Time Line pinball rules and strategy

Knock down seven targets on the timed mini-playfield to place the center X. On the main playfield, the yellow drop bank places square 1, the red drop bank square 7, and red 1-2-3 square 9. Choose the group that completes a three-X line before the machine makes three O's; each win raises Bonus X and the next Win or Draw award.

The goal

Start with the center X, then read the grid instead of clearing every target group. Choose the safest bank or numbered target set that finishes a line; a win raises both the end-of-ball multiplier and the next award, so preserving the ball becomes more valuable after each board.

  1. On the mini-playfield, knock down seven targets before the timed flippers go dead to place the center X.

  2. Read the backglass grid and choose the safest main-playfield group that advances a possible three-X line.

  3. Complete the yellow drop bank for square 1, the red drop bank for square 7, or red 1-2-3 for square 9.

  4. Finish any three-X line before the machine completes three O's; the win raises Bonus X and advances the next Win or Draw award.

Need to know
Place Center X
Knock down seven mini-playfield targets before its timer ends.
Place Corner X's
Complete the yellow bank, red bank, or red 1-2-3 targets.
Win the Board
Complete any row, column, or diagonal of three X's.

Machine setup

  • Test both mini-playfield flippers, all five mini drops and their reset, both main drop banks, red 1-2-3, side targets, return and outlane switches, the left kicker, the return gate, the grid lamps, and the separate O response.
  • Confirm three- or five-ball play, Extra Ball and Special conversion, playfield-memory difficulty, and whether the mini-playfield timer and seven-hit counter behave consistently.
Sources and references
Contribute to this ruleset!

Your email is stored privately and only used to follow up about this report.

Edit on GitHub

Playbooks

Time Line playfield

100%