IX was a game I invented back in the early 80s. I never created the physical prototype described below (it was my nephew Lorne that figured out the cube design of the Tribe) but played it on a cardboard board and used checkers with dots painted on for the Hunter pieces (piled up for the other pieces.)
Everyone I showed the game to, who liked Chess, enjoyed this game.
I always wanted to get a prototype made but like most ideas in my life I never got around to doing it.
Still it easy to make a set out of cardboard and a couple of checker sets and a dab or two of paint. If you like Chess check it out. Simple to learn, only three pieces, only eight rules, but very difficult to master.
Enjoy.
Piece
Preparation:
Arrange the smallest pieces into 4 sets of 4. Each set of four pieces can be assembled into Pyramids with curved bases. These four Pyramids can be assembled in a cube like object (resembling an old fashioned flashcube). Each Player should have four cubes.
The Board:
The board is a nine space by nine space grid with shallow notches that accommodate the shapes of the three pieces.
Setup:
Players may place their 4 Tribes anywhere along the back row closest to them.
The Standard Setup is on every other space starting from the second space in.
If only one player is using the Standard Setup the other player goes first, otherwise players must decide themselves who goes first.
Play:
1) A turn consists of a player affecting one of his pieces. This will consist of a single move, split or turn. Play alternates turn by turn between players. It is not allowable to skip a turn.
2) The Tribe:
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A turn involving a Tribe piece |
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Move |
Split |
Turn |
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A Tribe may move one space horizontally or vertically. |
A Tribe may split into four Clans taking the diagonal corners. |
A Tribe is not a directional piece. |
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3) The Clan:
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A turn involving a CLAN piece |
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Move |
Split |
Turn |
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A Clan may move one space diagonally. |
A Clan may split into four Hunters taking the horizontal and vertical squares. Hunters are directional pieces. The Hunter’s pointer is initially positioned directly away from the square of the originating Clan (exception: see rule 6). |
A Clan is not a directional piece. |
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4) The Hunter:
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A turn involving a hunter piece |
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Move |
Split |
Turn |
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A Hunter moves one space diagonally forward of their pointer or one or two spaces straight ahead of their pointer*: |
A Hunter can not split |
A Hunter may turn 45 or 90 degrees to either side of its pointer. |
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* If a Hunter moves two spaces, it travels through both spaces. So if two pieces occupied those spaces, they would both be removed. If the Last Tribe (see rule seven) occupied either space the move could not be made.
5) When a piece moves or splits onto a square occupied by an existing piece (of either player) the original occupant of the square is removed from the board. Any piece that moves off the board is also removed from play.
6) When a Clan splits into four hunters, if any of the squares already contain hunters then the new hunters pointers are positioned 180 degrees from the pointers of the squares original occupants.
7) If on any turn a player ends up with only one Tribe remaining, that Tribe immediately becomes The Last Tribe. The Last Tribe may not be split, nor may any move or split occur if it would result in the removal of The Last Tribe. This piece can be used strategically as an interference piece.
8) ANY move allowed by the rules, and not excluded by any rule, can be made - regardless of how counter intuitive or pointless. It is for instance permissible to move a piece straight off the board as your turn.
Winning:
A Player has lost if he is reduced to only his Last Tribe and no other pieces.