Revamping rules

[usagitsuki]

It seems like there's a plan to revamp most or all of the Peter Pig rules. Is this correct? Will the non-grid rules be converted to grids? Which rules are scheduled for a makeover?

[martin goddard]

Good question. On average each set of PP rules gets revised after 10 years. The most recent VIETNAM set was first published in 1998. This is 19 years. We are currently working on version 2 of SCW. First edition was 2003. That gives 14 years.  PP rules probably have the longest span between editions of any "live" games. Cannot think of any counter examples.

Most rulesets will be re-visited. Some rules have been subsumed into others or just been dropped.

ie 
Fighter(WW2 air combat) has been put to sleep at the moment
Bloody Cauldron (RCW) has been subsumed into SB.
Company rules (sci fi squad) has been put to sleep at the moment.
Fighter(space fighters) moribund
Hoka Hey (plains wars) was subsumed into Hey you!

Not all future PP games will be gridded. i am toying with a point to point system too. My preferences do change with time.
Measure games will still be coming out from PP i am sure. The major problem with measure games is that many players often concentrate on the measure side (needing to  check the distances to other salient items- gamey and time consuming) rather than the tactical side (occupy the farm square-realistic and quick).

Up next might be pirates, western ,WW2, or a couple of other ideas in process.
Put to one side  FIW, too many new figures needed at the moment. Napoleonic, too big a project . 
Modern cold war bandwagon, nope. It will decline  within 3 years()

[Leman (Andy)]

I really like the new Square Bashing. For some reason, though, I have not taken to gridded Regiment of Foote and have gone back to the original version.

[martin goddard]

Of course it is all down to taste. It is only a hobby after all.

[usagitsuki]

Thanks for that. What would a point to point system entail, out of interest?

[DorchesterBede]

I think the last set of new rules was Longships back in 2013 with re vamps of PBI (2015),  ROF(2016)  and MoCB (2017) and Bayonet & Ideology (2017/18?) rules sets take a longtime to move from early ideas to publication. Having playtested all of these rules I can say in most cases the final product is very different to the initial concept. Martin is always confident the rules will be done and dusted within six months but then his 'real' job, sculpting and life tends to slow things down and the reality is about twelve months.

At ant one time Martin will be promoting a new set (MoCB) writing and playtesting another (bayonet and Ideology) whilst something else is gestating (?). On publication Martin will always say to the levelers we will spend a few weeks just playing, but then an idea comes to mind and were off again. Always interesting, always fun and always an argument (polite of course), always new figures to buy and paint  - keep em coming.

Chris

[martin goddard]

Spot on Chris

point to point system
Here is a rough breakdown.
The a table is laid out and 16(?) "points "  or places are identified. A point might be a small group of buildings or a hill. bases are just sprinkled near a point. When they move they are picked up and placed by the new point. If an enemy holds a point then it must be fought for. Points are not equidistant but are on salient features. A street might have 3 points on it to represent the difficulty of getting along that street.
Point woud allow group sto be sprinkled in aesthetic ways and simulating the effort in getting across differing scenery types.
Maybe someone else might use this idea before i do!

clear(??)

[Sean Clark]

Yes  it's been a real privilege to be involved albeit from afar in playtesting for the last 10 years or so. It's great to see the development and gestation of a rule set from concept to finished article.

I seem to remember Longships originally not being a grid game. The change to morale in PBI was a big change from a traditional RFCM mechanic.

Always fun. I normally find that when I introduce a new Piggie game to the club it goes down well and people are always happy to take part.

[usagitsuki]

Yes, that seems clear enough. Using more points to simulate difficult terrain is similar to what some boardgames do with area movement systems. Seems ambitious for a tabletop game. It'll be interesting to see how you develop it.

[martin goddard]

Yes longships started as a measure game, It was OK, but then Stewart suggested using the squares.  It is a game I really enjoy playing. I particularly enjoy the "shields up" "line breakers out" and "attack" sequence. Very realistic, with the chance of delay or failure at each point.

[Sean Clark]

Longships is very popular at the Stoke club. Players love it when two unit's fight it out and blood and gore ensue. Very Bernard Cornwell!!!