Re: cathedral

["Michael Sammut" <mvsammut@hotmail.com>]

Hi All,

<bit long (but extremely interesting) e-mail following:>
;)
(Is there a discussion forum set up for this, yet?!)

I too think that Cathedral (or Towns? ...or something!!)
would be great on PBeM! We could even use a Town Hall
as the main building (sorry, I digress)!

> >Yes, we have, and it'd not be too hard a program to >do, but the notation 
>is an issue.  Is there a standard >notation for the X piece?
>
>Yes, actually, there is one. Just look at:
>http://www.cathedral-game.co.nz/onlineplay.htm
>

Had a look at this site, pretty good...
But it got me thinking...

1. Is it necessary to have such a large board, or pieces?
After a piece has been placed, it is merely aesthetic which
one it was, as long as it helps enclose an area.

2. As it would be on PBeM, all remaining pieces (Dark and
Light) should be displayed. Some people could keep a track
of them at home/work anyway, so this would keep it fair!

3. Positioning could be denoted by the left-most top-row
corner of the piece. This would make it less prone to work
out each pieces new 'focus' after rotations.

4. Rotation notation was good. But by seeing the pieces
in the 'dugout' displayed facing North, and a mini-compass
to assist directions, I think it would be pretty clear -
even if my description ain't! (See below for example)

5. Move Notation was v.good.


In Summary, my suggestion are:

Board:
------
     A B C D E F G H I J
    ---------------------
1 | . . . . . . . . . . |
2 | . . X . . . . . . . |
3 | . . X X . . . . . . |
4 | . . . X O . . . . . |
5 | . . . O O O . C . . |
6 | . . . . O C C C C . |
7 | . . . . . . . C . . |
8 | . . . . . . . . . . |
9 | . . . . . . . . . . |
10| . . . . . . . . . . |
    ---------------------

Pieces Remaining:
X's:
----
CA IN  MA  B S T T
XX  X  XXX X X X X
X  XXX  X  X X
XX  X      X

O's:
----
CA AB MA  B S S T T
OO O  OOO O O O O O
O  OO  O  O O O
OO  O     O

Compass:
----------
  N
W + E
  S

Notation:
---------
CA n A4

Translation:
------------
Castle - Facing North - Location A,4

eg: A MAw (MAnsion West) would turn the MAnsion to face West:
QOO   Q
O  = OO
      O

Making the top-left the new focus (denoted by Q).

----

I also think that the most challenging programming task would
be monitoring the 'enclosed' areas, and taking pieces that
are surrounded.

Suggestions? Comments?

Have fun,
Michael
(UID: Onyx)

--
"So nerr..."


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