Rules of the Game

Basics

The Board

The board is divided into 169 squares, thirteen to a side.

Pieces

There are two types of piece. Each has different move capabilities.
The smaller of the two types of piece is called a mortal, the larger is called a titan.

Play

The pieces are placed in their initial positions.
Players determine who should move first and then take turn in moving their pieces.
Each player may move one piece each turn.

Objective

Each player attempts to capture all four of the opponent's mortals.

Titan Moves

Basic Movement

Titans may move one square vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
They may not move onto a square which contains another piece.
They may not capture or be captured.

The Proximity Rule

No titan may move into a square which is horizontally or vertically adjacent to a mortal which is already horizontally or vertically adjacent to another titan.

Mortal Moves

Basic Movement

Mortals may only move vertically and horizontally towards titans of either player.

If a mortal moves to the adjacent space of the titan it is moving towards it may turn a right angle and move towards any titans which may be on its current row or column.

This type of movement can continue almost indefinitely.

Capturing

An opponent's mortal may be captured after the attacking mortal's first right angle turn.
The mortal may not move to a square between the titan and the mortal.

Capturing may use any number of titans so capturing moves can be quite complex.

The Proximity Rule

A mortal may not move into a square which is horizontally or vertically adjacent to any two titans (but it may pass through one of these squares during a move).

Basic Game

The basic game has no restrictions on capturing.
If a player threatens a piece, it may be captured. This is a good way to learn the rules of movement.

Standard Game

The standard rules are as the basic rules except for the following:

Threat Advantage

A player may not capture a mortal if the opponent could immediately capture a mortal in the next turn.

Advanced Game

The advanced rules are as the basic rules except for the following:

Threat Advantage

No mortal may be taken by a player who does not have threat advantage.

Threat advantage is to be considered a logical extension of the standard rules and is determined like this:

A player may not capture a mortal if the opponent could immediately capture a mortal in the next turn.

However, if that capture could be countered by a return capture by the first player then it may not be a legal move rendering the first player's move legal.

...and so on.

This sort of determination can become very complicated (but can be very satisfying) and may be resolved on a second Zeus board to make things a little easier.