer General-inspired turn-based card/board game hybrid. The map is divided into 5*6 squares, with the first row as the respective party’s home row on each side. Each tile has unique characteristics and is more or less critical. When attacking, sitting behind a mountain grants +3 defense, and shooting while sitting in front of a river grants a -3 attack bonus. Each tile also offers a certain number of prestige points to the army that conquered it by placing a unit on it after each round.
Prestige points are required to purchase more cards at the start of a round and to place new units on the board, such as tanks or infantry. Typically, each player’s deck can only contain up to ten cards. Cards represent everything in the game, from units to actions like ordering a bomb strike on enemy artillery. They can be played as long as there are enough prestige points available. In addition, each unit put can move one tile each round or attack an adversary. Only a Free Attack Action card can get around this regulation.
The combat is separated into numerous stages. First, the game checks to see if an enemy has dug in and, if so, gives him the first shot. The defensive and assault points are calculated depending on terrain cover, dug-in conditions, and friendly unit support from surrounding tiles or artillery in range. Following that, combat cards are played until both players decide to pass. Combat cards, for example, allow you to take out artillery support with an air strike or simply add -3 to the enemy’s defensive rating to overcome them. Once both players have passed, they can surrender a battle card from their available deck to increase its value to either their defense or offense rating as a last resort. A dice throw is used to add some luck to the game. Whatever number is rolled is added to the attacker’s attack points, making him stronger or weaker. For example, suppose the dice lands on a -3. After the dice are rolled, the game begins the combat, dishing out damage based on each party’s defense and attack points, and then the places are switched. The attacker switches roles, and the initial defender becomes the attacker. The game ends in a tie if neither unit is dead or retreating after the second round. If the initial attackers prevail, the winning party earns an extra health point and can choose to push onto the enemy position.
The game includes a campaign with twelve regular missions and three bonus missions. Completing them within certain rounds unlocks new cards only available in multiplayer. Obtaining an achievement also awards a new card, which can be used in the integrated deck builder to create bespoke decks for Germans and Americans.
