Mage's Gambit

I never considered myself a good player of Mage's Gambit, particularly when I first arrived at the university. However, over the last few years, I have had a multitude of different times to gather my knowledge of the game and learn new strategies for succeeding in the conflict. I am still however, to find my ultimate goal. A move that can be made in all circumstances that will lead to my success. Once I find that move, I will feel even more like the Arvadian mages who struck down their foes using these rules.

— A student at Blackstone Keep.

Mage's Gambit, originally named Mer-eknyr Akrosis, is a gaming set that was created as a replacement for physical battle during the Age of Creation, it was reinvented as a game in the modern era. As of 755 AR, most taverns contain a Mage's Gambit set that can be used by those who are visiting.

Mage's Gambit

General Information

Type	Gaming Set
Also Known As	Mer-eknyr Akrosis

Historical Information

Created	During the Age of Creation (original) Before 240 AR (reinvention)
Created by	Unknown (original) Plena Gorthnick (reinvention)

Description

Mage's Gambit is formed of a game board of one hundred tiles in an alternating pattern. This forms a 10 by 10 grid, which sets one edge for the players to play from. There are eight types of pieces that are laid on the board, each carved to make them recognisable. In total 40 pieces are laid onto the board, taking up the first two rows of the battlefield for each player.

There have been a number of intricately sculpted and crafted boards made from a vast number of materials. Most boards and pieces are made of wood. However, there are a significant number of sets that have been made using metal, stone, and other more magical materials.

Gameplay

The pieces are laid on the first two rows with the Mage and Sorceress on either side of the centre. Then the Knight, Cleric, Archer, and Castle are placed out from these pieces. The Golem and Mercenary pieces can be placed anywhere on the second row, leading to some strategic planning from the get go.

Players take turns moving a piece in the aim to ensure that the Mage cannot move to another place while also in threat of being captured. The player who causes this wins the game. However, there are some cases where a draw is called, usually when there are only the two Mage pieces, or if there is no obvious way that either player could win.

Pieces of Mage's Gambit

The Mage, each player has one of these pieces. They can move one space at a time, taking any piece in the space. If this piece is ever unable to move,that player loses the game.

The Sorceress, each player has one of these pieces. They can move any number of spaces vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

The Knight, each player has two of these pieces. They can move in an L shape, where they move 3 spaces vertically and horizontally. This is the only piece that can move through where a piece already exists.

The Cleric, each player has two of these pieces. They can move any number of spaces diagonally.

The Archer, each player has two of these pieces. They can move 5 spaces following a path of adjacent spaces. If any of the spaces on the path are blocked by another piece, the Archer cannot move that path.

The Castle, each player has two of these pieces. They can move any number of spaces vertically or horizontally.

The Golem, each player has five of these pieces. They can move forward one space at a time, however, they can capture pieces on any space around them.

The Mercenary, each payer has five of these pieces. They can move forward two spaces if they have never been moved, or one space forward any other time. They can only capture pieces that are on one of the diagonal spaces ahead of them.

History

The first form of Mer-eknyr Akrosis was created during the Age of Creation by some unknown powerful mages. According to texts found early in the Age of Restoration, Mer-eknyr Akrosis was used in place of battles among the Arvadians, primarily to preserve life and play out a battlefield on a larger scale. Many of the methods that the original game were plaid at have been lost and mistranslated, leading to many of the ways that the game works being significantly changed in the modern era.

At some point before 240 AR, Plena Gothnick took the found documents and created a new variation of Mer-eknyr Akrosis that she named Mage's Gambit. Plena's variation could be played with simple pieces and not the magic mentioned in the original texts. They crafted the first Mage's Gambit set out of the stone from her homeland, with crude symbols identifying the pieces between blue and brown sides of the board. By 240 AR, this set was expanded and replicated among the Viluran Republic.

This expanded out from the Republic, with all continents having their own variation of Mage's Gambit by 325 AR. In the past 430 years, these variations were folded into a common standard as trade increased among the realm. Several people have become masters at the game, becoming known for their formidable strategies and cunning tactics.