George Duke wrote on Thu, Oct 2, 2008 11:59 PM UTC:
''Shatranj is a horrible game which drags on forever and ends in Draw 2
out of 3 times,'' says H. G. Muller at ''Camel'' piece definition only today. I agree, though obviously there would even be defenders of
that very old style 8x8. (Do not forget GM Kramnik dramatically playing similar Makruk, that most of us would characterize like Muller does Shatranj, for all Makruk's historical content.) Likers of Shogi would tolerate Shatranj more than
others, both being slow games. Usually, stronger pieces lead to
designer's enhancing Pawns, from Morrison's Big Battle to Macdonald's Omega.
OrthoChess was no exception. Besides speeding up the game, stronger Bishop
and Queen meant instinctively they had immediately to strengthen Pawn too.
For NextChess topic here, Hutnik is saying to think of what would appeal to
OrthoChess regulars, who rule the world of Chess, and might even convince
some of them. Unanalyzed-lately Eurasian, the third entry, is almost unique in balancing
logical Cannon hopper with Canon hopper, called Arrow there. Important
leapers beyond Knight number only Camel, Zebra, Trebouchet, and Tripper.
What others are there to consider? So, either hoppers or bifurcation
pieces may be more promising for Next Chesses track one. Anyway, Duniho once singled out
Eurasian as it were Track One after ''NextChess,'' rather than Track Two (such as Rococo, Philosophers, Altair).