Ten turn PBI

[martin goddard]

We played  a game of PBI and limited the game to exactly 10 turns.
We played the game in 2.5 hours.
We did however have a definite plan and got on with it.

This means we will try countdown at 36 for a few games. In effect it shaves 1 turn off the game.
Needs more testing.

We used British 8th army versus British 8th army.

Next thing to test is 1 AFV unit maximum, 1 towed gun unit maximum.
That shouldn't affect  companies very much.
It would mean that a player cannot have an AC unit and a tank unit.

We are not there yet, but it is coming along OK I think.

martin

[John Watson]

It will force some Companies to field even more infantry. It might be better to limit the total points of AFV units. Greeks, Partisans, Dutch and Japanese spring to mind.
John

[martin goddard]

I don't think may players field more than 1 vehicle unit ?
Vehicle units do have a  gun sum upper limit .

Greeks and partisans are part of the non conformist so they should be  fine (?)

martin

[alang]

I currently use a Jock Column type Western Desert force with a unit of armoured cars and a unit of 2lb AT portees with trucked infantry.  An illegal list in future? Sort of takes all the flavour out of the list.  Alan

[martin goddard]

You should be OK Alan
Your portees are not AFVs. They are  grouped in with towed guns. Portees would need to be stationary to shoot.

The  trouble is that you would not be able to use two units of tanks.
This would limit you to 4 crusaders instead of 8 crusaders.

The problem might come if you wanted to field an armoured car unit and a tank unit. Two armoured AFV units to support 1 infantry company  becomes historically wrong.


Testing continues.

martin 

[John Watson]

So you can field 1 unit of 4 tanks, but not 2 units of 2 tanks. I'm struggling with this.
John

[martin goddard]

Let me "shine a bit of light" (??)
If you have two units, each of two tanks then you have used 2 out of your 5 unit allowance.

This might mean that one of the units the opponent might choose  for you to bring on would be just two tanks.

If we allow 2 units each of two tanks then you might have one tank unit that includes a  close support howitzer and another containing a flammer tank. This would get around the "maximum of two tank types in a unit restriction".

I am quite happily working to encourage players to use what I  think should be plausible armies which do not skew the game before it starts. This is obviously a very opinion based judgement.

Deviations from 3 average platoons, 3 tanks and a support platoon should not create an advantage but instead should  create a gamble of "will it work?" with the incumbent outcomes being possible great or poor.

I suspect that  some readers here are thinking; "martin is just trying to change the rules so that he wins games".  Well that has not worked so far

Players want to win, which is a main aim of playing a game.  All good.

If experienced players can  find ways of having an advantage by fielding  "unusual" companies then the soul of PBI is all lost at that point.

"You don't want to field a normal plausible company. What you need to do is stack up on these special things I have found in the rules that give you a game advantage. I have found that they are very cheap and effective. No one else has noticed it, yet."

"But surely that gives a force that does not represent historical formations used in battle?"

"That does not matter. It is about twisting the game in order to get the best advantage."
"I want my opponent to set up and know that he is at a major disadvantage because I have chosen a killer combination."

"Surely he would not want to play then?"
"That is fine. I want to win by my use of the points system, not by battlefield tactics".


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Thank you for your Shining Path, Martin 

I always enjoy your design philosophy explanations, which help put the game and focus of the associated play testing into context.

Simon

[martin goddard]

Yes, shining path. Sounds like a nice Sri lankian charity?


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I'm sure they're just misunderstood, Martin, like many of us 

Simon

[Smiley Miley 66]

Martin we must play a Late war game sometime soon then. To test out the theory. Obviously I can bring some of my many Engineer tanks to test out these theories?
Then we can test out how devastating or not these tank units can or can't be ?
I am happy to come down next Saturday? I don't think I ve got anything planned ?
If you want to suggest a possible army list for me to follow ? Either for ETO or Italy as I have vehicles for both ? 44 or 45 ?
Miles

[martin goddard]

That would be great Miles.
However I am in hospital again next Saturday 2nd July
I am sure we can arrange something soon though.


martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

Ok well I am off the week after CWB battleday.
We can have a PBI catchup day on that Wednesday (13th) if you want ? At Entoyment?
Miles

[martin goddard]

That is a good idea Miles.
Shall we  make ita  2 game day and see if others want to  join in?

martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

Just done that ?
The usual crew might be able to join in ?
Gives us a chance to talk about the good and bad points that have cropped up ?
I can bring my Italian British force of 1944/45 with possible Engineer vehicles if required ?
Gives me a chance to use some of my Later theatre 8th Army figures I painted but not used as yet.
Miles