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Post by Derpy on May 10, 2012 1:25:49 GMT -5
Ponyfriends! For months (on and off and on) I have been engaged in MUFfin Studies in order to bring you this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iaMO7K3qiEIiiiit's Skymaster!! A game in the Battleship family played by weather ponies throughout Equestria for decades. On Wednesday, May 9th, I invited various ponies to try it out so as to catch any last errors and give suggestions for improvement. (I then got disconnected, so I wasn't able to solicit feedback from everyone who tried it out.) I've created a set in the OOC Classroom! You can go there with a friend in order to play, or ask me to attach an action to you so you can play anywhere, at anytime. Currently, you can only play one game at once, but you can freely RP or chat in between moves. Type 'sky help' in the OOC Classroom for a list of commands, or 'sky <playername>' to invite someone to play. The next thing I'll be adding is color. What do you think? If you find a bug or have a suggestion or comment, I'd love to hear it.
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Post by Derpy on May 10, 2012 1:37:27 GMT -5
Someone (I think it was Scootaloo) suggested that I post the game rules here for ease of reading. Voila! It is done.
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*** SKYMASTER RULES ***
Background and Overview Skymaster is Rainbow Dash's favorite board game! This Battleship relative is a game of wits, strategy, luck and psychology. In \"Read It and Weep,\" Rainbow Dash pretends to play against Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy, purporting to lose in record time so she can get back to her new secret passion: reading! In reality, of course, Rainbow =never= loses this game.
Skymaster is a game for two players, each of whom is given a five by five board on which they secretly place seven pieces, each occupying a single square. As in Battleship, the players take turns 'shooting' at particular squares on their opponents' grid in hopes of being the first to find and shoot down all their opponents' pieces. There are several twists complicating this mission. Three of the pieces (bumblebee, seagull and weather pony) are flying creatures that can move before you shoot. Three of them (cirrus, cumulus and nimbus) are clouds with limited mobility and restrictions on their initial placement. And one is the thunderbolt, which requires you to reveal one of your pieces when you strike it.
The Grid Each player has a separate grid of twenty-five squares on which her pieces are hidden. Players shoot at their opponents' grid, never at their own. The grid's rows are numbered 1-5 from bottom to top (so that higher 'altitudes' have higher numbers). The columns are named for heavenly objects. From left to right, they are: Sun (S), Tornado (T), Cloud (C), Sky, (K), and Rainbow (R). Each square is referred to by a heavenly object (or its abbreviation) followed by a number. A hyphen or space can be placed between them. Examples: Sun 3, Tornado5, C4, K-1, Sky-4, R 2.
Placement In the first stage of the game, each player separately places her pieces. Type 'place' to initiate placement--you will be asked about all seven of your pieces in turn. Aside from the fact that no two of your pieces may occupy the same square, there are three restrictions on placement: * The cumulus cloud may not begin the game higher than the cirrus cloud. * The nimbus cloud may not begin the game higher than the cumulus cloud. * The thunderbolt must begin the game adjacent to the nimbus cloud.
Thus, if the cumulus begins on Tornado-3, the cirrus must be placed somewhere in the top three rows and the nimbus must be placed somewhere in the bottom three rows. These restrictions say nothing about the positions of the clouds within their rows. The thunderbolt can be placed in any of the squares adjacent to the nimbus cloud, including diagonally adjacent squares. Note that these restrictions apply only to initial piece placement: you may move your pieces during the game in such ways as to violate these restrictions.
Movement Once both players have placed their pieces, one player is randomly selected to go first. On your turn, before shooting a square on your opponent's grid, you may optionally move one of your pieces. The rules for moving pieces are as follows: * No piece may move to or through an occupied space, with the exception of a weather pony pushing a cloud (see below). * When you move a piece, your opponent will be informed that you are moving that particular piece, but not where it is moving from or to, nor how far it moves. * The bumblebee can move one space in any direction, including diagonally. * The seagull can move one or two spaces in any direction, including diagonally. If it moves two spaces, it cannot turn between them. * The weather pony can move one or two spaces in any direction, including diagonally. If it moves two spaces, it =can= turn. Moreover, the weather pony can push clouds with either or both of its moves. To push a cloud, a weather pony is moved onto the space a cloud occupies, and the cloud moves one space in the weather pony's direction of movement. If that space is occupied, or would be past the edge of the board, the cloud cannot be pushed in that direction. Only one cloud can be pushed at once. * The clouds can drift one space left or right. * The thunderbolt never moves.
