The Game

Called nothing more complicated than The Game, The Game is mostly played within the Shantelaine Fellowship. Specifically, The Game is used to decide the new Maktalaine of the Shantelaine Fellowship. However, some retired Shantelaines and Malakis have brought The Game originally to the Tarmonik Empire, and it is now rarely seen within the Kragmara Empire. Some Masters do exist in the Kragmara Empire. No Grand Masters do.

AUTHOR's NOTE: Originally an invention entirely of mine own creation, Dragon magazine, in issue #100 back in ?1984?, published "DragonChess," which aided my creation of The Game. This game is an invention entirely of mine own creation. Unfortunately, this game has only been play-tested twice. Both times, The Game was played out over several hours spread out over several days. Only one of these games was actually completed.

Any out there wishing to play-test this game, please contact me at and let me know of any mistakes and improvements. Thanks.

The Boards & The Setup

There are two sides to The Game: Gold and Silver. There are eight boards to The Game. Some few pieces can move between the boards. Others cannot. Below is how The Game is setup to begin The Game. It must be remembered that the below is a 2-D representation. In actuality, the Sky Board would be the uppermost board, the Ground Board would be in the middle, and the Cavern Board would be the bottommost board. The four Mana Boards would be surrounding the other boards on the same level as the Ground Board. The Astral Board sets off by itself.

	SILVER MANA
	SKY
	GROUND
WEST MANA		EAST MANA
	CAVERN
	GOLD MANA
	ASTRAL

The Pieces

There are 26 different pieces on each side. Each side has 71 pieces. Combined, there are 146 total pieces.

AUTHOR's NOTE: I chose "Q" for the abbreviation of the ArchMagus piece, because like "Q" in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the ArchMagus is most powerful piece in The Game.

Piece Movements

Below describes and shows the movement and/or capture abilities of the pieces, and their special abilities.
CAPTURE & MOVEMENT NOTATIONS:
× = can capture and/or move
C = can capture only
M = can move only
Arrows indicate unlimited movement/capture ability as long as intervening squares are unoccupied

SKY BOARD

Dragon

Dragon on Sky Board	Dragon Ground Capture Field / Dragon Move to Ground	Dragon on Ground Board

On the Sky Board, the Dragon is king. Additionally, the Dragon is the only piece that can capture two pieces in one move. The Dragon, while on the Sky Board, moves and captures exactly as the Queen in regular chess. The Dragon can also capture a piece on the Ground Board in the square directly below or any of the eight surrounding squares (see center figure above). The Dragon can only capture one piece in these nine squares of control on the Ground Board. If the Dragon does not capture a piece on the Sky Board, it can still capture a piece on the Ground Board. However, to perform this Ground Board Capture ability while on the Sky Board, the Dragon must move at least one square on the Sky Board. In other words, the Dragon cannot simply move to a square and sit there capturing pieces within its Ground Board Capture field. It must move to capture a piece on the Ground Board. The Dragon can also move and/or capture to the Ground Board. This is performed by moving to the square directly below it or to one of the eight squares surrounding the square directly below it. Returning to the Sky Board is performed in exact reverse of this and the Dragon can capture when returning to the Sky Board. While on the Ground Board, the Dragon moves and/or captures exactly like the King in regular Chess.

Gryphon

Gryphon on Sky Board	Gryphon Move to Ground Board	Gryphon on Ground Board

While not as powerful as the Dragon, the Gryphon has an ability none other have on the Sky Board (vaulting). With a movement and capture ability similar to the Knight in regular chess, the Gryphon moves two squares in any diagonal, then one square horizontally or vertically, vaulting over any intervening pieces. The Gryphon can move and capture to the Ground Board by moving to the square directly below it or one of the four squares diagonal to the square directly below the Gryphon (see center figure above). Once on the Ground Board, the Gryphon's movement and capture ability is limited to one square diagonally. To return to the Sky Board, the Gryphon simply performs a reverse maneuver by moving to the square directly above or one of the four squares diagonal to the square directly above the Gryphon. Returning to the Sky Board can involve a capture.

