Personally I'm not very happy about the introduction of Kirin or Phoenix as the alure of this game was as you mentioned, Nicolino. But you may promote irons to copper on the back rank and that's it :). I don't see how this makes promotion optional, just make it always mandatory, by capture or by last rank :)! When a platinum promotes to a jewelled general does it make it an extra royal that has to be checkmated?
Personally I'm not very happy about the introduction of Kirin or Phoenix as the alure of this game was as you mentioned, Nicolino. But you may promote irons to copper on the back rank and that's it :). I don't see how this makes promotion optional, just make it always mandatory, by capture or by last rank :)! When a platinum promotes to a jewelled general does it make it an extra royal that has to be checkmated?