Edition 50 has now gone out.
What has changed? Not much
I have moved some sections about to create a better structure (??)
It is still a many legged animal.
I am still working on reducing the amount of legs players have to keep in "view".
1. Each major weapon type has its own section. This should make finding the information easier.
2. I have finished messing about with foot base point values now. I think.
3. The piggy base modifiers will now probably stay. The responders have been generally happy?
4. Transports is now relatively simple but needs more testing to see if they area good match of value and cost.
I think we need to start monitoring whether the game is won more by defenders or more by attackers. Attackers should win 55% and defenders should win 43%. 2% draws? ;)
I wanted attackers to win slightly more, as a reward for them taking the initiative.
Otherwise the game would be as good for the "just sit there and see what comes along" as for the "I had better make a plan that lets me get there, take the objectives and hold them".
Being an attacker is much harder work.
martin :)
What about where the objectives are placed ?
This is something a few of us think there isn't enough variations in where and how you place them ?
Basically giving you the "same game" each time or at least that how it feels ?
Miles
I agree with you Miles that the objectives are similar in their placement.
Assuming that the objectives are the main points of combat in the game as they are worth the bulk of the victory points. The scenery templates also make a big difference to armies. A lot of players choose 2 buildings, 2 woods and 2 something else.
The reasoning for the present positioning is
1. The positions of the objectives help spread the game left to right across the table. This allows the attacker to be less predictable in where he is concentrating his efforts.
2. The depth from each table edge helps ensure the game is played in the table centre rather than at a player's edge. It is better not to lean all the way across the table to do manoeuvre. Objectives near table base edges cause strange happenings with the arrival of reinforcements.
The above 2 conditions do indeed lead to repeats of objective positioning. This can make games seem similar.
Possible solution
There would be much more variety if the table was 10 x 6 grid instead of 8x8.
Using rows 2,3,4,5? or a total of row positions .
This is however a very big change for players.
A 10 square width might be worth experimenting with?
On the downside it would also waste a lot of PBI cloths that are loved by their owners.
What do players think about a 10x6 grid?
Maybe we should try it?
martin :) ???
I would rather keep 4x4 because of large number of mats I have.
Objectives could be place in different rows and columns with min 2 columns apart and not in rows 1 x 8.
Victory points
Defender 1 D6 each objective
Attacker 2 D6 + row number (1 on attackers base edge)
Stewart
I don't have a table at home that can actually take a 4x4, but that format does feel right to me for the kind of PBI "all-round" game that doesn't always have the same kind of front line as in earlier periods. Making the table rectangular might lose that feel.
So I'm in favour of keeping 4x4, which as we know is readily extensible with current mechanism to 6x4 for bigger games (ideally with 2 players per side).
Simon
I am of the same school of thought in keeping 4x4 and extending to 6x4 for larger games. Again like Stewart my mats and boards all are designed to work with these sizes, so would not want to change them.
David & Ben
Like Stewart and Dave I have a lot of mats for 4x4 and 6x4 formats. I like the ability to be able to make a bigger by going to a 6 x4, without having to expand the table space too much.
I think though the ability to use row 2 and up to row 6 might be a good idea.
What about including this into the piggy chase ? When you reach certain points it opens up choice of using rows 2 and 6 to be able to expand the game ? It's a thought ?
Miles
Why not include an optional chapter in the rules to allow 10 x 6 as a variant, but make it clear the square is the official set. 10 x 6 would have the dining room table set up sorted.
John
A 10 by 6 option would be useful. The mat would be compatible with that used anyway for the Western rules.