Eagle

Eagle on Sky Board

The Eagle's movement and capture ability on the Sky Board is a combination of the Rook and King in regular chess. The Eagle can move and/or capture to the Ground Board by moving to the square directly below it. Once on the Ground Board, the Eagle's only move is to return to Sky Board by moving to the square directly above it. The Eagle can capture when returning to the Sky Board.

Phoenix

Phoenix on Sky Board

The Phoenix's movement and capture ability on the Sky Board are a combination of the Bishop and King of regular chess. The Phoenix can move and/or capture to the Ground Board by moving to the square directly below it. Once on the Ground Board, the Phoenix's only move is to return to Sky Board by moving to the square directly above it. The Phoenix can capture when returning to the Sky Board. ESPECIAL NOTE: One Phoenix on each side immediately threatens an opposing Sylvar. However, most Grand Masters of The Game will never take advantage of the immediate carnage and anarchy that can result from this opening move. Most often, Grand Masters will perform moves that gain control over the center squares of the Ground Board; for controlling these center squares means protecting the Emperor and protecting The Game.

Sylvar

Sylvar on Sky Board

On the Sky Board, the Sylvars are the Pawns. Their movement and capture ability is the exact reverse of the Pawn of regular chess. They may move one square diagonally forward as long as that square is unoccupied. They can only capture if the square directly forward is occupied. If a Sylvar can manage to progress across the entire Sky Board, then that Sylvar may return to any of the eight starting squares of the Sylvars. The Sylvar may also capture on the Ground Board by moving to the square directly below. The move to the Ground Board can only involve a capture. Once on the Ground Board, the Sylvar has no other move than to return to the Sky Board by returning to the square directly above. Returning to the Sky Board can involve a capture.

CAVERN BOARD

Elemental

Elemental on Cavern Board	Elemental Move to Ground/Cavern	Elemental on Ground Board

The Elemental moves and captures by moving one or two squares horizontally or vertically. The Elemental may also move only by moving one square diagonally. The Elemental may also move to the Ground Board through a two-step process. First it moves one square horizontally or vertically, then moves to the square directly above. The first step of the move to the Ground Board must be to an unoccupied square. The second step of the move to the Ground Board can involve a capture. On the Ground Board the Elemental is limited to moving and/or capturing by moving one square horizontally or vertically. The Elemental returns to the Cavern Board by reversing the two-step movement. Again, the first step of the move to the Cavern Board must be to an unoccupied square. The second step of the move to the Cavern Board can involve a capture.

Basilisk

Basilisk on Cavern Board

Although limited in its attack capabilities, the Basilisk's special ability makes it a very threatening piece. The Basilisk can move and/or capture by moving to the three squares in front or the square directly backwards. The Basilisk also has the special ability of "freezing" the piece on the Ground Board in the square directly above it. The frozen piece cannot move until the Basilisk is moved from underneath it. If the piece frozen is the Emperor, he is not considered to be in Check unless threatened by another piece. If the Emperor is frozen and a piece threatens him, then the Emperor is considered to be Mated unless the threatening piece can be blocked.

Org

Org on Cavern Board	Org on Ground Board

Orgs are known for their ability to "end-round" opponents while in the cavern world. The Org can move and/or capture by moving to the squares diagonally forward or the square directly backwards. The Org may move only by moving one square directly forward or one or two squares left or right. The Org may move to the Ground Board by moving to the square directly above it. Movement to the Ground Board can involve a capture. On the Ground Board, the Org's movement and capture ability is very limited. The Org may move only by moving one square directly forward or directly backward. The Org may move and/or capture by moving to one of the squares diagonally forward. The Org returns to the Cavern board by moving to the square directly below it, and this move may involve a capture.

