Šogimī

An ancient game, representing the great hunt (in progress), Šogimī is a strategy game requiring three players, and a board either 7, 11, or 13 tiles square; the size of the board indicates the level of challenge for the players, larger boards equate to greater difficulty. Two players sit across from one another, representing the hunters, the third sits in the middle, representing the herd.

The size of the board dictates some elements of the game, primarily for the herd player. Hunter players always begin play with five hunters apiece, no more and no less. The herd player always starts with one large piece, representing the dominant breeding male of the herd, he then gets either 6, 10, or 12 additional tiles of two sizes, medium and small, respectively for 7, 11, or 13 tile square boards. The herd player has the following constraints on herd makeup that at least one in three (2, 3, or 4) and no more than half (3, 5, or 6) pieces must be small, representing calves, the remaining will be medium tiles representing females, and/or non-dominant males in the herd.

Each player determines their initial formation, configuration, and location on the board, starting with the herd player, then both hunter players. The only requirement for all players being, pieces acting as part of a larger formation must have a single piece initially located along the side facing the player, or if spaced out placed singularly, they must all fall along the edge closest to the player. Hunter players have a further stipulation, they may not place any of their hunters within three tiles of any beast in this initial setup.

The goal is for the hunters, the two-side player to control the herd, separate an animal and push or drag it to the side of the board, either side will do, and the first player to do so, is the winner. Alternatively, if the herd, center player can make it off the opposite side of the board intact, then the third player wins, the hunters go home hungry. As a final alternative, the hunters do not have to operate independently, they can work as a team, but they are not allowed to openly discuss their individual tactics, one must adjust to the tactics of the other in hopes of a larger victory.

Constraints on tile movements and different numbers of hunters on a target to control it dictate the rules. Hunter players have two movement options, they may either move each piece independently a single square, diagonals are not valid movement in this instance, or they may, move a group of three or larger a single direction, two tiles, or spaces, including a single space diagonally. Herd players may move their pieces independently, two tiles in straight lines or one tile diagonally, or they move a minimum of half the herd three spaces in a direction or two spaces diagonally.

Furthermore, several hunters must be adjacent to a beast to “control” it; three for calves, five for medium cows or nondominant males, and seven for the dominant bull, meaning both hunters must work together to control the dominant male on the board. Anytime, these minimums are not met, on the herd players turn, he may remove a hunter from the board, having been trampled, gored, or otherwise incapacitated or killed by the adjacent beast.