Emperor & the Bandit Alliance is an asymmetric modification for classic chess for three players.
FORMAT
Type
Physical Board Game
Materials
Standard Chess Set
Team Size
Solo
DESIGN GOALS
Disrupt the balance of chess to allow newer players to compete with people who have spent countless hours learning the game without making the game completely unappealing to longtime players
Maintain an opportunity for newer chess players to familiarize themselves with the traditional game
DESIGN DISCUSSION
The core conceit of the game is that the more experience two of the three players must play on the same team alternating taking turns and using pieces with nerfed abilities. This forces constant reassessment of strategy and keeps them from falling into chess habits. The least experienced player plays alone but gets to use a standard chess arsenal and can get practice moving the pieces properly and learning how they might be effective.
This game modification forces the most experienced players into a situation that they might not be comfortable with but that should absolutely engage whatever sense of strategic competitive drive that brought them to enjoy chess in the first place. It does that while also allowing newer players to learn a bit more about how traditional chess is played and have a shot at winning.
Ultimately it's a game that's both familiar and alien with a thematic concept that heightens the drama.
