Comments/Ratings for a Single Item

Unlike in Part 1 the pieces are described in a strange, LISP-like format. Is this ZoG code? I doubt it is a good idea to write articles in a programming language, rather than plain English... Programming languages are for running them in a computer, possibly after downloading. It seems to me the article should be accompanied by some 'viewer software' (e.g. in JavaScript) to present it to the user in a more digestible format. (E.g. calling up a description by clicking on the piece in the main image, or selecting a name from a pull-down menu with only names in alphabetical order.)

Also, 'Volume' is usually a courser subdivision than 'part'. Sub-divisions of 'parts' are usually called 'chapters' or 'sections'.

There will be a zrf for this release, which i'll link on this page. At the top of the page. The screenshot shows all the pieces, (as they are on the zrf) the zrf has 'variants' with only King and pawns so people can add the pieces to click on them to see how they move. This zrf is done already so it will be up here very soon.

I like the way it is presented, with the zog code. I don't find it that 'strange'. I really like it actually.

I don't mind the name too, 'Fairy Pieces Part 2 Volume 1'. Looking on google, it says about the word volume -- 'a book forming part of a work or series'.

Anyways, I'm very happy with it, can you please allow it!!.

Fairy Chess Part 1 does have a bit of code, true, not as much as this one, but please H. G., it's how I want to express myself, please please please please please :)

Alright, I've changed the title to 'Fairy Pieces Part 2', future releases can just go 'part 3' and 'part 4' etc.

I'll look at the way it is written later, the 'strange code' thing, but I don't really see it as that codey really, it is pretty easy to read.

Oh, i see it still as 'fairy pieces part 2 volume 1' in the ITEM ID but I cannot seem to change that myself, otherwise it is showing as 'Fairy Pieces Part 2'.

Alright, I think it looks great. Yes there are some '\' like this, but they are really required unless I do a space between most of them, which would be too much and looking confusing, and long, because when giving info on a piece, I may talk about something for a few lines, then i go to an entire new comment, different game or what not, a different reference. They are indeed in 'Fairy Chess Part 1' and people praised that release and no one said anything about it for 12 years lol, so, I hope it's all good!!

I said at the top of this page now that I'll have the zrf for this game within 2 weeks so people can easily see 'first hand' how the pieces move.

I have removed all code formatting from this page. It should at least be readable now.

Wow, thanks so much A.M.DeWitt, you are a hero!!

I've just looked at the zrf, it should be ready like, in a couple of days actually, hope it isn't too big lol, but I think it will be fine, there are 158 piece graphics, oh, double that I guess, but Fairy Pieces Part 1 had just about the same.

Anyways, thanks so much, I just am exhausted with this, I've worked on it for so long with research and making graphics, I can hardly 'touch it' anymore.

The ZRF I don't care too much about. What is important is that the article is at least somewhat readable now.

Also, some more useful advice for your future posts. Keep the scope of your project manageable. That is, don't bite off more than you can chew. If I would have done this same thing, I would have split it into two or more parts to keep the size of the piece list manageable.

[Edit] I have upgraded this page to Members-Only, so other members besides you and us Editors can see it.

Yes thanks again, I no doubt will not be making anything this big ever again, lol, 'Fairy Pieces Part 3' and 'Fairy Pieces Part 4' etc will be MUCH smaller.

'Fairy Pieces Part 3' and 'Fairy Pieces Part 4' etc will be MUCH smaller.

No doubt it's better to keep posts smaller when possible.

P.S. You can write blocks of code into your pages if they actually do something useful. The most common and useful of these on the site is probably the Interactive Diagram. This thing is awesome. It is way more flexible than Zillions of Games and is relatively easy to learn, at the expense of having a weak AI. Also, H. G. Muller will be happy to help you with any issues you have relating to the Interactive Diagram, since he made the underlying script.

P.S.S. If you do decide to use the Interactive Diagram, you will need to lean HTML in order to properly embed one in your pages.

P.S.S. If you do decide to use the Interactive Diagram, you will need to lean HTML in order to properly embed one in your pages.

