Games & Wrecreation

score one for the good guys

The DRAGONOPOLIS Games & Wrecreation Center

Welcome to the official DRAGONOPOLIS Games and Wrecreation Center. Okay, so I spelled recreation wrong, but my version seems oddly apropos, so I went with it. Two of the more valuable items available here for free use are the twin, fully functional game boards compliments of the staff, and our way of saying thanks for dropping by. So whether you're a skilled checkers player or a grand champ at chess, don't hesitate to take advantage of this limited time offer. Game pieces sold separately.

If you notice a pair of cats hanging around, who is more appropriate for creating havoc in a wreck center than a couple of feline facilitators? In the meantime, feel free to loiter here, pet one of the kitties, or test your mental agility by tackling one or more of the games to be found here. The new gym room is still under construction and if I have your email address, you'll be notified when the place is finished. Once again, the management apologizes and extends condolences to the family of the weightlifter who broke through the floor and plunged to an untimely and unfortunate demise.

View from our overhead skylight.

L E T T H E G A M E S B E G I N !

A Maze Zinger

Fig. 1.

A Test For Dyslexia.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

C h e c k e r s

Fig. 4.

C h e s s

Fig. 5.

Pet Corner

Fig. 6. Master musician, Max, on the keyboard.

An interesting design that serves no purpose whatsoever.

Fig. 7.

A b s t r a c t A r t
(also serves no purpose whatsoever)

Fig. 8. Original concept art for DRAGONIA

Fig. 9. Title: The Perpetual Storm

On the loose without a leash

Fig. 10. The original Mila monster

R o r s c h a c h T e s t :
What do you see in the clouds?

Fig. 11. There's a chicken in the lower right. I think.

F a v i c o n o p o l y

Fig. 12.

Fig. 13.

Fig. 14.

Fig. 15.

Fig. 16.

Fig. 17.

Fig. 18.

Fig. 19.

Suite of Unsuitable Suits

Fig. 20. This is here mainly because it looks cool.

C h e c k e r s f o r t h e C h o o s e y

The "Big Board" designed for hours of play.

Fig. 21.

The "Quick Board" for those in a hurry.

Fig. 22.

Presenting:
Checkers & Tic, Tac, Toe
All-In-One Game Board
Patent Pending

Fig. 23.

Two Die Four

One die.

Fig. 24.

Two die.

Fig. 25.

Dice.

Fig. 26.

Fig. 27. An interesting design that I just happen to like.

Okay, time to Get Serious!

    Shown below are two, somewhat new versions of a couple of very old games. While chess is perfect in its traditional make-up, its brevity of space forces a certain style of play based upon the size, orientation of the board, and the limited number of squares available. While it is not my intention here to improve on perfection, the additional real estate afforded by what I call "Chess Plus" creates a new and interesting variation on the standard model. An internet search quickly reveals the many different and innovative designs that others have applied to the basic game, each of which no doubt offers its own benefits and drawbacks. In Chess Plus the few but significant changes expand upon the original configuration with the addition of twice the usual number of squares -- increasing the standard eight across to sixteen, then tilting the board at a 45-degree angle. Ramifications of these alterations have yet to be fully explored, but they are visually exciting and appear to offer entire new levels of potential challenges and strategies.

    To the right of Chess Plus is the companion design for Checkers Plus. An increase to the usual number of pieces (per side) from twelve to fifteen is also played on a board that again doubles the field from the standard eight squares to sixteen, and also tilts the basic grid at a 45-degree angle. The games are played either on a full-size square as displayed, or can be cut to a more manageable size as indicated by the diagonal blue lines. Similar to Chess Plus, the large increase both in physical dimensions, the number of squares, and additional playing pieces provides for a longer game that is more stimulating and reduces the stress created by the confined playing fields typical of traditional boards.

    Last of my proposed alterations in gameboard layout and play for both chess and checkers are the Chess and Checkers Plus Diamonds versions. Each involves more or less traditional game stratagems that reverse the somewhat staid grid from horizontal squares to vertical diamonds. The single, most dramatic impact is the initial assignment of all pieces to dark squares (diamonds) which is literally and profoundly a real game-changer. It would be fun to explore what developments and surprises might result from a serious evaluation of these fully playable designs. One of the more interesting (and disconcerting) new features of the Chess Plus Diamonds editions are the seriously increased powers and attributes of both bishops and castles.

