talen314: Judging by the list of most popular games at Brainking this may be a Chess variant that would be popular.

But "Mine Chess" as you describe it doesn't have randomness - at least not in the sense of 9 out of 10 games you list. It's just a game without perfect information - more like Logik, Battleboats, Frog Finder/Legs and Espionage, games that currently rank 12, 16, 18, 22, 23, 49, 51, 67, 73, 77, 83. The first Espionage variant comes in at in 51, and I would rank 'Mine Chess' closest to that (of all non-chess variations).

Whether Mine Chess is an interesting variation or not, I don't know, but I don't agree with your popularity argument. New games are, IMO, always fun, but I prefer almost anything above yet-another-chess-variation.

I did recently post some ideas for some Battleboat variants on the Battleboat board, and would love more comments good/bad about any of those.

Battleboats Board: http://brainking.com/en/Board?bc=40

Another thing I would like to see is a Ludo variant - it's the #1 game, yet does not have any variants. One thing people seem to like on this site are (A) Luck and (B) Faster versions of a game, so I bring to you:

Ludo Express

Same Board, pieces as regular ludo

Get out of start with either a 1 or a 6

Roll 2 dice each turn. Each turn, 2 dice rolled. (6’s don’t do anything special – doubles don’t do anything special – Just 2 dice rolled each turn by each player)

Each dice is separate. Like Backgammon, you first make a move with Dice #1 – then make a move with Dice #2 (or swap and move first with Dice #2, then Dice #1 – order is up to player) You can move the same piece twice, OR move 2 different pieces – 1 with each die

So for example, first turn of the game, you roll a 1 & 6 – you have 2 options. Use the “1” to get out of start, and then use the “6” to move 6 spaces – or use the “6” to get our of start, and then use the “1” to move 1 space.

You can split the dice up between different men. You can use the “1” to get a piece out, and use “6” on a different piece on the board.

NOTE: If you own man is sitting on your “start space”, you have to move it BEFORE you can get another piece out of the board.

If you can move – you have to move. (only pass if you have no move) Plus it is possible to move with 1 die, and then pass the other if there is no move with that one. I would say make it like the gammon games. BOTH dice must be used if possible. If only one of the dice can be used, the highest is used.

The rest are the same rules as regular Ludo

coan.net: i like it, sounds a good twist to the game.

coan.net: I'd love to see some new games - preferably games that have been tested, and have different mechanics, instead of yet another oh-golly-let's-just-think-up-silly-variant-1098-of-an-existing-game.

I've posted many suggestions in the past. Don't think there's much point in repeating them.