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Gary Gifford wrote on Fri, Mar 21, 2008 04:40 PM UTC:
Richard's comments regarding the Chancellor and Archbishop (and hopefully an Amazon) are well-founded. In playing with them on an 8x8 board we introduce a lot of power in a relatively small arena. However, both players will have the same pros and cons, though White's initiative could be expected to go up (but to what extent?). One idea is to have a variation that introduces only one of the above mentioned pieces in a game. Thus, the possibilities of (a) IAGO 8x8 Chancellor Gating, (b) IAGO 8x8 Archbishop Gating, (c) IAGO 8x8 Amazon Gating. Another way to keep power distribution reasonable is Substitution, i.e, remove the Queens and replace with Chancellor, Archbishp, or Amazon.

There are many possibilities... but the idea of having lots of physical pieces to set up CVs seems fantastic to me. I look forward to the day when we could acquire USCF size Ferz, Wazir, Elephants, War Towers (Dabbadahs (sp?)) etc.

An IAGO system 10x10 board and piece set is also something that I look forward to seeing.


David Paulowich wrote on Fri, Mar 21, 2008 10:35 PM UTC:

ADDING LINKS TO QUOTE: 'Another way to keep power distribution reasonable is Substitution, i.e, remove the Queens and replace with Chancellor, Archbishop, or Amazon.'

Doug Vogel once tried placing the standard 32 pieces in the central region of a 12 by 12 board. As long as internet chess is played on virtual boards, we are not limited to conventional sizes (or even shapes). I intend to get around to commenting on that variant one of these days. My own Rose Chess XII represents a similar desire for 'breathing room'.


Rich Hutnik wrote on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 12:03 AM UTC:
I just want to add here that the rules for IAGO Chess are up on the web:
http://abstractgamers.org/wiki/iago-chess

You could definitely do a V-Class (or X-Class to start) version of IAGO
Chess using a 10x10 or a 12x12 board, with all the multiple short range
pieces, and then use gating and drop, or just one, or limit drop to the
start of the game to certain square, and then roll in other possible
pieces.  Shoot, if you don't want to do any drops or gating in your
variant, don't.  Just turn off these options in the B-Class rules.  You
can even change how they work if you like.  Gating and drops are suggested
though.

The B-Class (Basic) and C-Class (Classic) versions start with an 8x8
board, and just the Capablanca pieces, for convention purposes, and
ability to have readily available equipment.  This isn't to say that IAGO
Chess is just limited there.  It is just, we need to do something to at
least get Capablanca pieces available for people to be able to acquire and
use.

Charles Daniel wrote on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 08:07 PM UTC:
Hey Rich, I just want to get an understanding of IAGO chess rules.
Take my game Birds and Ninjas. If I use the main variation and add the piece promotion rule (knights and ninja guards promote to more powerful insane ninja knight on opponents rear squares) and 4 ninja pawn drop rule (side drops special pawn to their rear squares) - does that fulfill class X spec? Since I make the drop count as 1 move, does the drop rule have to be modified to be that when the piece leaves any of the rear two squares the ninja pawn must then occupy the just vacated square?

Are they any other criteria that is not met - or does this game work fine as Class X?

Rich Hutnik wrote on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 11:40 PM UTC:
Charles, thank you for your message.

To have a game be able to go from A-Class into either X-Class or V-Class there is only two things that need to be done:
1. Make sure your game equipment matches up with your rules, and rules match up for equipment. In other words, you want to do promotion, make sure you have the pieces to cover it. Don't have as standard chess does where people need to flip a rook to be a queen, and the rules say nothing on this.
2. Look over the B-Class rules. State which ones you are not going to use, or change, and which you are going to keep. In other words, are you using drops and gating, or just one, or none? If one or the other, are they being redefined? Also, if you are going to mix gating with other moves, or drops, please state that also. It is best to have this in one section of the rules, but isn't that critical also. Just the first immutable rule needs to be done here.

Do these two things, and the game goes into X-Class, and then eventually be a V-Class, once it is shown to be a solid variant. You can even keep your board for the X-Class or V-Class. I would say also, make sure that your game will be ok. The object of the framework is to provide a way to add new pieces later, and be able to catergorize what kind of game it is. All your other rules also would fit in.
If the chessvariant gets integrated more into IAGO and the IAGO World Tour, a lot of the thumbs up designers will end up becoming V-Class rules, rather than X-Class. There isn't much difference here, except one is shown to be established, and the other is experimental.
Please let me know if this cleared up. In one sense, IAGO Chess doesn't say a lot. In another it can be restrictive. Also, I should add that the whole framework needs to be tested out by the community and games played in it. It is up for modifications. What was listed is the starting point of a discussion. I am sure it is going to need a bunch of rewording to, and things crystalize and likely fixing some typos.
What I want people to see is IAGO Chess is meant for a way for people to get integrated into the chess world better, not some sort of thing that keeps you out. It does provide a structure in order to help, but allows freedom to deviate, and gives you a place to land when you do, and still be accepted. It is meant to add greater granularity between the variant and regular gaming worlds, to facilitate growth.
Again, thanks for the message. Oh yes, and review the rules on the site again here: http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSiagochesssyste

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