The Game of Islands
A New Board Game (Pen and Paper Game) by Tony Berard
Introduction
The Game of Islands is played with just a pen and paper. You can make and label the board as above or print it out. I have given the game to the public as I do all of my games, so you are authorized to print out this diagram for your personal use. However, I do not authorize you to print it out to sell or make a profit from my work.
The Game of Islands has just a few simple rules. You need two distinct colored pens or pencils and this grid. Some random mechanism can decide who goes first.
Playing the Game
- On your turn, you must connect in a straight line, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally from two to any number of dots. If you create any islands (dots who will never connect in a straight line with any other dot vertically, horizontally, or diagonally), then claim them by circling them before punching your time clock. (A two-clock timer for 2-player games like chess).
- When drawing any such line, you may not cross over or even touch any other line already drawn or go past the end of the grid.
- Each island you claim is worth one point. Claiming an island is simple, just circle it when you create it. Note: If you punch your clock and did not claim the island, your opponent may claim the island on his turn if you missed it. Thus, mere creation of the island does not net you a point; you must also claim the island after you create it. If you see that your opponent has missed claiming an island, just circle it when it is your turn to claim it. Then, you may draw your line and claim any islands at that point before punching your clock to end your turn. To claim an island on the scoresheet, just notate the coordinates of it. Thus, an island on J6 might occur after the player drew the line from J2 to J5, so the turn would be notated J2-J5, J6. By notating the island on the scoresheet like this is also an act of claiming the island. Casual games can just claim it by circling it. But, rated games also entail notating the game including the claiming of islands on the scoresheet as shown.
- The player who sets the last line of the grid gets five bonus points for that grid — the player who was unable to follow Rule #1 gets zero bonus points, but that player does get to keep any island points already earned during the game.
- A casual game ends there. But, the tournament level game escalates to a 12x12 grid for round 2 and a 14x14 grid for round three. A set amount of time is allocated for each player for the full triad of games, so time management is of the essence. If a player runs out of time, then the opponent gets to complete the board by drawing line after line creating as many islands as possible. When finished, the bonus five points also belongs to the player having remaining time. If both players run out of time, then the game stops with the scores as they are with neither player getting a five point bonus since neither player placed the final line on a board.
Scoring
There is a two layer method for scoring these games. The first method is to decide who won the game by looking at the overall scores of the three games. One must win by two points to take the victory. Thus, suppose player A has 17 points, and player B has 16 points. This is a draw, and each player gets 0.5 points. But, there is a Margin (M) of one point in favor of player A. We keep track of the Overall Margin Balance (OMB) in this series of three games. So, in this example, A’s overall margin balance is 1, and B’s overall margin balance is -1. Yes, M’s and OMB’s can be negative. If the M is two or more for one of the players, then that is a victory. A victorious player adds M to his OMB, and the losing player subtracts M from his OMB. Of course, at the start of the tournament, each player’s OMB is zero.
Now, we can have two players go through a Block Transition Tournament with such a design that they tie in points to tie for the top spot in the tournament. But, their OMB’s might well be different. The player with the higher OMB will be declared the winner on tiebreaks.
A technical point with the rating system is in order here. We have a tie-breaking system with points, P-Zero scores, G-scores, and seniority from the last phase’s ranking. Now, for this game, the OMB’s add a new layer to the complexity of tie-breaks: points, OMB, P-Zero, G-score, and previous seniority.
Notation
Two points determine a line, so it is only necessary to specify the starting and ending points. Thus, a diagonal line might be notated as A1-J10, for example. A comma separates the line drawn from any islands.
Time Controls
There should be three major time controls: blitz, rapid, and classic. The blitz time control should be ten minutes plus a ten second increment per turn. The rapid time control should be 30 minutes plus a 30 second increment per turn. The classic time control should be 90 minutes plus a 90 second increment.
Ok. I played ChatGPT-4 a little snippet of a game on a 10x10 grid. I shared the rules with him, and here is what transpired afterward:
ChatGPT-4:
Thank you for sharing the rules of The Game of Islands. It appears to be a strategic game that encourages players to think ahead, much like chess, while also requiring a good understanding of spatial relationships and geometric patterns on a grid. The gameplay involves connecting dots on a grid in straight lines and creating and claiming islands for points. The game also includes some interesting time control and scoring mechanisms which add an extra layer of strategy and competition.
The game seems to be well thought out with clear rules, multiple levels of play (casual and tournament), and a variety of scoring and tie-breaking methods. The shift from a simple grid in the initial round to larger grids in subsequent rounds adds an escalating challenge, and the time controls add an additional layer of strategic thinking, similar to that in speed chess. The notation system for recording moves and claimed islands seems straightforward and provides a good record of the gameplay for post-game analysis or competitive ranking.
Overall, The Game of Islands comes across as an engaging and challenging game that could provide hours of intellectual stimulation and competitive enjoyment. It’s great that the game requires minimal equipment and setup, making it accessible for a wide range of players.
