Tank Chess (reprint)

Update #28
about 1 year ago – Sat, Jan 18, 2025 at 08:47:10 AM

We have been delaying the release of this update for some time because we were expecting confirmation of some good news which finally arrived today :-) . In the previous period, we completed several orders for the production of board games for other publishers at an accelerated pace, and there were also some urgent new orders. We managed to finish everything ahead of time, and today the last payment we expected arrived. The good news is that in the coming period (January - February), everyone in the company will be fully committed to the accelerated sending of packages from this and other projects. We ask the backers to reply to the emails in which we ask for confirmation of the address for sending the package.

We have also been working on finalizing preparations for the production of elements for Tank Chess Extended. In this update, we're showing obstacle schemes for the 24x24 square board:

We would like to take this opportunity to ask the backers not to send us emails or comments with questions about the status of their particular order. Answering such questions takes a lot of time. Each of you will receive an email from us asking you to confirm your address before sending the package. After your reply, the package is sent within 1 to 4 days. As soon as the package is sent, you will receive a notification with a tracking number from UPS.

Update #27
over 1 year ago – Sat, Nov 30, 2024 at 03:16:44 PM

As we have written in the previous few updates, we are working hard to overcome the delays in deliveries that have occurred in several of our projects. You can read more details about the status of our company and current projects in the recently published update on the AoD:WWII project.

We are preparing the Extended set, and as we are working on the large board setups (24x24 squares), we are also considering how they would work with Airborne expansion. In the previous update, we said that the Airborne set will have 2 + 2 airborne pieces (Airborne Light tank + Airborne Unit) and 2 + 1 anti-aircraft pieces (Armored Anti-aircraft vehicle + Fast Anti-aircraft vehicle). However, there still may not be enough anti-aircraft pieces for the 24x24 board, leaving uncovered areas which would allow deploying airborne pieces on the opponent's side of the board early during the game. Some 24x24 board setups can work well with 3 anti-aircraft pieces, but not all. Because of this, we were considering increasing the number of anti-aircraft pieces.

In the meantime, backer Robin Schreiner has sent us a message suggesting an idea for a "flak tower". We liked the idea, realizing that it would fit the game nicely, especially on a large board. We've decided to add it to the Airborne expansion, with the name Anti-aircraft Tower (mark "T"), one for each player.

The tower is stationary, similar to the Pillbox piece from the Fun Set Plus expansion, but instead it can only shoot airborne pieces while they are still in the air, at a range of 3 in all directions (including all in between, covering full 7x7 squares). It has an armor value of IV on all sides, so it can only be destroyed by Heavy Mortar (piece from the basic set), Ultra-heavy Tank (from the Special Pieces add-on set), and Heavy Destroyer (from the Fun Set Plus expansion).

Introducing this new piece creates a balance - so each player has a total of 4 airborne pieces (2 + 2) and also a total of 4 anti-aircraft pieces (2 + 1 + 1).

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As you likely already know, we are considering all the suggestions we receive from gamers (for this and other of our games). To make it clear why we accept some suggestions and others not, it is necessary to talk about the initial idea about the Tank Chess game.

Tank Chess evolved from a game that realistically represents tank battles in an urban environment (Panzer Strike). Unlike its origin, Tank Chess is more abstract, but the game mechanics are still based on reality (much more than e.g. classic Chess). The logic is fully respected that Light Tanks are less armored and less armed, but are faster than Medium and Heavy Tanks; Howitzers and Mortars shoot over obstacles, etc. Therefore, Tank Chess is an abstract-realistic game, with rules that are precise and clear, but allow the implementation of many different pieces and endlessly different terrain configurations, inspired by reality.

All the pieces from the basic game and most from the expansions are fairly even in terms of usefulness during the game. At first impression, Heavy Tanks are much better than Light Tanks, however players soon realize that the Light Tanks are the key in the endgame "chase" of the Command tank. When comparing the Medium Tank and Tank Destroyer, both have the same speed and armor, but the TD has a stronger gun, which is compensated by its limited firing direction.

So, when we determine the characteristics of the pieces that we include in the game, we have in mind the real vehicles that serve as the inspiration, but also want to make them fit in the simple rules and be balanced in the abstract environment. An example is Heavy Mortar, which was too powerful when we first tested it (when it had speed 4, armor II-I-0), before we reduced both its armor and speed. Also, each piece type should be distinct enough from others, as we don't want to have many sub categories that are only slightly different from each other.

