Warp Factor

A Variant of ST3D Chess by L. Lynn Smith

In this variant most pieces are allowed to leap, without preforming a capture, to similar cells located on Fixed Levels or Attack Platforms.

Initial set-up is exactly as recommended by Franz Joseph, and is described here for clarification.

Attack Platforms are located on the Wa1u, Wd1u, Ba4u and Bd4u points.

On the White Fixed Level, White pieces are arranged thus:

4 [ ][ ][ ][ ] 3 [ ][ ][ ][ ] 2 [P][P][P][P] 1 [N][B][B][N] a b c d

On the Attack Platform on the Wa1u point, White's pieces are arranged thus:

2 [P][P] 1 [R][Q] a b

And on the Attack Platform on the Wd1u point, White's pieces are arranged thus:

2 [P][P] 1 [K][R] a b

On the Black Fixed Level, Black pieces are arranged thus:

4 [N][B][B][N] 3 [P][P][P][P] 2 [ ][ ][ ][ ] 1 [ ][ ][ ][ ] a b c d

On the Attack Platform on the Ba4u point, Black's pieces are arranged thus:

2 [R][Q] 1 [P][P] a b

And on the Attack Platform on the Bd4u point, Black's pieces are arranged thus:

2 [K][R] 1 [P][P] a b

Each player will retain possession of their two particular Attack Platforms throughout the remainder of the game. They may move each as a turn to any vacant point on the field, provided that the moving Platform is empty. Players are allowed to occupy opposing Attack Platforms.

Pieces move accordingly:

• PAWNs step without capturing any orthogonal and step with capturing any diagonal on the level or triagonal.
• BISHOPs steps triagonal, slides diagonal on the level.
• ROOKs slides orthogonal.
• KNIGHTs leap one orthogonal then one diagonal.
• QUEEN steps triagonal, slides orthogonal or diagonal on the level.
• KING steps orthogonal, diagonal on the level or triagonal.

All pieces, except for the King, may preform a "warp" leap as a turn. A "warp" leap is preformed to a vacant cell. If the piece is located on a Fixed Level, it may leap to the exact cell of another Fixed Level. For example, a qualified piece on Ba2 may leap to either Na2 or Wa2. If the piece is located on an Attack Platform, it may leap to the exact cell of another Attack Platform regardless of owner.

Except for the "warp" leap, all pieces may only change Fixed Levels by way of the Attack Platforms. Knights are permitted to leap to, from and between Attack Platforms but must either pass through or from an Attack Platform to change Fixed Levels. Pawns do not promote.

The game is won by checkmating the opponent King.