Dragonchess was invented by Gary Gygax and
published in Dragon Magazine #100, August 1985.
Gary Gygax is probably best known as the inventor
of the most well known role playing game
(Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons. Dragonchess is a
three-dimensional chess variant, where the pieces
are actually characters and monsters from the
Dungeons and Dragons setting. In the same issue of
Dragon Magazine, one also finds a short story by
Gary Gygax, titled At Moonset Blackcat Comes.
Interestingly, Gord, the hero of this fantasy
story, (also appearing in other works of Gygax),
plays some games of Dragonchess against a
mysterious opponent. When Gord sees the board, he
says:
I have played at Chatranj before, but this board is far different.
His future opponent replies:
Chess has many forms, ... but all are similar, too.
Besides this being a nice quote, the above also shows
that Gygax has been aware of more chess variants.
His mentioning of Chatranj, (a different spelling
of Shatranj), is also interesting. The fact that
pawns do not have an initial double move in
Dragonchess probably is Gygax tribute to this
ancient predecessor of chess as we know it; quite
fitting for a game supposed to be played in a
fantasy world, although players may find that this
slows the game.
The following description of the game was written by
Edward Jackman, with some final editing done by
Hans Bodlaender. The description below addresses
some ambiguities and typos in the original
description of Gygax.
Dragonchess is a trademark, owned by its owner (which
might be TSR or Gary Gygax.)
Rules
DRAGONCHESS is played on 3 8x12 boards stacked above
each other. The near right corner of all three
boards is white. The top board represents the sky,
the middle board the ground and the bottom board
the underworld. Here is the starting setup:
The Top Board
8 - - g - - - r - - - g -
7 s - s - s - s - s - s -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 S - S - S - S - S - S -
1 - - G - - - R - - - G -
The Middle Board
8 o u h t c m k p t h u o
7 w w w w w w w w w w w w
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 W W W W W W W W W W W W
1 O U H T C M K P T H U O
The Bottom Board
8 - - b - - - e - - - b -
7 - d - d - d - d - d - d
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - D - D - D - D - D - D
1 - - B - - - E - - - B -
Algebraic notation is used. A cell is noted by the
board number, file letter and rank number, in that
order. For example, the Gold Elemental (E) in
opening setup starts at 3g1. All pieces are
referred to by their initial letter except the
Dragon which is referred to by the letter R to
distinguish it from the Dwarf.
The GOLD (uppercase) player moves first. The SCARLET (lowercase) player moves second.
Here are the pieces and their moves. In the diagrams,
cells that can be reached by capturing or non-
capturing moves are marked 'x'. Cells that can be
reached by capturing moves only are marked 'c'.
Cells that can be reached by non-capturing moves
only are marked 'm'. Cells where pieces are frozen
are marked 'f'. Cells where pieces may be captured
from afar are marked 'a'. To distinguish between
the movements of a piece from two or more
positions, [brackets] or {braces} are used around
the pieces and the destination cells.
Top board
Sylph
Moves as a Berolina pawn. When not capturing, it moves
one space diagonally towards the opponent's side.
It may capture by moving directly ahead one space
towards the opponent's side. It may also capture
by moving straight down to the middle board.
While on the middle board, the Sylph cannot move at
all except to make a non-capturing move back to
the top board. It may move to the cell directly
above it OR any empty one of the six home cells
that any friendly Sylph occupied at the start of
the game.
Sylphs do NOT promote.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - m c m - - - - - - -
5 - - - S - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - -[m]- -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 [m]-[m]-[m]-[m]-[m]-[m]-
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - c - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - -[S]- -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Griffin
While on the top board, the Griffin makes an
unblockable move or capture three squares one
direction and then two squares perpendicularly --
for example, a Griffin at 1a1 can move to 1c4 and 1d3.
A Griffin may make an unblockable move or capture from
the top to the middle board by moving to any of
the cells diagonally adjacent to the cell directly below it.
While on the middle board, the Griffin can move or
capture one square diagonally, or return to the
top board by making a unblockable move or capture
to one of the cells diagonally adjacent to the cell above it.
8 - x - - - x - - - - - -
7 x - - - - - x - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - G - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 x - - - - - x - -[x]-[x]
2 - x - - - x - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - -[x]-[x]
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - x - x - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - x - x - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - -[x]-[x]
2 - - - - - - - - - -[G]-
1 - - - - - - - - -[x]-[x]
Dragon
The Dragon cannot move off the top board. It may move
or capture with the power of a chess Bishop or King.
