Rules Version 3 vs Rules version 4

[bobstuart]

What are people's experiences with rules version 3 vs rules version 4?  Is one markedly superior to another (in your view)? 

Also, although I have both rules versions, the only charts I have are Version 3.  Does Version 4 have different charts?

[triangular_cube]

4th edition does have different charts. You can grab them from the Annotated Rules & Charts section. 

The consensus seems to be 4th edition, which is largely backwards compatible with a few minor distortions.

[Shad]

What are people's experiences with rules version 3 vs rules version 4?  Is one markedly superior to another (in your view)? 

Also, although I have both rules versions, the only charts I have are Version 3.  Does Version 4 have different charts?

Welcome Bob!

You can get all your charts here: http://www.pg-hq.com/pg_rules.php

I prefer to play games with the rules they shipped with, rather than 4th edition with everything. But most people nowadays just play 4th edition for everything out of simplicity's sake. They should be clearer, though some things have changed beyond just clarifying intent.

If you only want to learn one, go straight to 4th.

[triangular_cube]

What are people's experiences with rules version 3 vs rules version 4?  Is one markedly superior to another (in your view)? 

Also, although I have both rules versions, the only charts I have are Version 3.  Does Version 4 have different charts?

Welcome Bob!

You can get all your charts here: http://www.pg-hq.com/pg_rules.php

I prefer to play games with the rules they shipped with, rather than 4th edition with everything. But most people nowadays just play 4th edition for everything out of simplicity's sake. They should be clearer, though some things have changed beyond just clarifying intent.

If you only want to learn one, go straight to 4th.

Wow, im not alone in playing the rules as published with the module! 

[waynebaumber]

For Desert battles I would use the  3rd Edition rules for hills, in as much as hills are limiting terrain otherwise I use 4th edition for everything.

[Blackcloud6]

I play everything with the 4th Edition as written.  I've thought about the old rule of hills being limited terrain and applying it in the older games but frankly, have never done it.  It does not seem to matter although I've never played it one then went back and played the same scenario the other way to see.  But I get a sense that it does not change much.  You might get to do an artillery or airstrike onto a hill using the 4th Ed rules where you wouldn't in the previous editions.  However, I think the overall effect is minimal.  And, to me, being able to do so such strikes is more realistic as one might fire on "suspected enemy positions" which you cannot do in PG due to the requirement to spot.

And I have enough wargame rules smashed into my brain that I don't want to be looking through the old drawers in my head to see "was that in 3rd or 4th Edition?"

[plloyd1010]

What are people's experiences with rules version 3 vs rules version 4?  Is one markedly superior to another (in your view)?

The 4th Ed rules and charts fixed a lot of little problems from the 2nd & 3rd editions, but added a couple of its own too. Generally you should go with the 4th Ed. set. The biggest problems will come when there are 2nd/3rd Ed games which need hills to be cover. ( Pursuit of 2nd Armored comes to mind, as well ass a couple of Battle of the Bulge scenarios.)

I Also don't much like how APCs got invalidated in the 4th edition.