Patton's Best
Anecdote
A classic solo design by Bob Medrow for Avalon Hill, Patton's Best puts the player in the role of a Sherman commander in the American 4th Armored Division during the Western European campaign. The system combines mission management, dice rolls, and career progression in a narrative experience of remarkable intensity for its era. A mission lasts approximately one to two hours, and replayability is sustained by a full campaign covering July 1944 to May 1945. The learning curve is moderate, thanks to a clear booklet in the Avalon Hill tradition. Medrow drew on the memoirs of American tank crews and the works of Belton Cooper to build a faithful simulation of daily life aboard a Sherman. The original components are understated but of typical Avalon Hill quality. Patton's Best inaugurated a genuine tradition of narrative solo wargames, later continued by The Hunters, B-17, and many others. The title enjoyed lasting success and stands in the pantheon of the solo genre. Its influence on the solo wargame with personal career progression is immense. The community remained loyal to the title, populating the internet with campaign narratives. No French translation exists, but the material is still sought after by collectors. Patton's Best also popularised the idea that a solo wargame could tell an entire career within a single box. For tank and solo gaming enthusiasts, it is an essential classic. The title embodies the maturity of the American solo wargame tradition of the 1980s. It was followed by several reprints and remains a subject of study for those wishing to understand the origins of the genre. It is also a game that invites reading the great tanker memoirs, serving as the ludic extension of a historical library.
Popularity & reception
Awards — Charles S. Roberts Award - Best Solitaire Boardgame nomination (1987)
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