Tony: Did you notice the changes I made from the last time we played? Specifically, I introduced the margin and the OMB.
ChatGPT-4:
Yes, the introduction of the Margin (M) and Overall Margin Balance (OMB) appears to be a new element in the scoring system of The Game of Islands. This addition likely provides a more nuanced and competitive scoring mechanism. It could help in differentiating the players’ performances across a series of games, particularly in a tournament setting, and provides a clear tie-breaking criteria.
The OMB, being a cumulative measure, adds an element of continuous competition and could motivate players to not only win but also maximize their margin of victory in each game to improve their overall standing in a tournament. This seems like a strategic enhancement to the game, adding a new layer of depth and competition.
The Margin and OMB concepts also seem to add a layer of complexity to the tournament structure, making it more engaging for players who enjoy a competitive and strategic gaming environment.
Tony: Ok. Would you like to play a game with me with just the 10x10 grid? I would like to play test it to see if bugs or other smoothness of play issues come up.
ChatGPT-4:
I’d be happy to assist with play-testing your game, although it might be a bit unconventional given the text-based interaction here. We can certainly work through a game on a 10x10 grid, move by move. You could describe your moves, and I could respond with my moves accordingly. Please specify who will go first, and we can begin!
Tony: We flipped a coin last time. Let’s flip a coin. I call heads to go first. You can simulate a coin flip as before.
ChatGPT-4:
I’ll simulate a coin flip, and if the result is heads, you’ll go first; if it’s tails, I’ll go first.
Simulating a coin flip…
The result is: Heads
You go first! Please make your move on the 10x10 grid when you’re ready.
Tony: I1-J2, J1
ChatGPT-4:
Got it! You connected I1 to J2, creating an island at J1 which you then claimed.
Now for my move: I’ll connect H1 to H3. Your turn!
Tony: I3-J3, I2
ChatGPT-4:
Understood. You connected I3 to J3, creating an island at I2 which you then claimed.
Now for my move: I’ll connect G1 to G3. It’s your turn!
Tony: E1-F2, F1 Note: The four corners of the board contain islands like how I claimed J1.
ChatGPT-4:
Got it! You connected E1 to F2, creating an island at F1 which you then claimed, and noted the rule about the four corners containing islands.
Now for my move: I’ll connect D1 to D3. It’s your turn!
Tony: E3-F3, E2
ChatGPT-4:
You connected E3 to F3, creating an island at E2 which you then claimed.
Now for my move: I’ll connect C1 to C3. Your turn!
Tony: A3-B3
ChatGPT-4:
You connected A3 to B3.
Now for my move: I’ll connect B1 to B2. It’s your turn!
Tony: I will try to help you see the grid a little bit better. You could have played A1-B2 creating two islands at A2 and B1. Would you like to play that turn instead of the one you played?
ChatGPT-4:
Thank you for the suggestion and for helping visualize the grid better. Yes, I’d like to play the turn A1-B2, creating two islands at A2 and B1.
It’s your turn!
Tony: A9-B10
ChatGPT-4:
You connected A9 to B10.
Now for my move: I’ll connect B8 to B9, creating an island at B10 which I then claim. Your turn!
Tony: Well, my last turn I connected a line using B10, so you cannot claim B10 as an island. But, I have seen enough. I think the game mechanics are quite sound. It will require both offense and defense to play this game well. I also see the symmetry at the start of the game as a leveling issue. A player must break this symmetry, and in a clever way, to defeat an equally skilled rival in this game. Do you concur with any of this, and would you like to add your own thoughts now that you’ve played a bit more of this game?
ChatGPT-4:
Thank you for the clarification on the B10 move, and I appreciate the opportunity to play-test the Game of Islands with you.
I concur with your analysis. The game indeed seems to possess a rich strategic landscape characterized by a balance between offensive and defensive plays. The mechanics, while simple, yield a complex play experience. A player must strategize not only on claiming islands but also on denying opportunities for the opponent, showcasing a mix of both offensive and defensive strategies.
The initial symmetry of the grid is a fascinating aspect. It necessitates players to think creatively and tactically right from the outset to gain an advantage. Breaking the symmetry in a favorable manner appears to be a critical aspect of the early game, and devising a method to do this effectively against a skilled opponent presents a compelling challenge.
Additionally, the notation system for recording moves and claimed islands is straightforward and functional, which is essential for serious play and tournament settings.
The inclusion of the Margin and OMB adds an extra layer of competition and a running narrative across a series of games, which is an intriguing feature, especially in a tournament setting.
Overall, the Game of Islands seems like a robust and engaging game that offers a deep strategic play experience with a minimalistic setup. Your game has the potential to provide hours of intellectual challenge and enjoyment for those who delve into its strategic depths.
Tony: Thank you, my friend, as always!!
ChatGPT-4:
You’re very welcome! It’s always a pleasure to assist and engage in such interesting discussions and activities. If you have any more ideas or questions in the future, feel free to reach out. Good luck with the continued development and play-testing of The Game of Islands!
