Using piecepack to play abstract games (was Re: piecepackplus)

["boardgamesbook" <dhohls@...>]

> --- In piecepack@yahoogroups.com, "Iain Cheyne" <groups@c...> wrote:
> 
> > I am trying to assemble a list of established old abstract games 
> that will
> > fit with the piecepack (I'll post a separate message about that 
> later) and I
> > have been struggling. There are two main problems: (1) the 
existing
> > piecepack set only allows for six pieces per player (2) the grids 
> on the
> > back of the tiles only allows even sized boards e.g. 4x4, 6x4, 
8x8.
> > Extensions that fix these problems would be great for me.
> > 

Interesting that Iain has been thinking along similar lines to me...

The issue of a 'games kit' is one that I have pondered from time-to-
time (even before piece pack).  The idea that I could have a single 
sturdy set of playing pieces (preferably made from a nice wood) that 
I could use to play any number of existing designs (by this I mainly 
mean 'classic' abstract games, or similar, in the public domain) is 
an appealing one.  This would allow me to create a 'travel pack' that 
I could take with on holiday, for example.  The main issue I have not 
been able to resolve is that of easily creating all the boards.  

My thinking has *not* been along the lines of modfiying piece pack - 
this seems to be a somewhat hazardous occupation! - but rather 
creating a mimimum set 'from scratch'.

My current 'best draft' - very incomplete! - is to have:

* 25 square tiles, each marked with 2x2 checker grid.
* 32 counters; 16 each of black and white.  One side would have 
chesspiece markings (or their 'symbolic' equivalents)
* 16 coloured counters; 4 each of red/blue/green/yellow (markings?)
* Dice

[Note: 48 counters = 2 sets of draughts pieces]

You can play quite a few games with just these.  A creative layout of 
the tiles will allow you to create 'non square' boards such as Ludo 
layout, a crude backgammon board, and even a snakes-and-ladders board 
(exercise for the reader!).  Because you can create a 10x10 grid, 
boards which require play on the intersection of a  9x9 grid are also 
manageable.

Games like Reversi are much harder to create because of specialised 
playing pieces, or 9 Mans Morris with its special board.

Iain also raises the issue of how to handle boards with odd numbers 
of squares... not sure about that?

Also - should 'Go' type pieces (say black-and-white plastic or glass 
beads) be an essential part of the key pieces - how many games would 
use these?


Good thread!  Lets work on some ideas...


Derek.