Hi.
In Robert Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' series, there is mention of a
chess-like game called 'Sha'rah.' A cursory web search reveals no
attempt at devising rules for the game.
The info I have is from the series' ninth book 'Path of Daggers,' in
which a villain contemplates a Sha'rah board and pieces as an allegory
for the world situation.
The scene gives us the following game details:
1) The board is 13x13
2) 33 red, 33 green and 1 black-and-white shared piece - the 'Fisher'.
3) The game is complex.
4) The board is checkered black and white, but a green and red checkered
'goal row' surrounds the playing area.
5) Only the black-and-white 'Fisher' piece can move onto the goal row.
6) The 'Fisher' starts on the central square of the board.
7) Any piece can threaten the goal row, however.
8) Players attempt to capture the Fisher.
9) Capture of the Fisher makes it 'yours' to move until it is captured
by the enemy.
10) Three ways to win:
1) Move the Fisher onto a square of your color on your opponent's
end of the board.
2) Force your opponent to move the Fisher onto any 'goal row'
square of your color.
3) (of the third object) '...victory coming only with complete
annihilation of your enemy.'
11) Several pieces have 'varying moves.'
12) The Fisher's attributes alter according to the color square it stands
on:
1) On a white square, 'weak in attack yet agile and far-ranging in
escape.'
2) On a black square, 'strong in attack yet slow and vulnerable.'
13) The Fisher is always rendered as a 'man, a bandage blinding his eyes
and one hand pressed to his side, a few drops of blood dripping through
his fingers.'
That's all the information I can glean from the book's prologue. Perhaps
there is more rule-revealing info later in the book or in subsequent
books...I haven't gotten there yet. But from the rules already presented,
it seems like it could make for a fascinating game.
-Roger
Hi. In Robert Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' series, there is mention of a chess-like game called 'Sha'rah.' A cursory web search reveals no attempt at devising rules for the game. The info I have is from the series' ninth book 'Path of Daggers,' in which a villain contemplates a Sha'rah board and pieces as an allegory for the world situation. The scene gives us the following game details: 1) The board is 13x13 2) 33 red, 33 green and 1 black-and-white shared piece - the 'Fisher'. 3) The game is complex. 4) The board is checkered black and white, but a green and red checkered 'goal row' surrounds the playing area. 5) Only the black-and-white 'Fisher' piece can move onto the goal row. 6) The 'Fisher' starts on the central square of the board. 7) Any piece can threaten the goal row, however. 8) Players attempt to capture the Fisher. 9) Capture of the Fisher makes it 'yours' to move until it is captured by the enemy. 10) Three ways to win: 1) Move the Fisher onto a square of your color on your opponent's end of the board. 2) Force your opponent to move the Fisher onto any 'goal row' square of your color. 3) (of the third object) '...victory coming only with complete annihilation of your enemy.' 11) Several pieces have 'varying moves.' 12) The Fisher's attributes alter according to the color square it stands on: 1) On a white square, 'weak in attack yet agile and far-ranging in escape.' 2) On a black square, 'strong in attack yet slow and vulnerable.' 13) The Fisher is always rendered as a 'man, a bandage blinding his eyes and one hand pressed to his side, a few drops of blood dripping through his fingers.' That's all the information I can glean from the book's prologue. Perhaps there is more rule-revealing info later in the book or in subsequent books...I haven't gotten there yet. But from the rules already presented, it seems like it could make for a fascinating game. -Roger