Shooting Once you've taken your move for the turn or opted not to, it's time to shoot. Type 'shoot' followed by a space and the name of the square you want to shoot, in whichever format you like. That square on your opponent's grid will now be visible to you. If you hit something, its defeated form (featuring one or more x's) will appear on the grid. If you miss, a dot will appear. Either way, your opponent will be informed where you just shot and whether you hit anything. If you hit something, you get to shoot again until you miss. This is how Twilight and Fluttershy were able to defeat Rainbow before she got a single turn.
The Thunderbolt When you hit your opponent's thunderbolt, you must immediately reveal one of your own surviving pieces. To do this, type 'reveal' followed by a space and the abbreviation for the piece you choose to reveal. You may choose to reveal your own thunderbolt, but its special power will not take effect if you do. Whatever piece you reveal will be immediately shot down. Since you hit your opponent's thunderbolt, you then get to keep shooting until you miss. NOTE: If you have only one piece remaining when you hit your opponent's thunderbolt, it has no effect.
Wrapping Up If you find all seven of your opponent's pieces before she finds all seven of yours, you win! You may feel like the game is all luck at first, but there are subtle strategies that can give you an edge, especially if you know your opponent or can figure out her approach to the game as you play.
This game was invented, developed and programmed by Derpy, with programming help from ProgrammerPony and Squirrelly. Numerous playtesters, including Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, helped solidify the rules during the alpha stage. Thanks to Firefly for the name "Skymaster". - - - - - - -
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Post by Pinkie Pie on May 14, 2012 17:36:51 GMT -5
Awesome! More games!
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Post by Derpy on May 14, 2012 19:38:48 GMT -5
Pinkie Play is Mandatory.
I've added options to Skymaster! You can choose whether to go first or second, or play with whichever optional creature-related rules you like. Bumbles that buzz when on adjacent squares! Seagulls that cry out in fear when the shots go by! Weather ponies that delight in clouds and are sad when none are near. Go to the OOC Classroom or ask Derpy for a sky action and type 'sky options' for details. Enjoy!
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Post by Firefly on May 14, 2012 21:28:10 GMT -5
WOOO! You splattered my Wonderbolt!
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Post by Derpy on Jun 5, 2012 2:00:37 GMT -5
It's time for...
THE SKYMASTER CHALLENGE!!!
Since inventing Skymaster, Derpy has played about twenty games of it with various friends, local and internet alike...
...AND HAS NEVER LOST.
Can YOU be the first to beat Derpy at her own game??
Skymaster has three optional creature rules that give players more information about where their opponents' creatures are. (See 'sky options' for details.) The Skymaster challenge has four categories: beating Derpy with zero, one, two or three of these optional creature rules in play. The rules are summarized above and described in the 'sky options' display.
This is not just an idle challenge. This challenge has PRIZES!!
BE: The first to beat Derpy at straight Skymaster! WIN: A short poem on the subject of your choice, in the form of your choice! Want Derpy to write a rondeau about moon bananas? Will do!! ==Already won by Nimble Hooves!!==
BE: The first to beat Derpy with ONE optional creature rule! WIN: A poem or song on the subject of your choice, in the form of your choice! ==Already won by Vinyl Scratch!!==
BE: The first to beat Derpy with TWO optional creature rules! WIN: An illustration of anything you like, rendered in your choice of pencil, colored pencil, crayon, marker, or oil pastel! [Warning: Derpy is not an illustrator! See the Dreaming of Ponyville splash screen for an example of Derp-art!] ==Already won by Skyheart!!==
BE: The first to beat Derpy with THREE optional creature rules! WIN: A short story on the subject of your choice, featuring whatever characters you like. ==Won by Economist Brony!! Skymaster Challenge is now over!==
In addition, all winners will be honored here, on the MUCK bulletin board, on the forum's news fader, and in a @shout!
