In preparation for a quiet Christmas at home I have been digging out two-player board games from the attic.
One such is an old “Spears” game: “Quandary”.
The mechanics are simple, but the possibilities are endless. Well, not really endless, but the starting positions are randomised so there are many million ways a game may start and thus evolve.
The square board is composed of 144 squares in 8 colours. Each player has 4 pieces, initially placed along his board edge according to the deal of four cards.
Taking alternate turns, each player may move one piece one square forwards, orthogonally or diagonally, but only into a square of the same colour as one of those directly in front of the opponent’s four pieces. OK so far?
As far as I can see, the pattern of colours is not repeated anywhere on the board.
The object is to get one of your pieces to the opponent’s baseline. The skill is to move your pieces so as to restrict the opponent’s options.
An absorbing game that takes minutes to learn but hours to perfect.
If you can find a copy, I recommend it. Now, how can I translate the game system for wargaming?
General Whiskers' semi-historical wanderings 