If you are interested, keep reading.
FOOTBAG CHESS
One thing that footbag and chess have in comon, is that both games are played at a very moderate competitive level. What I mean by this, is that even the pros that are really good at the games get done with a competition or tournament, and no matter who wins, they all win cause they are doing something they like.
But footbag lacks a certain type of competitive edge. This might change things. Albeit, chess is a pretty slow game, and games can take hours to complete. Not everyone would like to be standing around waiting for someone to move a piece. So how do we speed it up and make it more exciting, while keeping the strategy elements alive and kicking (no pun intended)?
You become the piece, and shred to battle each other!
I know, probly sounds absolutely retarded right now. Bear with me while I explain the process, and who shreds who and why.
The Game Mechanics
It works like chess. If you know how to play chess, you could easily play this game. Footbag players take the spots of the chess pieces, and adopt their starting position (for a full game, more on this later on) and adhere to the pieces moving capabilities. Two teams of 16 people, eight power pieces and eight novice pieces per side. A person must take the role of a piece. For smaller games, the pawns (novice players) could be taken out. For even smaller games, the pawns, one rook, one knight, one bishop and queen could be eliminated.
Teamplay and competition are evident in a full game, each team would need to work out a strategy to defeat the opposing force. But first, we need a battleground!
1) Battle Lines are Drawn!
The only major problem with this game, is that you need space. You would need 64 x (5' x 5') squares to adequately hold a full game of 32 people. Smaller games would only need 48 squares (eliminating two lines that the pawns were previously occupying, and for even smaller games you would still need at least 16 squares. Squares could be drawn on the pavement with chalk, or even better, you could find an outdoor park, with adequately sized stones. I know I have seen outdoor live chess boards, but im not going to get into that. If you don't believe me;
http://www.extremes.com/ent/mgames/
2) Assigning Pieces to Players
Each player is a piece. Players could draw from a hat, but it all comes down to tactics. The king has to be able to defend himself, but would a good player make a better agressive player like a queen? Offence or defence? It is your descision. Once each team has assembled a team and placed the pieces on the board in the appropriate fashion (see 2a for details on game placement) it is time to do battle!
2a) Example Setups
3) Movement in Footbag Chess
Movement is idendical to normal chess. Each team moves one piece per turn. The team whos turn it is may decide to timeout, where each player drops his or her footbag on their square, huddles and decides that turns move, or the plan of action for the next few rounds. If a team huddles, the opponent team would need to stand on their square, so the team who is scheming can see their layout. Time restrictions for timeouts, or the amount of time outs a team can take could be restricted at the begining of a match. House rules can also be implimented such as movement restrictions of 4 or 5 spaces (disregarding pawns and knights). Each team would go on until a battle was waged.
4) Battle Ensues!
How would battle work, you ask? In chess, if a piece was able to take or occupy a square, they did so and that was the end of it. Not so in Footbag Chess. when a piece or square is about to be taken over, the two parties involved have a shred off. Two methods could be used; Shred 30, where the two parties try to rack up as many adds as they can in 30 seconds, or, a sick three competition! Rules could be applied, where drops count against you, or you only have one chance to 'do your best' in the sick three. House rules aside, this would be pretty awesome to see a sick three or shred 30 to claim the small victory of a square, and a step towards the greater victory over your opponent. If the attacking piece wins the matchup, that piece takes the square. If the defending player wins, he stays on that square and the attacking player is removed. The attacking player always shreds first. Always.
Other rules could be instated, such as certain pieces can only do shred 30, and others can only do sick 3, or just one or the other, or pawns (novice players) can double their adds (1 and two adds only).
Win, Loss, Win.
To win, you must out shred the king. If this is achieved at any time, the game is won by the team whose player beat the other teams king in a shred 30 or sick three.
Strategy is needed, as it is in Chess. To defend, to attack, to play it safe, or to make some sacrifices. Playing a game of chess with 16 people trying to decide where to move might seem like a pain, but think of the teamwork skills, and compare it to football; it is more similar in game style to football then to chess. Make a play, huddle, re-assess game plan, make a play...
1) Discrepancies, Errors, Fouls
When a player is out, he or she needs to help establish order on the battlefield. Adds might need to be counted, scores for sick three need to be counted and other referee jobs that might need to be done. A foul might occour if a house rule implies that players may not shred outside of their square. People would need to have eyes on the square to see this.
2) Prizes and Awards
Thanks to the internet, we could establish a network of worldwide footbag chess rankings, and have games for fun at jams and tourneys. Development of this as a side venture to freestyle and net is open to everyone. I believe that it could be fast paced with the right tuning and rules, and everyone could enjoy it.
3) Where From Here?
The table is open from here on in people. I would like to know what your thoughts are on this idea, new ideas, changes you would make, wether or not it is even feasable to do something like this.
We could always take out the movement restrictions based upon pieces, and call it 60Four Square!!
I would write more, but my fingers are sore, my eyes are bleeding and it's 3:15am.
Peace and Good Shred
~ Dex
Wow indeed! This is so cool!
