Daniil, I haven't heard from Fergus in some time (I have a few questions sitting in his email) so he may be on vacation.  I'll ping Joe Joyce and see if he can fix the problem you are having. Edit: Joe has sent you an email right after your first post with a new password. Try that and post back if you are still having issues.

I see a lot of work has been put into this game and it has been favorited by several people.  However, I don't see a Game Courier preset.  Is there one of these currently and if not, would it be violating any copyright policies to impliment one?  Seems odd to have one of the top favorited games on the site without a preset.

155 comments and most of them extensive.  I do apologize if I'm asking material that has already been covered, but there's not a lot of time in my day as of late.  I've recently started looking at (haven't played) variants with different armies - this is notably one of the most popular variants on this site.  

I'm in no regards an expert (or anywhere close) to determining piece/army values and I have several questions surrounding it.  

- How even are the armies used in this variant?
- How are piece/army values determined and are they static based on board position, what pieces are currently in play, the army of the opponent, etc?
- How does one test and determine equality of different armies?
- If I ever became ambitious and maybe decided to come up with my own army (loosely translated to "if I ever have to time"), what are the processes to do this.  

I've seen this variant around for many years, I've come across recently Spartan Chess, I'm familiar with the Maharaja Chess where it's one piece vs an army (which I think is always a win for white if played right).  Does anyone have experience with this and have tips?  What if I wanted to do something on a 10x10 board?

I'm sorry if this has already been covered.  Thanks!

Nick

I have a couple of hopefully quick questions.  First, I hope I am not blind.  I have been searching high and low and trying to avoid embarrasing myself by asking - but what is the proper way to create a preset.  I don't see any links for a blank one.  What I have been doing is canabalizing existing ones (which may indeed be the source of all my frustrations to begin with).

Second, I am trying to learn how to code presets.  I'm not doing anything totally difficult to start out with (adding pieces, emptying squares, the say and echo commands, etc.).  I've done some work on a preset, but now whenever I try to update/save/run/test, it loads for 3-5 minutes and then comes up with a page that states this: 

A 500 error has occured

500 errors are generally caused by one of the following two problems.

1) A bad entry in the site .htaccess file, if you are the webmaster try logging into your cPanel, and use the file manager to rename your .htaccess file if this fixes the error you should then check the contents of the .htaccess file / roll back any recent changes.

2) A php error / code error also causes a 500 error, you can try enabling 'PHP display_errors' by following this guide Enable Display errors

If after trying both of the above solutions and you are still seeing the 500 error please do contact support"

I don't understand a word of it lol.  The rest of the site works fine so I'm wondering what if that is becuase my coding is bad, if the site is experiencing technical trouble on that side of it, or if it is because I'm canabalizing a preset.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

-Nick

I don't have the knowledge to add rule enforcing code to a preset, but I know enough to create a preset.  I also dabble in ZoG, so that may be a possibility, as well.  Maybe when the rules pages are published, I'll take a look and see if I am good enough to do it.

Thank you very much!  I'll update it with that information!

Hi Jeffrey and thank you for your comments!

I'll answer your questions here and then clarify in the rules.  The Mimics are all independant of each other - only the capturing Mimic changes after it captures, the other one does not, nor the Mimics in the other army.  The transformation is immediate after that capture, so it ends the turn transformed.

For example, if each side has 2 Mimic Kings and black uses one to capture a Knight, then White still has 2 Mimic Kings and black has 1 Mimic King and 1 Mimic Knight.  These transformations are mandatory.

I hope you enjoy the game and if you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

-Nick

Great idea, Greg!  Count me in with lower time controls until I get into a good routine withe the new baby

I know we are looking to finalize the tournament games and roster, but Vitya has finally made some moves in our games and I let him know about the tournament.  I'll see if he is interested and maybe we can get a 9th player.