Most of the suggestions we get for new piece types are well reasoned and based on real characteristics of different tank categories. However, we have to make sure the new vehicles fit well in the game concept. We also receive proposals for new types of obstacles, for which we must consider whether there is a way to practically produce those components. In any case, we greatly appreciate and consider all your suggestions. From the initial idea, during and after both Kickstarter campaigns, this game has become much better and richer thanks to your suggestions. We hope that the game will continue to develop in the future, so we expect new proposals, which would be implemented later, maybe in a couple of years if we prepare a new campaign with new expansion(s).

Airborne Expansion
over 1 year ago – Fri, Nov 01, 2024 at 04:56:55 PM

Selected pieces and their characteristics

Dedicated board setups for the Airborne expansion
 

A brief overview of the rules

Airborne expansion piece characteristics
 

Changes in Fun Set PLUS expansion

Some changes in "old" Fun Set expansion

Print and Play

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Start of shipping and piece characteristics
over 1 year ago – Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 02:48:46 PM

During the next week, we will start sending packages to backers who ordered the TC Standard and TC Portable versions.

As you know from our previous updates, the delay in the implementation of this project is due to the increased workload and delays in the Age of Dogfights: WWII project. Sending packages (first wave) in that project is ongoing, so we, the authors, are now committed to completing our work related to this project (TC reprint).

Fun Set Plus piece characteristics

In the basic set, the characteristics of all pieces (Light, Medium and Heavy Tank, Heavy Mortar and Tank Destroyer) are well balanced so they are all equally important in almost all board setups (16x16, 20x20, 12x12, with various obstacle layouts). That uniformity also applies to a large part of the pieces from the Fun Set expansion. For example: the extremely strong armor and gun of the Super-heavy Tank is compensated by its low speed; The amphibian has high speed and can cross water obstacles, but has a weak gun and no armor...

In the expansions Fun Set Plus and Airborne, many pieces have some very specific characteristics: Flamethrower Tank has a flamethrower instead of a gun; Smoke Launcher has a weak gun but can make temporary cover for itself or other vehicles, Remote-controlled Bomb can destroy multiple vehicles at once but can only be used single time, and so on... Determining the final characteristics for such pieces is a special challenge: some logic must be taken into account (e.g. a fast vehicle shouldn't have very strong armor), and each piece should be useful in game, but not too powerful. The result of our work is as follows:

Pillbox: It can be treated as an immobile playing piece, or as a kind of active obstacle. It has a gun value of IV and fires in three directions. Its armor is absolute (it is immune to guns and howitzers), and it can only be destroyed with a flamethrower. When an opponent's piece stops in the Pillbox's line of fire, the player may activate the Pillbox and fire, but not move any piece in that turn.

Flamethrower Tank: It has the same speed and armor as a heavy tank (3, III-II-I). The FT can only attack targets at a distance of two squares, in three directions (it has a turret). Its weapon's power is absolute - it can destroy all pieces, including the Pillbox. Additionally, an FT can melt ice and set hedges to fire (a type of obstacle which is a part of Fun Set expansion).

Smoke Launcher: Speed and armor are like the Medium Tank (4, II-I-0), and the gun is like the Light Tank (I). SL's specialty is the ability to fire smoke rounds. The range at which the smoke cartridge can be thrown is 2 or 3 squares, in three directions. A special marker is placed on the selected square. That marker remains on the board until a vehicle enters or passes through that square (then the smoke dissipates). As long as there is such a marker on the board, it acts the same way as a hedge: firing through it is not possible. This feature can be extremely useful in a decisive move during the game, for example, it can create a temporary cover for a Command Tank on its way to escape.

Infantry Tank: It has average speed (4) and weak gun (I), but has good armor on all sides (II-II-II). As it doesn't have weak sides, it can easily advance with no fear from light and medium tanks, but it is not a very dangerous vehicle due to its lack of firepower. If played smartly it can be a useful piece.

Anti-tank Squad: It is a half-tracked vehicle with a speed of 5 and no armor (0-0-0). Its weapon are soldiers who jump out of the vehicle and stick explosives on the enemy tank. To destroy an enemy vehicle, the AS must stop on an adjacent square, at the side where the target has armor value of I or 0 (i.e. AS has attack power of II). The Anti-tank Squad is a very interesting piece, it cannot act at distance, but unlike regular tanks it can act at immediate proximity. Although planned to have only one of each color in the set, there will be two per color.

