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This page is written by the game's inventor, Peter Hatch.

The Druid

The Druid Army has only one piece of each type. The pawns were created by taking the 16 possible combinations of Ferz, Wazir, Alfil, and Dabaaba move and capture, and getting rid of the Alfil and Dabaaba, and the ones with move and capture that went the same directions with different lengths. Those that have a two-square move or capture were given a feline name, the others were given a canine name. The Rook, Knight, and Bishop are replaced with one identical piece and another piece of roughly the same value with a similar feel. Each of those pieces is used in one combination piece to get the replacement pieces for the Queen, Marshall, and Cardinal.

Starting setup

The starting setup for black is the mirror image of that for white.

    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  3 | Fo| J | Co| L | Pu| Ch| T | W | Pa| D |
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  2 | B | H | Ea| R | K | U | Pe| Fa| S |   |
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  1 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | El|
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
      a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j

Piece Listings

Each piece is listed with its abbreviation in parentheses after its name, followed by the notation for its move in Ralph Betza's notation in brackets, if its move can be expressed in that notation.

Fox (Fo) [F]

The Fox moves one square diagonally.

Dog (D) [W]

The Dog moves one square orthogonally.

Jaguar (J) [mAcW]

The Jaguar either jumps two squares diagonally without capturing or moves one square orthogonally to capture.

Panther (Pa) [mDcF]

The Panther either jumps two squares orthogonally without capturing or moves one square diagonally to capture.

Coyote (Co) [mFcW]

The Coyote moves either one square diagonally without capturing or one square orthogonally to capture.

Wolf (W) [mWcF]

The Wolf moves either one square orthogonally without capturing or one square diagonally to capture.

Lion (L) [mFcD]

The Lion either moves one square diagonally without capturing or jumps two squares orthogonally to capture.

Tiger (T) [mWcA]

The Tiger either moves one square orthogonally without capturing or jumps two squares diagonally to capture.

Puma (Pu) [mDcA]

The Puma jumps either two squares orthogonally without capturing or two squares diagonally to capture.

Cheetah (Ch) [mAcD]

The Cheetah jumps either two squares diagonally without capturing or two squares orthogonally to capture.

Bear (B) [R4F]

The Bear moves either up to four squares orthogonally or one square diagonally.

Elephant (El) [R]

The Elephant moves like a Rook.

Horse (H) [N]

The Horse moves like a Knight.

Stag (S) [WH]

The Stag either moves one square orthogonally or jumps three squares orthogonally.

Eagle (Ea)

The Eagle either moves two or more squares diagonally or jumps two squares orthogonally.

Falcon (Fa) [B]

The Falcon moves like a Bishop.

Pegasus (Pe)

The Pegasus has the combined moves of an Eagle and a Stag.

Roc (R) [Q]

The Roc moves like a Queen.

Unicorn (U) [R4FN]

The Unicorn has the combined moves of a Knight and a Bear.

Druid (K) [K]

The Druid is identical to a King in standard Chess, except that it may not castle.


Written by Peter Hatch.
WWW page created: November 26, 2000.