That isn't really necessary. The editors in the article-submission page can be switched to WYSIWYG mode. You can type your text there, and then swicth them back to 'Source Code' to get the corresponding HTML. Only in the section that will contain the Diagram you cannot do that. But the Setup section doesn't have to contain anything other than a Diagram. So you can always leave the edit window for that in HTML mode, and just paste the HTML code for an Interactive Diagram there that you obtained from the Play-Test Applet.

The PTA can also supply you with a nice table (with piece images) for pasting in the Pieces section in Source-Code mode. That you can switch safely to WYSIWIG, for editing the descriptions.

Thanks H. G. Muller and A. M. DeWitt, for all your advice and help, not just to me, also for all the help you give to others too and this community and site.

I'm not sure, but I think some of the "gameless" pieces on your list could be found in Short Sliders (and the Leapers Who Love Them).

P.S.S. If you do decide to use the Interactive Diagram, you will need to lean HTML in order to properly embed one in your pages.

That isn't really necessary.

It is the method that works best for me when embedding Interactive Diagrams on my pages, since if I use WYSIWYG (or another format for that matter) for the default format the Diagram gets mauled. Though you can just switch Source on and off for the other ones, as you said.

@Christine I guess for best results you should use HTML as the default format (the field at the top of the Edit Submission dialogue that lists the different formats), and then turn off Source for all the non-Diagram-housing sections.

I do have like 3 games to put up soon, so I'll check out the the HTML format, thanks A.M.DeWitt.

Bob Greenwade, thanks, I'll super check that game, but, I have had a look at it because I remember I have referenced that game, it must be for a piece that will be in Part 3. You can't forget that name for a game lol.

There isn't too many pieces that I have given no game's for, so I can't wait to look at this super close hehe, thanks, let you know.

Alfilrider{AA} appeared in Skip Chess, Universal Chess, UC-170-13, UC-170-17.

Alfilrider-Fers{FAA} appeared in Major Star, Major Star-rider.

Alibaba{S} appeared in 4 Kings Quasi-Shatranj, Alibaba Chess, Fantasy Grand Chess: Giant Army, Interdependent Chess, Leap Chess, Modern Courier Chess, The Pattern Game, Shatranj al-Sultan, Pocket Polypiece Chess 43, Universal Chess, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Dealer's Chess, Convoi exceptionnel II, Convoi exceptionnel III, Play against Popo, Trifecta.

Alibabarider{SS} appeared in Skip Chess.

Auroch{NFX} appeared in Dealer's Chess, Zwangkrieg.

Barc{fsbN} appeared in UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Crab Chess.

Carpenter{DN} appeared in Augmented Chess, Augmented Knight, Asymmetric Augmented Knight, Bakery Bombers, Rose Chess XII, Knavish Chess, Avon, Diamond Ring Fusion, Kyoomagi, Arena Cheturshogqi, Beautiful Beasts, Platonic Chess, Uneven pieces chess, Short Sliders.

Champion{WS} appeared in Omega Chess Advanced, Apothecary Chess-Modern, Grand Apothecary Chess-Modern, Gross Chess, Parity Chess, SOHO Chess, TenCubed Chess, WAD Chess, Wide Nightrider Chess, Wide SOHO Chess, Wormhole Chess, Mĕirìqí, Yangsi, Hectochess, Omega Chess Extended, Omega Chess Semi-Advanced, Omega Chess Extreme.

Crab{fbsN) appeared in Amazon Army II, DemiChess, Half Chess, Halfgi, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Shatranj With Different Armies, Aquachess, Crab Chess.

Dabbaba-Wazir-Fers{DK} appeared in Chess++, Cobwebs, Kjempe Chess (before the revision).

Dabbabarider{DD} appeared in Skip Chess, Universal Chess, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, XChess.
Problems with Dabbabarider:
-Nils Adrian Bakke
153 feenschach 36, p. 374, 11-12/1976
-Theodor Steudel
63 feenschach 162, p. 217, 12/2005

Dabbabarider-Wazir{WDD} appeared in Golden Age Chess On a Really Big Board, Traffic Calmed Borders.

Duck{FDD} appeared in Scheherazade, Colorbound Chess, Major Star, Major Star-rider.

