One of the best strategies I've found in Ludus Latruncolorum is to never move more than one space at a time with any piece except your Dux, moving from the outside into the center and positioning your Dux to remove any opponent pieces that nay block your advance. Ludus Latruncolorum is a game about spacing, blocking the room your opponent has to maneuver while giving yourself as much room as possible. Plus, you don't want to make it possible for the opponent to break your line by getting behind you. Funnily enough, this does translate well to ancient battles, with a high focus on flanking, maneuvering, and keeping rank.
Great insight! I know that some recreations of the game have this as a codified rule as well, but hadn't tested how it would affect gameplay. I'll include that note when I create an update to this video.
I like being introduced to these games, gives me ideas for playing with my son when he's older. I'll break out my wood burner, my boards won't be as nice as yours, but they will play. Please keep more coming. If you could do one for "watermelon" chess I would appreciate it.
Been playing for a few years. Great game. Good explanation. 👍 Just one tiny tip. Practice not saying umm so much. I am not trying to be insulting. And was hesitant to bring it up. But it was very prevalent.
Very similar. LL is thought to be a predecessor of Hnefatafl and modern chess and checkers, so some modern reconstructions such as these rules here have drawn heavily on Hnefatafl for play. But even Hnefatafl is a reconstruction based on what we know of other Tafl games. Other reconstructions of LL are very different, but because I'm not well versed in those rules, I didn't include them. Someday I plan on doing a video on that ruleset as well.
From my past research it's to capture the opponents Dux, however period resources are scarce enough that we don't know for sure. Since this is a reconstructed game, creating and testing plausible variations is a good way to explore alternative possible play styles. However, based on the period and the type of warfare practiced at the time, it seems most most probable to me that capture of the Dux is the most probable objective.
Modern recreations play both one space per move and multiple spaces, much like a rook in chess. The way I personally prefer to play is like a rook in chess, it makes the game faster and more exciting. Make sure to verify rules with your opponent beforehand because there are variations. And I can't remember off the top of my head who goes first. I'll look it up and let you know. Thanks!
@Anthony Maurice I'm not sure. I'll see if I can find associations in historical references, but I would not be surprised if it's associated with the spread of Christianity. Good question though.
It could also be associated with the rise in specific types of defensive combat or perhaps castles in the middle ages with Hnefatafl. Or the cultural change within societies who had more important people involved in battles that were valuable when captured. The cross shape could be an unintentional happenstance when a square grid is used, especially since not all Tafl variants use a cross shape, but I'll have to do some more research, and not rely on speculation. :)
@Anthony Maurice when I was first researching the game when I first made the video, there was a different reconstruction with different rules that did not align with other reconstruction rules at all. It does involve extra steps for capture and different phases of the game. I'll see if I can find that and include a link.
Thanks for sharing and explaining the game. In return, please plan out your recordings so you can avoid so many Um, and Ahs. Not trying to troll you like some of the dickheads here, but its hard to immerse your information that you are trying to convey. It would be like playing a game or watching a film and you get glitches every 3 to 5 secs. Best of luck :).
Like I've said previously, I do fully intend to redo this video sometime in the future. This was a quick video I made because when I was researching the game, there were no videos on this game in English, and thought it pertinent to disseminate information to the masses instead of worrying extensively about presentation. Unfortunately, I typically have more pressing matters to attend to than doing the high quality video that I want to do. Feel free to use the information to make your own more professional video.
One of the best strategies I've found in Ludus Latruncolorum is to never move more than one space at a time with any piece except your Dux, moving from the outside into the center and positioning your Dux to remove any opponent pieces that nay block your advance. Ludus Latruncolorum is a game about spacing, blocking the room your opponent has to maneuver while giving yourself as much room as possible. Plus, you don't want to make it possible for the opponent to break your line by getting behind you.
Funnily enough, this does translate well to ancient battles, with a high focus on flanking, maneuvering, and keeping rank.
Great insight! I know that some recreations of the game have this as a codified rule as well, but hadn't tested how it would affect gameplay. I'll include that note when I create an update to this video.
I like being introduced to these games, gives me ideas for playing with my son when he's older. I'll break out my wood burner, my boards won't be as nice as yours, but they will play. Please keep more coming. If you could do one for "watermelon" chess I would appreciate it.
Looks like a really fun game!
Thanks man, saw them playing this on Spartacus Blood and Sand.😁👌🇺🇸
Guess I'm not the only one then
Been playing for a few years. Great game. Good explanation. 👍 Just one tiny tip. Practice not saying umm so much. I am not trying to be insulting. And was hesitant to bring it up. But it was very prevalent.
Its kinda like viking chess, Neftofal ?
Very similar. LL is thought to be a predecessor of Hnefatafl and modern chess and checkers, so some modern reconstructions such as these rules here have drawn heavily on Hnefatafl for play. But even Hnefatafl is a reconstruction based on what we know of other Tafl games. Other reconstructions of LL are very different, but because I'm not well versed in those rules, I didn't include them. Someday I plan on doing a video on that ruleset as well.
is the goal of the game to get your dux to the other side of the board or to capture the opponent's dux?
From my past research it's to capture the opponents Dux, however period resources are scarce enough that we don't know for sure. Since this is a reconstructed game, creating and testing plausible variations is a good way to explore alternative possible play styles. However, based on the period and the type of warfare practiced at the time, it seems most most probable to me that capture of the Dux is the most probable objective.
One square per move? And how did they determine who had first move?
Modern recreations play both one space per move and multiple spaces, much like a rook in chess. The way I personally prefer to play is like a rook in chess, it makes the game faster and more exciting. Make sure to verify rules with your opponent beforehand because there are variations. And I can't remember off the top of my head who goes first. I'll look it up and let you know. Thanks!
One set of rules says to flip a coin, and the winner plays white and goes first. So, white goes first. Have fun playing!
@Anthony Maurice I'm not sure. I'll see if I can find associations in historical references, but I would not be surprised if it's associated with the spread of Christianity. Good question though.
It could also be associated with the rise in specific types of defensive combat or perhaps castles in the middle ages with Hnefatafl. Or the cultural change within societies who had more important people involved in battles that were valuable when captured. The cross shape could be an unintentional happenstance when a square grid is used, especially since not all Tafl variants use a cross shape, but I'll have to do some more research, and not rely on speculation. :)
@Anthony Maurice when I was first researching the game when I first made the video, there was a different reconstruction with different rules that did not align with other reconstruction rules at all. It does involve extra steps for capture and different phases of the game. I'll see if I can find that and include a link.
Thanks for sharing and explaining the game. In return, please plan out your recordings so you can avoid so many Um, and Ahs. Not trying to troll you like some of the dickheads here, but its hard to immerse your information that you are trying to convey. It would be like playing a game or watching a film and you get glitches every 3 to 5 secs. Best of luck :).
Like I've said previously, I do fully intend to redo this video sometime in the future. This was a quick video I made because when I was researching the game, there were no videos on this game in English, and thought it pertinent to disseminate information to the masses instead of worrying extensively about presentation. Unfortunately, I typically have more pressing matters to attend to than doing the high quality video that I want to do. Feel free to use the information to make your own more professional video.