Comments by TonyQuintanilla

A very creative solution. Thanks!

The new time controls now provide all the timing flexibility needed. If one is playing a long term game or a 'live' game and one wants time limits this provides the ability to select any time conditions wanted. Very nice!

Impressive and original. I can't claim to have absorbed all the rules and permutations, but it certainly sounds neat.

Right! Un-ready Chess? Well, I thought about it and liked calling the pieces that cannot capture Ready instead of Un-ready. They are ready, just resting!

I second Michael Howe's comments. Excellent is for the tournament and Fergus' outstanding work and continuing improvements to the Game Courier. I tried the new time controls in a test game and they work very nicely, giving players a current time balance. The Game Courier has done for game play on the Chess Variants Pages what the Comments system did for discussion. Both are great additions to the game description archives. Its nice to see so much activity on the game log page! Yes, the tournament will be a little demanding, but very much worth it, and enjoyable. Sign up!

Ben, I ran into this problem. I resolved it by placing the ZRF in the main Zillions directory rather than in the Rules sub-directory. The images go in the Images folder as usual. I am not sure why this occurs.

For some reason, I have not been able to implement the flipping feature in the preset with Shogi-style images. So, I changed the images to be all right-side-up instead of Shogi-style. <p>If anyone can point out my error in the original file that would allow flipping, here it is: <pre> &lt;? $dir = 'http://www.chessvariants.com/graphics.dir/gifford/'; $pieces = array( 'a' => 'cpawn_b.gif', 'A' => 'cpawn_r.gif', 'b' => 'wbishop_b.gif', 'B' => 'wbishop_r.gif', 'c' => 'cannon_b.gif', 'C' => 'cannon_r.gif', 'd' => 'promoted_lance_b.gif', 'D' => 'promoted_lance_r.gif', 'e' => 'elephant_b.gif', 'E' => 'elephant_r.gif', 'f' => 'promoted_sbishop_b.gif', 'F' => 'promoted_sbishop_r.gif', 'g' => 'guard_b.gif', 'G' => 'guard_r.gif', 'h' => 'promoted_silver_b.gif', 'H' => 'promoted_silver_r.gif', 'i' => 'promoted_sknight_b.gif', 'I' => 'promoted_sknight_r.gif', 'k' => 'king_b.gif', 'K' => 'king_r.gif', 'l' => 'lance_b.gif', 'L' => 'lance_r.gif', 'n' => 'wknight_b.gif', 'N' => 'wknight_r.gif', 'p' => 'wpawn_b.gif', 'P' => 'wpawn_r.gif', 'q' => 'queen_b.gif', 'Q' => 'queen_r.gif', 'r' => 'wrook_b.gif', 'R' => 'wrook_r.gif', 's' => 'silver_b.gif', 'S' => 'silver_r.gif', 'u' => 'promoted_spawn_b.gif', 'U' => 'promoted_spawn_r.gif', 'v' => 'promoted_srook_b.gif', 'V' => 'promoted_srook_r.gif', 'w' => 'sbishop_b.gif', 'W' => 'sbishop_r.gif', 'x' => 'sknight_b.gif', 'X' => 'sknight_r.gif', 'y' => 'spawn_b.gif', 'Y' => 'spawn_r.gif', 'z' => 'srook_b.gif', 'Z' => 'srook_r.gif' ); $flipped = array( 'a' => 'cpawn_b_rev.gif', 'A' => 'cpawn_r_rev.gif', 'b' => 'wbishop_b_rev.gif', 'B' => 'wbishop_r_rev.gif', 'c' => 'cannon_b_rev.gif', 'C' => 'cannon_r_rev.gif', 'd' => 'promoted_lance_b_rev.gif', 'D' => 'promoted_lance_r_rev.gif', 'e' => 'elephant_b_rev.gif', 'E' => 'elephant_r_rev.gif', 'f' => 'promoted_sbishop_b_rev.gif', 'F' => 'promoted_sbishop_r_rev.gif', 'g' => 'guard_b_rev.gif', 'G' => 'guard_r_rev.gif', 'h' => 'promoted_silver_b_rev.gif', 'H' => 'promoted_silver_r_rev.gif', 'i' => 'promoted_sknight_b_rev.gif', 'I' => 'promoted_sknight_r_rev.gif', 'k' => 'king_b_rev.gif', 'K' => 'king_r_rev.gif', 'l' => 'lance_b_rev.gif', 'L' => 'lance_r_rev.gif', 'n' => 'wknight_b_rev.gif', 'N' => 'wknight_r_rev.gif', 'p' => 'wpawn_b_rev.gif', 'P' => 'wpawn_r_rev.gif', 'q' => 'queen_b_rev.gif', 'Q' => 'queen_r_rev.gif', 'r' => 'wrook_b_rev.gif', 'R' => 'wrook_r_rev.gif', 's' => 'silver_b_rev.gif', 'S' => 'silver_r_rev.gif', 'u' => 'promoted_spawn_b_rev.gif', 'U' => 'promoted_spawn_r_rev.gif', 'v' => 'promoted_srook_b_rev.gif', 'V' => 'promoted_srook_r_rev.gif', 'w' => 'sbishop_b_rev.gif', 'W' => 'sbishop_r_rev.gif', 'x' => 'sknight_b_rev.gif', 'X' => 'sknight_r_rev.gif', 'y' => 'spawn_b_rev.gif', 'Y' => 'spawn_r_rev.gif', 'z' => 'srook_b_rev.gif', 'Z' => 'srook_r_rev.gif' ); $flip = true; ?&gt; </pre>

