Hey all,
I've been playing "Thud!" with my students for the past few months (I teach English at a private college in Beijing), which has lead to some interesting results.
They seem to really enjoy the novel nature of the game (most students' knowledge of board-games extends no further than Xiang Qi (Chinese Chess) and Wei Qi (better known as "Go"))
After playing a few games with my charges, the verdict came up that Trolls are far too powerful, especially if your're a first time player on the Dwarf side. It's just too easy for Trolls to sidle up and obliterate a carefully positioned phalanx of Dwarves.
This proved to be quite discouraging for newbies, and cheeses me off even as a seasoned Thuddster.
However, an improvement was close to hand.
After much deliberation and testing from my crack team of playtesters, we found quite a simple solution- THE CRIPPLE MR CRYSOPRASE rule:
Simply put - Trolls cannot step diagonally.
Note, that the Troll's "Shove" technique may still operate on both orthoganal and diagonal axis, but for moving around the board, and the Troll's "capture zone" still effects all within an eight square radius.
This means Dwarf players have a little more time to create phallanxes, and formations aren't so easily destroyed by sidestepping troll.
Please, tell me what you think of this ammendment...
Re: Rule Ammendment: Cripple Mr Crysoprase
good idea,but once players get better at playing then the rule can be phased out,a really good dwarf player can take trolls to pieces.
_O_
ll( )ll
_] [_
Re: Rule Ammendment: Cripple Mr Crysoprase
After playing a few games with my charges, the verdict came up that Trolls are far too powerful, especially if your're a first time player on the Dwarf side. It's just too easy for Trolls to sidle up and obliterate a carefully positioned phalanx of Dwarves.
This proved to be quite discouraging for newbies, and cheeses me off even as a seasoned Thuddster.
However, an improvement was close to hand.
Trevor Truran has said in the rules that trolls are always at an advantage for newbies. He's also said to Dewi and I that he's interested to see what alternative rules sets come out of Thud play, and how people come up with alternative scenario rules such as Koom Valley Thud.
As I posted in this discussion, there are ways to win with dwarfs, it just takes a bit of practice and application of strategy. You might also look to see if your players are taking advantage of their attack possibilities (it takes a VERY skilled troll player to attack a block with a single troll).
Another thing to remember is that, like football, Thud is a game of two halves (actually moreso than football in this respect!). The troll game is primarily a game of attack and the dwarf game primarily a game of defence and it's only the winner of the combination of scores that wins the game. So holding off the trolls better than the opposition whilst dwarfs, then bludgeoning the dwarfs when trolls is generally considered to be a good strategy.
Good luck with the kids and they're all welcome to come on here and play!
Lee Alley
"I could tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel"
Re: Rule Ammendment: Cripple Mr Crysoprase
it takes a VERY skilled troll player to attack a block with a single troll
my dad had never played before but he took my block to pieces in to time...it was only a 3x3 but still...
That ain't no English I ever dun heard!
Re: Rule Ammendment: Cripple Mr Crysoprase
(Druid notice: deleted SgL.'s double post)
I'd like to answer that post from my point of view and try to analyze a bit. (Forgive the mathematician in me.)
Mentioning the mathematician inside, I seem to be more naturally interested in the game of go than chess. I know too little about go, but I know (at least) the rules and some strategies.
All in all I think that the game as such is quite balanced, as you are playing both sides. If the Troll's side does have an advantage, you still have to prove that you're better using that advantage than our opponent is. If you read the book "Thud!" you might understand that part of the game better. (At least I did.)
As I am no witch, these are just "first thoughts". I'd like to try out your suggested rules. But I would only consider making them official if they don't disbalance the seond half of the game.
Lee mentioned "football" on that occasion. I'm not sure (as a native German speaker) if he meant "football" or "soccer" (speaking American English). But in a league type of play there're usually a home and an outward game (excuse my bad english). We speak of "Heimvorteil", meaning there's some advantage on the home team.
Considering this, the current rules still seem to be fair.
He who is best on both sides win.
(I may have said the same thing thrice with other words. Forgive me for that, but I felt it worth the time to tell you.)
"... understanding consists of reducing one type of reality to another." - Claude Levi-Strauss