What's in a Name?
Leaders in Panzer Grenadier: Campaigns and Commanders
By John Stafford
April 2013

Do the following names ring a bell for you: Private Kelly, Master Sgt. “Big Joe”, Staff Sgt. “Crapgame”, Sgt. “Oddball”, Capt. Keith Mallory, Corporal Miller, Col. Stavros, Sgt. Rolf Steiner, Capt. Stransky, Col. Brandt, Lt. Triebig, Capt. John Miller, Sgt. Mike Horvath, Lt. Col. John Vandeleur, Staff Sgt. Eddie Douhan, Col. Stout, or Lt. Col. John Frost? Perhaps the titles would help: Kelly’s Heroes, Guns of Navarone, Cross of Iron, Saving Private Ryan, and A Bridge Too Far.

As we reflect on these and other favorite military movies we remember how much we enjoyed the various roles played by the officers and NCOs that led the rest of the fighting men. As with many of you readers, watching a favorite “war flick” often gets me in the mood to play a game, especially Panzer Grenadier. But what happens? I pull out the appropriate box, set up, begin to draw and flip my leaders and . . . become somewhat disenchanted. Where’s Sgt. Steiner? All I have is this generic sergeant counter that may reflect his abilities (10 morale, +1 morale and +1 combat modifiers) but doesn’t remind me of him every time I activate that sergeant.

Luckily, the recent debut of Panzer Grenadier: Campaigns and Commanders alleviates this problem. Campaigns and Commanders introduces Leader Characters to the game, each of whom has his own name plus more detailed abilities that normal PG leaders don’t have. Each Leader Character is represented on the board by a normal PG leader counter (you don’t want to paint targets on your best officers), but has a Service Record detailing his experience and abilities. Each player can have up to three Leader Characters in play at the same time (unless some of them are currently recuperating from wounds).

So now that your best leaders are no longer nameless, the next question is: what to name them? As a service to Campaigns and Commanders gamers, I have compiled lists of the most common surnames (as of today) in most of the belligerent nations with units appearing in Panzer Grenadier games. Of course you can just use names from your favorite movies, or even friends names if they seem appropriate. I personally have a Kommissar named Khrushchev and two Brit officers named Reed (coauthor of our recent Daily Content on Logistics, and a frequent opponent) and Stafford in my collection.

That should get you started. Next time you are reading a good account of a battle (i.e., Kasserine Pass) have a tablet handy and jot down some of the officers and NCOs who played a key positive or negative role in the battle.

Add Leader Characters to your game with Campaigns
and Commanders: War in the East, available now!