Laser Tank: Fantastic Playaids for Miniatures
Judges Guild (1980, $1.50)
Designer not credited
Players 2
Period Science Fiction
Scale Tactical
Turn 30 seconds
Terrain 1cm=1m (skirmish play), 1mm=1m (maneuver play)
Unit individual vehicles

Components
1 shrinkwrap
2 double-sided sheets with rules & charts
3 identical cards of uncut vehicles/turrets

Cut-Out Units Manifest
9 weapons carriers
12 armored personnel carriers
6 jeeps
6 scooters
12 weapons carrier turrets (3 each of tank, artillery, missile, and special weapon)
36 APC turrets (9 each of 4 unspecified types)

Judges Guild says:

“Enclosed herein are three sheets of 15mm scale armored fighting vehicles for use in science fiction games. They are designed to be used in resolving encounters involving light fighting vehicles and other equipment. Some may be used as both civilian and military equipment ... Following is a simplistic set of science fiction armored fighting vehicle rules for tabletop use.”

The complete rules of play:

“Turn Sequence is: Write Movement Orders, Move, Fire. All actions are assumed to be simultaneous. Each turn is assumed to represent about 30 seconds. To determine a hit, roll one 20-sided die and add any penalties or bonuses to the number before consulting the chart. If the number resulting is equal to or lower than that on the chart, a hit has been scored and the die is rolled again. The second time if the result is equal to or lower than the second number (after penalties or bonuses), then the target vehicle has been destroyed. Only vehicle to vehicle combat is handled by these simple rules, there already being published sufficient man to man combat rule systems.”

The reviewer says:

“[R]ather immature but manageable rules for science fiction armored combat ... for cardboard, table-top warfare. (It’s got to be more exciting that paper dolls) ... In essence, these are poor man’s minis, but at the price, who can argue?” Jeffrey Paul Jones in Campaign 102. Comments

Another in our continuing series of “Simulacrum caveats.” Being an obscure and infrequently seen title, Laser Tank is the kind of gaming curio that is sure to pique the interest of the unsuspecting impulse buyer who is almost certain to be disappointed with the contents. At least now you know what (little) you are getting if you decide to pick up a copy. A serviceable addition to your favorite sci-fi RPG perhaps (most likely what it was intended for, considering that JG specialized in RPG accessories), but quite thin as a stand-alone tabletop game.

Collector’s Notes

This game is not listed in Boone. You probably don’t want to pay much more than $5 (including shipping) unless you are trying to complete a collection of Judges Guild products!

Other games from Judges Guild

City State Warfare; Imperial Infantry Squad.

Capsule Profiles:

Longest Day
LA Lawless
Last Frontier
Laser Tank
Lesnaja 1708
Legend of Robin Hood
Lords of the Middle Sea
Luftschiff