Suggestion: double the points of the first 4 captures

The game as it stands now does not encourage early aggression. Exchanging queens early on is a terrible idea, since you get 9 points at the cost of becoming a target for further attacks, since you'll have trouble defending your base. But if you get 2*9 = 18 points instead of 9, then exchanging queens may become viable. So I suggest that the first 4 captures of the game give double the points, to reward the players willing to spill the first blood.

Exchanging pieces is not a form of aggression at two-player chess, but things are different at four-player chess. By trading pieces with your left or right enemy, you make him vulnerable from attacks by your friend at the other side of the board.

What I don't like with the current system is that people offer trades, expecting for their offer to be rejected. Some become really irritated if you actually honor their offer. But if early exchanges were rewarded with extra points, then offering a trade will become a riskier thing to do. Especially if there have already occurred three captures earlier in the game!

I agree that exchanging queens early on is a silly idea, for now. But will stop being so silly if you are rewarded by 18 points instead of 9. 18 points are almost the value of mating a king, so you set yourself (and your trading partner) way ahead on the score. But I don't think that trading queens would then become a dominant strategy, because the cost of playing the middle-game without queen is still high.

I also agree that offering a trade is already risky because of the reason you mentioned, but still people do it often enough. Early in the game is not so hard to judge if the non-involved players can exploit your trade offer, or not.

My suggestion aims to encourage players not only to trade early, but also to get involved in other forms of early aggression, and generally messing-up of the board. I would like to see the game becoming even more crazy than it now is!

Interesting concept but, I agree with RSK. I think it would make the game less complicated. I believe it would make it more boring in my opinion and less to calculate. Especailly since the queen is the most powerful piece in the game. It would be such a bummer to lose her. And it would be a waste most the time, because your opponent would just take back and get 18 points him or herself. I believe that if you really want to hype the game up and make it some early aggression, how about this. How about if you checkmate the king early in the game, lets say within 25 moves or whatever you get double the points! I think that would be a greater idea and more incentive than an early queen exchange. 

@RSK_Asherz personally I am going to great lengths to avoid any exchange in the opening, usually be playing c4 and f4 to block the bishop diagonals, or a3 and h3 when I fianchetto them. I try to never give any trade option to my opponents. By doing so I usually fall back in the score, but I am able to catch-up latter and get the cookie at the end. So, because I am doing so well with this strategy, I am afraid that will become the dominant strategy eventually. And having four players developing solidly, building their pawn chains, and attempting no aggression for the first 20-30 moves, may eventually take the fun out of this game!

@HappyBeavr nice idea! Maybe it deserves a separate discussion thread. :-)

No thanks.

This game has more than enough aggression.

I definitely think we should try this out. Would be interesting to see the openings change. I agree with Skeftomilosis. I believe that your opening strategy, seen a lot at 100-1700 top levels with developing, king safety and the eventual queen promotion will definitely I think not be as common if there was an incentive to capture the king earlier in the game for more points. Maybe not double, but 30 points? I think I will make a separate forum on this and see what admins and yall think. 

I meant 1600-1700s

You mean you want to make the game worse? This game is crazy as it is! 

Ok I made a forum on it. check it out. Called early king incentive. 

I personally think it is fine the way it is.

@HappyBeavr I commented on your suggestion.
@icystun, @BabYagun, @niuniudu thanks for the feedback. :-)