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H. G. Muller wrote on Fri, Apr 28, 2023 06:02 PM UTC:

This is as large as I want to go: 2 x 96 pieces on an 18 x 18 board:

satellite=big files=18 ranks=18 promoZone=1 maxPromote=2 promoChoice=EA,AM,G graphicsDir=/graphics.dir/alfaeriePNG/ squareSize=33 graphicsType=png theme=DD whitePrefix=w blackPrefix=b borders=0 firstRank=1 useMarkers=1 newClick=1 captureMatrix=/"32/31^6=/"/31^6%%=/37%%/" pawn::fmWfceFifmnDifmnH::a6-r6 warrior::fmWfmnnDfceFbhcN:quickpawn:a2-e2,n2-r2 ram:RM:mgQcfD::c1,p1,f2,m2 scout::mNcA:knightpawn:g5,l5 vao::mBpcB::e1,n1 camel::::b4,q4 zebra::::d4,o4 elephant::FA:elephantferz:e5,n5 spider:SP:AH::i2,j2 frog::FH::a5,r5 prince:PR:KfmnD:duke:c5,p5 knight:N:::f5,m5 bishop::::i5,j5 cannon:CN:::f1,m1 wizard:WZ:FC:mage:d1,o1 champion:CH:WAD::f4,m4 rook::::a3,r3 squirrel:SQ:nAnDnN::h5,k5 dragon horse:DH:BW:promotedbishop:b5,q5 dragon king:DK:RF:promotedrook:a1,r1 snake:SN:nCnZnGnH::e3,n3 nightrider:NR:::b1,q1 leo:LE:mQpcQ:paovao:c3,p3 rhino:RH:[W?fsB]::g1 gryphon::[F?fsR]::l2 archbishop:::cardinal:d5,o5 marshall:::chancellor:i3 queen::::k1 lion::KNAD::g2 amazon:AM:QN::h1 archer:AR:WA::g4,l4 spearman:SM:FD:nspearman:g3,l3 war machine:D:WD:warmachinewazir:h4,k4 bat:BA:B(paf)14cB::i4,j4 raven:FA:R(paf)14cR:bird2:h2,k2 eagle:EA:Q(paf)14cQ:bird:i1,j1 terrorino:TO:QADmpafcafmK:sabretooth:j3 terror::QNADcamK:dragon:h3,k3 king::KispO9::l1

Rather than doubling many of the super pieces, I only doubled the Archbishop, and added a new (anti-trade protected) monster piece in a single copy (the Terrorino). Compared to Megalomachy there are two more Pawns (wider board!) and two more Warriors. The remaining 10 extra pieces are new and appear in pairs: The Spider (a new minor, AH), the Omega-Chess Wizard and Champion, the (lame) Squirrel (NAD), and the Snake (lame GHCZ), all rook class.

The setup has a few 'air holes', to limit the density to 60%. These should allow reasonably easy development of most pieces. E.g. after the Lion is gone, the Rhino and Amazon have a nearly free diagonal (assuming 5th-rank pieces are developed quickly). And on the other Wing the Griffon can leave over the m-file, and the Queen along the diagonal that this opens.

The Spiders start rather backward, but by their H move they can jump over the serial defense shield, to reach the Bishop squares (after these have been developed, which should have high priority, as those files are vulnerable to Cannon attack). After the Spiders move on, the Marshall, Terrors and Terrorino can use those squares, as these are all jumping pieces.


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