Search found 38 matches

by cyningstan
Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:18 pm
Forum: Puzzles
Topic: Puzzle 5
Replies: 4
Views: 21746

Puzzles

Tablut problem I've been thinking about hnefatafl problems for a long time now, since before crust's thread on the subject. I've looked into it a bit more deeply in the last couple of weeks. I knew would be difficult, but its difficulty surpassed even my expectations! After about three hours and as...
by cyningstan
Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:09 pm
Forum: Rules
Topic: Saami Tablut
Replies: 57
Views: 161314

Re: Linnaeus Tablut and Translations

An excellent summary. It really sounds like we have hit the nail on the head. A milestone indeed.i vote for this as a tafl federation official 9x9 rule set. Much as I like sea battle tafl, I agree with this! If anything deserves to become a standard, this does. There are some pub-goers here in Hull...
by cyningstan
Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:05 am
Forum: Rules
Topic: 13x13 Tafl
Replies: 19
Views: 34570

Re: 13x13 Tafl

I think that one thing that makes these larger games favour the attackers is the closed formation that people often adopt for the defenders, hence me going on about using "cross shaped" layouts above. People have been pointing out for a number of years that the king's defenders are a hindrance as we...
by cyningstan
Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:55 pm
Forum: Rules
Topic: 13x13 Tafl
Replies: 19
Views: 34570

Re: 13x13 Tafl

It's no surprise to me that that combination of rules didn't really work: it's the same old-fashioned combination dating back to H. J. R. Murray that similarly fails to work on 11x11 and 9x9 boards (not to mention 7x7). If your trial of the cross-shaped 11x11 sea battle tafl shows an improvement in ...
by cyningstan
Wed Jan 01, 2014 2:21 pm
Forum: Rules
Topic: General rules
Replies: 39
Views: 111546

Re: hnefatafl and the quest for balance

I can also life with the choice to establish Sea battle tafl 9x9 as standard variant (in which our knowledge is weaker for far and that is combinatorial easier), but it would be a break regarding the the former promotion of the 11x11 board. Even if I'd take Copenhagen Hnefatafl, the most important ...
by cyningstan
Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:39 am
Forum: Rules
Topic: General rules
Replies: 39
Views: 111546

Re: Use of tafl variants in real life tournaments

I quite agree. In fact I'm hoping to organise a tournament here in Hull in 2017 for the Year of Culture events, if I can get the support of enough others locally (venue, publicity, participants). I'd very much like to use Cartier/Skalk Edge 9x9 type rules for it, and I'd love to keep an eye on the s...
by cyningstan
Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:32 am
Forum: Rules
Topic: Saami Tablut
Replies: 57
Views: 161314

Re: Linnaeus Tablut and Translations

About Troilius: in his introduction to Lachesis Lapponica, Smith explains that Troilius' Latin wasn't too strong, so Smith had to retranslate all that himself (as I understand it). So we have Smith himself to thank for the tablut translation. Thanks also for adding my note to the bottom of the trans...
by cyningstan
Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:28 am
Forum: Rules
Topic: Saami Tablut
Replies: 57
Views: 161314

Re: Saami Tablut

In this Olli is following in the footsteps of Cartier (like I did when I first found the Latin version). He has some interesting additions about translations of Sami words like raichi and tuich(u/a). He also has knowledge of the handwritten version of Linnaeus' diaries, which shed some light on what...
by cyningstan
Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:09 am
Forum: Other
Topic: hnefatafl and the quest for balance
Replies: 32
Views: 60661

Re: Rating of tafl games

I like the idea of rating the games separately; you could still have an overall score (counting only the games that the player has played). It would make sense to factor in the various game imbalances BUT since they're calculated on a sample of games, those numbers could be refined over a period of ...
by cyningstan
Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:26 pm
Forum: Other
Topic: World Tafl Federation
Replies: 80
Views: 181708

Re: Hnefatafl Review - the Journal of the World Tafl Forum

I ask you if we can create a sort of team and define 2 or 3 basic ideas for this magazine. I'd like riorganize some ideas. I like these! Particularly the narrative, which I hadn't thought of. This year we've had the Cthulhu vs. the Vikings magazine whose story has been inspired by the game. And I k...