New Position Workshop / Testing Thread

Caballos De Las Islas

Teams, Duck, 4th(2nd)=N

Should I make it RBvYG, RGvYB, or RYvBG?

Is hill rush too viable? I added the hill to prevent shuffling. https://www.chess.com/variants/custom/game/69766570/174/3

This started off as a totally new variant but it wouldn't be great if it couldn't be played by people (Different movesets, like the Anca in Grand Acedrex [which was considered in this variant], are nonexistent in chess.com). Now I made it a Fog of War + Crazywan variant (No crazyhouse, that would make the rooks and bishops a chore to use.) Considering two sergeants to be used in the empty spaces in the last row (near the Kings).

FOR THE CGA (Couldn't find anywhere else to post this but...)

About people thinking about my variants not being 'unique enough..'. Well guess what? Unique doesn't mean better. Starting to use an already good variant as a base is an excellent choice, at least according to me because you can make a better or a remixed version of it. My previous variant, Samurai-Shogi, was declined for 1. Not unique enough and 2. Board size some other stuff (I partially agree with 2). It's simply not fair to criticize a variant because of being 'not unique enough' instead of 'not good enough'. Heck, Warui-Shogi is a great variant, and what's wrong with using THAT as a base? And FFS, the not unique enough part can be fixed by letting people add THEIR fairy pieces (which will probably, never happen). At this point I'm thinking that the CGA don't have a very good taste about variants.

Well, some people definitely won't like the sound of that.

Now, I'm not a CGA or even a tester, so this reply might be completely false, but I'll do my best. Yes, you're right, unique doesn't mean better, but it's kind of pointless when you have 50 variants on the server that are almost the same. As for your Samurai-Shogi game, it's "not unique enough," as far as I know, because there's already Warui-Shogi, Blackletter Chess, Rubicon, etc. already on server. Yes, Fog of War does make it more unique, but that's the second point where it's too drawish (this can be fixed by Game of Points +40. Checkmate = win no matter what, and if the game ends in 50-move or 3-fold, the player with a clear advantage (more points) wins by points).

so uhh a lot of changes were made found out by playtesting

I think the ferz in white's army is basically useless so what should I do with it

Replace it with a Dabbaba (I think? Whats the one that moves two squares diagnoally?)

thats an alfil

also what side do u think has a better army (also pawn promotions are rlly good)

wait what thats an old photo and i actually replaced with a general

can you come to variants server so we can test

when we say unique we are looking for a major strategic difference that comes about when you take a base position and change it.

if your new variant is a complete remodel of warui-shogi but it plays in almost the exact same way, then it's not unique. but if you only change a couple pieces and the viable strategies are completely different, then it is unique.

that is why we have so many classification systems like the the 12+- and MTDPS. we categorize each variant based on many different criteria, like if it is mainly a sharp and tactical game or a slow positional game, or if shuffling back and forth and slowly improving is better than immediately going for an attack. if your variant looks similar to another variant but has completely different gameplay qualities, that's when we would consider accepting it

What's MTDPS?

For example, take a look at my two different versions of "The Eyes of Horus"

V1: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/ncp-the-eyes-of-horus

V2: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/ncv-the-eyes-of-horus-1

They look very similar, and that's because they are. But the way each game is played is much different. There is any capture and the KOTH squares are in different places (not shown in the image), and some of the pieces are different. The previous version looked for quick checkmates with the major pieces, while this one actually allows players to reach an endgame with decent play.

The point here is that simply changing a couple pieces doesn't make a variant "unique" if the gameplay is almost exactly the same

Materialistic Tactical Dynamic Positional Strategic

classification system for gameplay complexity

is this even if not what side has the advantage

(I will figure out how to nerf it)

Black might have a slight advantage because Wildebeest > King and Rook > General

white has archbishop + queen in a powerful position

Oh yeah, those are powerful here. I think it's balanced enough (no way to know without playing it)

Can I try testing out this position?

You can invite me

sure!