''Helltank'' is a science fiction

board wargame A board wargame is a wargame with a set playing surface or board, as opposed to being played on a computer or in a more free-form playing area as in miniatures games. The modern, commercial wargaming hobby (as distinct from military exercises, o ...

published by

Metagaming Concepts Metagaming Concepts, later known simply as Metagaming, was a company that published board games from 1974 to 1983. It was founded and owned by Howard Thompson, who designed the company's first game, ''Stellar Conquest''. The company also invente ...

in 1981 as part of its

MicroGame {{Short description, Wikimedia disambiguation page The term microgame can refer to several subjects including: *MicroGame, line of board games by Metagaming Concepts *Microgame (board games), type of board game or wargame *Microgame (company), Itali ...

line. The game simulates combat in the future between a supertank and more conventional forces.

Gameplay

''Helltank'' is a 2-player game featuring asymmetric forces: one player has a large and advanced supertank, while the other player has more numerous but weaker forces such as infantry and artillery. The map shows a city, wooded hills, a canal, and a highway, and players pick a scenario and a time period.

Publication history

Metagaming's very first entry in their MicroGame line was ''

Ogre An ogre ( feminine: ogress) is a legendary monster depicted as a large, hideous, man-like being that eats ordinary human beings, especially infants and children. Ogres frequently feature in mythology, folklore, and fiction throughout the wor ...

'', a science fiction wargame between a large semi-intelligent tank and more numerous but less powerful foes that was designed by Steve Jackson. When Jackson left Metagaming to form

Steve Jackson Games Steve Jackson Games (SJGames) is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and (until 2019) the gaming magazine ''Pyramid''. History Founded in 1980, six years after the cr ...

, he took with him the rights to ''Ogre''. In an effort to replace this loss, Phil Kosnett designed ''Helltank'', which was published by Metagaming in 1981 as the 19th MicroGame, packaged like previous games in the series in a ziplock bag. Metagaming published the sequel '' Helltank Destroyer'' the following year, shortly before the company went out of business.

Reception

W. G. Armintrout reviewed ''Helltank'' in ''

The Space Gamer ''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...

'' No. 49. Armintrout commented that "''Helltank'' got shortchanged somewhere in production. I do like the game, but I can recommend it only for experienced gamers who don't mind second-guessing the rules on a few vital points and who don't mind doing mental bookkeeping. Too bad - this game ''could'' have been a contender." Tony Watson reviewed ''Helltank'' in '' Ares Magazine'' #13 and commented that "''Helltank'' isn't without its problems; the rules could have been tightened in some places and the type face used in the rules book approaches downright ugly, but it's an interesting little game, a sure winner for the asking price." In Issue 27 of ''Simulacrum'', Brian Train noted, "There are some interesting points in the design. One is the sequence of play, involving alternating activation of units – move one unit, attack with it, then your opponent gets a chance to respond, so most players are involved most of the time. Another is the changing relationships among families of weapons as technology levels advance." Train concluded, "the Combat Results Table is very bloody and the small map does not give much scope for maneuver." In Issue 35 of ''Warning Order'', Matt Irsik commented, "''Helltank'' is not a bad game, but if you had ''

'', what was the point in spending time on this? This game got a bad rap, but in reality it's a good little tactical game that was overshadowed by too many other things."

Other reviews and commentary

* ''

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'' #2 * ''

The Grenadier The Grenadier is a public house in Belgravia, London. It was originally built in 1720 as the officers' mess for the senior infantry regiment of the British army, the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, and located in a courtyard of their barracks. It ...

'' #17

References

{{reflist Board games introduced in 1981 Metagaming Concepts games