1977John Hill (I)
Some unboxings. Squad Leader is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 1 how-to-play guides, 1 recorded sessions, 2 unboxings, and 2 other videos.
From BoardGameGeek
A shot disturbs the eerie silence of a deserted city street, punctuated by the frantic footfalls of men seeking cover. One of Kruger's last veteran NCO's lies motionless in the street. The remnants of the dead man's squad are nowhere to be seen-scattered in nearby houses and gutters-all thoughts of the advance abandoned with the sudden demise of their leader...the compulsion for revenge obviously overcome by their instinct for self-preservation. Off to the right, Kruger's own men have located the source of the lethal shot and are laying down a steady stream of fire on the church steeple directly ahead. The absence of responding fire suggests that the lone Russian marksman has beat a hasty retreat or been victimized by the withering fire of the German retort. Kruger has seen enough. He is to occupy the church and set up a regimental observation post at once. His orders leave no leeway for delays by a single sniper. He gives the signal to rush the building. Obedient to their training, his men, veterans of France, the Balkans, and 18 months of fighting in Russia, spring to their feet. Seconds later the sharp, staccato retort of a Russian machinegun concludes with the assertiveness of death itself that this time Kruger was wrong. This is Squad Leader, a game of WWII tactical combat in Europe. You make the instant decisions resulting in life or death for your men, victory or defeat for your army. You direct the fire of your squad, select your plan of attack, or set your defenses against massed Russian human wave or armor assaults. Will that hedgerow provide adequate cover for your flanking efforts, or will your men be cut down by the American machinegun position in the woods? The decision is irrevocable and yours alone. Squad Leader is more than just a game, it is a game system which can be used to portray any WWII infantry action. Its system does for infantry combat what Panzerblitz and Panzer Leader have done for armored warfare games. Squad Leader provides rules for morale, leadership, machineguns, flamethrowers, demo charges, smoke, hidden placement, sewer movement, off-board artillery, radio contact, anti-tank guns, night actions, wire, entrenchments, mines, bunkers, rubble, multi-story building differentiation, fire, river crossings, roadblocks, mortars, and much more. Squad Leader utilizes programmed instruction to guide you through 12 scenarios of increasing realism and complexity. The scenarios run the gamut from street fighting in Stalingrad to armored advances across snow covered roads in the Ardennes. A Campaign Game ties the individual scenarios together and allows your own personal leader counter to advance in rank and ability. In addition, a “Design Your Own” section is included so that players can create an unlimited number of play situations of their own creation. Each hex in Squad Leader represents 40 meters of real terrain with counters representing individual leaders, support weapons, and vehicles or 4 man crews and 12 man squads. Each game turn is divided into two player turns with 8 phases, equivalent to two minutes of actual time. Squad Leader is not an easy game. Do not attempt it without prior wargaming experience. Squad Leader is rated Tournament Level IV on the A.H. Complexity scale.
Squad Leader has 6 videos from 4 creators: 1 how-to-play guide, 1 playthrough, 2 unboxings and 2 other videos. They date from 2022 to January 2026.
To learn the rules, start with "SQUAD LEADER / How to Play Scenario 1 The GUARDS COUNTERATTACK / AVALON HILL's CLASSIC Board Game" by Legendary Tactics, which runs 43 min.
To see it played, watch "Squad Leader Scenario 1 AAR: Noisy and the Noob Recap Some Vivid Blunders" by Breakup Gaming Society.
If you like it, try Tide of Iron: Designer Series Vol. 1, Hue, Battle for Stalingrad and ASL Annual '89, also by John Hill.
2008Michael Bennighof, Richard H. Berg, Frank Chadwick, John Goodenough, Jack Greene, Don Greenwood, John Hill (I), Bill Jaffe, Chad Jensen, Corey Konieczka, Robert A. Kouba, Dana Lombardy, Jason Matthews, Joseph Miranda, John Prados, Jack Radey, Ted Raicer, Mark Simonitch, Vance von Borries, Rick Young
2 - 4 players120 minMedium weight
1989Jeff Cebula, John Hill (I), Jay Kaufman, Charles Kibler, Rex A. Martin, Brian Martuzas, Bob McNamara, Bob Medrow, Jon Mishcon, Eugene Murrell, Mark C. Nixon, Craig F. Posey, James Stahler, Steven Swann, Howard Sylvester, Rick Troha
2 players180 minVery heavy weight
From BoardGameGeek:
A shot disturbs the eerie silence of a deserted city street, punctuated by the frantic footfalls of men seeking cover. One of Kruger's last veteran NCO's lies motionless in the street. The remnants of the dead man's squad are nowhere to be seen-scattered in nearby houses and gutters-all thoughts of the advance abandoned with the sudden demise of their leader...the compulsion for revenge obviously overcome by their instinct for self-preservation. Off to the right, Kruger's own men have located the source of the lethal shot and are laying down a steady stream of fire on the church steeple directly ahead. The absence of responding fire suggests that the lone Russian marksman has beat a hasty retreat or been victimized by the withering fire of the German retort. Kruger has seen enough. He is to occupy the church and set up a regimental observation post at once. His orders leave no leeway for delays by a single sniper. He gives the signal to rush the building. Obedient to their training, his men, veterans of France, the Balkans, and 18 months of fighting in Russia, spring to their feet. Seconds later the sharp, staccato retort of a Russian machinegun concludes with the assertiveness of death itself that this time Kruger was wrong. This is Squad Leader, a game of WWII tactical combat in Europe. You make the instant decisions resulting in life or death for your men, victory or defeat for your army. You direct the fire of your squad, select your plan of attack, or set your defenses against massed Russian human wave or armor assaults. Will that hedgerow provide adequate cover for your flanking efforts, or will your men be cut down by the American machinegun position in the woods? The decision is irrevocable and yours alone. Squad Leader is more than just a game, it is a game system which can be used to portray any WWII infantry action. Its system does for infantry combat what Panzerblitz and Panzer Leader have done for armored warfare games. Squad Leader provides rules for morale, leadership, machineguns, flamethrowers, demo charges, smoke, hidden placement, sewer movement, off-board artillery, radio contact, anti-tank guns, night actions, wire, entrenchments, mines, bunkers, rubble, multi-story building differentiation, fire, river crossings, roadblocks, mortars, and much more. Squad Leader utilizes programmed instruction to guide you through 12 scenarios of increasing realism and complexity. The scenarios run the gamut from street fighting in Stalingrad to armored advances across snow covered roads in the Ardennes. A Campaign Game ties the individual scenarios together and allows your own personal leader counter to advance in rank and ability. In addition, a “Design Your Own” section is included so that players can create an unlimited number of play situations of their own creation. Each hex in Squad Leader represents 40 meters of real terrain with counters representing individual leaders, support weapons, and vehicles or 4 man crews and 12 man squads. Each game turn is divided into two player turns with 8 phases, equivalent to two minutes of actual time. Squad Leader is not an easy game. Do not attempt it without prior wargaming experience. Squad Leader is rated Tournament Level IV on the A.H. Complexity scale.
Designer
John Hill (I)
Artists
Richard Hamblen, Rodger B. MacGowan, W. Scott Moores
Publisher
The Avalon Hill Game Co
Categories
Mechanics
