For anyone who reads this I had the same problem and I followed the instructions at https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=228112
but here is the quick version for anyone who wants to create their own rules page....
Create a text file called rules.php and put it in the forum root. It should contain this code only:
<?php
// ####################### SET PHP ENVIRONMENT ###########################
error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);
// #################### DEFINE IMPORTANT CONSTANTS #######################
define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'rules');
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', true);
// change this depending on your filename
// ################### PRE-CACHE TEMPLATES AND DATA ######################
// get special phrase groups
$phrasegroups = array('timezone', 'user', 'register', 'cprofilefield');
// get special data templates from the datastore
$specialtemplates = array();
// pre-cache templates used by all actions
$globaltemplates = array('justtheforumrules',
);
// pre-cache templates used by specific actions
$actiontemplates = array();
// ######################### REQUIRE BACK-END ############################
// if your page is outside of your normal vb forums directory, you should change directories by uncommenting the next line
// chdir ('/path/to/your/forums');
require_once('./global.php');
require_once(DIR . '/includes/functions_user.php');
require_once(DIR . '/includes/functions_misc.php');
// ################################################## #####################
// ######################## START MAIN SCRIPT ############################
// ################################################## #####################
$navbits = construct_navbits(array('' => 'Forum Rules'));
$navbar = render_navbar_template($navbits);
// ###### YOUR CUSTOM CODE GOES HERE #####
$pagetitle = 'Forum Rules';
// ###### NOW YOUR TEMPLATE IS BEING RENDERED ######
$templater = vB_Template::create('justtheforumrules');
$templater->register_page_templates();
$templater->register('navbar', $navbar);
$templater->register('pagetitle', $pagetitle);
print_output($templater->render());
?>
Next create a new template in your default style called "justtheforumrules". Then put this code in the new template:
{vb:stylevar htmldoctype}
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"<vb:if condition="$vboptions['enablefacebookconnect']"> xmlns:fb="http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml"</vb:if> dir="{vb:stylevar textdirection}" lang="{vb:stylevar languagecode}">
<head>
{vb:raw headinclude}
{vb:cssfile register.css}
<title>{vb:rawphrase forum_rules}</title>
{vb:raw headinclude_bottom}
</head>
<body>
{vb:raw header}
{vb:raw navbar}
<div id="pagetitle">
<h1>{vb:rawphrase forum_rules}</h1>
</div>
<h2 class="blockhead">{vb:rawphrase forum_rules}</h2>
<div class="blockbody formcontrols">
<div class="blockrow">
<p class="label">
<vb:comment> regular forum rules </vb:comment>
{vb:rawphrase forum_rules_description, {vb:raw vboptions.bbtitle}}
<vb:comment> regular forum rules </vb:comment>
</div>
</div>
{vb:raw footer}
</body>
</html>
To access your new page point your browser at rules.php :D