Thanks to Antoine for the rules enforcement.

Combined setup and flipping has been fixed.

I found the same thing. However, XP seems to have this problem only with archived ZRFs that are named something like, something_chess.zrf instead of something.zrf.

The set images are now posted! Very nice indeed.

Jared, this is an interesting game. <p>For a preset the limitation is the number of discrete pieces that will be present in the game. The practical limit is 52, the number of letters in the alphabet x 2 (small and capital letters). I did a quick run down and it seems that a preset is not practical, unfortunately. <p>How many distinct pieces can be formed in this game, including all colors? More than 52, it seems. <p>Another route would be to assemble pieces by making each hexagon a composite of different levels, so the assembly of each piece is done on the board using separate layers. How many discrete piece components (Queens, Drones, Pawns) are there? I count 27. <p>How many possible layers of piece components are possible? If a Wizard has 5 health Pawns, that's 7 layers. A Cleric with health and spells could have 9 layers. 44x9 cells is not practical to implement as separate layers. <p>Another option would be to designate stacked Pawns and Drones by number, P1-P5, D1-D4. How many combinations are possible? I count 8x5 for Pawns and 8x4 spell Drones. So that's 72 Pawn and Drone assembly combinations and that totals to 81 piece components. That's not possible to implement. <p>Additional clarification on how pieces are assembled and what they do may help. Are 'clear' and 'translucent' synonymous? Does 'opaque' mean anything but 'clear'? What does 'orientation' mean? How many Pawns and Drones can be stacked?

I have posted a basic Game Courier preset, without rules enforcement.

Jack, have you considered using a Dymaxion projection to project the geodesic sphere to 2D and make a Game Courier implementation possible? The geodesic sphere is a very appealing concept for a board.

As far as playing, a quick look at Kriegspiel did not show any innovative ways to avoid the referee. The only other option, I think, would be the 'honor system', whereby players exchanging moves by e-mail would not only exchange visible moves, but also masked moves using three separate text files, one for each board. The masked moves files, though, would be 'off-limits' to the opponent (unless he cheats) until the end of the game. At that time, both players can verify that all the masked moves were executed correctly. The other option would be to record the masked moves without exchanging them, trusting that the players will not alter the files surrepticiously. Of course, if you can't trust your opponent, why play chess, right? That's the beauty of chess! FIDE not withstanding!

Well, I am going to break the mold here. I don't think its fair to the game to let a 'poor' rating dominate. There is justification for some of the comments, such as a lot of power for a small board; an odd-shaped board; a lot of board edge changes; and the possibility of 'stereotyped' play. However, the game should be played first before relegating it to the 'poor' bin. There are some good points: the use of Knight moves mitigates against the odd-shaped board; the higher power density provide more options on a small, restricted board. In fact, the odd-shaped board provides some of the interest, as the name implies. The game will probably be very tactical and very exchange driven. I think it would be fairly enjoyable. Give it a chance!

The sets of these variations appear trully very nice indeed. Take a look at the site. Hopefully, the rules can be posted soon too. Stay tuned!

