| Tango01 | 10 Oct 2014 12:33 p.m. PST |
"Viking warriors storm into the torch-lit camp of a rival clan. Outnumbered, the ambushed Norsemen are far from their boats. Their one goal: flee to a nearby castle while keeping their king alive. At first glance, Hnefatafl (prounounced "nef-ah-tah-fel") might just look like a knock-off version of chess with Norse helms and impressive beards, but the game is at least 600 years older—already well-known by 400 A.D.—and is perhaps a lot more relevant to the conflicts of the 21st century. "I love the asymmetry in this game. To win in this game, you absolutely have to think like your opponent," emails Kristan Wheaton, a former Army foreign area officer and ex-analyst at U.S. European Command's Intelligence Directorate. "Geography, force structure, force size and objectives are different for the two sides. If you can't think like your opponent, you can't win. I don't know of a better analogy for post-Cold War conflict."…"
Full article here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| KTravlos | 10 Oct 2014 12:35 p.m. PST |
yes it is a pretty interesting asymmetric game. I got a nice version at the Gamla Uppsala museum (itself pretty awesome) |
| Maddaz111 | 10 Oct 2014 1:21 p.m. PST |
yes, its an old game, played in late roman Britain, and believed to be played for years before that. It is a very good game, I was thinking about variants of the game for a convention…. |
| wminsing | 10 Oct 2014 1:22 p.m. PST |
I got a copy of this from by brother after he went over the England! I've played it a few times, really impressed by it! I might have to break it out again tonight! -Will |
| Yesthatphil | 10 Oct 2014 1:53 p.m. PST |
Inscrutable. We played a tournament of this at a Society of Ancients Conference years ago … I remember being very poor at it  Phil |
GildasFacit  | 10 Oct 2014 2:01 p.m. PST |
It is possibly the best variant of a large group of games that do seem to have originated in Europe. Fox and Geese is a simpler variant, much beloved of Victorian children (so they say). |
 Parzival  | 10 Oct 2014 2:55 p.m. PST |
I have a nice wooden copy from the old Metropolitan Museum chain of stores. It is a very challenging game, especially if the King has to escape to the corners. |
| corporalpat | 10 Oct 2014 5:07 p.m. PST |
Yes I have a home made set I made a number of years ago! |
| Sobieski | 10 Oct 2014 5:39 p.m. PST |
Any board game fans who haven't tried it yet, DO give shogi (Japanese chess) a go. It's the game I'd take to my desert island with me (here's hoping Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman can play!). |
 ochoin | 10 Oct 2014 8:49 p.m. PST |
Picked up a reproduction set from the Edinburgh museum years ago: lots of fun. |
| Cerdic | 10 Oct 2014 10:55 p.m. PST |
Hey Sobieski! I thought you are only allowed ONE luxury on your desert island? link |
| bc1745 | 11 Oct 2014 2:46 a.m. PST |
Great game, easily learnt My six year old, little princess! Is ruthless when she plays |
Dr Mathias  | 11 Oct 2014 7:34 a.m. PST |
Cool, thanks for the link. |
| Tango01 | 11 Oct 2014 11:49 a.m. PST |
A votre service mon ami!. (smile) Amicalement
Armand |
