Comments/Ratings for a Single Item

I have made a note to add Michael Schmahl's concise statement to the
rules, i.e., A catapult can launch a piece occupying it to an empty square
on the same rank or file. It cannnot launch diagonally.  Note that the
rules do have examples of legal Catapult moves and launches.   On a
different note, a reminder that the first checkmate problem has an
error... the Catapult on E2 should have a Pawn on it.

can i assume that:

1. a bridge builder can move onto a bridge, and from there add/remove
adjacent bridges? 

2. a bridge builder can cross a bridge, and from there add/remove bridges
to the river on the 3 squares 'behind' him?

To answer Carlos:

1. Yes, a bridge builder can move onto a bridge, and from there add/remove
adjacent bridges.  2. Yes, a bridge builder can cross a bridge, and from
there add/remove bridges to the river on the 3 squares'behind' him
[adjacent to him].  But he can only do 'one' add or delete at a time. 
Also note that a bridge builder can remove a bridge that an opponent's
piece is standing on.  That piece effectively 'falls into the river' and
is removed.

A Catapult carrying a Pawn on the far rank?  Let me quote the rules:

'...upon reaching the last rank, a Pawn is immediately promoted to an
Archer....'

Unless the remaining rules state otherwise, all specific rules are usually
considered absolute.  Privileges are given, not assumed.

'Broken link? ' For the Week ending Feb 22 lisiting
in What's New I looked at ' Games for Game Courier.
Updated lists of most popular games . . . by Author:
Fergus Duniho.'  I looked at the page to see what
games are played the most and saw Catapults of Troy
listed in the column for one of the games most often
played in the last 90 days.  I then clicked on the
Catapults of Troy link [in that list] and got the
following message:  ' Not Found The requested
URL /pbm/presets/catapults_of_troy.html.html was not
found on this server. Additionally, a 404 Not Found
error was encountered while trying to use an
ErrorDocument to handle the request.' 

I then checked several other game links in the
list... those links checked worked.  I then
checked CoT in CV's alphabetical listing. 
That worked.

Here is what I would do to lower the number of draws:

• Archers, in the interest of minimizing friendly fire, will not fire (capture) when on the friendly side of the river.
• Archers can leap on to or off of the Troy horse any time, as part of their normal move.
• Bridge builders can not capture nor be catpured. Any piece, friendly or enemey, can slide through the bridge builder as if the bridge builder was not there; it is illegal, however, to land in the square that the bridge builder occupies.
• A bridge builder can not destroy a bridge that is adjacent to the opponent's bridge builder.
• Bridge builders move like chess queens.

Sam Wrote: This game seems too drawish; it is too hard to launch an attack
and too easy to defend. The fact that three out of eight games played on
Game Courier ended in draws seems to support this contention. 

Response: I think the draws indicate that (a) the game is somewhat
balanced.  (b) no one has yet mastered the game.  In fact, in 1 of those
draws I was very lucky to avoid a loss.  I was about to lose but I
Catapulted my King onto Carlos Carlos's side of the board where my King
was safe.  So, that little oversight created a draw. And, if we used the
Sam T. idea of archers over there not being able to shoot... guess what,
that makes the game more drawish, not less.  But anyway, remove my lucky
draw and we have only 1 out of 4 draws.  Also, I have played a large
number of games against Antoine Fourrière's ZRF.  And guess what?  No
draws for me.  Not one.  I win or I lose.

I watched a USCF chess expert play the ZRF... he was amazed by the game
and he lost over and over again.

Also, it must be remembered that the CoT games at CV are played with time
delays, usually of several days.  In such games outright blunders (seen in
over-the-board play) are much less common.

As for the ideas to improve the game, I appreciate the comments but do not
care to implement any changes.  I think the game works well as it is.... in
fact, I think it works extremely well.

Note that the ZRF does have a setup option which was suggested by 
Antoine Fourrière.  I had no problems with Antoine's idea (see the ZRF)
and think he did a great job with the Catapults of Troy zillions program. 
If you play it at a decent level I doubt very much that you will see lots
of draws.

I have notice a trend to de-value games based upon their potential for
draws.  Draws are not, in themselves, a negative.  There is always the
potential for such to be judged according to material or position. So 
a player might obtain a draw, but might lose according to their material 
or position.

The draw  question should be whether a player might through a set of
specific moves force a draw from the start of a game, not whether any
potential draw is possible.  In other words, by achieving a particular
position on the field the player is able to prevent the opponent from 
ever achieving the stated capture goal of the game.

And as stated, a draw-ish game is not, by its nature, 'broken', it can
still be evaluated by material or position if the players desire.  Though
if it is possible to force a draw each and every game, the stated capture
goal might be considered inconsequential or at the least merely an
influence during the game.

I apologize to Gary for my rant.

Adrian - You state: 'In the mate problem, after Ram to h1, can't the King move onto the catapult at e2?'  
Answer: Yes; And the fact that you noticed the escape is very good.  It was also pointed out by Ed (last name not known) in 2003.

In December of 2003 I commented that White's C2 Catapult should really be a 'Catapult/Pawn' combo piece.  With the piece correction White does not have that unintended escape.

Unlike newer games, I cannot access the rules page to fix it.  

Best regards, Gary

Few clarifications from Gary:

1) Troy Horse can leave an Archer on a bridge square.
2) Ram can shoot from Catapult. After this Ram must be removed from the board, Catapult must remain on the board.

Very interesting game of Catapults: 

http://play.chessvariants.org/pbm/play.php?game=Catapults+of+Troy&log=makov333-nickwolffrated-2009-245-443