Bob Greenwade wrote on Tue, Dec 19, 2023 04:24 PM UTC:
154. Arabian Spear. Most of the time, if you see this piece, it's called "Arabic Spear" or just "Spear"; technically, though, "Arabian" is the proper form of the former, and (at least for me) a linguistic modifier is needed to distinguish it from other types of Spear.
Essentially, a Spear is a "Pawnrider," sliding in a way that a pawn moves just one space. This means that most variant types of Pawn can be converted into a Spear; the Arabian Spear is the version of the orthodox Pawn (what I like to call a Standard Pawn). That is, it moves without capture straight ahead like a Rook (instead of a Wazir), or captures by sliding diagonally forward like a Bishop (instead of a Ferz). (mfRcfB)
This also means that there is no "initial bonus move" for a Spear, as there is with most Pawns, so Pawn types that change that move (such as the Mongolian Pawn or Weak Pawn) don't have a Spear counterpart. However, Spears do (typically) promote like Pawns.
As I look at this now, I'm reminded of an issue I had with that tip while testing it in my slicer, and I think this may need reworking. The solution that comes to mind is to simply eliminate the shaft and let the spear end take up the entire height. That would affect all of the other Spears in my collection, though.
154. Arabian Spear. Most of the time, if you see this piece, it's called "Arabic Spear" or just "Spear"; technically, though, "Arabian" is the proper form of the former, and (at least for me) a linguistic modifier is needed to distinguish it from other types of Spear.
Essentially, a Spear is a "Pawnrider," sliding in a way that a pawn moves just one space. This means that most variant types of Pawn can be converted into a Spear; the Arabian Spear is the version of the orthodox Pawn (what I like to call a Standard Pawn). That is, it moves without capture straight ahead like a Rook (instead of a Wazir), or captures by sliding diagonally forward like a Bishop (instead of a Ferz). (mfRcfB)
This also means that there is no "initial bonus move" for a Spear, as there is with most Pawns, so Pawn types that change that move (such as the Mongolian Pawn or Weak Pawn) don't have a Spear counterpart. However, Spears do (typically) promote like Pawns.
As I look at this now, I'm reminded of an issue I had with that tip while testing it in my slicer, and I think this may need reworking. The solution that comes to mind is to simply eliminate the shaft and let the spear end take up the entire height. That would affect all of the other Spears in my collection, though.