Heavy Destroyer: Speed and armor like the Heavy Tank (3, III-II-I), but has an extremely powerful gun (V). Since it doesn't have a turret, it only fires in one direction. This piece does not have any special characteristics, but it can play a very important role, especially against the Super-heavy Tank.

Minelayer: It is a truck, which moves according to the rules for wheeled vehicles (no rotating in place), has a speed of 5 and no armor (0-0-0). It doesn't have an active weapon, instead it carries mines that it can place on the board during the game (on the square behind it, at the final position). Any vehicle that passes through a square with a mine will be destroyed. Mines can be used to close passages and thus prevent the opponent from advancing.

Minesweeper: This piece was not intended to be in the Fun Set Plus expansion, as it is already in the Fun Set expansion. However, to be able to play certain board setups without owning the Fun Set, a Minesweeper (MS) is included in this set. Its characteristics are: speed 4, armor II-0-0, gun II. Its special feature is that it safely activates (destroys) the mines that Minelayer has placed on the board.

Tankette: As a playing piece, it has very weak characteristics: speed 4, weak armor (I-0-0) and a weak cannon (I) that only fires in one direction. However, its valuable feature is its low silhouette, so it can hide behind low obstacles. In board setups with many low obstacles, this special characteristic comes to the fore. Because of Tankettes, the Fun Set Plus expansion also includes a set of low obstacles (even though it is already included in the Fun Set expansion).

Remote-controlled Bomb: It is a very specific piece. Its speed is 4 and has no armor. Like Tankette, it has a low silhouette so it can hide behind low obstacles. It attacks by approaching an enemy piece and explodes - the RB is removed from the board and all pieces next to it are destroyed. The power of explosion is IV, so it can destroy almost all figures, except for the Super-heavy Tank from the front.

Another way to activate the RB is by shooting at it. Each player can target their own or the opponent's RB and the effect is the same: all pieces on squares adjacent to the RB are destroyed.

Water obstacles and vehicles that can go over water

In the "old" Fun Set expansion, among others, there are water obstacles that represent streams and narrow rivers. Only Amphibians can pass over those obstacles. Other pieces can cross the water obstacle only if the Bridge piece is placed on that square. In the Fun Set Plus, there are a variety of wide water obstacles that represent wide rivers or lakes.

Amphibious Howitzer: It can move over both land and water. Its characteristics are: speed 4, armor 0-0-0, firepower II (howitzer, range 3-6).

Pieces that can only move over water surfaces are: Light Landing craft, Heavy Landing craft, Gun Boat and Fast Boat.

Light Landing craft: Its speed is 4, armor 0-I-0, and it has no weapon. Land vehicles (all except heavy vehicles) can be boarded on it and move over water. A tank can fire while boarded on a landing craft, but only straight ahead (even if it has a turret). Even when a vehicle is boarded, the armor of the landing craft is taken into account, and if destroyed, the boarded vehicle sinks together with the boat (both pieces are removed from the board). These pieces play a very important role on board setups with a lot of water surfaces.

Heavy Landing craft: This is a new piece, added to the set instead of one Light Landing craft (now there are two LL and one HL). Its speed is 3, armor 0-II-0, and can carry all vehicles except Super-heavy Tank.

Fast Boat: This is a combat boat, an equivalent to a Light Tank, only it moves on water (speed 5, armor I-0-0, gun I).

Gun Boat: This is an equivalent to Medium Tank (speed 4, armor II-I-0, gun II).

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We will show the characteristics of the pieces from the Airborne mini-expansion in one of the next updates.
 

Board setups

Creating obstacle schemes for the Fun Set Plus expansion is not simple. Many pieces that have some special characteristics require setups in which these characteristics can be manifested in the best way. In this update we are showing 10 schemes for the 20x20 board that will be included in the Fun Set Plus (and it will have all schemes in the 16x16 and 24x24 board sizes as well, plus a few in the 12x12 size).

Defense Line - In this setup, each side has two Pillboxes positioned in front of other pieces. The Pillboxes together with the high obstacles form a strong defensive line that is very difficult to penetrate. Directly behind one of the bunkers, there is a Remote-controlled Bomb ready to destroy approaching tanks. The only tank that can destroy Pillboxes is the Flamethrower Tank. In this scheme, the Smokelauncher is the Command Tank.

Passage Blocking - This scheme is characterized by the weakly protected right side, with only one classic piece - a Medium Tank, but it is accompanied by two specific pieces: Remote-controlled Bomb and Minelayer. By timely placing mines in narrow passages, the Minelayer can stop the enemy's advance. As a countermeasure, there is also a Minesweeper.