When it is asking for the address, it is asking for the URL.  The easiest way that I've found to locate it is to right click a piece and copy the address from there.  Let me know if you have any other questions!

-Nick

Figured I'd try to program something VERY easy to learn how to do this.  Boy, was I in for a surprise.  I'm trying to 10-Directional Chess, which only replaces two pieces.  I've canabilized a ton of Fergus's code, looked through many other variants as examples (Sac Chess, Shogi, Opulant Chess, and Chess).  A few questions have come up that I can't locate the answers for.

First, I'm having a lot of issues defining a new function for piece movement involving a piece with a designator more than one character long.  Every include file that I look into has single character designators, but they also have their own piece sets or just a few pieces in the set.  If I were to declare a function for (lets say) _NW_EH in the Alfaerie: Many set, it doesn't let recognize the piece, even if I alias it.  If I were to just simply replace _NW_EH for E, it works perfectly.  Do I have to have a new piece set created to avoid this issue or is there a simpler fix that does not involve alerting an editor every time I try to code from Alfaerie: Many?

Second, in those functions are several parts.  Using the Sac Chess Rook/Ferz compound as an example: 

def G checkride #0 #1 1 0 or checkleap #0 #1 1 1;
def GL merge rays #0 1 0 leaps #0 1 1;

I understand that the #0 and #1 stand for the initial square moved and final square moved, but I don't understand how the 1's and 0's after those work exactly, though I have been able to fudge the results I want with those.  I also understand the functions with the L at the end is for finding revealed checks, but I don't know how to associate rays and leaps how they are supposed to.  I get that rays are for the checkrides and leaps for checkleaps.  Does it essentially match the previous function?

Thank you for any help provided!

-Nick

Hi Jorg!

I'm still cranking away several years later lol.  I'm about to release 3 presets for this game that all enforce rules, so this game will officially have every avenue of play out there.  Since 2009 when I programmed the Zillions file, I believe Fergus enhanced the site.  Now, when you access the Play tab, it gives an option for FRC, but does not actually link to the correct presets page.  I can't modify that one since you are the writer of the rules page.  Figured that I'd give you the heads up in case you wanted to modify that.  Hope all is well!

-Nick

Fergus,

I finally finished my first presets that enforce rules.  The game was for one that I created presets for before, so modifying that page with the updated presets wasn't a problem for me.  If I wanted to, though, code a rule enforcing preset for a game that I did not do the preset page for, what is the process for that?  Do I have to submit a brand new preset page, notify the person who did the preset originally, notify an editor, or obtain permissions to edit the page?  

I was thinking about upping the challenge to "Chess on a Really Big Board" since I am playing a game of it already.  Jeremy Good originally did the first preset and settings file and is no longer active on the site.  Are you wanting the original settings file altered or a new one created?  Thanks!

-Nick

For anyone interested (because it took me quite a while to figure out and then code), below is GAME Code for a rule enforcing Rose piece that is designated RO (white) and ro (black).  These can probably be condensed to an easier to read code, but it should function perfectly.

//define each move a knight can make as a direction
map ro1 1 2;
map ro2 -1 2;
map ro3 1 -2;
map ro4 -1 -2;
map ro5 2 1;
map ro6 -2 1;
map ro7 2 -1;
map ro8 -2 -1;

//Create a function for each of the 16 moves a Rose can make
def ROA1 logride #0 #1 (ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6);
def ROA2 logride #0 #1 (ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7);
def ROB1 logride #0 #1 (ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2);
def ROB2 logride #0 #1 (ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3);
def ROC1 logride #0 #1 (ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1);
def ROC2 logride #0 #1 (ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4);
def ROD1 logride #0 #1 (ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5);
def ROD2 logride #0 #1 (ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8);
def ROE1 logride #0 #1 (ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7);
def ROE2 logride #0 #1 (ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6);
def ROF1 logride #0 #1 (ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3);
def ROF2 logride #0 #1 (ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2);
def ROG1 logride #0 #1 (ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4);
def ROG2 logride #0 #1 (ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1);
def ROH1 logride #0 #1 (ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8);
def ROH2 logride #0 #1 (ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5);

