Vagabond pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

Work the ten rollover buttons until the center Vagabond drop target lights. Then hit the lit target for an extra ball. After it drops, use either side eject hole to raise it and rebuild the rollover progress. A lit side eject hole also awards an extra ball, and completing A-B-C-D is another extra-ball route. Confirm before play whether extra balls are allowed or converted.

The goal

Light the center Vagabond through the ten rollover buttons, knock it down for an extra ball, then use a side eject hole to raise it and repeat; take A-B-C-D and lit-eject awards when safely available.

  1. On the plunge and safe returns, take missing A-B-C-D skill lanes and available rollover buttons without sacrificing control.

  2. Keep working the ten rollover buttons until the center Vagabond drop target is lit for Extra Ball.

  3. Hit the center target only after it is lit to collect the extra ball; an unlit knockdown spends the target without the award.

  4. After the target drops, feed either side eject hole to raise it again; collect a lit eject-hole extra ball when that safe feed is available.

  5. Rebuild the rollover progress and repeat the lit-target cycle while extra-ball awards still have value under the installed event rules.

Need to know
Ten rollover buttons
Working these buttons lights the center disappearing drop target for an extra-ball award.
Center Vagabond
Knocking down the center target while it is lit awards an extra ball.
Side eject holes
Either side eject raises a lowered center target; a lit eject also awards an extra ball.

Machine setup

  • Confirm Williams Vagabond model 278, OPDB exact variant G4Pvp-MLBO0, the sole October 1962 single-player add-a-ball edition. Do not transfer this guide to another same-era Williams game.
  • Check three- or five-ball play, extra-ball limits or conversion, high-score extra-ball handling, tilt response, and whether the event permits earned additional balls.
  • Test all ten rollover buttons and lamps, A-B-C-D lane registration, the center target's lit award and knockdown, both side eject coils and target reset, eject-hole lamps and awards, flippers, bumpers, slingshots, and returns.
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