I have been contemplating in Jalak, and I believe that I have come up with a game of my own. For lack of a better name, I’ve called it, “Four Pillars”.
For this game, you will need a semi-complex setup of the Jalak grid, and 2 to 4 players. The object is to be the first player to raise their pillar to its maximum height.
Round 1
| 0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Round 2 - commences when all four players have reached 3 points.
| * |
1 |
0 |
1 |
* |
| 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| * |
1 |
0 |
1 |
* |
Each player takes their turn (it matters not who starts, but play proceeds clockwise), and has 5 moves. You may play one of three shapes onto a lowered pillar: Ball, SmallCube, LargeCube. (LargeCubes may not be played in Round 1).
- Ball – raises area pillar(s) by 1
- Exception 1 – placed on opponent pillar that is not at level 0 (cumulative balls on opponents pillar are + points in that case)
- Exception 2 – in Round 2, if the ball is placed in the lowered pillar of the outer row(s), those two opponents pillars are each lowered by 1. (same rule applies where if an opponent’s pillar is at 0, the negative point becomes positive.)
- SmallCube – used to raise “surface pillar” between two of these. Raised “surface pillar” remains for the single turn following the turn in which they are raised. No more than 3 of these may be played in a given turn.
- LargeCube – may only be played once by each player per game. Must be placed in the lowered column near the wall between two pillars. This will lower both corner pillars by 5 points. (Please note that if a pillar hits level 0 before 5 points have been removed, it is raised by the remaining points. eg) Pillar @ lvl3, is lowered to 0 and then up by 2.)
In addition, this outer pillar becomes blocked for the next turn. (I suggest raising it by 1 level so everyone is aware it is out of play.)
Once an object has been placed (or lands) in a lowered pillar, it is considered played. This is regardless of the turn player’s original intent.
The force field should be turned on for this game, at least in Round 2 to prevent the Jalak objects from leaving the arena. If the force field is off, and you lose one, you do not get to claim the result for that object at the end of your turn, and you cannot regenerate it.
A few points of note, and or etiquette: No pillars moved during a player’s turn. These are moved at the end of the turn. Each player is required to move their own pillar, and the player whose turn has just ended is required to move any of the “surface” or “playing” pillars that need adjusting.
I have not yet had a chance to play this and determine if it is a viable game or not, but I look forward to finding someone (or a group of someones), who have the patience to try it out. :)
Regarding End of turn: All five moves of your turn must be used. If you are unable to place + points in your own favor, or are otherwise unable to move, you must give + points to your opponent(s), starting with the opponent who has the least points, and moving clockwise around the grid.
