Desert Steel

Published 1989

Desert Steel is the third game in West End Game's Tank Leader series. A tactical (platoon/company level) game where formations are activated by playing command cards. Winner of the 1990 Charles Roberts Award for Best WWII Board Game. The emphasis is on command, control and communications with the use of Command cards that represent formations which are used to determine order of movement/combat, rallying and group cohesion. The pinnacle of Panzerblitz style platoon level games, delivered by the same designer who gave us Squad Leader covering command, unit experience, morale and doctrine in an elegant but deep package. The terrain on the two maps is variable for roads, contours, towns, and ground quality (sand, rocks, rubble) which are defined for each scenario.

Mechanics

Campaign / Battle Card Driven Dice Rolling Events Grid Movement Hexagon Grid Hex-and-Counter Modular Board Simulation

Categories

Wargame World War II

Designers

Peter Corless

Publishers

West End Games
Desert Steel

Game Info

Players
2 Players
Time
4 hours
Weight
Medium — 3.05/5
Year
1989
BGG Rating
7.06
BGG Rank
#11071
Min Age
12+

Frequently Asked Questions

Desert Steel is designed for exactly 2 players.
A typical game of Desert Steel takes about 240 minutes.
Desert Steel has a complexity rating of 3.05/5.00 on BoardGameGeek, placing it in the 'Medium' category. It offers a good balance of depth and accessibility.
The recommended minimum age for Desert Steel is 12+.
Desert Steel has a rating of 7.06/10 on BoardGameGeek, based on 126 ratings. It is ranked #11071 overall.
Desert Steel was designed by Peter Corless. It was published in 1989.