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Odin's Rune Chess. A game inspired by Carl Jung's concept of synchronicity, runes, and Nordic Mythology. (10x10, Cells: 100) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Roberto Lavieri wrote on Fri, Mar 11, 2005 06:15 PM UTC:
Mike, you can try a ZRF, I was planning make the code, but I´m afraid I can´t do that in the next 3-4 weeks, because I am going to be a bit busy. If yoy try, I can give you a hand if you need it, and I can also contribute sending images for the game, but I´ll need some time to do that, let´s see if I can find some free time.

Peter Aronson wrote on Fri, Mar 11, 2005 06:09 PM UTC:
<i><blockquote> If anyone is, you will need some code trickery--a straight forward 'capture both kings' type win condition will make Zillions very hesistant to use the Valkyrie swap move on a King--during move evaluation, Zillions erroneously considers this to be a loss of the King, though it treats the move correctly when actually determining if the win condition is achieved. </blockquote></i> <p> The easiest way around this is to not allow the Valkyrie to swap with the friendly King, but rather, allow the King the ability to swap with a friendly Valkyrie -- this avoids panicing Zillions. <p> Another approach (used in Rococo.zrf) is to use an indirect capture target piece that is on a dummy square, and have capturing the King capture that piece as well. Since the swap move wouldn't have the code to capture the off-board target piece, then again, Zillions wouldn't panic at the swap move.

Michael Nelson wrote on Fri, Mar 11, 2005 05:27 PM UTC:
I am witholding a rating until I get a chance to playtest it, but unless
there is some hidden flaw I expect to rate it 'excellent'. The game
concept is very innovative and I particulaly like those quirky Pawns.

Is anyone working on a ZRF for this game? If not, I will try it myself. 

If anyone is, you will need some code trickery--a straight forward
'capture both kings' type win condition will make Zillions very
hesistant to use the Valkyrie swap move on a King--during move evaluation,
Zillions erroneously considers this to be a loss of the King, though it
treats the move correctly when actually determining if the win condition
is achieved. Email me for details.

Charles Gilman wrote on Wed, Mar 2, 2005 07:44 AM UTC:Good ★★★★
The piece represented by the 'Ethel' rune could be considered a Crooked
Boar. The Boar in my variant Truffle Hunt Chess is also a colourbound
enhanced Ferz on the Pawn rank, but enhanced by the forward moves of the
Elephant with some pieces blocking it if on the intermediate cell. I
interpret the crooked form of a move along either forward diagonal as
alternating between the two, thus a Crooked Mitre would have half the
Ferz
moves, but only a quarter of the Crooked Bishop's non-Ferz moves.
	As a matter of general interest, my own use of Valkyrie is for a 3d
piece, a Rook that can also move exactly 2 cells diagonally OR
triagonally.

Gary Gifford wrote on Tue, Mar 1, 2005 05:45 PM UTC:
Thanks to all who have commented on this new game. Comments are much appreciated. Here I wish to respectfully address two piece issues that were raised. (1) One comment was that the colorbound pawns were likely not a good idea. I need to point out that the pawns are not truly color-bound because Valkyries can rellocate friendly pawns to an opposite color square. But aside from the Valkyrie factor, the Ethel Pawns are much like little strange Bishops confined to a Runic vector. But, that was part of the game design, i.e., to adhere to Runic images and interpretation. [note: the Ethel Pawns are certainly far more free than the Chinese Chess Elephants and Guards]. Anyway, the Ethel pawns are only truly color-bound after the player losses both Valkries. In Chess we often hear of 'Opposite colored Bishop endings' which are typically drawish. In Odin's Rune Chess we can now experience 'opposite color pawn endings.' Of course, Valkries can change these opposite color endings. (2) There was also a comment about the Kings' dependency on adjacent pieces. Indeed, the Kings can be very strong or completely powerless. The writer stated that players may go after non-royal pieces to weaken the Kings. But is that a bad thing? Now players may have to treat other pieces, at times, with the same respect usually reserved for Kings. I think it makes for richer strategic and tactical possibilities. Time shall tell. Regards to all, Gary K. Gifford

Charles Gilman wrote on Tue, Mar 1, 2005 09:55 AM UTC:Good ★★★★
The piece represented by the 'Ethel' rune could be considered a Crooked
Boar. The Boar in my variant Truffle Hunt Chess is also a colourbound
enhanced Ferz on the Pawn rank, but enhanced by the forward moves of the
Elephant with some pieces blocking it if on the intermediate cell. I
interpret the crooked form of a move along either forward diagonal as
alternating between the two, thus a Crooked Mitre would have half the
Ferz
moves, but only a quarter of the Crooked Bishop's non-Ferz moves.
	As a matter of general interest, my own use of Valkyrie is for a 3d
piece, a Rook that can also move exactly 2 cells diagonally OR
triagonally.

David Paulowich wrote on Mon, Feb 28, 2005 08:44 PM UTC:
How can one describe the (colorbound) Pawns of Odin’s Rune Chess? Well, a Silver General in Shogi has 5 of the 8 moves of a King. A Pawn in this game has 5 of the 12 moves of a Jester in Sidney LeVasseur's Kings Court Chess. A truly exciting innovation.

Roberto Lavieri wrote on Mon, Feb 28, 2005 07:11 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Beautiful!. I have to play a test game to take a better idea. Is it going to be a ZRF available?. If not, I can try codifying it, but I´ll need a couple of weeks, I have some other things to do at first.

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