About the topology I agree with you with the same train of thought actually, with the reserve that I would not consider much circular boards, unless as a niche. I would consider though boards akin to Balbo's. But it seems to me that almost no one else does :)!
Also rooks and bishops should probably be the backbone of all "nextchesses". Some larger one could even have four each or 4 bishops (they probably have to be evened numbered as they are color bound) and 3 rooks. The later is a bit uncomfortable to me.
Probably 12x10 is the largest possible next step, but then we could have the nextnextchess, and so on. Who know where future technology will, if ever, limit us.
I think that an initial piece density of around 50% is desirable even if I tend to go a bit over when inventing :)!
Bigger games means longer games. We should all accept that.
On a 12x10 game, pawns starting on the 3rd rank are almost a must unless you use gating (as in Musketeer chess), or some similar technique. JL Cazeaux uses pawns that may always move twice in his larger boards. That one is a great idea :)!
Even trades of different pieces should definitely be a goal. My apothecary series has such a goal. Although having multiple levels of such trades is quite interesting 2 (like Q and unicorn- BNN- on first level, the griffin is out there on larger boards, too).
Games with drops should have weaker pieces by default, but they do have their own special flavor. I'm aiming for my apothecary shogi games to introduce multiple levels of promotion so staying on the board is encouraged :)!
About AI, I agree unless we become cyborgs or something.
So the only thing I'd like to add is that there is no reason to have a sole next chess. I had said before that I find Grand Chess and Omega Chess as good candidates who should not exclude each other. Also different armies games have special flavour but they are extremelly difficult to desing, as they add a balanced armies requirement. Also once there why Stop at that level? If say 3 12x10 games become very popular why not improve them into 18x14 games for example or 16x16?
Hi Kevin,
About the topology I agree with you with the same train of thought actually, with the reserve that I would not consider much circular boards, unless as a niche. I would consider though boards akin to Balbo's. But it seems to me that almost no one else does :)!
Also rooks and bishops should probably be the backbone of all "nextchesses". Some larger one could even have four each or 4 bishops (they probably have to be evened numbered as they are color bound) and 3 rooks. The later is a bit uncomfortable to me.
Probably 12x10 is the largest possible next step, but then we could have the nextnextchess, and so on. Who know where future technology will, if ever, limit us.
I think that an initial piece density of around 50% is desirable even if I tend to go a bit over when inventing :)!
Bigger games means longer games. We should all accept that.
On a 12x10 game, pawns starting on the 3rd rank are almost a must unless you use gating (as in Musketeer chess), or some similar technique. JL Cazeaux uses pawns that may always move twice in his larger boards. That one is a great idea :)!
Even trades of different pieces should definitely be a goal. My apothecary series has such a goal. Although having multiple levels of such trades is quite interesting 2 (like Q and unicorn- BNN- on first level, the griffin is out there on larger boards, too).
Games with drops should have weaker pieces by default, but they do have their own special flavor. I'm aiming for my apothecary shogi games to introduce multiple levels of promotion so staying on the board is encouraged :)!
About AI, I agree unless we become cyborgs or something.
So the only thing I'd like to add is that there is no reason to have a sole next chess. I had said before that I find Grand Chess and Omega Chess as good candidates who should not exclude each other. Also different armies games have special flavour but they are extremelly difficult to desing, as they add a balanced armies requirement. Also once there why Stop at that level? If say 3 12x10 games become very popular why not improve them into 18x14 games for example or 16x16?