David Cannon wrote on Thu, Mar 29, 2007 12:50 PM UTC:
I invented this game a couple of years ago. Now that I'm a bit older and
have had a bit more experience with chess variants of all types, I've
concluded that while the basic concept is good, some of the details are
cumbersome and need to be streamlined. In particular, some of the
multiple combinations (super pieces) are unwieldy. Accordingly, I will be
releasing a streamlined version of the game in the near future.
A sneak preview:
1. Pieces will not only absorb the powers of a captured enemy, but will
will also be able to merge with friendly pieces, subject to certain
restrictions. (I've taken a leaf out of the book of some of Fergus
Duniho's games).
2. The king and queen will be abolished from the initial setup and will be
available only as combined pieces. In their place will stand the wazir and
the ferz. In the present setup, the merger of the queen with any other
piece creates just too formidable a piece which renders the game virtually
unplayable.
3. The stealth bombers will be retained, but the 'super pieces' will be
abolished.
4. The game will run in two 'personalities.' In Personality A, no more
than two pieces will be able to combine at a time. Personality B will
allow for the combination of any number of pieces.
5. The game will be adapted for hexagonal, circular, and three-dimensional
boards, among others.
Stay tuned!