Hnefatafl Board and Pieces
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Thats a very interesting game. I quite like it, though of course it could never match the standards of chess 
depends on the variation you play, it can get quite interesting and difficult
I think chess has a lot more variety of moves, whereas with this game... if you figure out a winning tactic, you might just become invincible!
again it comes down to which variation you play, plus if chess had a such a variety of moves, then why are openings so common; games can be researched and moves played before can be found; also in this game two pieces can be captured at once never seen that happen in chess.
me_vs_u: for balanced play, what variations do you recommend?
well they say white has an advantage even though they are out numbered, this is probably due to the fact that the king moves unlimited squares also and can capture or the fact that for black, with so many soldiers they may congest themselves, pieces getting in each others way. so some limit the amount of squares the king can move cause if he gets a straight shot to a castle its "Tuichi" checkmate, if black cant block his way, or they dont allow him to participate in captures. so if he gets in the open alone, hes a sitting duck. i say if you limit his moves allow him to capture, if he cant capture allow him to escape by moving unlimited squares like everyone else.
strategies for black should be cover paths to the 4 castles and not worry about captures in the beginning, for white- begin capturing immediately to clear a path for king.
some variations dont allow pieces to move on base camp squares once they leave base camp, this can cause diffilculty for both sides. but more advantaegeous for black. especially if they covered the castles and king is limited or cant capture.
white can be set up in a crucifix formation or the base ball diamond you see in the pic, which is more advantageous? and for whom? white has opened for the king but at the same time exposed him, so if hes limited in movement and cant capture this wouldnt be a good starting variation for white the diamond would give him the protection he needs.
Thanks :)
well i really enjoy chess (battle games) and when i found this i thought id look into it, sounds easy but when i started, like chess, you better watch the board its harder than you think especially with advanced play rules.
I like the simplicity - agree there is quite of bit of depth to the game. What also adds to the game is what it represents - hand-to-hand combat. One can almost picture in the mind.
My only wish (and is big one) is that one set of rules is developed (ok perhaps with some optional variations if one so chooses). A set that strives for balanced play. Hardcore enthusiasts want rules completely based on reconstructed data - unfortunately don't think we'll ever find all the pieces to do that. Consequently, we should move on and try to do best to develop one set which work well, rather than having all these variations to pick and chose. To get wider group of players and acceptance, really need one set of tried and true rules.
i see what you mean, but consider: there is one set, for the casual player, the basic variation.
the others i mentioned with the changes for the king and base camps etc. are for the serious more advanced player. kind of like- there are some chess players who just play and dont worry about ever learning strats like openings, pins, forks, skewers, etc. then there are some who know about these advanced levels of play. i know these are tatics and not rules but the point is- advanced play.
no- i dont think hnefatafl will ever catch on like chess, so i dont think we'll have to worry about a standard rule of play.
try it see pics of board and pieces in my profile
http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~leif/games/Hnefetafl/index.html