Loka The World of Fantasy Chess

[Scott Tortorice]

Interesting project on Kickstarter:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744629938/loka-the-world-of-fantasy-chess?utm_source=Mantic+Games+Newsletter&utm_campaign=daaf426856-Mantic_Games_Newsletter_199&utm_medium=email

LOKA is two things - fantastically sculpted Chess sets and a brand new take on playing Chess, brought to you by Alessio Cavatore's River Horse and published by Mantic Games, project creators behind the successful Kings of War and DreadBall Kickstarters.

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Each LOKA Chess Set can be used as a regular Chess Set and the pieces have been carefully designed so that you always know what they are on the board – a common problem with other fantasy chess pieces.

The Rules

At its heart, LOKA uses the rules of Chess, and Alessio has some significant twists in mind in the form of new mechanics:

Choose your army - Each player get to choose which pieces they put onto the board, meaning both players command different armies on the battlefield – do you field a small but elite force with three Queens, or do you go for a mass horde of Pawns?

Fantasy Scenery – Change the shape of the battlefield with movement blocking terrain that alters the path you’ll take into combat.

Dice Driven Combat – a simple and elegant system using eight sided dice adds some unpredictability to combat, placing extra emphasis on strategy and positioning as pieces build in power with support from their comrades.

The game brings new tactics and strategy to the game of Chess in a world torn between good and evil.

Interesting. I like the idea just for artwork of the fantasy chess set. The fantasy rules part? Eh, might make for a nice diversion. The problem with all these chess variants is that ultimately they try to improve on something that doesn't need improvement. Sooner or later people just go back to Chess.

UPDATE: the project is already $12,000 OVER its goal! :vsignidn't think it would do so well so fast!