Amochal

Amochal on Cavern Board	Amochal on Ground Board

A deadly and terrifying creature of the cavern world, the Amochal can move and/or capture by moving one or two squares directly forward or one square left or right. The Amochal may move only by moving one square diagonally. The Amochal may capture only by moving one square directly backwards. The Amochal may move to the Ground Board in a move similar to the Elemental. However, the Amochal can only do it directly forward. In other words, the Amochal moves one square directly forward, then up to the square directly above it. Like the Elemental, the first step of this move must be into an unoccupied square. The second step of this move can involve a capture. The Amochal returns to the Cavern Board by simply moving to the square directly below it. On the Ground Board, the only limit to its movement and capture ability is that its forward movement and/or capture is limited to one square.

Dwarf

Dwarf on Cavern Board

GROUND BOARD

Emperor

Emperor on Ground Board

The Emperor is the most important and most valuable of all the pieces, since capture of the Emperor means the game is lost. On the Ground Board, the Emperor moves and captures exactly like the King in regular chess. The Emperor can move and capture to either the Sky Board or the Cavern Board by moving to the square directly above or below. Once on the Sky Board or the Cavern Board, the only move the Emperor has is to return the Ground Board. Because of this limitation, most Grand Masters will move the Dragon on the Sky Board or the Elemental on the Cavern Board one square. This is mainly to give the Emperor an immediate outlet. Oftentimes, the first four moves will be to move the Dragon and Elemental one square to give the Emperor an instant outlet to both the Sky Board and Cavern Board. Afterwards, most moves will involve getting the Cavaliers, Knights, Warriors, Paladins, Nightblades, and Assassins out to protect from immediate assaults. Think about it.

Wizard

Wizard on Ground Board	Wizard on Other Boards

The Wizard is another of the more powerful pieces. Its movement and capture ability is like the Queen in regular chess when on the Ground Board. The Wizard can move to other boards by moving to the square directly above or below. Movement to another board may involve a capture. When on the Sky or Cavern Board, the Wizard's movement and capture ability is like the King in regular chess.

Avatar

Avatar on All Boards

Not a particularly powerful piece, the Avatar is one of the few pieces that keeps its full movement and capture abilities on all boards of The Game. The Avatar also has a rather odd movement and capture abilty. The Avatar may move only by moving one square in any direction. The Avatar may capture only by moving two squares in any direction, vaulting over the intervening square. The Avatar may also move and/or capture by moving three squares in any direction, also vautling over the intervening squares. The Avatar moves to other boards by moving to the square directly above or below it. Movement between boards can involve a capture.

Æmur

Æmur on Ground Board	Æmur on Cavern Board

The Æmur, like the Krargog, has a strange movement and capture ability. The Æmur can move only by moving one or two squares horizontally or vertically. The Æmur can capture only by moving one or two squares any diagonally. The Æmur cannot vault over intervening squares. The Æmur may also move to the Cavern Board by moving to the square directly below it. This move may involve a capture. On the Cavern Board, the Æmur's movement and capture abilities are limited to one square. The Æmur can return to the Ground Board by moving to the square directly above and may involve a capture.

Mithyari

Mithyari on All Boards	Field of Control on Boards Above and/or Below

Fairly powerful, the Mithyari can move and/or capture by moving to any square within two squares, vaulting over any intervening squares. The Mithyari also controls a field of equal size on boards above and/or below. Move and/or capture to these squares is also achieved by vaulting.

Cleric

Cleric on Ground Board

The Cleric's movement and/or capture ability is exactly like the Bishop in regular chess. The Cleric cannot move between boards.

Krargog

Krargog on Ground Board	Krargog on Sky Board

The Krargog, like the Æmur, has a strange movement and capture ability. The Krargog can move only by moving one or two squares any diagonal. The Krargog can capture only by moving one or two squares horizontally or vertically. The Krargog cannot vault over intervening squares. The Krargog may also move to the Sky Board by moving to the square directly above it. This move may involve a capture. On the Sky Board, the Krargog's movement and capture abilities are limited to one square. Return to the Cavern Board is achieved by moving and/or capturing to the Ground Board.

Knight

Knight on Ground Board

The Knight moves and captures exactly like the Knight in regular chess. Yes, it can still vault over intervening squares. However, it cannot move between boards.

