Shared Pieces Game Design Competition

Quick question: what's the deadline?

Here is a link to the rules for the contest.
http://boardgames.about.com/cs/sharedpieces/a/shared_rules.htm

Are coins are reasonable type of marker? I'm sure just a few coins would clearly be, but the game I have in mind requires (non-US equivs are obviously fine) 4-6 quarters, 10-12 nickels, and 20 pennies. That's a lot of nickels, it seems like, so I'm concerned that they might not be considered "easily available". Thoughts?

I suspect I'm either blessed or cursed by my ignorance, but I've played very few abstract games and so my design is either hackneyed or clever and reasonably new. Being the the dark doesn't feel all bad. :)

Coins are my best bet, though, since I need them to be 3 different sizes (or colors or something else that clearly sets them apart) and they have to have fronts and backs.

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I'll drop Erik an email.

-- Matthew

Interesting idea. I played it, but it did occur to me while readng the rules that you might need to specify that the die must be of the most common standard type where the opposite sides add up to 7 (6 and 1, 5 and 2, 4 and 3). While most standard pip 6-sided dice do this, some (often cheap ones from East Asia) do not: there are dice out there where you can't place if with the 6-face up and the 4-face towards the top of the board because they're opposite each other... I suspect this non-standard facing will affect more about the game than just the setup (after reading the rules).

I am having a little problem trying to understand some of the movement rules for the checkers.

Rule number 1 I understand no problem.

Rule 2
During its move, a checker may freely pass over any number of empty spaces and any number of checkers of the opposite color. But a checker may not pass over any checkers of its own color unless a capture is made.

I understand most of this one. I just don't know if I am getting the get 2nd sentence correct. Are you trying to say that if I am making a non-capture move I can not move over a checker of the same color, but if the move results in a capture I can.

Rule 3
If a capture is made, the player may continue moving (but is not obliged to move) the same checker again, provided that another capture is made. Multiple captures may be possible.

This one I am not to sure of either.
Are you trying to say that if I make a capture I get to go again if I want to, but it has to be the same checker I just moved and it has to be another capture move. Sort of like a double jump in checkers. And if that is the case I assume that I have to move the same number space I just moved. Example: I had a 3 on the die and I moved a cheacker three spaces and made a capture and there is another capture 3 space away, I now have the choice to continue or not.

Everything else is clear to me. I haven't had a chance to play it yet, but it does look good.

I'm glad I got the idea of the game right. It just took a few rereads to get those 2 rules straight in my mind. If I might be so bold, I think if you rewrote those two rules it might be a little easier to understand.
Your reply to rule 2

can be changed to

You may not move over a checker of the same color unless the move results in a capture.

Which I think is easier to understand IMHO.

And here's a suggestion for rule 3

Multiple captures may be possible. If a player makes a capture and can make another capture by moving that same game piece the required amount of spaces, he may do so if he wishes. Example: You move a checker three spaces for a capture and there is another capture 3 more spaces away.

Personally I find the hardest thing about making games is writting the rules. It is also my least favourite part.

I also think you have as much as chance as anyone else in winning. I really like the fact you used very common game pieces and created a very cool abstract strategy game. I hope to give a try soon :D

Thanks. Another great way to link together is to join the Games UnPlugged webring. Which I run by the way. It's free and fairly painless.
Here is the web address to join.
http://j.webring.com/hub?ring=gamesunplugged1
I should also put this info somewhere else on this site. :idea:
Any suggestions where?

Had a great playtest of Argenta today, my entry into the contest. It's weird: I'm not much of an abstract game player and not a big two-player game guy, but I woke up Wednesday morning with a full-fledged game in my head and I'm quite pleased at how it works out.

I have one more thing to work out: it's possible (though quite unlikely) that the game could end without either player scoring the final required point, I think. I'll have to work on it. Does anyone have a good way to word something like "if the players repeat the same 4 moves more that twice then the game ends immediately" or something similar?

I have thought of a game idea for the shared piece contest, but do not know if it will work. Does anyone think they would allow playing cards to be a component of the game? I need to get the rules typed up and put on the web and then I can show what I plan to do with them.

By the way, I'm new to this site and have found lots of great inspiration for my own games here. I mostly do card games, but this shared piece contest will be the first actual board game I've ever done.

Thank you for your answer. That makes my game able to be made and presented. I plan on having it finished by the weekend and ready to submit on the first.

I think they didn't want to have playing cards that would be custom made for a game, but didn't state it that way. That's what I get from following the thread on the boardgamedesign forum on yahoo. It starts at post 1489.

The rule about a standard deck of cards being allowed for last year's contest was made because of last year's theme: Simultaneous Movement.

i.e. the cards gave an easy way to increase options when designing such a game.

I would still check by emailing Erik as to whether cards are allowed in the current contest - remember this is a board game designing contest, and they want to see a board with squares, triangles or hexagons.

Benedict

Anyone submit any games yet for the competetion? I'm finalizing mine and hope to get it in sometime next week. I'm not using playing cards as I thought I would and created a whole different design. I don't know how well it will do, but I think it's unique, interesting and simple, and I hope those are the things they are looking for.