Instead of moving, the Dragon has the additional power
of 'capturing from afar'. To do this, the Dragon
does not move and one enemy piece that is either
in the cell directly below the Dragon or
orthogonally adjacent to the cell below the Dragon
is removed from the board. The Dragon MAY NOT move
and capture from afar in the same turn!
8 - - x - - - - - x - - -
7 - - - x - - - x - - - -
6 - - - - x x x - - - - -
5 - - - - x R x - - - - -
4 - - - - x x x - - - - -
3 - - - x - - - x - - - -
2 - - x - - - - - x - - -
1 - x - - - - - - - x - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - a - - - - - -
5 - - - - a a a - - - - -
4 - - - - - a - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Middle board
Oliphant
Moves and captures exactly like a Rook in chess. It
never leaves the middle board.
8 - - - - - x - - - - - -
7 - - - - - x - - - - - -
6 - - - - - x - - - - - -
5 x x x x x O x x x x x x
4 - - - - - x - - - - - -
3 - - - - - x - - - - - -
2 - - - - - x - - - - - -
1 - - - - - x - - - - - -
Unicorn
Moves and captures exactly like a Knight in chess. It
never leaves the middle board.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - x - x - - - - -
5 - - - x - - - x - - - -
4 - - - - - U - - - - - -
3 - - - x - - - x - - - -
2 - - - - x - x - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hero
While on the middle board, the Hero may move or
capture one or two cells diagonally, jumping over
a piece of either color if necessary. The Hero can
also move or capture to the top and bottom boards
by making an unblockable move to a cell diagonally
adjacent to the cell directly above or below it.
While on the top or bottom board, the Hero cannot
move except to return to the middle board by
making an unblockable move or capture to a cell
diagonally adjacent to the cell directly above or
below it as the case may be.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - x - x - - - - - -{H}-
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - x - x - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 x - - - x - - - -{x}-{x}
7 - x - x - - - - - - - -
6 - - H - - - - - -{x}-{x}
5 - x - x - - - - - - - -
4 x - - - x - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - -[x]-[x]
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - -[x]-[x]
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - x - x - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - x - x - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - -[H]-
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thief
Moves and captures exactly like a Bishop in chess. It
never leaves the middle board.
8 - x - - - - - - - x - -
7 - - x - - - - - x - - -
6 - - - x - - - x - - - -
5 - - - - x - x - - - - -
4 - - - - - T - - - - - -
3 - - - - x - x - - - - -
2 - - - x - - - x - - - -
1 - - x - - - - - x - - -
Cleric
The Cleric moves and captures exactly as a chess King
does on whichever board it happens to be on. It
may also move or capture to the cell directly
above or below it.
8 x x x - - - - - - - - -
7 x C x - - - - - - - - -
6 x x x - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - -[x]- - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - x - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - -[x x x]- - - - - -
2 - - -[x[C]x]- - - -{x}-
1 - - -[x x x]- - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - -{x x x}
2 - - - -[x]- - - -{x{C}x}
1 - - - - - - - - -{x x x}
Mage
The Mage moves and captures exactly as a chess Queen
while on the middle board and may also move and
capture to the cell above and below it.
While on the top or bottom board, the Mage may only
move or capture one cell forward, backward, right
or left. It may also move or capture one or two
cells straight up or down. It may NOT leap over a
piece on the middle board while going from top to
bottom or vice versa.
8 -[x]- - - - - - - - - -
7 [x[M]x]- - - - - - - - -
6 -[x]- - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - x - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - -{x}-
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - x - - x - - x - - -
7 -[x]- x - x - x - - - -
6 - - - - x x x - - - - -
5 x x x x x M x x x x x x
4 - - - - x x x - - - - -
3 - - - x - x - x - - - -
2 - - x - - x - - x -{x}-
1 - x - - - x - - - x - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 -[x]- - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - x - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - -{x}-
2 - - - - - - - - -{x{M}x}
1 - - - - - - - - - -{x}-
King
While on the middle board, the King has the normal
move and capture of a chess King and may also move
and capture to the cell above and below it.
While on the top or bottom board, the ONLY thing the
King may do is move or capture to the cell
directly above it or below it back on the middle
board. The King is a sitting duck when driven off
the middle board.
There is no castling move.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 -[K]- - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - x - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 -[x]- - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - x x x - - - - -
5 - - - - x K x - - - - -
4 - - - - x x x - -{x}- -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - x - - -{K}- -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Paladin
The Paladin may move and capture as a chess King or
Knight while on the middle board. It moves and
captures as a chess King while on the top or bottom boards.
