Armour Supremacy

Wednesday night's game was one from John's archives - a venerable TTG card game dating from 1976!  I don't think I'd heard of this game previously and as it was clearly ancient and had pictures of tanks on the box, it took little persuasion (well OK, none) for Martin and I to join in a game.

The well-preserved box.  Don't bother trying to ID the tanks - all is about to become clear...

The game involves players using their hand of cards (a bit like Rummy) to build tanks.

First tanks must have a Mk1 turret and a correspondingly useless gun.  This tank scored it's owner 10 points.  Completed tanks may then 'shoot' at other players' tanks and are shot at in return.  'Kills' are worth half the target's points. 

Once you have a tank you may build an AT gun - evidently a PAK 40 in this case.

It is possible (subject to having the appropriate cards) to upgrade tanks with better turrets, bigger guns, more armour etc.  Only the hull may never be upgraded.  

A rather better first tank worth 18 points - with loads of armour but still a feeble gun.  A Mk1 Churchill perhaps?

Once you have a tank with a Mk1 turret you may then build (or upgrade) to one with a Mk2 turret, then a Mk3.  The 'ultimate tank' appears to be a Mk3 hull with 3 lots of additional armour, mounting a Mk2 turret with a 75mm gun - and a sponson carrying an '88.  Basically a big M3 Lee.  Hmm. 
We managed two games - each lasting around 40 minutes, but I remain unimpressed.  In the first game I was unable to amass the cards required to build a single tank!  In the second game I eventually built a tank and an AT gun and was about to build a second, heavier vehicle when the game ended.  So an interesting game, but on the strength of the results I have to conclude that it is all down to the fall of the cards and that player skill plays no part....  Put it back in the cupboard for another 30 years John!