**************************************************************************** ** ** ** NOTE: The Savoy rules do not work properly as they currently stand, ** ** as games end in stalemates if players mutually pin each other. ** ** ** ** Please play Spiro instead, a similar game in which this ** ** problem is fixed. ** ** ** ****************************************************************************
Welcome to the network Savoy server. The challenge command is described here.
Other commands are
the same as for all pbmserv games.
savoy challenge [-stack=number] [-even=number] [-step=number] userid1
userid2
starts a new game for two players.
The -stack parameter specifies the number of pieces to start with, stacked on the cell farthest from the pieces' home (default -stack=6).
The -even parameter specifies the number of pieces to start with, distributed evenly across the home area farthest from the pieces' home.
The -step parameter specifies the number of pieces to start with, distributed in steps within the home area farthest from the pieces' home.
Savoy is a race game for two players, similar to Plakoto (a Backgammon variant) played upon a figure-of-eight path.
Equipment: Each player has six pieces showing their direction (Right or Left) and acces to two six-sided dice. Each player owns the three end cells that lie in their direction (their home).
Aim: The game is won by the first player to get all of their pieces home.
Start: Players start with their pieces stacked across the board from their home, as shown below. Players roll a die each to determine order of play. The player with the highest roll uses that die for the opening move, thereafter all players roll two dice per move.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
+----------+
10 / . . \ 10
/ . . \
/ +----+ \
9 + / \ + 9
/ . / \ . \
/ + + \
8 | / \ | 8
| | | |
+-------+----+----+----+----+----+ . .+----+----+-LL-+
7 / . . . . . . | | . . LL |7
/ . . . . . . | | . . LL |
/ +----+----+----+----+----+----+ . .+----+----+----+
6 + / | | | |
/ . / | | / | R home: 234 6
/ + + . .+ + /
5 L home: 234 | / | | / . /
| | | | / + 5
+-RR-+----+----+----+----+----+----+ . .+----+----+ /
4| RR . . . . . . | | . . /
| RR . . . . . . | | . . / 4
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ . .+----+-------+
| | | |
3 | \ / | 3
\ + + /
\ . \ / . /
2 + \ / + 2
\ +----+ /
\ . . /
1 \ . . / 1
+----------+
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
Movement: Each turn, the current player must move one or more of their pieces according to the dice pips shown. A double entitles the player to use twice the number of pips.
Pieces must move the number of pips shown in any direction allowed by the cell in which they start the move. Pieces on crossings may move in any of four directions, while pieces on all other cells may only move in either of two directions, as shown below.
| | | |
+-------+----+----+----+----+----+ . .+--
/ . . . . . . | |
/ . <----R----> . . . | |
/ +----+----+----+----+----+----+ . .+--
+ / | | | |
/ . / | | / |
/ + + . .+ + /
| / | | / . /
| | | ^ | / +
--+----+----+----+----+----+ | .+----+----+ /
. . . . . | | | . . /
. . . . . <----R----> . . /
--+----+----+----+----+----+ | .+----+-------+
| | | | |
| \ / v |
\ + + /
\ . \ / . /
Once a direction is chosen, the piece must follow the path continuously throughout its move; it may not make sharp turns mid-way through the move even if it steps onto a crossing. If a piece can reach the same cell via a different number of steps depending which direction it takes, the player may choose whichever direction they prefer.
Capture: If a piece lands on a single differently coloured piece, then the singleton is pinned until the player moves off it, as per Plakoto. Pieces may jump over but not land on any stack owned by a differently coloured piece.
Pieces may stack on same-coloured pieces to any height.
A player who cannot move is forced to pass until they can move again. There is no voluntary passing.
Simply stepping forwards each turn will traverse the full path and take a long time to get pieces home. Instead, crossings allow shortcuts that can bypass segments of the path.
Crossings are also strong cells to occupy as they threaten four lines of attack at once; the two central crossings are especially powerful. Creating blocks on crossings is usually a good play, and conversely leaving singleton pieces on crossings can be dangerous as this gives the opponent the greatest chance of pinning them.
Beware of bounce-back in which a single remaining piece close to home is forced to move a long way backwards if both dice overshoot the home area.
The fact that pieces cannot turn corners during a move means that any piece releasing a pin will be threatened by the released piece next turn, unless it lands on a safe stack.
The first player only gets one die for the opening move to reduce any first move advantage. In fact, an opening roll of 5 can be a bad start in Savoya, and an opening roll of 3 can be a bad start in Savoy if the opponent is lucky enough to roll a double 6 next turn.
Savoy is at heart a non-linear version of Plakoto. Savoy provides a gentle introduction to this concept, while the larger version called Savoya provides scope for more complex battles to occur.
The move syntax is:
savoy move board# userid
password a4-c4
savoy move board# userid password a4-c4,g4-h4
savoy move board# userid password 3xg7-j7,e4-b4
Savoy and Savoya board designs and rules copyright (c) Cameron Browne 2006.
The game is called Savoy as the figure-of-eight knot is also known as the savoy knot. It was originally called Genuflect as the paths cross themselves repeatedly.
The official Savoy/Savoya page can be found at http://members.optusnet.com.au/helen.gilbert/savoy/savoy-1.htm.