Game Reviews (and other rated comments on Game pages)
Latrunculi XXI. A 21st century variant on an ancient Chess-like game of the Roman empire. (10x8, Cells: 80) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]This 2 piece type variant seems rather simple, deceptively so, and yet there is so much room for strategy and tactics.
Lemurian Shatranj. 8x8 variant that features short-range pieces. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Some cool Shatranj style pieces here, on the classic 8x8 board.
Los Alamos variant. Chess on a 6 by 6 board from the early days of computing. (6x6, Cells: 36) (Recognized!)[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]It's surprising how much action can be squeezed in on such a small board variant.
Macrochess. Missing description (12x12, Cells: 144) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A variant that well serves the inventor's aim of a western chess style version of Chu Shogi.
Maxima. Maxima is an interesting and exiting variant of Ultima, with new elements that make Maxima more clear and dynamic. (Cells: 76) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]This cool variant plays well once one gets used to it.
Millennium 3D Chess (tm) 
. (Link.).[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]I wish I still had the old 3D set I had long ago that would have allowed me to play this variant over-the-board. Before my old set broke when packing it, I had no rules for playing it!
Mini Thunder Chess. A small-scale hybrid of Metamorph Chess, Fusion Chess, and Assimilation Chess. (6x7, Cells: 42) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A cool variant with the sort of themes Fergus has used in several of his variants.
Modern Chess. Variant on a 9 by 9 board with piece that combines bishop and knight moves. (9x9, Cells: 81) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Interesting use of the BN piece type combo in a variant.
Omega Chess. Rules for commercial chess variant on board with 104 squares. (12x12, Cells: 104) (Recognized!)[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Interesting extra pieces and pawn movement rules here.
Opulent Lemurian Shatranj. Joe Joyce's Shaman and Hero pieces are now on a larger board. (10x10, Cells: 100) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A fine 10x10 Shatranj style variant to add to the others on CVP.
Opulent Chess. A derivative of Grand Chess with additional jumping pieces (Lion and Wizard). (10x10, Cells: 100) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Some pretty strong and interesting pieces in this variant, which helps on its large board.
edit: Here's 2 large CVs that also use wizards:
Perfect 12. 36 pieces per player on 12 by 12 board. (12x12, Cells: 144) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]I generally like variants that have themes of some sort. This one also is a 12x12 variant, with a lot of pieces, that still seems quite playable.
Pocket Polypiece Chess 43. Game with off-board pocket where all pieces of a type change when one piece of a type is moved normally. (7x6, Cells: 43) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A really cool looking variant. I'm rather surprised it's been so little played on Game Courier thus far.
Renniassance Chess. With 68 pieces on board of 12 by 12. (12x10, Cells: 120) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A massive variant with lots of strong pieces. Maybe not as easy to play as any number of large board variants, but it leaves an impression when you first see it.
Rococo. A clear, aggressive Ultima variant on a 10x10 ring board. (10x10, Cells: 100) (Recognized!)[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A cool variant that may take some time to be at ease with, but it looks worth it.
Samarcanda. Variant of Mideast Chess with Crooked Bishops. (10x10, Cells: 100) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Interesting large board variant, with a number of classic fairy piece types.
Secutor Chess. Introducing the Secutor piece, and new collision-capture, on a Gustavian board (zrf available).[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Interesting variant that stars the secutor piece type, and the Gustavian board (i.e. extra corner squares). Seems to deserve to be played more often on Game Courier. I'd estimate the Secutor to be worth about a Chinese Cannon - so about half a chess rook, or 5.5/2=2.75.
Shako. Cannons and elephants are added in variant on 10 by 10 board. (10x10, Cells: 100) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]A lovely use of cannons and modern elephants, on a 10x10 board. I'd note that since defending each side's edge pawns can be an issue at times (as can be the development of either elephant), that alone seems to slightly inhibit the players from emulating many standard chess openings beyond a certain depth, but this is apparently very common for chess variants.
I'd tentatively estimate the piece values (on this game's 10x10 board) as follows: P=1; E=2.75; C=2.75(but 3.5 before endgame); N=3; B=3.5; R=5.5; Q=10; K's fighting value=2.5.
Here's 2 large CVs that also use cannons in the corners:
Shatar. Mongolian chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]An interesting regional variant with some rules about checking the king that make winning a bit more challenging at times.
Storm the Ivory Tower. A Smess adaptation of Chinese Chess. (9x10, Cells: 90) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]This is a great extension of the Smess idea!
Symmetric Sissa. Variant on 9 by 9 board with symmetric setup and two Sissa's (generalized Knight-like sliders). (9x9, Cells: 81) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]I like that there are two Sissa pieces per side, reducing the chance there'll be zero of them left not long after the game starts, before an interesting struggle involving one or more of them can really begin.
Tamerlane II. Modern variant based upon ancient large chess variant. (11x11, Cells: 121) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]If you're into quirky variants, you'll love this one. Just get a load of the ship piece type, for instance.
Templar Chess. Features the unorthodox Templar on a board with eight extra squares. (8x10, Cells: 72) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Kind of an interesting variant, with the additional piece type and odd board shape.
Tepuy. A territorial game, with unique setup, movement and capturing. (9x9, Cells: 81) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]An interesting game that reminds me a bit of Amazons, perhaps even more complex.
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Another cool concept by Fergus, this time in the field of shogi variants.