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Catapult

Hurl your stones across the board to annihilate the opponent. Range grows when you have friendly support or a board edge in front of you.

Inventors: Michael Amundsen, Alek Erickson
Year: 2024

Rules

See BoardGameGeek: Catapult.

Catapult is a decisive two-player army game of total annihilation. To play, set up a chess board like this:

The goal of Catapult is to capture all your opponent's pieces. Starting with light, players move one of their pieces each turn. If you cannot make a legal move, you must pass. Pieces move in a straight line, up to its range, passing only enemy or empty spaces, and capturing all passed enemies, including the one landed on. Note, you do not have to land on a piece to capture it.

Each piece has default range of 1. Range is doubled for each of the three forward directions in which its movement is blocked Non-capturing movements (a move that only passes and lands on empty spaces) must be in one of the three forward directions, towards the opposite corner. Capturing movements (a move that lands on or passes through 1 or more opponent pieces) may be in any of the eight orthogonal or diagonal directions.

Optional balancing mechanism:
This game can optionally be played using the dagger. Dark would start out in possession of it. On your turn, you may pass the dagger to the opponent. If you do, for this turn, make two moves instead of one.

Optional Royal variant:
Catapult may be played with an extra piece in the corner in your starting position – this is your king. Capture your opponent's king to win. Kings move and capture just like other pieces. NOTE: It is not recommended to play with the dagger in the Royal variant.

Variants

Larger board (9×9)

Sixteen stones per side in the same triangular pattern.

Royal Catapult

Win by capturing the opposing royal instead of clearing the army.

Dagger

Player 2 starts with the dagger. While you hold it, you may take two consecutive actions in one turn (two moves, or a move and a pass if needed). After a double action, the dagger passes to the opponent.

Further details

Version history