The editors received this response from Mr. Spratt: <p>Dear Tony, and Mr. Howe, if you are attending: Thank you for your comments on my games; you're right on all counts except perhaps the 'outrageously expensive' part, at least pertaining to IMPERIAL and CHESS FOR THREE. The playing pieces for those two games are small, I can cast a whole team at once so the colors match, the molds have no parting lines to clean, so all I have to do is sand the bottoms flat; accent detailing with model car enamel makes the pieces more easily identifiable, and felting the bottoms makes for a nice quiet game and protects the board, which takes several tedious careful hours to hand-paint. I have on hand maybe a dozen sets of those two, and if anyone wants a set of the pieces, somewhat cleaned and bottom-sanded, to hand-detail and felt themselves, I'll let them go for $l per player; the se (2-3') pieces are designed for play, but properly detailed with a nice matching board they look pretty sharp. I don't think that's outrageously expensive for limited custom items, but I admit that 'expensive' is a relative condition, and I can't do them for less without getting into mass production; I will try to post some better photos as soon as possible. <p> On JETAN: I had a chat with Danton Burroughs, proprietor of the ERB legacy, about selling the JETAN sets back in ('96?) when I made them, and he said that a few sets for the fans would be okay, but don't go overboard; I guess I sold half-a-dozen, maybe, and the molds were starting to wear out anyhow. These pieces are five to seven inches tall, very detailed, cast one-by-one, chased, sanded, tediously hand-painted in many colors, and yes, I admit you might call them expensive. Not for everybody, sad to say, but I can't do them for nothing, and they do take time, materials and long experience. The same is true for SARANG, and more so; there are ninety-six players in the set. I was able to pour four complete sets and some spares before the molds were shot. This is how you establish limitedness--the molds get rough and after a while at the same crazy-making tedium, Meester Arteeste does, too. <p> My website is fairly new and I'll be posting a price sheet, bio and credo sometime soon, as well as the rules to these games and explanations of the players/pieces. Be patient, and know that I do appreciate your attention. <p>Thank you, James Killian Spratt, m.sc.

I am copying Mr. Spratt's comments to the Imperial Chess page for reference: <p>Hi Michael: Thanks for your comments regarding Imperial Chess rules; here I'll try to clarify some of the muddy areas you pointed out. Please understand, first, that as the inventor of this game, I consider myself responsible for clarifications of all points, although I freely admit that you and the other editors share vastly greater experience in rules than I, and might have superior ideas about some of them. Know that I am open to any of them that you feel firmly about; I'm flexible, I play for fun, and I grasp that a firm codification of rules must be thorough, comprehensive, and comprehensible. <p> On Capturing All the Imperials To Win: I feel that this game should adhere metaphorically to the way wars and life really work, or fail to work. It is in the nature of Empires to serve themselves and to perpetuate themselves. It has been known for a King to marry a commoner and call the offspring a King; therefore, to eliminate the royalty entire would require the elimination of all of them. Possibly the Win Condition could be simplified to just the Emperor, or just the Empress, or the pair of them. If anyone would like to play it that way, it's fine with me; just remember the Imperial Prince, when he gets the news from his messenger from home (special rules:Emperor killed.) <p> On Promoted Pawn Return: 'Pawn is returned to his original position.' I've never played a game wherein that spot was occupied by another piece, although I realize it could be; in that case, the pawn should be placed as near that space as possible, behind the occupying piece. The Pawn should be returned in the file in which his promotion took place. (Thus eliminating the need for numbering the pawns.) <p> On 'Moves Any Two Spaces, Square or Diagonal.....' I believe you are referring to the Knight's move, especially, and the Princes. I call this the Knight's Backjump, wherein he can move from a1 to a2 to b1 or b3; a literal interpretation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Jetan rules, regarding the Thoat's (Knight's) move permits this, and it does make the Knight much more dangerous. Some players dislike this option on the very face of it, but then many chess players dislike variations of any kind. I'd consider this optional, to be agreed between the two participants before play; I happen to like it. <p> On 'The Charge.....Within One Move of Direct Attack Position': This would be threat position, minus one move. Look at any given piece on any given board in any given game; you can tell how many moves it will take that piece to clobber another one. Back up one move, and you're in Threat Position; back up one more move, and THAT's the position you need six of your foremost men in. It takes a fairly sharp, predatory eye to perceive this. <p> More About 'The Charge': Charging is an advantage, but not an overwhelming one. Remember, if you're close to him, he's close to you, too. It's usually a matter of who throws the first punch. There is also the danger of overextending your troops by being TOO aggressive, say, two or three charges in a row. The Charge permits the smart to be really smart and the dumb to be really dumb. Any charge, or countercharge, immediately sets up at least six fights which must be dealt with NOW, and introduces an element of desperation which I consider very much like real combat; a truly anal and conservative player will almost never initiate a charge, but they need their butts kicked anyway. There is a little element of serendipity in the post-engagement moments--sorta like 'Wow! WHAT was THAT?!--but some sharp General once said that no battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy. ALSO, it's a big board, with a lot of pieces; without the Charge, it takes three hours; with the charge, half that time or less. <p> Michael, thanks again for your pertinent questions. I hope I've made it clearer, and let me know if there's anything else about the game that's doubtful. I'm open to your suggestions about how to improve it, but I really think you oughtta play it a few times first. Stay in touch! <p>Yours, James

I have deleted the log and revised the preset.