Thunderbolt-Apache Leader, 2020 Edition

Thunderbolt-Apache Leader 2020 Edition is a solitaire tactical air game in the DVG Leader series, focused on modern close air support missions.

Players command a squadron of aircraft such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, AH-64 Apache, AV-8B Harrier II, AC-130 Spectre, and Predator UAVs. Each mission asks you to choose pilots, select aircraft, arm them properly, and decide how to deal with enemy armor, infantry, SAMs, AAA, and aircraft.

Mission planning is a major part of the game. Experienced pilots perform better, but fatigue and damage carry forward, so constantly using your best crews can create problems later in the campaign. The tactical system then puts your aircraft over the battlefield, using terrain, target priorities, and timing to survive long enough to get the job done.

Campaigns cover a wide range of historical and hypothetical situations, from Iraq 1991 to a North Atlantic WWIII scenario. Tactical Situation cards combine with campaign cards to keep repeat plays varied, so the same theater can feel different from one campaign to the next.

Part of the Leader series, Thunderbolt-Apache Leader is ideal for solo players who enjoy aircraft loadouts, pilot management, tactical target selection, and the grim little question of how long to loiter before your aircraft becomes tomorrow’s repair problem.

Contents include: 165 full-color cards, 2 counter sheets with 352 counters, 3 sheets of terrain tiles, a mounted tactical sheet, player aid sheet, and sector map sheet.