"PBI rules size ?" Topic

Hi all

I am intrigued by posts on here explaining the mechanisms in the PBI rules.

However when I look on the web site I see that it lists them as being 142 pages long ?

Now I can't imagine learning 142 pages of rules nor can I imagine buying the PDF and printing out 142 pages ?

so are they really 142 pages ? or is that a typo on their web page ?

regards Paul

Lots of it are army lists.

Actually, the army lists are in a separate book.

BUT The rules are reasonable spaced;
There are a LOT of examples. Many with pictures.
There is a table of contents AND a useful index

It is not a simple set of rules. But it is by no means the most complicated, and it is well explained.

There is also a vibrant forum to discuss queries and suggestions here:

rulesforcommonman.uk/smf

thanks all

So advocate they look more like FOW in their presentation ?

Certainly want to avoid FOW and uncomplicated appeals !

regards paul

There are some videos about PBI on the PP website. Go to matrix at bottom ogf front page and choose "videos".

link

It is centred on infantry rather than tanks. It it probably best to play a few games with a platoon or two per side, just to "bash" it about. Most full games 0-3 tanks. PBI models an infantry company with a possibility( not probability) of support from armour.

It gives the player more of what they should have, rather than what they would like.

It is in my opinion not an a very complicated rules set and as Martin says best to start with a couple of infantry platoons then add msg, mortars, field guns, anti tank guns then armour.
Normal force is a mix of infantry 3 or 4 platoons, support platoon, field guns and or armour and unlike FOW there is one rule book and one army list book not a different book for each type of company.
A game is normally completed in about 3 hours

I concur with the above and recommend the videos Martin has linked to.

I have a game this coming Friday. And at the end of January a group of us will be slogging it out in the Ardennes down in Weymouth.

thanks all very useful.

I think I will look out for the rules at the next show I attend.

I only want to do small 1 – 3 platoons and maybe armoured cars and the early tanks , nothing more potent than a Panzer III or a British Cruiser A13 etc

The comment about 3 hours a game is probably a deal breaker for me as I have an opponent who I meet infrequently and we maybe get 1 – 1.5 hours then a 15 minute debrief over a cuppa !

regards Paul

Perfect size forces and time window for my Skirmish Action Rules. Just saying ….. cheers!