I have never used morphing, though I assume it involves changing the type of a piece. What you are suggesting strikes me as no less of a kludge than what has already been done, as each solution handles movement in a way that is not strictly in alignment with the rules. If this were done strictly by the rules, the Numskull would have the same definition in this game as in Smess, and the identity of a piece would remain the same everywhere on the board. If there were a way to define space properties, it could be done strictly by the rules. One way to simulate board properties might be to have an invisible layer with stationary pieces that affect the directions the mobile pieces on the visible board can move. Another alternative would be to surround each space with eight other spaces for each possible direction, put an invisible stationary piece in any direction movement is not allowed, and require each move to go over its closest neighbor in whichever direction it moves. While piece movement would not be in strict conformity with the rules, this would at least separate the piece definition from the particulars of the terrain and avoid the expediency of changing the type of a piece.
I have never used morphing, though I assume it involves changing the type of a piece. What you are suggesting strikes me as no less of a kludge than what has already been done, as each solution handles movement in a way that is not strictly in alignment with the rules. If this were done strictly by the rules, the Numskull would have the same definition in this game as in Smess, and the identity of a piece would remain the same everywhere on the board. If there were a way to define space properties, it could be done strictly by the rules. One way to simulate board properties might be to have an invisible layer with stationary pieces that affect the directions the mobile pieces on the visible board can move. Another alternative would be to surround each space with eight other spaces for each possible direction, put an invisible stationary piece in any direction movement is not allowed, and require each move to go over its closest neighbor in whichever direction it moves. While piece movement would not be in strict conformity with the rules, this would at least separate the piece definition from the particulars of the terrain and avoid the expediency of changing the type of a piece.