//Assign Rose moves to the Rose functions
def RO fn ROA1 #0 #1 or fn ROA2 #0 #1 or fn ROB1 #0 #1 or fn ROB2 #0 #1 or fn ROC1 #0 #1 or fn ROC2 #0 #1 or fn ROD1 #0 #1 or fn ROD2 #0 #1 or fn ROE1 #0 #1 or fn ROE2 #0 #1 or fn ROF1 #0 #1 or fn ROF2 #0 #1 or fn ROG1 #0 #1 or fn ROG2 #0 #1 or fn ROH1 #0 #1 or fn ROH2 #0 #1;
def ROL lograys #0 (ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 stop) (ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 stop) (ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 stop) (ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 stop) (ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 stop) (ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 stop) (ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 stop) (ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 stop) (ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 stop) (ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 stop) (ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 stop) (ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 stop) (ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 stop) (ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 stop) (ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 stop) (ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 stop);
def ro fn RO #0 #1;
def roL lograys #0 (ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 stop) (ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 stop) (ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 stop) (ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 stop) (ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 stop) (ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 stop) (ro3 ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 stop) (ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 ro8 stop) (ro4 ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 stop) (ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 ro6 stop) (ro8 ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 stop) (ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 ro2 stop) (ro6 ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 stop) (ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 ro1 stop) (ro2 ro1 ro5 ro7 ro3 ro4 ro8 stop) (ro2 ro6 ro8 ro4 ro3 ro7 ro5 stop);

As I understand it, the Ninja can only move like a King if it is not making 2+ captures.  Is that correct?

I didn't even know this game existed and it shares a lot of similarities of a game that I invented, so I shot out an open invite to play it.  Maybe I could provide some strategy feedback after a game.

I was wondering if there was any further answer on the below question, as well as I have a new question.

Though I enjoy the ease of having the include files to program presets with, is there a way to pick and choose what code is being used?  For example, if I want to include chess3, but the game does not have castling, as in Courier Chess or Cetran Chess 2, is there something I can tack on in the code to disable the castling code within the include file or do I have to omit the include file and copy and paste the code I want from said include file into the preset separately?  Thanks!

Hi Zach, Sorry I haven't been active on our game.  We are in the process of a large move and just got done flying back to the home we are moving from.  I'll answer your question and make a move tomorrow.

-Nick

Hey Greg!

Just wanted to get an update on the start date for this.  Thanks for putting it on, Greg!

-Nick

Fergus, I just wanted to point out a couple of bugs that may be around due to the server move.

- The Post your Own Content link under the tab with my name comes up as "file not found"

- The Chess on a Really Big Board link that was posted under Whats New does not work.  Not sure if it was the wrong link or something with the server move.

Thanks!

One thing that will need to be addressed before the future rounds is Berolina Chess.  The rule enforcing preset does not work so someone will have to fix it or we will have to use a non rule enforcing one.  I can probably do it, but with each preset, I'm spending quite a bit of time learning how to do things and I'm no longer on vacation, so I don't have the few hours a day to research and learn.  I believe all of the other presets are good - I did not check Wildebeeste, though.  I'm not sure if it is a rule enforcing one or not.

I submitted a rule-enforcing preset to the editors for review, but I'm noticing that it changed me to the game's inventor when I did.  I don't want to take any credit for something that I did not do - could that please be restored to the rightful inventor?  I'm not sure what I did wrong to make that happen.  Thanks!

In regards to programming, how do moves that can end in 2 different board positions work?  I'm specifically addressing Wildebeest Chess - a King can castle 1-4 spaces away from the start square.  With my code, I can castle to any of those squares except the one right next to the King.  Moving there does not result in a castle that should be legal, just a King move.  Is that a matter of programming or is that a matter of game notation?  

