'A minor question -- if a Crane has not moved, but pecks at a piece
from its starting place, can it still castle? Also, when castling
long, would a piece at b2/8 still block castling?'
If it pecks, can it castle? I have to stop and think a moment, because the
answer goes into rule zero of all rifle chess variants. ... No, that
counts as a move.
Can it castle over blockage? No, castling is special.
Glad you like the game.