Re: [piecepack] Tim Marches On

[Ron Hale-Evans <rwhe@...>]

Tim marches on indeed!

On Mon, Apr 01, 2002 at 06:52:30PM -0500, Thorn wrote:
> Tim Schutz wrote:
> > I made some minor changes to the piecepack pyramids. I added two > >
more sizes so there is a total of 6 sizes with values assigned to them
in the 4 suits. This was inspired by
>
> > 1) 4 suits in six sizes numbered in a fashion that the largest is the null and the smallest is the 5. This way the null pyramid can hide the pyramids with values if need be. This is the one I went with at this time.
> > 
> > 2) 4 suits in six sizes numbered in a fashion that the smallest is the null and the largest is the 5. This just seems like the proper way to number weights but I prefer this first way.
> > 
> > 3) All the pyramids are the same size. This way you can't tell the value of a pyramid just by looking at it. But it loses some of the stacking possibilities of the different size pyramids.
> 
> Option 3, I would say.  The loss of the sizes aspect is mitigated by the
> fact they're all numbered, anyway.  And all one size, they still stack,
> and still hide their values when stacked.  They DO, don't they?
> 
> But why stress?  Publish a type one, and a type three, and people can
> print what they like.

Yeah, what Thorn said. Standards will out.

I have yet another suggestion.  I would prefer four suits, of three or
four sizes, of six pyramids numbered from Null to 6.  That way a suit
of pyramids (a "stash" in Icehouse terminology) would be either 18 (3
x 6) or 24 (4 x 6) pyramids.  By comparison, an Icehouse stash
(colour) has three sizes of five identical pyramids, for a total of
15.

There are pros and cons for both three and four sizes.  Three sizes
makes it more compatible with Icehouse.  However, four sizes of six
values makes 24 per suit, a nice piecepackish number, as all the 12s
and 24s in the "Time Marches On" contest should demonstrate.  I really
like how well the numbers and values of piecepack components mesh, so
I would recommend a suit of 24.  When we played Sorceror's Chamber on
Saturday with four sizes, though, I had trouble distinguishing between
the two smallest sizes -- something to think about from a usability
point of view.

The advantage to this scheme is that you get to keep the sizes, you
get to keep the values, and you can hide *both* suits *and* values by
turning the pyramids on their sides.

BTW, folks, yes, Tim and I are members of the same gaming group,
Seattle Cosmic.  I'm lucky enough to get to playtest not only his
piecepack games but also his other games, including the ones he writes
for his Alpha Playing Cards game system.  I will be posting the latest
session report tonight or tomorrow, complete with photos of Sorceror's
Chamber and one incarnation of Tim's pyramids in action.  I will post
a link to the list when the session report goes up.

Ron

-- 
         Ron Hale-Evans ... rwhe@... & rwhe@...
           Center for Ludic Synergy, Seattle Cosmic Game Night, 
Kennexions Glass Bead Game &  Positive Revolution FAQ: http://www.ludism.org/
Home page & Hexagram-8 I Ching Mailing List: http://www.apocalypse.org/~rwhe/