Branches & Twigs & Thorns: Difference between revisions

Content added Content deleted
No edit summary
Line 22: Line 22:
}}
}}


==Summary==
'''Branches & Twigs & Thorns''' (AKA ''BTT'' and formerly known as ''Barsoomite Go'') is [[Andrew Plotkin]]'s refined version of [[Martian Go]], tweaked to produce fewer tied games and a bit less of a first-mover advantage. Instead of automatically occupying the center of the [[chessboard]], the root is placed wherever the non-first player wishes (or the second pair of players in a 4-player game). The first player (and the second, in 4-player) places a "null" to which no one may point. Also, scoring is a bit funnier: not only does the player who placed lose points equal to the size of the target of the placement, but the owner of the target ''gains'' points equal to the size of the hapless pointer. (This is all tracked with tokens.)
'''Branches & Twigs & Thorns''' (AKA ''BTT'' and formerly known as ''Barsoomite Go'') is [[Andrew Plotkin]]'s refined version of [[Martian Go]], tweaked to produce fewer tied games and a bit less of a first-mover advantage.

==Materials==
*Chessboard (exact layout of the board depends on number of players)
*15 pyramids in a [[Stash]] for each player, each in a distinct color
*Small tokens to represent the root (must fit on a chessboard square)
*Small tokens to represent the null (must fit on a chessboard square)

==Rules==
In general, players take turns placing their pyramids lying down on the squares of a chessboard until the board is full. Points are distributed based on what direction their pyramids point. The game plays differently enough with different playcounts that it's best to split the rules up by that factor.

===2-Player Game===
===3-Player Game===
===4-Player Game===
===5-Player Game===

Instead of automatically occupying the center of the [[chessboard]], the root is placed wherever the non-first player wishes (or the second pair of players in a 4-player game). The first player (and the second, in 4-player) places a "null" to which no one may point. Also, scoring is a bit funnier: not only does the player who placed lose points equal to the size of the target of the placement, but the owner of the target ''gains'' points equal to the size of the hapless pointer. (This is all tracked with tokens.)


BTT can be played with other numbers of players when played on Eeyore's [[Chessboard_wedge|chessboard wedges]]. [[User:Cerulean|Cerulean]] observes that a 7 x 7 square board is also good for three players, with two nulls and two roots.
BTT can be played with other numbers of players when played on Eeyore's [[Chessboard_wedge|chessboard wedges]]. [[User:Cerulean|Cerulean]] observes that a 7 x 7 square board is also good for three players, with two nulls and two roots.