    In standard chess, the bishop is the only piece whose diagonal movement is restricted by square color alone. In Chess Plus Diamonds version 1.0 and Chess Plus Diamonds version 2.0, all pieces are assigned to black squares (diamonds) which consequently affects both bishops and castles (rooks) during actual play. In each version, the bishops are no longer confined to a single color diamond and their diagonal movement allows them to stop on either a light diamond (square) or a dark one -- and capture any opponent's piece along an otherwise unobstructed diagonal path. The castle switches roles somewhat with the bishop and is now the piece initially restricted to a single color, which greatly inhibits its previous effectiveness. Those familiar with traditional chess will quickly realize how these alterations in game dynamics grants the bishop a greatly enhanced (and formidable) freedom of board control -- thus eliminating the bishop's aforementioned assignment to a single color square.

    Likewise the addition of one or more new rules compensates for the diminution of the castles' ability to traverse different color squares and capture enemy pieces accordingly. Similar to how pawns can move one space diagonally when capturing an opponent's adjacent piece, a player may choose -- on a onetime basis -- to move (transpose) their castle one space in any direction and land on any available diamond of a different color. In effect, the move allows that castle to control a different color lane and threaten or capture an opposing piece not previously vulnerable to its attack. Castles thus become similar to how bishops are used in standard play with the exception of their onetime ability to change color affiliation. At no time, however, when a castle is moved as described, may it be used to capture an opposing piece which already occupies a different color square. In such circumstances, only empty squares are available for transposition. In the event one of a player's castles is captured, the previously onetime transposition rule can then be used without limit, but constitutes a player's turn each time the piece is moved one space onto a different color diamond (lane).

    More on what I call the optional Rooks Revenge rule: Adoption of this rule, which applies only to castles, would make things much more interesting for both Chess Plus v1.0 and Chess Plus v2.0. In effect, the rule sanctions the following alterations in the movements and color assignments of a single remaining castle: Whenever a player loses one castle with one left over, the remaining castle may change its color assignment -- at any time -- by moving one space in any direction that lands the piece on a diamond of a different color. As mentioned earlier, the move cannot be made, however, to capture an opponent's piece and once accomplished, constitutes that player's turn. The rule essentially reinstates the diminished strength of castles which are otherwise restricted to single color diamonds in Chess Plus v1.0 and Chess Plus v2.0. In all cases where a player switches a castle to a different color diamond (lane), that player sacrifices one turn in order to do so.

    Chess Plus Diamonds v2.0 restores the three pieces (bishop, knight, castle) per side to their proper (standard) color assignments. Actual play should be otherwise routine despite the one grouping of bishop, knight, and castle being located to either side in any order as shown. As with Chess Plus Diamonds v1.0, the bishop retains its enhanced ability to travel diagonally across diamonds of different colors, stop on any one, and capture an opponent's piece when possible. Since one castle is already allocated to a different color square (compared to its twin) the transposition rule usable in Chess Plus v1.0 is only available in version 2.0 if and when either of a player's two castles is lost (captured) during play. For all intents and purposes, bishops are always assigned to diagonal lanes and never to diamond colors. Therefore except for a starting position advantage, bishops are unaffected by their initial color designation.

    Note: Due to the vertical and horizontal alignment of diamond colors, an important trade-off is made between bishops and castles whereby each acquires some of the characteristics of the other, and wherein bishops become more powerful and castles somewhat less so. This discrepancy becomes irrelevant if and when the Rook's Revenge rule is employed.

    Not shown is a last option which applies only to Chess Plus Diamonds v2.0. In this arrangement, the three pieces (bishop, knight, castle) may occupy any of the light color diamonds (in any order) located behind the row of pawns and in front of the remaining pieces assigned to dark diamonds. For example, a player may choose to arrange the bishop, knight, and castle assigned to light diamonds, directly adjacent to the bishop, knight, and castle whose pre-play (start) positions begin on dark diamonds. In other words, all on the same side and in any order. Those pieces already on dark diamonds cannot be moved from their pre-play positions. Finally, the bishop, knight, and castle assigned to light (red or yellow) diamonds may occupy any of the light diamonds -- in no particular order or separated by any specific number of diamonds -- between the front row of pawns and the rear row of pieces already on dark diamonds.