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Ultima. Game where each type of piece has a different capturing ability. Also called Baroque. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!)[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

Johnny Luken wrote on Sun, Apr 26, 2015 08:12 PM UTC:

Not in the sense that its behaviour is describable in the fewest number of cells. In that sense the Replacer, Archer and Swapper are the most fundamental.

My list wasn't exhaustive admittedly. I could have also included;

Long Replacer (x, x, x') => (0, x, x)

most common example of which being the Chinese Cannon.

Thrower (x', x, 0) => (0, x, x')

Mats Winther describes several pieces using this ability, such as in Oxybeles Chess.

And indeed the Pincer Pawn can interpreted as one of the 3 cooperative fundamentals;

Pincer (x, x', x) => (x, 0, x)

Connector (x, x, x') => (x, x, 0)

Splitter (x', x, x') => (0, x, 0)

Custodial (pincer) capture is the only one I've explicitly seen in a prior game, having been lifted from Hfenatafl (though the much less obscure Othello, and indeed Go, are built on similar mechanics).

Capture through connection is exhibited in 3 mans morris, though by connecting like pieces, with arbitrary enemy capture.

Capturing enemy forces by splitting them from the board is the principle form of capture in tile removal games, and one would think the Splitter most closely evokes this behaviour.

Coordinator and hypothetical "triangulator" are a bit more wayward than all of these, but among the most fundamental as described by a 2D grid, certainly.