💡📝Gary Gifford wrote on Tue, Jan 17, 2006 10:26 PM UTC:
I've given more thought to Larry's suggestion of POM (original 11 x 11
game) having pawns on the fourth rank and Serpents on the right-hand side
of each King. It does seem like it could be a very different game with the
'behind the pawns' manuevers. If anyone is interested in playing that
variation I can quickly adjust the pre-set to create a 'Pillars of
Medusa, L.L. Smith Setup.' Or, if Mr. Smith wants to make such a
pre-set, I have no objection. I must admit that I do not like the green
color pieces, and I wonder if I was on strong cold-medication at the time
I made them. On the plus side, that piece-set has morph-equivalents for
all pieces, and thus, despite the color, are preferable to the alternate
Grand/Great Set pieces (fot this game, that is... certainly not for others).
I just had this idea, which would make for quite a game, but holding zones
would need added to the pre-set. The idea is this: (1) Use the L.L. Smith
Setup. (2) Play the game Shogi-style. Captured pieces change color and
you can drop them. Now that, I think would be a very dynamic game. A
Medusa in-hand, would be very dangerous. If Mr. Smith does not mind, I
think I'd like to make this game and, of course, give him credit for the
setup concept.