I used the allow command to grant an additional move and tried to even type a movement out for the rook to move, but it deemed the move illegal.

Is GC able to handle moves (aside from promotions) that can have different outcomes on the board?  If so, how would it be done?

I think fixing that bug messed up my preset of Anarexic Chess.  Can't make any moves now.

Anemic Chess is now fixed, too.

Hey Greg!

It could be not a matter of forcing the tournament into certain parameters, but maybe designing the parameters around the tournament.  Without taking too deep of a look into it (as it is late here too and I wish I was intoxicated), maybe adding 2 more variants to the mix.  With 11 games, everyone plays everyone once and gets one bye.  (4 rounds - 3 games/each and 2 in the last or 3 rounds - 4 games/each and 3 in the last)

Also, subtracting variants to 6 and doubling the games played (one black and one white) in each variant should yield the same amount of games played with 1 bye each if my math is correct.  (3 rounds - 2 variants/round  and 2 games/variant)

Alternatively, we can just start the tournament with Daniel in the games, as he committed previously.  He could be on a short vacation or have wrong contact info or family emergency.  I'd be upset to join a tournament and then find out that I wasn't in it, in spite of attempts to contact me.  

I know that all of this kind of trounces the intended spirit of the tournament, but these are just a few ideas that could end the suffering for you.  I'm down for whatever, but one thing that I don't feel is right is to cut someone from the tournament after giving them the green light to participate.  

I accepted 2 games of Chinese Chess - 1 from SxG and 1 from Dank Magician.  Both still appear as open invitations, though if you click to accept, again, it says that the invitation was already accepted.

Just wanted to point out in case it wasn't something you weren't already tracking, Fergus.  When you click to see previous games played of a variant, it brings up previous games played of all variants across Game Courier.  Enjoying how everything is coming together on the site.

Fergus,

I told Carlos some time ago that I'd get his Sissa coded so he could have some rule enforcing presets - afterall, Cetran Chess 2 is one of the most played games on the site.  I know how to code it, but I'm not sure if there is a more efficient way to do so.  

How I KNOW how to do it is to do it similar to the Rose, where I use the map function to create directions (ex. n, s, nw, se, etc...), and logride to create the movement scheme.  The problem with this is that for the Sissa's movement on an empty 8x8 board, it would have a total of 288 different possible movements (with different placement on the board, of course), and if someone would want to impliment a Sissa on a larger board, they would have to adjust the code and add an extra 36 movements/paths per step up (from 8x8 to 9x9, etc.).  

Do you have any ideas on simplification?  I'm thinking variables might be the easiest way, but is there a way to impliment variables into the pathing?  A Sissa moves any amount of spaces orthogonally then the same amount of squares diagonally and vice versa, so instead of doing a path for EVERY possible amount of squares moved each direction, is there a way to say he moved x spaces in this direction, now must move x spaces that direction?  If you can logride with variables, that would cut 288 paths down to 36 AND you can use the same code for any board size.  Even better, if we can say x squares orthogonally (instead of x squares north or south or east or west) then x squares diagonally, that would reduce the paths further down to 8.  Is it possible?

I know its a loaded question, but thank you for the help!

/play/pbm/play.php?game=Rococo+with+Pushme-Pullyus&log=wolff-cvgameroom-2017-24-856

This game was drawn a long time ago.  For some reason, it just appeared as a lost game for me on time after we had finished.  

I'm not speaking for Fergus, Carlos, or Erik, but I know we have the only games left going on in round 2.  I'm ok with round 3 starting if Greg and everyone who is currently playing a game is.  With the rate that I've been playing lately, mine and Fergus' game will probably last a while longer.  

I just wanted to put this out there in case there was any hesitation on anyone's part to start - I'm ok with it.

It's also on a couple more games of your variant, Jose.  You beat me in ours and it shows me as won, too.