Duke{FD} appeared in Sai Squad, Grand Betza, Short Sliders, Zwangkrieg, Uneven pieces chess, Patchanka, Constabulary Chess, Constable-Spiel, Med Chess, Accelerated Constable-Spiel, Accelerated Constabulary Chess, Futashikana Shogi, Ryugi, Mosaic Chess, Chu Seireigi, Minjiku Shogi, Tengu Dai Shogi, Chu Kagamigi, 4 Kings Quasi-Shatranj, Dai Seireigi, Nutty Shogi, Macadamia Shogi, Kirin-Spiel, Mitsugumi Shogi, Kuuzen Dai Shogi, Cashew Shogi, Bureau-Spiel, Silly Sliders, Universal Chess, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Dealer's Chess, Weirweb, Crow chess cheap copy.

Ferfil{FA} appeared in 3D Great Shatranj, 4 Kings Quasi-Shatranj, Champagne Chess, Courier Chess (modified), Enhanced Courier Chess, Fearful Fairies, Hannibal Chess, HyperModern Shatranj, Maasai Chess, Metamachy, Mir Chess, Teramachy, Universal Chess, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Constabulary Chess, Constable-Spiel, Bureau-Spiel, Simi Grove, Simi River, Wukong.

General{LK} appeared in UC-170-13, UC-170-17.

Giraffe{FX} appeared in UC-170-13, UC-170-17, GraTiA, WILDEURASIAN BESTIARY.

Griffon{FyafsF} appeared in Apothecary Chess-Modern, Europan Chess, Ganymede Chess, Grand Apothecary Chess-Classic, Grand Apothecary Chess-Modern, IO Chess, Mosaic Chess, Tigrey, Gryphon Aanca Chess, Frog/Hannibal/Waffle chess with Gryphon, 4 Linepiece Fusion, Expanded Chess, Royal Lion Chess, Abecedarian Big Chess, Universal Chess, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Dealer's Chess, 15 Random Bent Riders Chess.

Impala{NYN} appeared in Dealer's Chess.
Christopher John Feather
7 Fairings 14 01/2011 features Impala.

Knight-Alfil-Wazir{NAW} appeared in Scheherazade, Strategists' nightmare.

Knight-Dabbaba-Fers{NDF} appeared  in Strategists' nightmare.

Mao-Bishop{BafsW} appeared in Paradigm Chess30.

Squirrel{SN} appeared in ArchCourier Chess, Archchess, Carrousel Chess, Courier Chess (modified), Fantasy Grand Chess: Giant Army, Grand Ducal Chess, Renniassance Chess, Samarcanda, Trophy Hunt, Alibaba Chess, Timurid, Fantastic XIII, Obento Chess, Cincinnati 4-way Chess, Heavy Shako, Bigorra, Archabbott Chess, Timurid Babur, Chess Empire, UC-170-13, UC-170-17, Dealer's Chess, Strategists' nightmare.

Toad{DH} appeared in Chaturanga with minor changes.

Zurafa{afsafyafF} appeared in CCChess Final Fight, CCC - The Clash of Civilizations Chess.

HaruN Y, thanks so much for the info. You have indeed listed pieces I couldn't find games for, I'll have to add here and then add to the zrf which is ready to upload, well, it was ready, before you posted, lol. I still need also to check the info Bob Greenwade gave me the other day too, just been unexpectedly busy last few days.

HaruN Y, with your games you listed, I think a couple of them I couldn't find, anyways, I'll check it all out more deeply and if I have any questions, which I will, I'll ask you, thanks again to you both.

Great that this piece of work is finally out! I have waited for it for more than a decade ...

There is a small question: Why did you rename the "Teutonic Knight" to "Eutonic Knight"? Is there a specific reason for that, or is it a typo (typical cut-and-paste error)?

There is a questionmark on the date of the "Seeping Switchers" army. It was posted here as a web page on 7 January 2002, but I developed it earlier in 2001 in the old comment systems of this site, so the date should be 2001.

PS: Originally, the army was named "Sweeping Switchers" but due to a typographical error that I didn't spot in the correction cycle it became "Seeping Switchers".