To play? Just find Derpy and ask for a game! Derpy will generally make time but reserves the right not to play forty gajillion games in a row. If you've already won one category, precedence will be given to other challengers. To practice? Take a friend to the OOC Classroom, locate one of the sets scattered around the MUCK, or ask Derpy to have a 'sky' action attached so you can play anywhere, even at a distance!
Good luck, weather ponies!!
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Post by Derpy on Jun 5, 2012 4:13:21 GMT -5
NEWS!!On first try, NIMBLE HOOVES defeated Derpy in straight Skymaster! Was TEACHING GAME. Derpy destroyed Nimble's entire army but for BEE in VERY FIRST TURN. Then bee buzzed around SIX TIMES. Derpy could not find!! Eventually Nimble victor. Nimble has chosed to recieve limerick about squirrel!! When done, will post here. Congratulations to Nimble Hooves!!!!Still three more prizes to win! ~
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Post by Skyheart on Jun 7, 2012 16:10:33 GMT -5
NEWS!!On first try, NIMBLE HOOVES defeated Derpy in straight Skymaster! Was TEACHING GAME. Derpy destroyed Nimble's entire army but for BEE in VERY FIRST TURN. Then bee buzzed around SIX TIMES. Derpy could not find!! Eventually Nimble victor. Nimble has chosed to recieve limerick about squirrel!! When done, will post here. Congratulations to Nimble Hooves!!!!Still three more prizes to win! ~ THAT is impressive.
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Post by Derpy on Jun 10, 2012 22:36:26 GMT -5
This is the poem I composed for Nimble Hooves (reprinted with permission):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One autumn, a Devonshire girl Presented her ring to a squirrel. Their union was brief Because of the grief She felt when he buried her pearl! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SQUIRREL LIMERICK!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Derpy on Jun 17, 2012 22:42:04 GMT -5
MORE NEWS!!Skyheart, after several nightly matches, has defeated Derpy in 2-rule Skymaster! Scaredy seagulls and woeful weatherponies were in effect. Was not just defeat. Was CATASTREFEAT!! Derpy hit weatherpony on second turn and then missed unprecedented ELEVEN TURNS IN ROW. ;.; Whereas Skyheart? ON TOP OF BALL!!Congratulations to Skyheart!! And for prize? Has chosen sketch of himself and Derpy playing game! When done? Will post here!!!
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Post by Derpy on Jul 29, 2012 15:59:47 GMT -5
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Post by Derpy on Aug 5, 2012 18:00:30 GMT -5
MORE NEEEEWS!!
Record artiste Vinyl Scratch has become the first to defeat Derpy at single-rule Skymaster!! In a scaredy seagull game, it looked like Derpy would win, but Scratch rallied from a 5-2 deficit to finish the game with four unshot spaces!
As her prize, she has chosen to have Derpy write a song about Scratch's favorite equisode, Fall Weather Friends! She has left the choice of source music up to Derpy, who has promised to rise to the occasion.
Congratulations to DJ Pon-333333333333333333333!!!
(Is first ever elongated numeral.)
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Post by Derpy on Aug 14, 2012 20:08:46 GMT -5
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Post by Derpy on May 12, 2013 0:04:43 GMT -5
MOST NEWS!!!
Skymaster challenge is FINALLY OVER. EquestriaMUCK headwiz EconomistBrony has defeated Derpy in the most deluxe form of Skymaster--with all three creature rules in effect! Derpy's weather pony did a little dance and was caught early, leaving incriminating clues! But game was close until the very end! Derpy knew where EB's last two pieces were--but EB shot Derpy's last two pieces first!! O.O
EconomistBrony has won a story written by Derpy! What and who is about? Only EB know! Congratulations to EconomistBrony!!!
Now that the Skymaster Challenge is over, it will soon be time for a Skymaster Tournament!
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