Actually, I do run along a similar path toward NNZYZYNXNX. The ZYNX is the Courier, because it's fast but stays just off the main roads (as defined by the Bishop and Rook moves). Add a Knight, and you get a Messenger at NZYNX, the rider of which is of course a Messagerider (alternately called Pony Express), as either NNZYNX (on smaller boards) or NNZYZYNXNX (on larger boards).
I still need to update those pieces' bases, but once I've done that I may share them as well.
As far as usefulness, I'd call 16x16 the minimum for any real use, and at that the Nightrider moves are still more important. The X5 moves aren't just hard to defend against, but they're also hard to set up to aim; they're generally more useful for getting to the scene of action than for the action itself. So, both the Midnighter and the Messagerider are really just Nightriders with a little extra -- for crossing the board, the X5 moves are harder to block than the Nightrider moves, since X5 can cross in two steps what the Nightrider crosses in 5.
Actually, I do run along a similar path toward NNZYZYNXNX. The ZYNX is the Courier, because it's fast but stays just off the main roads (as defined by the Bishop and Rook moves). Add a Knight, and you get a Messenger at NZYNX, the rider of which is of course a Messagerider (alternately called Pony Express), as either NNZYNX (on smaller boards) or NNZYZYNXNX (on larger boards).
I still need to update those pieces' bases, but once I've done that I may share them as well.
As far as usefulness, I'd call 16x16 the minimum for any real use, and at that the Nightrider moves are still more important. The X5 moves aren't just hard to defend against, but they're also hard to set up to aim; they're generally more useful for getting to the scene of action than for the action itself. So, both the Midnighter and the Messagerider are really just Nightriders with a little extra -- for crossing the board, the X5 moves are harder to block than the Nightrider moves, since X5 can cross in two steps what the Nightrider crosses in 5.