Iss Jetan

ISS JETAN
by L. Lynn Smith


This is a variant of Edgar Rice Burrough's Jetan which attempts to decrease the number of draws, and increase the opportunity of Princess capture and Chief take Chief wins.

Setup

The pieces are arrayed in the following manner:


	[wa][pd][dw][fl][ch][pr][fl][dw][pd][wa]
	[th][pn][pn][pn][pn][pn][pn][pn][pn][th]
	[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]
	[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]
	[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]
	[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]
	[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]
	[  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ][  ]
	[TH][PN][PN][PN][PN][PN][PN][PN][PN][TH]
	[WA][PD][DW][FL][CH][PR][FL][DW][PD][WA]

Pieces

Panthan(PN) steps one cell in any direction except backward orthogonal. This is known as a Free Panthan.

	[x][x][x]
	[x][o][x]
	[x][ ][x]


Thoat(TH) steps one vacant orthogonal cell then one diagonal in any direction. This is known as a Chained Thoat.

	[ ][x][ ][x][ ]
	[x][ ][x][ ][x]
	[ ][x][o][x][ ]
	[x][ ][x][ ][x]
	[ ][x][ ][x][ ]


Warrior(WA) steps exactly two orthogonal cells in any direction. This is known as a Chained Warrior.

	[ ][ ][x][ ][ ]
	[ ][x][ ][x][ ]
	[x][ ][o][ ][x]
	[ ][x][ ][x][ ]
	[ ][ ][x][ ][ ]


Padwar(PD) steps exactly two diagonal cells in any direction. This is known as a Chained Padwar.

	[x][ ][x][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][o][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][x][ ][x]


Dwar(DW) steps exactly three orthogonal cells without reversing any previous direction in the move. This is a restricted form of the Chained Dwar.

	[ ][ ][ ][x][ ][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][x][ ][x][ ][ ]
	[ ][x][ ][ ][ ][x][ ]
	[x][ ][ ][o][ ][ ][x]
	[ ][x][ ][ ][ ][x][ ]
	[ ][ ][x][ ][x][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][ ][x][ ][ ][ ]



Flier(FL) leaps three cells away on the same diagonal pattern. This is a restricted form of the Chained Flier.

	[x][ ][x][ ][x][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][o][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][x][ ][x][ ][x]


Chief(CH) steps exactly three cells directly orthogonal or diagonal. This is known as a Chained Chief.

	[x][ ][ ][x][ ][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][ ][o][ ][ ][x]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[x][ ][ ][x][ ][ ][x]

Princess(PR) leaps to the same positions as the Chief. Once per game, it may leap to any fourth or higher cell which is directly orthogonal or diagonal. This is a Chained Princess with a restricted Chained Escape. The Princess is not permitted to move to an attacked cell.


	[ ][ ][ ][ ][e][ ][ ][ ][ ][e]
	[e][ ][ ][ ][e][ ][ ][ ][e][ ]
	[ ][m][ ][ ][m][ ][ ][m][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[e][m][ ][ ][o][ ][ ][m][e][e]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
	[ ][m][ ][ ][m][ ][ ][m][ ][ ]
	[e][ ][ ][ ][e][ ][ ][ ][e][ ]

	m = normal move; e = escape move

Rules

In this variant the Chief may only be taken by a Chief. Though the other pieces are not permitted to attack the Chief, it is free to attack them.

The game is won by either capturing the Princess with any piece or capturing the Chief with a Chief.

Notes

The primary goal in the development of this variant was to make modifications which did not violate the rules established by ERB.

Though the Dwar and Flier are restricted from reversing directions of previous steps, this does not violate their original description. Only restricts an implied privilege. And though the Flier has a wide footprint, it is still able to reach each cell within its diagonal pattern.

The escape move of the Princess also does not violate its original description. Given that the Princess must move three cells, the restriction from any move shorter during the escape was logical.

The starting setup of the pieces not only allows both Chiefs to exist on the same pattern(assuring potential mutual threats) but is similar to that presented in Chapter XVII of The Chessmen of Mars.

And restricting the actual capture of a Chief to be performed by the other Chief not only fulfils the original endgame condition but also reflects the chivalrous nature of Barsoomian combat. Though the troops might assault an airship or palace, they left the final duel to their leaders.

One further point, the title of this variant was chosen for two reasons. One being that Iss was the River of Mystery which carried the Barsoomians to the Valley of Dor at their time of death, implying the lethal nature of this particular form of play. Another was its sibilant phonetic allusion to a possible question or even declaration.