Talk:Geomancy

On IGDC "Instructions" To Judges

Regarding your statement to IGDC judges:

"For the IGDC, please play the original game, not the variant game."

I think you're hurting yourself, but I am only a single voice. Take it for what it is.

In my opinion, a game with variations that improve or vary the game play are higher ranking games than those with only one mode of play which "breaks" if anything is tweaked. Therefore, you'd do better to let folks try the variation and judge your game on all its variety and tunable merits, OR remove the variation completely for the time being (store it here on Talk for the competition). Just my opinion, but it makes it seem like you either haven't tried the variations--you're throwing up a sign tantamount to "under construction; move along") or you actually want folks to see them but are being "coy" by telling them to move along.

And in the end, an individual judge is going to obey or ignore you and is going to hold whatever opinion they form based on that choice and on how it plays and on how much they care about variety. So, ultimately, your sign to move along has no proactive result (but can hurt you, per my above explanation).

Hope this helps! --David Artman 11:26, 15 August 2007 (EDT)

Brilliant! I didn't want to delete the original rules for archival purposes, but you have a good idea in putting it on the talk page. So here it is!--Archangel James 18:51, 15 August 2007 (EDT)

Original Rules - A Go-like Variant

For the IGDC, please play the original game, not the variant game.

In this variant, there are only three changes. In theory, it makes the game more about territory and less about capturing. The changes are as follows.

• At the start of the game, each player removes one pyramid of each size per player over three, instead of over four. As fewer stones will be captured, fewer will be needed.
• Diagonals are not allowed. When adjusting scattered pieces, line them up to the closest cardinal, orthogonal direction. When reorienting a piece, you may pick only any orthogonal direction.
• When scoring at the end, you are awarded one point per pip you have on the table. However, your score is decreased by one for each stone (not pip) of yours that has been captured.