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How do we get a good mix of pieces in a superlarge game without giving the
player too much to remember? This is a key make-or-break question. If we
want an interesting and playable game, we must do this part very well
indeed.
I've proposed a 2-part system. It combines a few basic piece types with a
few movement patterns to give a range of easily identifiable and usable
pieces to complement what we already have. At least, that's the theory.
Can I make it work in practice? [Boy, after all this, I sure hope so!]
Okay, since the pieces are shortrange, I'll steal the basics from The
ShortRange Project piece builder. Our first 4 piece types are the Wazir [1
square orthogonal step], the Ferz [1 square diagonal step], the Dabbabah [2
square orthogonal leap], and the alfil [2 square diagonal leap]. Their
piece icons are simple, obvious, easy to combine with each other, and
it's very easy to understand the resulting pieces. Now, let's strip the
knight from the longrange Fides, and put it in with the 4 basic Shorties,
where it really belongs. Yes, it's really a combo of wazir and ferz, but
the knight icon is all but universally recognized for standing for that
'wazir then outward ferz' move knights make. And it looks so much
prettier on a combined icon. [See the High priestess and Jumping general
pieces in the Grand Shatranj Alfaerie set and see what you think.] Now we
are 5.