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Member since:28.05.2001
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Review rated by 21 Ciao members on average: very helpful
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Another Filipino invention that gained popularity in the 1970s. An authentic strategy game but less tedious than chess. Games of the Generals or GG is played between two protagonists and an arbiter. Playing pieces have military ranks which are only known to the player concerned and, of course, to the arbiter. A player will only get an idea of an opposing piece once this opposing piece was killed or had already killed at least one of his pieces. A lot of cunning and bluffing is required of a good player. And since the game is played by at least 3 people it already promises to be funfilled but playing it with an audience will surely elicit camaraderie.
THE PLAYING BOARD has 72 squares of the same color - 8 vertical and 9 horizontal. Initially, the pieces are arranged anywhere and in any manner in the first 3 rows nearest the player. The piece is placed in a square such that the rank is shown to the player and hidden to the opponent.
THE PIECES are 21 men for each opposing sides. The men, in hierarchy of rank, are labeled: 5-star general 4-star general 3-star general 2-star general 1-star general Colonel Lt. Colonel Major Captain 1st Lt 2nd Lt Sergeant Private (6 pieces that can kill a spy) Spy (two pieces that can kill any rank except Private) Flag A playing piece is made of a square plastic or aluminum, about 2 x 2 inches, bent in the middle at a 90 degree angle to have 2 sides. One of the sides bears the rank and the other side is used to prop up the piece on the board.
RULES AND MECHANICS. Play is in alternate fashion between the protagonists. In a play, a piece is moved one square in any direction provided the destination square is not presently occupied by a comrade piece. When a piece is moved to a square that is occupied by an enemy piece, the arbiter will declare which piece is dead and is taken off the board (of course, the piece that is lesser in rank dies). In case of even ranks, both pieces will be taken off the board. When a flag is killed, the game ends. The flag can be killed by the opposing flag.
HELPFUL NOTES IN PLAYING. An opposing piece that killed your 4-star general will surely kill all the lower ranks. In this case, the killer may be a 5-star general or a spy. To test a spy, challenge it with a private and if that piece kills your private then you are sure it is a 5-star general. The best attacker is the 5-star general. Odds tells us that there are only 2 pieces that can kill the 5-star, these are the spies. Even if the spy can kill anyone except the privates, it is unwise to attack using your spy for there are 6 enemy privates on the board so the odds of getting killed by accident is higher.
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But in case you want to try it for fun and for free, you can make a facsimile board and using cardboard for the men. The only problem with this is the mark (telltale sign) that the cardboard develops, it can be a giveaway sign of the piece’s rank to the opponent. But try it nevertheless, it is a bet that you will enjoy. If you need more info, you can e-mail me about it for further explanations.
Yes, Symon, I think Stratego is it because the other name for GG is Strategy. Dogscoff, don't take away the fun by having the computer as arbiter. In fact, playing GG in groups, something like challenge the winner where there's a queue of challengers, plus the noisy and playful arbiter will surely give you maximum fun. Just try it... Alex
Sounds like fun. I might have troubl finding someone prepared to be arbiter though - although I suppose a computer could do that if you had a software version of the game.
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07.10.2003 16:46
I used to have Generals game years ago. thanks for bringing back some memories. I loved this game. Nice to know it is still available.
13.07.2001 03:27
Yes, Symon, I think Stratego is it because the other name for GG is Strategy. Dogscoff, don't take away the fun by having the computer as arbiter. In fact, playing GG in groups, something like challenge the winner where there's a queue of challengers, plus the noisy and playful arbiter will surely give you maximum fun. Just try it... Alex
12.07.2001 09:20
Sounds like fun. I might have troubl finding someone prepared to be arbiter though - although I suppose a computer could do that if you had a software version of the game.