DragonChess is a game that closely resembles chess.
DragonChess is a one-of-a-kind game that was invented by the legendary Gary Gygax and first appeared in Dragon Magazine #100 in August 1985. Most famously known as the creator of the role-playing game (Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons, Gygax gifted the world with this three-dimensional chess variant where the pieces are characters and monsters from the Dungeons and Dragons realm.
It's worth noting that the issue of the same magazine also features a short story written by Gygax himself named "At Moonset Blackcat Comes." The protagonist in the story, Gord, who appears in other Gygax works, plays some rounds of DragonChess against an anonymous player, and this game serves as an exciting element of the story.
DragonChess deserves recognition not just for its novelty, but also for its subtle nods and tributes to other historical chess variants. Gygax's mention of Chatranj, a predecessor of modern chess, highlights his knowledge of different chess derivatives. The game also does not allow pawns to move twice in their first move, a tribute to Chatranj, which might make the game slower but adds to its authenticity.
The game is played on three 8x12 boards stacked on top of each other, representing the sky, the ground, and the underworld. The bottom right corner of all three boards is white, and each cell is noted by the board number, file letter, and rank number. The pieces are all represented by their initial letter, with the exception of the Dragon, which is referred to as the letter 'R' to distinguish it from the Dwarf.
In conclusion, DragonChess is an amusing and exciting game that all enthusiasts and hobbyists of Dungeons and Dragons and chess should try out. It's no wonder that this incredible game is a registered trademark, owned by its owner, whether that is TSR or Gary Gygax.
It's worth noting that the issue of the same magazine also features a short story written by Gygax himself named "At Moonset Blackcat Comes." The protagonist in the story, Gord, who appears in other Gygax works, plays some rounds of DragonChess against an anonymous player, and this game serves as an exciting element of the story.
DragonChess deserves recognition not just for its novelty, but also for its subtle nods and tributes to other historical chess variants. Gygax's mention of Chatranj, a predecessor of modern chess, highlights his knowledge of different chess derivatives. The game also does not allow pawns to move twice in their first move, a tribute to Chatranj, which might make the game slower but adds to its authenticity.
The game is played on three 8x12 boards stacked on top of each other, representing the sky, the ground, and the underworld. The bottom right corner of all three boards is white, and each cell is noted by the board number, file letter, and rank number. The pieces are all represented by their initial letter, with the exception of the Dragon, which is referred to as the letter 'R' to distinguish it from the Dwarf.
In conclusion, DragonChess is an amusing and exciting game that all enthusiasts and hobbyists of Dungeons and Dragons and chess should try out. It's no wonder that this incredible game is a registered trademark, owned by its owner, whether that is TSR or Gary Gygax.
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