Shatranj With Different Armies
We've heard of Chess With Different Armies, we've heard of Shatranj, so let's combine them! Like in the original Chess with Different Armies, I've made 3 new armies to go with the original for 4 in total.
I was inspired by Raplh Betza's page on the crab: In any game where the Ferz appears as a piece by itself, we should be able to substitute the Crab with interesting results. (Shatranj with different armies?)
Setup
Pieces belonging to all factions
King: Moves 1 space orthogonally or diagonally. Vulnerable to check and the bare king rule.
Funny notation: FW, assigned letter: K
Pawn: Moves passively 1 space orthogonally forwards. Captures 1 space diagonally forwards. On reaching the 8th rank, promotes to the piece that started on the d file (highlighted in italics). Unlike in regular chess, this type of pawn cannot make an initial double advance.
Funny notation: mfWcfF, assigned letter: none
The Orderly Originals
The original Shatranj army, terrible Alfils and all!
Rook: Moves any number of spaces orthogonally.
Funny notation: R, assigned letter: R
Knight: Moves exactly 2 spaces orthogonally and 1 additional space perpendicular to the first par of the move. Can jump.
Funny notation: N, assigned letter: N
Alfil: Moves exactly 2 spaces diagonally, can jump.
Funny notation: A, assigned letter: A
Ferz: Moves 1 space diagonally.
Funny notation: F, assigned letter: F
The Japanese Jostlers
A Shogi based army. Every piece except the pawn comes from Shogi, and they're even arranged in mostly the same order!
Lance: Goes orthogonally forwards as far as it likes. On reaching the 7th rank, it may promote to a gold general. On reaching the 8th rank, it must promote to a gold general.
Funny notation: fR, assigned letter: L
Dragon horse: Can move any number of spaces diagonally, or 1 space othogonally.
Funny notation: BW, assigned letter: D
Silver general: Can move 1 space diagonally, or 1 space orthogonally forwards. Unlike in Shogi, these silver generals cannot promote.
Funny notation: FfW, assigned letter: S
Gold general: Can move 1 space orthogonally, or 1 space diagonally forwards.
Funny notation: WfF, assigned letter: G
The Posh Protectors
An army based on the upper class.
Berolina pawn: Moves passively 1 square diagonally forwards. Captures 1 square orthogonally forwards. On reaching the 8th rank, promotes to a crown prince. Cannot do an initial double advance, much like the regular pawns.
Funny notation: mfFcfW, assigned letter: P
Ring: Moves as a knight, or exactly 2 spaces orthogonally.
Funny notation: ND, assigned letter: O
Bishop: Moves any number of spaces diagonally.
Funny notation: B, assigned letter: B
Wazir: Moves 1 space orthogonally.
Funny notation: W, assigned letter: W
Crown prince: Moves 1 space orthogonally or diagonally. If there is a crown prince on the board, the king is immune from check and can be captured. If the king is captured, a crown prince becomes the new king.
Funny notation: FW, assigned letter: K
The Amphibian Attackers
An army themed around the dichotomy of land and water.
Toad: Moves 1 space diagonally or exactly 3 spaces orthogonally.
Funny notation: FH, assigned letter: T
Kirin: Moves 1 space diagonally or exactly 2 spaces orthogonally.
Funny notation: FD, assigned letter: I
Drunk elephant: Moves 1 space diagonally or orthogonally, but not orthogonally backwards.
Funny notation: FflrW, assigned letter: E
Crab: Moves 2 spaces forwards and 1 space to the side, or 1 space backwards and 2 spaces to the side.
Funny notation: ffNbsN, assigned letter: C
Rules
The rules are the same as in Shatranj, except for the pieces moving differently and the crown prince's ability to nullify checks.
Like in Chess with Different Armies, players may choose one of the four armies to play with, this choice may be made using any method.
Each piece has a different assigned letter, so there is no need to change any move notation conventions from regular chess.
Notes
Estimated piece values
For reference, I am measuring values in quater pawns, such that a FIDE pawn is worth 4.
All Armies
Pawn: 2(x8) (it's a lot weaker than the FIDE pawn because it can't promote to a Queen)
Orderly Originals
Rook: 20(x2)
Knight: 13(x2)
Alfil: 3(x2), tied for the weakest piece in the game
Ferz: 6(x1)
Total: 78
Japanese Jostlers
Lance: 5(x2)
Dragon horse: 21(x2), the strongest piece in the game
Silver general: 8(x2)
Gold general: 9(x1)
Total: 77
Posh Protectors
Berolina pawn: 3(x2), tied for the weakest piece in the game
Crown prince: 14(x0), but priceless if the king is lost
Ring: 20(x2)
Bishop: 13(x2), +2 pair bonus
Wazir: 5(x1)
Total: 79
Amphibian Attackers
Toad: 14(x2)
Kirin: 10(x2), +2 pair bonus
Drunk elephant: 11(x2)
Crab: 6(x1)
Total: 78
The Japanese Jostlers are slightly weaker than the Orderly Originals and the Posh Protectors are slightly stronger, but this is compensated by the value of their pawn promotions.
This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.
By Andrew L Smith.
Last revised by Andrew L Smith.
Web page created: 2021-09-29. Web page last updated: 2022-05-27