The idea has merit. What I like mostly is that both both and archer are major pieces :)! I'm totally unsure abut the piece values. Anyway what is sure is the the widening of the board makes the knight value bishop value ration smaller. The main purpose of hoppers is to exchange them for stronger pieces sonner rathen than later when they run out of targets to capture or al least harass. Although gaining an ease of developement the boat has only once such targe in your view, the queen :)! For that my proposal would be to keep in this capablanca-esc setup the archbishop and marshall on I and B files and move the knights on d2 and e2. That for ease of developement. Knights first routine :)! Then add four pawns on c3,d3,e3,f3. Of course black is mirrored. That would give the hopper compounds more targets to at least harass. The piece desity would be a bit larger than ortodox chess at 11/20 but it's not that bad as hoppers are aided by that and anyway the two extra pieces are pawns. 3rd files pawns don't get double step. Anywat Good luck with your designing, I hope this is usefull :)!
The idea has merit. What I like mostly is that both both and archer are major pieces :)! I'm totally unsure abut the piece values. Anyway what is sure is the the widening of the board makes the knight value bishop value ration smaller. The main purpose of hoppers is to exchange them for stronger pieces sonner rathen than later when they run out of targets to capture or al least harass. Although gaining an ease of developement the boat has only once such targe in your view, the queen :)! For that my proposal would be to keep in this capablanca-esc setup the archbishop and marshall on I and B files and move the knights on d2 and e2. That for ease of developement. Knights first routine :)! Then add four pawns on c3,d3,e3,f3. Of course black is mirrored. That would give the hopper compounds more targets to at least harass. The piece desity would be a bit larger than ortodox chess at 11/20 but it's not that bad as hoppers are aided by that and anyway the two extra pieces are pawns. 3rd files pawns don't get double step. Anywat Good luck with your designing, I hope this is usefull :)!