PASGL 312 Notation
A Way to Represent PASGL 312 Board Positions
By John Lawson
Introduction
While preparing for a game of PASGL 312 to be played via email, I developed a way to represent the board position with an ASCII diagram. Because the number of things going on in PASGL 312 can be complex, I considered the use of a diagram as a supplement to the customary move list to be advisable. It would allow players to identify misunderstandings and errors in position immediately, and thereby avoid spoiling the game. I assume you have read the PASGL 312 page.The major challenges to any attempt to diagram a PASGL 312 position are: multiple occupancy squares; recording stinkiness; knowing which pieces still have their lunch; keeping track of the train; and reporting the score.
Piece symbols
White critters
B - Bear
H - Hunter
D - Deer
F - Fox
W - Woodchuck
S - Skunk
T - Turkey
M - Chipmunk
P - ShrewBlack critters
b - Bear
h - Hunter
d - Deer
f - Fox
w - Woodchuck
s - Skunk
t - Turkey
m - Chipmunk
p - ShrewOther piece symbols
X - Train
Special Notations
Multiple occupancy squares - occupants are listed on the three lines of the diagram square. There is room for nine in each square of the diagram.Train and passengers - the train is denoted by a pair of X's on the middle line of a track square. Pieces riding the Train are listed on the first and third lines. There is room for six, but more may be jammed in by omitting spaces, since no critters on the Train will be either lunchless or stinky. When a Train leaves a terminal all of the critters riding are left off, and all of the boarding critters join the Train as it leaves the terminal.
Lunchless - critters that have lost their lunch have their symbols preceded by a minus sign "-".
Stinky - critters that are stinky have their symbols preceded by an asterisk "*".
Example -
+------+ | -W F | | | | *d t | +------+This square contains:White lunchless Woodchuck
White Fox
Black stinky Deer
Black Turkey
Notating Moves
When recording a move, first specify the critter's letter abbreviation, the from-square and the to-square. Follow this with the symbol for any special interaction and the square of the victim(s). There may additional information required as well.Bear displacement: include the destination squares of any displaced critters. Show squished Shrews and critters forced under the wheels of the Train as captures with a "_".
1. Be4e5_P,fe4_,Wd4,Td4,wd4_
Hunter shooting: use the capture symbol ":" and the target square.
1. He4e5 for a move, or 2. He4:De7 for a shot
Deer stealing lunch: use the lunch-stealing symbol "-" and specify the piece.
1. Df1d5-F for stealing lunch 2. Df1d5:S-F if a Shrew were also squashed
Fox devouring: use the capture symbol ":" and specify the piece. For stealing lunch, use the lunch-stealing symbol "-" and specify the piece.
1. Fc1b4:-W for devouring a lunchless Woodchuck 2. Fc1b4-W for stealing the Woodchuck's lunch
Woodchuck chucking wood: use the chucking wood symbol "^" and specified the struck square and critter.
1. Wg6^d4-H Woodchuck on g6 chucks a billet at the
Hunter on d4, which drops its lunch.
Skunk spraying: use the spraying symbol '*' and specify the stinky pieces. Each of these pieces will be marked with a "*" until they move. Since the Skunk only sprays defensively it must be expressed are part of an offensive move against a Skunk.
2. Wg6^d4-S*De4,We5,Te4 Woodchuck on g6 chucks a billet at the Skunk
on d4, which drops its lunch and sprays a
Deer and Turkey on e4 and a Woodchuck on e5.
Train
Although there is a train schedule, it will be less confusing to record the train's move every turn. In the train column of the move list, record the Train as moving to the first of its two squares. So a train on g4,h4 moving to f4,g4 and carrying a White Turkey and Black Fox in the first car, and a White Skunk in the second car is recorded:1. Xf4;Tf;SIf the Train squishes a critter, use the squashed symbol "_", thus if the Train also squished a Shrew on the above move it becomes:
2. Xf4_P;Tf;S
Scoring
After the score has been calculated at the end of Blacks turn, enter the cumulative scores in the score column of the move list. A complete move could look like this: White Black Train Score
1. Te3-e4 Be5-e4,Td4 Xd4_T W:15 B:18
Starting Position
z a b c d e f g h x
+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| | | | | | | | |
8 | t | s | f | h | b | d | w | t | 8
| | | | | | | | |
+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| | | | | | | | |
7 | p | p | p | p | p | p | p | p | 7
| | | | | | | | |
+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| | | | | | | | |
6 | | | | | | | | | 6
| | | | | | | | |
+======+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+======+
| | | | | | | | | | |
5 | > > > > > > > > > | 5
| | | | | *|* | | | | |
+--^^--+------+------+------+------*------+------+------+------+--VV--+
| | | | | *|* | | | | |
4 | < < < < < < < < < | 4
| | | | | | | | | | |
+======+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+======+
| | | | | | | | |
3 | | | | | | | | | 3
| | | | | | | | |
+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| | | | | | | | |
2 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | 2
| | | | | | | | |
+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| | | | | | | | |
1 | T | S | F | H | B | D | W | T | 1
| | | | | | | | |
+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
z a b c d e f g h x
White Black Train Score
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Play Aids
CHEAT SHEET
carries steals move to
move size attack lunch lunch occupied score
start
Bear B K large disp yes no yes 5 e1
Hunter H W large ->(R3) yes no no 4 d1
Deer D NN large steal yes yes yes 3 f1
Fox F bWzF3 medium steal/eat yes yes yes 3 c1
Woodchuck W WD medium ->(AG) yes yes no 3 g1
Skunk S R medium stink yes yes yes 2 b1
Turkey T R3 medium none no no yes 2 a1,h1
Chipmunk M F tiny none no no yes 1 none
Shrew P fF tiny none no no yes 0 a2-h2
Train X x4&x5
TRAIN SCHEDULE
location turn
x4,x5 1 21 41... and so on
h4,x4 2 22 42
g4,h4 3 23 43
f4,g4 4 24 44
e4,f4 5 25 45
d4,e4 6 26 46
c4,d4 7 27 47
b4,c4 8 28 48
a4,b4 9 29 49
z4,a4 10 30 50
z5,z4 11 31 51
a5,z5 12 32 52
b5,a5 13 33 53
c5,b5 14 34 54
d5,b5 15 35 55
e5,d5 16 36 56
f5,e5 17 37 57
g5,f5 18 38 58
h5,g5 19 39 59
x5,h5 20 40 60
Playing Over the Board
I also gave some thought to playing over the board, since I personally do not like to study a position on a diagram. I came up with this approach:- I use a chess set small enough to fit four pieces in one square.
- I use red poker chips to track lunch. If a critter loses its lunch, a red poker chip is placed beneath it. The chip is removed when the critter gets a new lunch.
- I use blue poker chips to track stinkiness. When a critter becomes stinky, a blue poker chip is placed beneath it, and removed when the critter moves.
- I put white poker chips under critters waiting for the Train in the Terminal. If a critter stays in the Terminal after debarking, it will not have a chip, and cannot re-embark on the train.
- And of course, I use a cribbage board to track the score.
Written by John Lawson.
WWW page created: July 23rd, 2002