Jörg Knappen, hi, thanks for your info.

Alright, I'll put the date 2001 to "Seeping Switchers" army, and omg, I'm so sorry for the "Teutonic Knight" error, not sure how that happened!!

I'll do a 'major' update soon and fix it all up!!

On Kaiserspiel (Emperor's game), Sultanspiel (Sultan's game), Peguilhen and L. Tressan:

Kaiserspiel was clearly described in 1819 and attributed to some Peguilhen. It contains the Amazon (named Feldherr in original German, English translations include General and Commander. Probably the more clumsy "Commander in Chief" is a better translation. It also contains the Bishop-Knight piece under the name Adjutant. L. Tressan republished this game with slight amendments but did not change the pieces and their names. The addition of the Rook-Knight piece named Admiral than was pondered, but discarded because of the unusual board size needed (11x11)

Sultanspiel (Sultan's game) was first published by L. Tressan in 1840 and it contains the Rook-Knight piece in addition to the pieces known from Kaiserspiel. The piece is named Marschall (Marshal) there.

Now to the more difficult part: Virtually nothing is known about the person L. Tressan. It appears in a Chess book bibliography by Oettinger under the name "Ludwig Tressau", but I think that the given name is just an extrapolation from the initial by the bibliographer, and that the last letter is plain wrong, it should be an n, not a u (from inspecting the title page of the scanned book, I read clearly a Fraktur n at the end of the name; Google also reads L. Tressan). We do not even know if L. Tressan was male or female, their consistent hiding behind an abbreviation makes me think of a woman named Louise or Luise.

Suggestions for edits:

Correct all appearances of Ludwig Tressan to L. Tressan; try to avoid pronouns for L. Tressan (repeat the name, use the article "the" in place of "his", or use singular they)

Disentagle Emperor's Game (attributed to Peguilhen, ca. 1815) and Sultan's game (attributed to L. Tressan, 1840).

In the description of Marshall, you can add at your discretion the factoid that Peguilhen (1815) pondered about a game including this piece under the name "Admiral" but discarded that idea.

P.S. You may find the following article, also including Hyderabad Decimal Chess, interesting: https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/bgs-2022-0017 (The author, Georgi Markov, goes for Ludwig Tressau what I consider an error be Oettinger)

You were looking for games with the Dabbaba-Ferz compound piece. The tag #Piece:Kirin lists currently four games here:

Grand Betza by John Davis, name: Kylin

Sai Squad by Jörg Knappen, name: Diamond

Short Sliders and Zwangskrieg by Bob Greenwade, name: Kirin

The names Kirin (a different transcription of Kylin) should also by mentioned.

I used a piece with the FD move in Megalomachy, under the name Spearman. It has the special property there that the 'flying pieces' (a special kind of multi-hoppers) that are also in that variant cannot hop over it. It is of course a matter of taste whether to consider this a special property of the Spearman or of these flying pieces, and in the absence of flying pieces it would just be a normal Kirin.

The names Kirin and Kylin are of course both western spellings of the same Japanese word, the Japanese not being able to hear the difference between L and R, and randomly mixing those up in pronunciation.

Next: The Prince piece. Do you remember our long discussion here:

https://www.chessvariants.com/index/listcomments.php?itemid=MSconcise-guide-to-chess-variants&order=DESC

?

Jeremy Lennert came up with the name Dullahan in 2012, and it is featured under this name in my Fearful Fairies. Dullahan and Banshee are a perfect male/female pair of pieces (males are short range, females are sliders; inspired by Kind and Queen)

The last comment for today:

Since the Vulture is featured here, the related and simpler pieces Biok and Roshop (V. R. Parton, Chess Curiouser & Curiouser, 1961) should be added here. Alternatively, the Vulture can be postponed to a part where Biok and Roshop are featured.

Biok moves as Bishop, captures as Rook. Appears in "Enlarged and Improved Chess" (1969) as Ensign (original German: Fähnrich).

Roshop moves as Rook, captures as Bishop. Appears in "Enlarged and Improved Chess" (1969) as Guard (original German: Trabant)