Vitya Makov wrote on Wed, Sep 16, 2009 09:35 AM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
It is good variant. So good that I choose to play it at Swiss Hippo
Tournament #2. http://swisshippo.blogspot.com/
It looks aesthetically nice.
Chariot, cannon, knight and pawn are stronger than in Xiang Qi. Chariot in
the center of the board controls 26 hexes (1\3 of the board!). To make
defensive pieces stronger, I offer three ideas.
1) Elephant-move. Elephant moves like Hex Bishop just limited with the
river. Can enter the palace. Or more conservative: Elephant can move one or
two spaces diagonally.
2) Advisor (mandarin) move. Advisor moves orthogonally, not diagonally.
3) General move. General moves orthogonally and diagonally, so like a
king.
I like first and third. Maybe this ideas can be used in Xiang Hex 2
(modern variation)... I will think about it! I don't want to change this
game, till somebody doesn't show path to forced win. Just to offer another
variant... I'd prefer to play with stronger Elephants.