Comments/Ratings for a Single Item

Very interesting.

I've always loved the ancient games. Even wrote a Zillions file for
Latrunculi from rules interpretated by Dr. Ulrich Shaeder. Added a variant
of my own. ;-)

I noted that the site included thousands of beads and pieces of pottery.
Was there a board found with the pieces? Else I might jump to the
conclusion that these might simply be the products of manufacturer of
household odds and ends. And may not represent either a complete or
intended game set. Just think of all the little figurines that people still
collect for no reason except for display and accumulation.

But still, it could be very fun to work up some form of play with this set.
It notes that the field might be based on number four. I would stick to
movement and captures based on other ancient games. A few modern tweaks
might help to liven the game, so such potentials should not be totally
disregarded.

Is anyone interested in giving such a project a try?

Hi, Larry. I was always a sucker for a collaboration. The thing that struck
me as a false note was something you commented on, too - the "based on 4"
bit. They would, I suspect, say chess was based on 2, because the main
pieces come in pairs, and the pawns are a multiple of 2. The other thing
that bothered me most was that there are 2 "styles" (at least) to the
'game' pieces. The pillar pieces are more crudely carved/finished than
the pyramid or pig, for example. The final bit, of course, is that the
coloration doesn't indicate game pieces, at least to moderns. So, sure,
what did you have in mind?

According to the picture we have:

4 pyramids
4 light 'bullets'
8 dark 'bullets'
3 pigs or boars
4 dogs?
1 grey glob
1 black glob
3 striped spheres
2 black discs
3 white speres

Now, it would not be necessary to use all--or even the same quantity--of
any of these pieces.

But my first impression is a game similar to Hounds and Jackals. Boars and
Dogs. The other pieces being modifiers to the playing field or goal
pieces.

The playing field could be Senet-like. A race track with multiple
branchings. This will allow the other pieces to be used as 'blockers' or
'modifiers'.

For example, the pyramids might simply deflect the approaching piece to
adjacent tracks. Or block, according to its facing.

The 'globs' might represent each players goal piece that would need
protection.

I'll stop my speculation here. And allow others to present a few ideas of
their own. Needless to say(but I will anyway), my suggestion should not be
considered dogma. Anyone should feel free to express alternative
applications.

One note: Ancient games often used dice. Would such be a part of this
game?

"One note: Ancient games often used dice. Would such be a part of this
game?"
Based on what you've laid out, absolutely. And I totally agree with the
pyramids being blocks; that's exactly how I saw them when I looked at the
pieces after reading the article. As moving pieces, wazir to R3 is all I
could see them as... although orientation could be important. The pyramid
shape could have 2 distinct orientations in a square, and would thus block
or deflect left or right. 

You might use a few kinds of racing pieces, and throw a few dice,
apportioning results of the die rolls as you see fit. It might be nice to
have fewer dice than pieces, to make the choices more interesting. If you
can move a block out of your way and/or into the other guy's but it costs
you a move elsewhere...

On the other hand, looking at the center and lower left of the picture, I
saw pigs, dogs, truffles and baskets. So I'll stop there, and let someone
else have at it next. Enjoy!

I have a theory (and it might not be original) that board games began as
tally fields for dice games. As the pieces began to interact, player
developed rules: such as captures, displacement, etc.

This might also account for the introduction of specific pieces to the
field to note a particular roll. A six or double could offer a multiplier.

And reaching the end of a track would result in promotion. Allowing for the
dice game to continue on a limited track.

I'm thinking of a circular field for this potential game. Each ring being
a seperate track. Shifting from such tracks according to conditions. The
goal being to place a specific piece on the center cell.

The outer ring could be the introduction point. Rolls could determine place
and piece. Modifier pieces would shift moving pieces in and out of the
concentric rings. Including off-board.

The number of cells for each ring might be baseed on the potential dice. I
thinking that those discs would serve for this purpose. Flat on one side
and curved on the other. A toss could be denoted as 1 for curved side up
and 2 for flat side up. With two discs, this offers a roll of 2, 3, or 4.
Doubles might allowed additional rolls. My concern would be the odds of
tossing these particular pieces. Would their dynamics result in common
orientation, such as flat side always being down?

Another idea for dice could be four-sided sticks.

I like the Pretwa playing field. Though I might opt for an eight spoke
wheel instead of six. And to further the multiple of four: eight rings.
With the center point making a final ninth on the spokes.

I also like the idea of playing on points instead of cells. This might
offer a better perspective, particularly if the pyramids are used as
blockers/deflectors.

=====================================================

Within each of us is a piece of the Great Truth hidden by Creation. It will
only be fully revealed when we truly know and understand one another.

--Anonymous Revelation

I have implemented Pretwa and other Indian war games on the following link.
These are rather naive games, nothing like chess.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/indian_wg.htm
/Mats

Kudos, Mats.

Sorry for the delay. I had to check out those games.

Being a fan of both abstract and ancient games, I found these board games
quite enjoyable. Simplicity should never be considered a negative.

=============================================================

I have been thinking that the 'bullet' pieces could act as blockers on
the field. Their introduction could be the result of a specific action
during the play, such as a capture. They also should be movable, or
re-movable, under certain conditons to prevent the play from reaching a
stale position.