New Games in Files Section

["mschoessow" <mikeschoessow@...>]

I just added four piecepack games to the files section for games 
being tested.

All four games are abstract strategy games that play on a 4x4 grid.

All four games are essentially prototypes in the sense that they 
have undergone only very minimal play-testing, in some cases limited 
to just myself playing both sides. In the past, I have not made my 
games public until I had done enough play-testing to be sure the 
game was not broken and played quite well without displaying any 
trivial winning schemes, etc. However, recently it has occured to me 
that I should take advantage of the piecepack community to solicit 
comments at the prototype stage.

In all cases I am interested in comments and feedback by anyone who 
tries one or more of these games.

Descriptions below:

ACTIVATOR

This is a piecepack version of a finished and well received game of 
mine called Catalyst. I made use of piecepack pyramids in place of 
the Ice House pyramids used in Catalyst. Because the piecepack 
pyramids are different from Ice House pyramids, in terms of size 
distribution, the Activator rules are subtly different than the 
Catalyst rules, and this results in some different strategies. 

ENERGIZE

This game requires two piecepack stacks (1/2 of a piecepack) to 
play. It is a game of capture with the movement of the tokens 
(coins) limited by the position of a player's pawn. Token movement 
is based upon the quantity of enemy tokens that a player's pawn is 
adjacent to, or on the same rank or file as.

SPOTTER

This is a capture game, and like Energize, may be played with 1/2 of 
a piecepack (one stack per player). Enemy pieces may only be 
attacked when they are sighted or "spotted" by a player's Spotter 
(pawn).

INFILTRATE

This is a territory game without capturing. It too requires 1/2 of a 
piecepack (one stack per player). The first player to control a 
majority of the occupied spaces within the opponent's territory, 
wins the game.


Thanks to anyone who tries any of these games, and I hope they find 
them either enjoyable or challenging (or both).

-Mike Schoessow