Kevin Pacey wrote on Thu, Nov 9, 2017 06:29 PM UTC:
So far I cannot see a compelling reason to reject the idea of a Frog Chess variant (as I gave in my last post). It seems like there might be sufficient variety in terms of possible playable opening variations. One thing that is a concern is that the frog piece type (i.e. ferz-threeleaper compound) may be somewhat weak in an endgame, considering that I hoped the frog would be more or less at par in value (and usefulness) with a N or B. Like a ferz, the frog sometimes can restrain two passed pawns on its own, but I cannot yet imagine a position where it can cope with three passed pawns, unless it captures one of them immediately. This seems to be a disconcerting minus when comparing it to a bishop or knight's capabilities in endgames, as these pieces at least at times can cope with three passed pawns.
[edit: I've just imagined one case where a frog apparently can cope with 3 passers: Assuming both side's Kings are tied up elsewhere, the basic situation is: White: Frog c4; Black: Pawns: c5, d6 and f5, Black to move. Play goes 1...Pf5-f4 (or 1...Pd6-d5 2.Fc4xPd5 Pf5-f4 3.Fd5-e4 Pc5-c4 4.Fe4-f3) 2.Fc4xPf4 Pd6-d5 3.Ff4-e3 Pd5-d4 4.Fe3-f4 Pd4-d3 5.Ff4-e3 Pc5-c4 6.Fe3-d2 and Black's passed pawns have been restrained for good. However, note it was essential for Black to move first in this case. Below is a diagram of a drawn example of this case (Ks added).]
[edit: Returning to the question of Diagram Designer's nomiclature for a moment, one figurine series I saw while using the Alfairie: Many Piece Set was the series of GreatWarMachine figurines. I had guessed that this does not refer to threeleapers, since the machine figurines still had only two wheels, like in the case of plain WarMachine figurines. I'm curious if anyone knows what a GreatWarMachine is, especially if there's a better known name for the piece type.]
So far I cannot see a compelling reason to reject the idea of a Frog Chess variant (as I gave in my last post). It seems like there might be sufficient variety in terms of possible playable opening variations. One thing that is a concern is that the frog piece type (i.e. ferz-threeleaper compound) may be somewhat weak in an endgame, considering that I hoped the frog would be more or less at par in value (and usefulness) with a N or B. Like a ferz, the frog sometimes can restrain two passed pawns on its own, but I cannot yet imagine a position where it can cope with three passed pawns, unless it captures one of them immediately. This seems to be a disconcerting minus when comparing it to a bishop or knight's capabilities in endgames, as these pieces at least at times can cope with three passed pawns.
[edit: I've just imagined one case where a frog apparently can cope with 3 passers: Assuming both side's Kings are tied up elsewhere, the basic situation is: White: Frog c4; Black: Pawns: c5, d6 and f5, Black to move. Play goes 1...Pf5-f4 (or 1...Pd6-d5 2.Fc4xPd5 Pf5-f4 3.Fd5-e4 Pc5-c4 4.Fe4-f3) 2.Fc4xPf4 Pd6-d5 3.Ff4-e3 Pd5-d4 4.Fe3-f4 Pd4-d3 5.Ff4-e3 Pc5-c4 6.Fe3-d2 and Black's passed pawns have been restrained for good. However, note it was essential for Black to move first in this case. Below is a diagram of a drawn example of this case (Ks added).]
[edit: Returning to the question of Diagram Designer's nomiclature for a moment, one figurine series I saw while using the Alfairie: Many Piece Set was the series of GreatWarMachine figurines. I had guessed that this does not refer to threeleapers, since the machine figurines still had only two wheels, like in the case of plain WarMachine figurines. I'm curious if anyone knows what a GreatWarMachine is, especially if there's a better known name for the piece type.]