It may move or capture from board to board by making a
3d Knight's move -- two cells in any direction and
then one cell in a perpendicular direction. It's
move is unblockable.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 -[x x x]- - - - -{x}- -
6 -[x[P]x]- - - -{x}-{x}-
5 -[x x x]- x - - -{x}- -
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - x - - - x - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - x - - - - - -
8 - -[x]- - - - - -{x}- -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 [x]- - -[x]- -{x}- - -{x}
5 - - - - x - x - - - - -
4 - -[x]x x x x x -{x}- -
3 - - - - x P x - - - - -
2 - - - x x x x x - - - -
1 - - - - x - x - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - -[x]- - - - -{x x x}-
6 -[x]-[x]- - - -{x{P}x}-
5 - -[x]- - x - -{x x x}-
4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 - - - x - - - x - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - x - - - - - -
Warrior
The Warrior has nearly the same move as the chess
Pawn. It may move but not capture one cell
forward. It may a capturing move one cell
diagonally forward. It does NOT have the option of
moving two cells on its first move.
On reaching the opponent's baseline, the Warrior promotes to a Hero only.
It is restricted to the middle board.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - c m c - - - - -
4 - - - - - W - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bottom board
Basilisk
The Basilisk may move or capture one cell directly or
diagonally forward and may also move without
capturing one cell straight backwards.
Though the Basilisk is restricted to the bottom board,
it has the power to freeze any opposing piece on
the cell directly above it on the middle board.
Freezing is automatic whether an opposing piece
moves over the Basilisk or the Basilisk moves
under the opposing piece. Freezing is temporary --
once the Basilisk moves away or is captured, the
frozen piece regains its normal powers.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - f - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - x x x - - - - -
4 - - - - - B - - - - - -
3 - - - - - m - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Elemental
While on the lower board, the Elemental may move or
capture one or two cells orthogonally. (It may NOT
leap over occupied cells.) It may also move but not
capture one cell diagonally.
It may also make a capturing move to the middle board
by moving one cell orthogonally and then one cell
up. The intermediate cell MUST be empty.
The Elemental may not move while on the middle board
except to return to the bottom by moving or
capturing one cell down and then one cell
orthogonally. The intermediate cell MUST be empty.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - x - - - - - - - - -
4 - x - x - - - - -[E]- -
3 - - x - - - - - - - - -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - x - - - - - - - - -
5 - m x m - - - - -[x]- -
4 x x E x x - - -[x]-[x]-
3 - m x m - - - - -[x]- -
2 - - x - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dwarf
While on the bottom or middle board, the Dwarf may
capture one cell diagonally forward or move
without capturing one cell forward or laterally.
It may move up to the middle board by capturing to the
cell directly above.
It may move back to the bottom board by making a non-
capturing move to the cell directly below.
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - - - - - - - -[c m c]-
3 - - c - - - - -[m[D]m]-
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 - c m c - - - - - - - -
3 - m D m - - - - -[m]- -
2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sean Shubin commented:
It seems strange to me that the dwarf in dragonchess
can never move backward. The warrior is fine
because it promotes to a hero, which can move
backwards. Once the dwarves reach the end there is
no tactical use for them in the game, they might
as well have been captured. My solution is to add
a rule that allows the dwarf to reverse his
direction upon reaching either end of the board.
Play the game with the original rules, or add Sean Shubin's rule.
Value of the pieces
Gary Gygax gives these estimations of the relative value of the pieces:
Piece Value
King
-
Mage
11
Paladin
10
Cleric
9
Dragon
8
Griffin
5
Oliphant
5
Hero
4.5
Thief
4
Elemental
4
Basilisk
3
Unicorn
2.5
Dwarf
2
Sylph
1
Warrior
1
I believe that the Dragon is far more powerful than
stated here, in most situations more powerful that
any other piece by a good chunk. It might be a
good idea to reduce its power, restricting its
ability to capture from afar to the square
directly beneath it.
I believe the Paladin is a the second most powerful
piece followed by the Mage. The Hero is probably
more than just a half a Warrior stronger than a
Thief and the Oliphant is more than just half a
Warrior stronger than a Hero.
It is a large game with many pieces and games can be
long and slow. Notice also that in the opening
position, the Dragons can capture an unprotected Sylph.
Good luck and have fun! I hope to build a board and
design pieces for this game soon, I'll let you
know how it turns out! Hopefully I'll have access
to a digital camera then and can post up some pics.
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