PBI

Started by Fenton, 06 May 2014, 02:05:47 PM

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Fenton

Has anyone played these at all...I was reading the latest WS&S and they look quite interesting
If I were creating Pendraken I wouldn't mess about with Romans and  Mongols  I would have started with Centurions , eight o'clock, Day One!

Steve J

I've played them but in the end they just didn't grab me. A lot of the club players were comp ones so the games tended to be against some beardy lists.

They have a great pre-game phase though and the basic rules used to be a free download on the Peter Pig site. I'd recommend trying the basic rules before committing yourself to the full rules.

Albie Bach

I played a few games a couple of years ago and I enjoyed them.
It uses a grid system where all squares are either open, partial or closed. I thought this might make the layout look like a lot of straight lines, but it doesn't if you do it well. You don't have to fill each square with scenery right up to the edge, just make sure it's clear what it represents.
There is a free PBI Quickstart available on the PP Rules page, but here's a direct link. http://www.peterpig.co.uk/PBIQS.pdf
Sadly no longer with us - RIP (2018)

Fenton

Thanks guys...I'll have a look at the freebie
If I were creating Pendraken I wouldn't mess about with Romans and  Mongols  I would have started with Centurions , eight o'clock, Day One!

toxicpixie

They're a fantastic set of low level
Sharp end WW2 rules. The current set of rules is probably the best yet, except for some picky bits and a rather easily abused army list/vehicle selection possibility or two...

If you don't play against excessive cheese it's great! SteveJ did you run into Flakboy Paul or Tims excellent "I read the rules on earning Victory Points" Belgians by chance? It a rare set of rules which encourages very minor nations with some really shonky kit!
I provide a cheap, quick painting service to get you table top quality figures ready to roll - www.facebook.com/jtppainting

Zippee

06 May 2014, 07:10:22 PM #5 Last Edit: 06 May 2014, 07:12:49 PM by Zippee
Short answer:
An excellent set of company level rules.

Longer answer:
As with most Piggie rules they have a depth provided by the pre-game reconnaissance game. So each game feels like it's part of something bigger.
Additionally the main game is time limited (21 turns max - on a D6 countdown) so it's nicely tense.

It's played on a grid which is very liberating - no arguing over an inch here or there, each square is defined as either open, partial or close terrain, which nicely simplifies but enhances the game play. There are abstractions, armour can be a bit quirky at times, and the LMG is a bit over-dominate compared to rifles groups but it balances into a good system.

Games are quick, fun and plausible with no headaches afterwards.

It is often played in a tournament style and setting but I don't hold that against the rules - true that means that it has lists and points (although they do try to be sensibly historically plausible, there are worse culprits out there) and as such is susceptible to cheese but that's a player thing. The rules as they stand are fine and perfectly capable of producing a quick "throw it on the table game" or a "proper scenario", most importantly both will be fun.

The summary:
PBI is up there with IABSM as the two best company level rules out there IMHO - they approach the situation differently but both definitely have merit.

PS
I now play it on hexon tiles (hexes instead of squares - eases a couple of the quirks) and 10mm is probably the ideal scale for it (shame I have so much 15mm and 6mm - can't justify 10mm as well  :o)