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Navia Dratp. An upcoming commercial chess variant with collectible, tradable pieces. (7x7, Cells: 49) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

Gary Gifford wrote on Fri, Jan 27, 2006 05:55 AM UTC:

Regarding the 'booster pack' concept. As Michael stated, '. . . it means
you don't know what you're buying before you buy it.'
Well, 2 points here: (1) you don't need booster packs.  (2) You can buy
pieces individually. I bought 4 extra pieces to allow for greater game
variety.  I saw them on the internet and knew the exact piece I was
getting.  $1.50 to $2 is not unreasonable to me for these.

In regard to 'fantasy-like piece and action names aestheically
unpleasing, ... ' As well as Mark Thompson's comment, '.. as far as the
aesthetics of the game are concerned, I'm completely with Michael Howe.
The forms of the pieces are repulsive, the bizarre names for everything
(including the game itself) pointlessly ugly.'

Well, we have different tastes.  I find the actual pieces and the many
Japanese or otherwise bizarre sounding names interesting. My family
(fairly mainstream) from the wife, 18 year old, 15, 9, and 6 year old all
like the pieces. The pieces set the mood (the atmosphere) for the game. 
Is Lord Kiggoshi such a terrible name?  Are Rook and Bishop better?  As
Shakespeare wrote, 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.'  

I had my second game of Navia Dratp tonight, again with my 15 year old
son.  I won that game, but only by one tempo.  It was a game with lots of
strategy, and many tactical shots.  It was fun.  

For those who don't like the pieces, I can understand that, as I certainy
had strong dislike for original Smess pieces and the board.  This is
simular situation.  But as I pointed out in an earlier comment, you could
make the ND movement grids, glue the Drapt and non-Dratp sides to checkers
and ignore piece names.  To me that would destroy the atmoshpere of this
game. But you could do it and play the game that way.  And use pennies,
nickles and dimes instead of crystals.  As for me, I do not mind bringing
Lord Kiggoshi or Tiny Kiggoshi onto the battlefield.  Their images and
their names don't bother me in the least... nor do the names and images
of the other characters.

In regard to 'repulsive, bizarre,' to me that seems to fit the
world-wide news far better than it does ND.