Bob Greenwade wrote on Sat, Sep 30, 2023 04:20 PM UTC:
75. Ancress. and 76. Metropolitan. These are a couple of pre-existing pieces, both from Charles Gilman's Conclave Ecumenical Chess. I think they're worth looking at, especially for large variants (12x12 and larger).
The Ancress is a combination of the Rhinoceros (sometimes also called the Anchorite) and the Rook. As a Rhinoceros, it can move one space orthogonally, and then proceed from that point diagonally like a Bishop.
The Metropolitan is a combination of the Gryphon and Bishop. As a Gryphon, it can move one space diagonally, and then proceed from that point orthogonally like a Rook.
Each has both orthogonal and diagonal slides, yielding Queen-like properties without actually duplicating the Queen; while arguably more powerful than the Queen, each has something it cannot do that the Queen can (direct diagonal or orthogonal moves, respectively).
Aside from any concern about the Metropolitan's shape making it difficult to grip, I'm actually quite pleased with how these two came out. Both would be fairly distinctive on a chessboard.
75. Ancress. and 76. Metropolitan. These are a couple of pre-existing pieces, both from Charles Gilman's Conclave Ecumenical Chess. I think they're worth looking at, especially for large variants (12x12 and larger).
The Ancress is a combination of the Rhinoceros (sometimes also called the Anchorite) and the Rook. As a Rhinoceros, it can move one space orthogonally, and then proceed from that point diagonally like a Bishop.
The Metropolitan is a combination of the Gryphon and Bishop. As a Gryphon, it can move one space diagonally, and then proceed from that point orthogonally like a Rook.
Each has both orthogonal and diagonal slides, yielding Queen-like properties without actually duplicating the Queen; while arguably more powerful than the Queen, each has something it cannot do that the Queen can (direct diagonal or orthogonal moves, respectively).
Aside from any concern about the Metropolitan's shape making it difficult to grip, I'm actually quite pleased with how these two came out. Both would be fairly distinctive on a chessboard.