Today Fencer posted 3 ideas that I proposed for 3 new Ludo variants (based of my ideas plus ideas I found on this board and such)

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Ludo Variant #1: (since "faster" games seem to be very popular)

Name Idea: Ludo Express

Same board and 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. (doubles are nothing special)

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.

The rest are the same rules as regular Ludo.

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# Ludo Variant #2:

Name Idea: Ludo Strategy

Same board and pieces as regular ludo. 2 main differences:

1. You can place your piece on top of another one of your own pieces to form a "block". This "block" will block the board an NO pieces (yours or opponents) can move past the block. To get rid of the block, you simple move the "top" piece from the block just as a regular turn (leaving your bottom piece still sitting there in danger of a capture)

2. You can move forward like normal, or backwards. If you roll something like a 6, then bonus 3 – you must either move a piece forward a total of 9 spaces, or backwards a total of 9 spaces. There is no "splitting" the dice up and going forward 6, then back 3.

NOTE #1: You can NOT move backwards past your starting point. You can move backwards all the way to and on top of the starting spot, but not any further

NOTE #2: You can NOT move backwards out of your own "home" area. Once you enter your home (last 4 ending spots), you can no longer move those pieces backwards.

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# Ludo Variant #3:

Name Idea: Ludo Strategy Express

As you can guess, it would be a combination of the 2 variant ideas above. Have the "fast" with the ability to block & move backwards.

The only difference would be because you roll 2 dice each time, you CAN split the forward/backwards decision up. Move with 1 die forward, and then move with another die backwards. (same or different pieces)

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This would be a great place to comment. I think the only thing I would add to it is for #2 & #3, that I would say blocks would be allowed anywhere EXCEPT for the 2 start spaces (your own & your opponent) - so that way you can block your opponent, but you can't block them at least getting 1 of their pieces on the board.)

Any other comments - ideas? Ludo is the 2nd more popular game (as for current running games), so would be nice to have a variant or 2 (or 3)

Ludo variant I would like to see:

Differences:

1. Get a piece out with either a 1 or 6

2. Roll 2 dice on each turn. Can split up dice, or use both dice on same piece. Doubles does nothing special.

Anyway, that is a version i would like to see - which I think would also speed up the game

If anyone is still looking to join a Ludo team for the Team Tournament, The Official Lines Fellowship is still looking for 2 more players to join the team so we can compete against the other fellowships!

Skittles: I'm not saying anything bad, but want to add that with anything that is not an official part of BrainKing like this script should always be used at your own risk. If the script endangers your security - or messes up games, it is all at your own risk.

Again, not saying that this does not work - I know nothing about it, but everyone should be clear that it is at your own risk.

Kipling:

Kipling: You know that annoys people when that word is used. "a lot" is two words - a lot, not alot.

Eriisa: Of course now that I think about it, a 4 player version is not really a variant - but should be an additional option to the current game (and of course an additional option to any variants that might also happen.)

I still think if a person is able to roll 2 dice every time (no bonus roll if you roll a 6 or anything like that), plus if you are able to get out on a 1 or 6 - both those things together will be able to help speed up the game. (Since the slow pace of the game at times seems to be one of the bigger complaints)

mctrivia posted this on Feature Requests, but I thought it would be interesting to discuss what we all would like to see in a Ludo Variant if Fencer was to make one.

mctrivia's suggestion:

1) Rolling 6 or 1 will get you out
2) Get to roll again if you roll a 6 or a 1
3) Consective rolls do not need to be done on the same piece. Can use 6 to get out then use next move on a different piece to move.
4) 4 players if possible.

My Suggestions:

1) Rolling 6 or 1 will get you out
2) Roll 2 dice every time. Even if you get a 6 or 1, you get no "bonus" roll
3) Yes, you can use 1 dice on one piece, and the other dice on another pices if wanted.
4) Oh.... yes, 4 player version would be good. Question: If someone wins, do the others play for 2nd & 3rd place, or whoever is closer to finishing is put into 2nd place? Also if someone resigns or times out, do their pieces get removed from the board and the others continue to play? (leaving the removed player in 4th place.)

What other ideas do people have. Maybe if we can come up with 1 set of "variant" rules that most people agree with, we might have a beter chance to get Fencer to make it. Ludo has recently taken over as the 2nd most currently played game on the site, passing Hyper Backgammon (and only behind regular backgammon).

Stevie: The Czech must have very good memory. I can see kids playing this game, where one says "I rolled five 6's and a 3 for a total of 33", where the other kid would be saying "no, you only rolled four 6's and a 3 for 27"

Then I could see the fight on the playground, with the teacher breaking it up with one kid complaing the other is cheating, where both are placed in a special memory class to help with playing this game.

Pedro Martínez: I'm just trying to understand the rules in Czech, so please don't get mad at me for asking - just want to make sure I understand them.

So in Czech (area), you play Ludo with 1 die. If you roll a 6, you DON'T move any piece yet but roll the dice again. If you roll a 6 again, you still don't move any piece yet but roll again. Then lets say you roll a 3.

You then look for a piece which can be brought out of the home and moved 9 places, or look for a piece which can move 15 spaces. If none are found, the whole roll is not used.

Why I ask is it seems like people playing a board game would roll the first 6, and then move a piece - then roll again since they rolled a 6, then move something again with their second bonus roll. Just seems funny doing it the first way - but if you say that is how it is done, I will believe you - I just want to make sure we are both talking about the same thing.

Fast Ludo - Use 2 dice, no "bonus" for 6. Can use 1 or 6 to take a piece out. Can move different pieces with each die.

4-player Ludo - Well names says it I think

http://pachisi.vegard2.no/parcheesi.html

That page has some of the other "versions" of the game that some of you were talking about below.

I thought someone was nuts when they said the name of the game was WA HOO - I was proven wrong...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludo_%28board_game%29

Well looking at the rules of Ludo on wikipedia, it says that a roll of a six earns a bonus roll. I did not see where it says in there that the bonus roll MUST be used with the same pieces that the original 6 was moved with, and in addition to that if the bonus roll can not be used, the original 6 is now void.