Larry Smith wrote on Thu, Aug 22, 2013 04:21 AM UTC:
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.
