I really like the 4 x 4 footprint for PBI. But I have yet to get this on the table... hopefully soon.
But I found it interesting that there are some notes for smaller games but nothing for larger games. Wargamers being wargamers, do you guys have any advice for setting up larger games or games based on historical engagements?
We've quite often done larger games, e.g. for Crete, The Ardennes and the Normandy landings, generally on a 6'x4' table, or on multiple 4'x4' tables.
You really just need to scale up the forces. When I did my Crete scenarios, I loosely worked on the principle of 2 normal companies per side on a 6x4 table.
The rules themselves work very well for a larger table.
Simon
Yes as Simon says, the rules scale up very well, unlike games like Bolt Action which become quote unwieldy when you push them beyond what they were intended for.
The Ardennes game (video available on the Peter Pig YouTube channel) was the largest in which I've been involved amd it worked very well.
Anecdotally I know people have played on 6x4 tables with no issues at all.
Heresy (not really).
A few opinions.
1. 6x4 should work well.
2. Scenery templates would be the main adjustment. 50% bigger table area.
3.Maybe a 4th objective.
4.To keep the game length to a reasonable time maybe only increase armies from 400 to 500.
5. Bigger tables are probably best carried out as a multiple of touching standard games?
martin :)
I assume for historical type scenario's such as in Stalingrad or other locations the terrain layout restrictions go our of the window - although having roughly that level of terrain and objectives in the normal rows is the aim :)
Yes for scenarios let your imagination run wild!
A potential problem is changing the rules to suit a bigger table. This might cause a "domino" effect.
e.g increase shooting range. Outcome= less manoeuvre because your bases are in range and are risked moreso.
martin :)
I'd be tempted to play the rules as written regardless of the table size. This would allow for manoeuvre and support from flanks etc.
Ben and I have played a number of 'Bigger Games', at home and with two large display games at Beachhead and Warfare shows. Dieppe was played on a 8x6 and Arnhem on 6x4. We played mostly to the rules, but with considerably more forces, air assets, and terrain we didn't use the normal PBI templates. Ben tinkered with the rules to suit the changes we wanted, but the changes were not that significant that the rules were not recognisable as PBI. We used the rules for general play and they worked well. I don't see any issue in changing them to suit your needs for bigger games, each to their own. I understand the need for sticking to the rule set for a PBI gaming day, but for your own games find what changes if necessary work for you. We will be putting on a 8x6 Spanish Civil War game at Beachhead 2026, so Ben will adapt the rules for that game
D&B
(https://i.postimg.cc/NKHdp3z5/IMG-0679-002.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKHdp3z5)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sBCw8TkK/arnhem.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBCw8TkK)
Yeah, here in the not US in frozen top of North America getting opponents is not easy and although 1 vs 1 games are good I asked as putting on 3 or 4 player games is a way of getting bigger games in. I would host and provide all forces... We are comming up for a local convention and although I would not do something this year this triggers thoughts in convention style games as well.
So this is more of a general question for planning and what works/has been tried.
I assume on a bigger 6 x 4 table (or wider) 2 companies could fight to give a wider front view. That may even allow a decent 2 players vs. 1 (the defender), as the defender likely will start with significantly fewer troops on the table than the attackers.
We are planning a Berlin game for VE Day,
12x8 table (Richstag is 24x6")
3 enlarged Russian company's (500 points)
3 reduced German company's (350 points)
Using normal rules with a few house rules for reinforcements and movement
Stewart
Actually when we did the 8 x 6 Gold beach landings for 75th anniversary it was using version 3. When we did the 80th Anniversary landings last year we used the newer rules version.
I did find generally that the game worked very well indeed with little adjustments to normal play.
When doing Historical play, like Gold beach, Spoiler alert ‼️ the British win and the Germans lose.
But my suggestion was next time after the initial main front line is broken, which it will be! Make some areas as objectives? Mainly for the defenders as interest for them to actually participate in the game ? Also allows some of the terrain pieces to be upgraded to "Dug in" these can be used as "rally" points and a focus to actually play the game, also to have surprise used and also "last man standing"
I say this as we know on Gold beach they(the Germans-defenders) got pushed off the beach but without a fight and some abilities to have moral victories for themselves ?
Also allows a points total to be used and then might give the defenders a boost if they drew or lost with small margins !
But yes the game does scale up quite easily.
Also we found out with Monte Cassino Big Hills can be used, sensibly !
Miles
I assume big hills are multi-level hills ?
For my Omaha game (6x4) for D-Day 80 I had 3 exits from the beach as objectives
Seemed to work quite well
Stewart
Here is a picture of Monte Cassino game.
Miles
(https://i.postimg.cc/mPDK9ChR/IMG-5165.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mPDK9ChR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gX9717sk/IMG-5150.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gX9717sk)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mc1qX4Q5/IMG-5152.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mc1qX4Q5)
Quote from: mellis1644 on February 19, 2025, 08:32:01 PMI assume big hills are multi-level hills ?
Not exactly, we had special rules for these on Monte Cassino. Broadly you had to end movement for a turn having gone into such a hill square. And move out in a subsequent turn. It prevents sprinting up a cliff face!
Simon