Fortress

Fortress

The Fortress moves and captures exactly like the Rook in regular chess and cannot move between boards.

Assassin

Assassin on All Boards

Not very powerful, the Assassin is another of the few pieces that keeps its full movement and capture abilities across all boards. The Assassin moves and/or captures by moving one square in any direction. The Assassin moves between boards by moving and/or capturing to the square directly above or below.

Nightblade

Nightblade on Ground Board	Nightblade on Sky & Cavern Boards

The Nightblade moves and/or captures by moving in a combination of the Knight and Bishop in regular chess. The Nightblade can also move and/or capture to the Sky or Cavern Board by moving to the square directly above or below. On the Sky or Cavern Boards, the Nightblade is limited to moving and/or capturing by moving one square in any direction.

Paladin

Paladin on Ground Board	Paladin on Sky & Cavern Boards

The Paladin moves and/or captures by moving in a combination of the Knight and Rook in regular chess. The Paladin can also move and/or capture to the Sky or Cavern Board by moving to the square directly above or below. On the Sky or Cavern Boards, the Paladin is limited to moving and/or capturing by moving one square in any direction.

Cavalier (maybe needs more info)

Cavalier on Ground Board	Cavalier on Sky & Cavern Boards

The Cavalier possesses a move and/or capture ability no other piece possesses. The Cavalier can move and/or capture across two boards. The Cavalier moves and/or captures by moving in a combination of the King and Knight in regular chess when upon the Ground Board. Moving and/or capturing between the boards is made in a move similar to the Knight. The Cavalier may move to the square directly above or below, then two squares horizontally or vertically. Or, the Cavalier may move two squares directly above or below, then one square horizontally or vertically. All such moves may involve a capture.

Warrior

Warrior on Ground Board

The Warrior moves and captures exactly like the Pawn in regular chess. Period. If a Warrior can cross the board, then it may be replaced with any piece. Including the all powerful ArchMagus (Q).

MANA BOARDS

ArchMagus

ArchMagus on All Other Boards	ArchMagus on All Mana Boards

Easily the most powerful piece in The Game, the ArchMagus, when on the Sky, Ground, or Cavern Boards, moves and/or catures by moving any number of unoccupied squares in any direction, capturing at the end of move if desired. On any Mana and the Astral Boards, the ArchMagus is limited to moving and/or capturing by moving one square in any direction. When on any Mana Board or the Astral Board, the ArchMagus also has the special ability to "teleport" to any square on any board. EXCEPTION: The ArchMagus CANNOT teleport into the square currently occupied by the Emperor or other friendly piece. This teleportation ability can also involve a capture. The ArchMagus also has the special ability to "teleport" the captured piece to any square of the Astral Board instead of killing it. In other words, when moving to a square occupied by an enemy piece, the ArchMagus has the choice to either kill (capture) that piece or to teleport that piece to the Astral Board to any square. On the Astral Board, the ArchMagus has the ability to either kill (capture) or teleport the piece back to the same exact square from which it was teleported from. This requires strict bookkeeping from both players. However, few players rarely teleport enemy pieces back into The Game. One further note, some of the greatest Grand Masters of The Game enjoy toying with their opposing players by giving them a piece back here and there.

ASTRAL BOARD

Djinn

Djinn Setup on Astral Board	Djinn Special Movement	ALL Pieces on Astral Board (excepting Special Movement)

The Djinn cannot move. The Djinn cannot capture. The Djinn cannot be captured. The Djinn are Facilitators. The Djinn are the only piece that allows two pieces to occupy the same square. Reiteration, any other piece teleported to the Astral Board may also occupy the same square with a Djinn. Any piece teleported to the Astral Board that moves into any of the diagonal, horizontal, and/or vertical squares between the Djinns can move any number of unoccupied squares, also capturing at the end of such a move. (See above middle figure.) All pieces, regardless of their home board movement and/or capture abilities, are able to move and/or capture by moving one square in any direction. (See above right figure.) Pieces teleported to the Astral Board can create another separate game within itself. But always remember, each side is allowed only one move per turn.

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