Well, I have lived in Scotland for most of my life, but I have mexican family, from whom I have acquired this form of draughts.
Admittedly, though, I have not played draughts in a *very* long time, so I cannot remember exactly whether this is actually how it was. I do remember that:
(a) it is played on the diagonals of a 10x10 board, with each player's 1st 3 rows filled
(b) the unpromoted piece moves as in this variant, though I cannot remember whether it must be forwards. It could make multiple captures as described; I do not recall any obligation to capture
(c) the promoted piece, or 'queen' ('dama' in Spanish; the namesake of the game and isonymic with the chess queen) moves as the promoted draught in this variant. I think it must have had to stop on the square after its victim (otherwise it is quite overpowered), but I do not recall how multiple capture worked... What I have opted for in this variant seems a logical choice
With regard to the artificiality of the board, I agree, having playtested two prototype versions of this. However, it works, and, once you get used to it, it's not that difficult to deal with. :)
Admittedly, though, I have not played draughts in a *very* long time, so I cannot remember exactly whether this is actually how it was. I do remember that:
(a) it is played on the diagonals of a 10x10 board, with each player's 1st 3 rows filled
(b) the unpromoted piece moves as in this variant, though I cannot remember whether it must be forwards. It could make multiple captures as described; I do not recall any obligation to capture
(c) the promoted piece, or 'queen' ('dama' in Spanish; the namesake of the game and isonymic with the chess queen) moves as the promoted draught in this variant. I think it must have had to stop on the square after its victim (otherwise it is quite overpowered), but I do not recall how multiple capture worked... What I have opted for in this variant seems a logical choice
With regard to the artificiality of the board, I agree, having playtested two prototype versions of this. However, it works, and, once you get used to it, it's not that difficult to deal with. :)