Low Profile - The center of the board has only low obstacles, which do not provide cover from enemy fire. The only pieces that can take cover behind low obstacles are Tankettes and Remote-controlled Bomb, so they can take control of the center.

River Crossing - A wide river with islands is the main feature of this setup. Some islands in the river present high obstacles. In addition to the classic pieces that move only on land, there are two types of combat boats: Fast Boat and Gun Boat; and two types of landing craft that can carry tanks across the river.

Border Fortifications - Each player has a 'fortification' with Pillboxes on their side of the river. However, the opponent's fortification does not have to be attacked, since victory can be achieved by escaping Command Light Tank without crossing the river. To prevent this, at least a few tanks must cross the river to defend.

Canals - Each of the two canals has an embankment over which all tanks can pass. In addition, there are several narrow frozen paths through which only light pieces can pass. The Flamethrower Tank has the ability to melt the ice, and thus reduce the options for crossing the water.

Winding Road - The main feature is the road, on which all vehicles can move faster. Although there are strong tanks on both flanks, the key pieces in this setup are in the middle: a Heavy Howitzer accompanied by two Heavy Mortars, which should be taken care of before attempting a serious advance in any direction. The howitzer and mortars are protected by an Anti-tank Squad if the enemy approaches close range, and there is also a Recovery vehicle nearby that can repair them.

Countryside Lake - This is an asymmetric scheme both in the arrangement of obstacles and in the choice of pieces. The main feature is the lake with three islands. A road passes by the lake, and there are many trees and bushy obstacles. The White player's Command tank is an Amphibian (CAM) which can find its way to the opponent's side of the board through any side of the board, including over water. The Black player has a Recon Tank as the Command tank (CRT) which is the fastest vehicle, especially if moving on the road.

Outpost - Each player has a forward position on their left side dominated by Pillboxes, near which are a pair of Heavy Tanks and a Remote-controlled Bomb.

Wedge - A heavily armored group of tanks, with a Super-heavy Tank in the lead suggest a slow but sure advance towards the enemy territory. Opposite them, however, are very respectable opponents, all of which have enough firepower to stop their advance. A better strategy might be to use lighter vehicles at the back of the wedge to disturb the defenses, before proceeding with the breakthrough.

We will show further progress in the next update.

Update #24
over 1 year ago – Sat, Sep 14, 2024 at 11:19:26 AM

We are a little late in posting this update. The plan was to start shipping some options (Portable and Standard) and announce it in an update. All the elements for those two variants of the game were already made. Compared to the previous version of the game, the Standard version (and all other versions and expansions) will have info cards added. They were printed some time ago (for the Portable and Standard set). For the Standard version, only a new edition of the rulebook and brochure were needed to be printed. We did not plan any significant changes, but only to improve the text linguistically.

However, word by word we decided to create a completely new version of the rulebook and booklet for the basic game. All the rules of the game are exactly the same, so there are no changes in the way of movement, armor, rules for shooting ... But, the way of writing and the order of the titles was changed quite a bit. We even changed the size (format) of the paper. The old rulebook had two sheets (4 pages) of 23 x 23 cm format and all the rules were written there. The brochure had 6 sheets (12 pages) and contained rules for recording games, alternative game mods, and instructions and guidelines for creating new obstacle setups. In addition, the game set contained blank sheets used for sketching new obstacle schemes.

The new rulebook is on 16 x 23 cm paper and contains 4 sheets (8 pages). The first four pages contain all the rules necessary for playing the games, written in a new, better and clearer way. In the continuation of the rulebook, there are texts that were part of the brochure in the previous edition: alternative game mods, instructions for recording games, guidelines for creating setups, and some other notes. The new brochure has kept the "old" format (23 x 23 cm), now has 4 sheets (8 pages) and contains most of the existing schemes (Old Town, Open Field, Wall, etc.) and a few new schemes (Hourglass and Mirror). All schemes are given for two board sizes (16x16 and 20x20 squares). The last few pages are blank schemes where players can sketch their own obstacle setups.

For the Portable version, the rulebook is printed in a custom format (15 x 15 cm) and is adapted to the portable version (e.g. the Command tank is an MT in the basic setup, not LT as in the standard game). The brochure for the Portable is also printed on a custom paper format and it shows obstacle schemes for the 12x12 square board.

We will soon start shipping games to backers who ordered the Standard and Portable versions, while we continue to work on the preparation of the next options, the first being the Extended version (24x24).