Comments/Ratings for a Single Item

Right. The first command adds the Massai to the list of types that resets the counter. The second command limits it so only moves in the specified direction reset the counter.

I meant if a Massai soldier move resets the counter?

Thanks, Greg!

Yes!  This should do it:

FindRule( Move50Rule ).TypesThatResetCounter.Add( Massai );
FindRule( Move50Rule ).SetRequiredDirection( Direction( 0, 1 ) );

The need for only resetting the counter when moving forward was added long ago for Chess and a Half.  I don't remember ever needing the TypesThatResetCounter list before ...  Maybe it was added for something or maybe I was just anticipating.

@Aurelian, I have no idea. This rule has always been sort of academic for me, I have never played a game of any kind when it has been necessary to use this rule. So, you can change to 75 if you feel is better.

@Jean-Louis,

What are your thoughts on the interaction of the 50 moves rule with the maasai pawns in this game?

@Greg,

Hello,

Can chessV2 update the counter in the 50 moves rule also when the maasai pawns are moved. What about only when maasai pawns are moved forward? The later rule seems more sensitive to me, for my game.

Ok, thanks very much!

I will need to do this game in C#. Because of the piece shuffle it cannot be done in an include file. But, in general, you would set the en passant givers and receivers in an include file like this:

FindRule( EnPassantRule ).AttackerTypes = { Pawn, Maasai };
FindRule( EnPassantRule ).VictimTypes = { Pawn, Maasai, Prince };

So then, how should I write the part where the maasai and regular pawns are listed as givers and receivers of the en passant rule?

Yes, Berolina pawns have additional complications

We have had an email discussion about berolinas and regular pawns. This is what I remember. I'm glad it worked out.

This is supported. The en passant rule in configurable with a list of attacker types and a list of victim types. I probably added this for Metamachy (although it only needed a new victim type - this game will use both.)

The only programming that needs to be done for this game is the logic for placing the pieces. I will work on getting it included for the next release.

@Greg,

I remember having a discussion a while ago about how en passamnt would work with multiple types of pawns. This game needs something like that is chessV2 would be able to play it. I want to work something similar at a future game. Any thoughts about it?

I have played this game extensively in the Ai Ai software package since adding it, and I feel it may be the best iteration so far of Jean-Louis Cazaux's series of 12x12 variants. The piece density and variety generate very interesting interactions on the board. The various Pawn- and Pawn-like pieces in the 3rd/4th ranks create a nice sense of progression, leading the board to gradually open up and allow more powerful pieces to enter the fray.

In a sense, the game reminds me slightly of a Chess equivalent to Dai Dai Shogi, which has a long opening phase that gradually expands into a delightfully complex middlegame. As a fanatic for large Shogi I consider this a plus :)

In any case, I highly recommend this game for fans of larger variants. In the future I hope Maasai might generate some similar developments of Gigachess and Terachess as well. I have experimented a bit myself with adding the two ranks of mixed Pawns to those games and the results were quite enjoyable.

Thank you Ben. I modified both pages to fix that.

I've updated the link description and published this page.

I found the "en passant...is identical to the regular chess Pawn" for the Maasai a little disconcerting because it doesn't address inter-type interaction. Of course, you address that in the Rules section. Maybe just add a note to the piece description that these are addressed in the Rules section?

Maasai Chess page and the Game Courier preset can be released. Thanks to editors

I would like to change that sentence which is presenting my new game Maasai Chess:

Large CV with 48 pieces per side, of 20 types including Sergent Maasai as improved Pawns

I wish to write:

Large CV with 48 pieces per side, of 20 types including both regular and rapid Pawns

May I do it? Or an editor can do it for me? Thank you

What you say is true HG, it is a fact that different plays will quickly become all different in such a large variant. But so what?

Of course you are free to comment my proposal but I don't see where you want to go.

You argue about the fact that white has an advantage of having the word in saying what is the lineup. I'm still not convinced by your explanations, but I don't want to make a dispute on that. Since my sentence was not a rule and was more a comment, I removed it.

Anyway, advantage or not, I do like the idea of having the freedom to organise the major pieces at wish in the center of the board, even though those pieces are behind lines of pawns. When I play it, it adds some fun: either I choose the line-up or I do the first move. Like in some sports where either you choose the side on the field or the ball to start.

In any case, this game is not finished, and it might continue to evolve according to on-going play testing.

Thanks a lot

Game Courier preset, ... Game Courier setting file, multiple presets, indexed link page, so complicated for someone like me to understand what I'm doing.

I have updated the FAQ to help clarify this.

.. Game Courier preset, ... Game Courier setting file, multiple presets, indexed link page, so complicated for someone like me to understand what I'm doing. You guys are pure genius.

I wanted to create a new Game Courier preset to play this Maasai Chess. Then, I follow the link to create a new GC preset. But at the end, the process gives a similar template than for a normal page entry. This is confusing.

I expect you followed the link to create a link page to a Game Courier preset. This is what you should do after you have already created your preset.

So, I started from an existing GC preset of my own, I modified it, I renamed it "Maasai Chess", I saved it and I spent my evening working on it. This morning, I wanted to come back on it and continue ... but I can't find it. Where is it?

What you created is a Game Courier settings file. A settings file may be used as the basis for multiple presets with different appearances, or it may be used as a single preset without modification. After you have made your presets, the next step would be to create an indexed link page to them. To find your settings file, look in the menu under your name for "Your Game Courier Settings Files".