💡📝Mark Bates wrote on Wed, Jan 17, 2018 12:16 AM UTC:
Jeffrey,
Thanks for your kind comments about the game. Like many variants (and even traditional chess), there can be wild swings for players who aren't used to how the game plays.
Probably the most important aspect is how the value of a piece changes, based not only on the type of piece, but on how it influences other armies. For example, if a white pawn sits on a red square, and if there is a red piece on an orange square, and if there is an orange piece on an ash (light gray) square--then that white pawn may be the most "valuable" piece in the game!
In playing Sovereign Chess, and watching hundreds of others play it, I think there is the same clarity as traditional chess, although many players would say that they are playing "on an extra dimension". I think the ability to control multiple armies can allow a strong player to take advantage of a mistake quickly, just like a chess GM will always annihilate a lesser player if they have a simple pawn advantage.
As for the pieces and squares, I made the pattern symmetric, and located the squares so that they were not that close to the actual color. This made it easier to create a "chain of control", like the example above.
Let me know if you'd like to play a game online to try it out. Thanks again for your comments!
Jeffrey,
Thanks for your kind comments about the game. Like many variants (and even traditional chess), there can be wild swings for players who aren't used to how the game plays.
Probably the most important aspect is how the value of a piece changes, based not only on the type of piece, but on how it influences other armies. For example, if a white pawn sits on a red square, and if there is a red piece on an orange square, and if there is an orange piece on an ash (light gray) square--then that white pawn may be the most "valuable" piece in the game!
In playing Sovereign Chess, and watching hundreds of others play it, I think there is the same clarity as traditional chess, although many players would say that they are playing "on an extra dimension". I think the ability to control multiple armies can allow a strong player to take advantage of a mistake quickly, just like a chess GM will always annihilate a lesser player if they have a simple pawn advantage.
As for the pieces and squares, I made the pattern symmetric, and located the squares so that they were not that close to the actual color. This made it easier to create a "chain of control", like the example above.
Let me know if you'd like to play a game online to try it out. Thanks again for your comments!
Mark