This playing field is a feature of the Star Trek series. In this variant all pieces, including the Attack Platforms, begin the game off the field.
Each player first introduces the four Attack Platforms onto the playing field one at a turn. The placement of Attack Platform is accomplished by selecting the center point of an appropriate shadowy 2x2 grid on the diagram. Valid Attack Platforms will then be denoted by a small yellow square.
Then each, in turn, introduces their King to their particular Fixed Level. Play continues with each player, in turn, either introducing a new piece, moving a piece on the field or moving an Attack Platform.
Pieces, after the placing of the King, are introduced to either their particular Fixed Level or the Neutral Fixed Level.
Attack Platforms are moved according to the following restrictions:
- Moving platforms must be either empty, or occupied with only one friendly Pawn.
- Each may only be moved either to an orthogonally adjacent vacant point on the current Fixed Level or to the similar vacant point on the next Fixed Level. Such movement may involve leaping an intervening Platform on another Fixed Level.
- Only empty Platforms may be moved to an inverted orthogonal position. All other movement must involve a Pawn-occupied Platform.
Pieces move accordingly:
PAWNs step without capturing any orthogonal and step with capturing any diagonal on the level or triagonal.
BISHOPs step triagonal, slide diagonal on the level.
ROOKs slides orthogonal.
KNIGHTs leap one orthogonal then one diagonal.
QUEEN steps triagonal, slides orthogonal or diagonal on the level.
KING steps orthogonal, diagonal on the level or triagonal.
All pieces may only change Fixed Levels by way of the Attack Platforms. Knights are permitted to leap to, from and between Attack Platforms but must either pass through or from an Attack Platform to change Fixed Levels.
The game is won by checkmating the opponent King.
Check out the Kobayashi Maru Variant of ST3D Chess. |
