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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]I don't know much about ZRFs (other than I have been impressed by many) but in Odin's Rune Chess if the Valkyrie capture/relocation of its own Kings is seen as a 'negative' capture to be avoided, then wouldn't Valkyrie capture/relocates of other friendly pieces also pose a programming problem? Also, would Zillions willingly move one King into Check on purpose as part of a combination to win the game or even material? I would think that the Valkryie aspect could possibly be seen as a 'special castling' condition available for all friendly pieces. And since Kings must be captured, perhaps the entire 'Check' aspect can be witheld from the ZRF... after all, the checks are essentially meaningless and it is actually not wise to announce check. It is the capture of the second King that really counts. Again, I know nothing of Zillions ZRF coding, but peraps some of my comments will trigger some good code thought. If anyone wants ODIN gif images for gaming use let me know and I'll send them after adding transparent green to the existing gifs. Best regards. Sincerely, Gary K. Gifford
I will start development this weekend. I can use a coventional board and piece graphics while I'm perfecting the implementation and substitute the final graphics later. I might be able to derive the images I need from the picture on the Web page, which looks really good. By the way, Peter, I should have credited you with the indirect capture target technique which I learned from you. It simplifies many complex situtations as well as the king swap issue. It is, for example, essential to the implementation of the Decima 10-points condition.
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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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