a new tafl-variant?

[Fishbreath]

Are the Ks knights after all?

[Masterluke]

No, they're not. Just guards who cannot take an cannot be taken...

[Masterluke]

After several test games and a tournament, it's been proven that this game favors black too much... This is mainly due to the unbeatable and non-capturing guards, which are hindering white too much and even provide shelter to attacking black pieces... So instead of helping white, they actually help black!
Therefore, we (=Hagbard and me) agreed on deleting the guards altogether... and relocating the white V-men closer to the king, like originally intended. The ongoing tournament still features the 2 guards, but below I show the new set-up.

[Masterluke]

Another improvement to the 17 x 17 Alea Berserk (Martens) concept: I changed the starting positions of the black V-men, so that they become more involved in the game ... they exchanged places with 4 commanders. See image below

[Masterluke]

Since the omission of the guards, this game variant Tyr 17 x 17 (formerly called 'Alea Berserk Martens 2') seems to be very much in balance, but the upcoming tournament has to prove it for sure. I hope many of you will give it a try... By the way, I call it 'Tyr' like the Nordic god of war, whose name was shouted out when vikings attacked.