After all the commnewnts latelky about Chu Shogi's Lion and how overwhelming a piece it is it occurred to me to wonder about what kind of a piece a Lion limited to moves comprising steps in particular directions. Are they worth adding to Man and Beast 21? In the following diagrams 0 indicates starting square only, 1 a square reachable in a 1-step move, 2 a square reachable in a 2-step move, and 3 a square reachable in either:
This piece's move can comprise either one King step or two, not necessarily in the same direction, with a choice of capturng or not capturing any piece on the intertnediate square.
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising forward steps only. This means that it cannot make any move returning to its starting square, including Igui capture. Nor can it capture on a square one rank ahead of its starting square and then move to anoter square on that rank.
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising forward and sideways steps only. Unlike the ordinary Lioncub this piece can make moves returning to its starting square, but only via squares on the same rank. This means that it can Igui capture only pieces on its starting rank. Note also that it cannot move to squares on its starting rank after going to a square one rank in front.
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising Goldgeneral steps. It can Igui capture only orthogonally adjacent pieces. It can move to adjacent squares on its starting rank in two steps, but only if the forward step is the diagonal one and the backward step the orthogonal one, regardless of order.
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising Silvergeneral steps. It can Igui capture only diagonally adjacent pieces. It can move to adjacent squares on its starting rank in two steps, but only if the forward step is the orthogonal one and the backward step the diagonal one, regardless of order. It cannot move to squares on an adjoining rank in two steps, or to any part of its starting rank in one.
This is a Siverlioncub that can also make sideways steps. It can Igui capture only pieces on a different file. It can move to adjacent squares on its starting rank in two steps, but only if the forward step is the orthogonal one and the backward step the diagonal one, regardless of order.
Lionfiler
2 . 2 . 2
\ / \ /
2-1-2-1-2
X X X X
2-1-2-1-2
X X X X
2-1-2-1-2
/ \ / \
2 . 2 . 2
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising steps that change file, although two steps can cancel out. Like the Supersilverlioncub it can Igui capture only pieces on a different file. It cannot move to squares on an adjoining file in two steps, or to any part of its starting file in one.
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising steps that change rank, although two steps can cancel out. It can Igui capture only pieces on a different rank. Like the Silverlioncub it cannot move to squares on an adjoining rank in two steps, or to any part of its starting rank in one.
Lion
This piece's move can comprise either one King step or two, not necessarily in the same direction, with a choice of capturng or not capturing any piece on the intertnediate square.Lioncub
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising forward steps only. This means that it cannot make any move returning to its starting square, including Igui capture. Nor can it capture on a square one rank ahead of its starting square and then move to anoter square on that rank.Superlioncub
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising forward and sideways steps only. Unlike the ordinary Lioncub this piece can make moves returning to its starting square, but only via squares on the same rank. This means that it can Igui capture only pieces on its starting rank. Note also that it cannot move to squares on its starting rank after going to a square one rank in front.Goldlioncub
2 2 2 2 2 \|X|X|/ 2-3-3-3-2 \|X|X|/ 2-3-2-3-2 |\|/| . 2-1-2 . | . . 2 . .This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising Goldgeneral steps. It can Igui capture only orthogonally adjacent pieces. It can move to adjacent squares on its starting rank in two steps, but only if the forward step is the diagonal one and the backward step the orthogonal one, regardless of order.Silverlioncub
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising Silvergeneral steps. It can Igui capture only diagonally adjacent pieces. It can move to adjacent squares on its starting rank in two steps, but only if the forward step is the orthogonal one and the backward step the diagonal one, regardless of order. It cannot move to squares on an adjoining rank in two steps, or to any part of its starting rank in one.Supersilverlioncub
This is a Siverlioncub that can also make sideways steps. It can Igui capture only pieces on a different file. It can move to adjacent squares on its starting rank in two steps, but only if the forward step is the orthogonal one and the backward step the diagonal one, regardless of order.Lionfiler
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising steps that change file, although two steps can cancel out. Like the Supersilverlioncub it can Igui capture only pieces on a different file. It cannot move to squares on an adjoining file in two steps, or to any part of its starting file in one.Lionranker
This is a Lion restricted to moves comprising steps that change rank, although two steps can cancel out. It can Igui capture only pieces on a different rank. Like the Silverlioncub it cannot move to squares on an adjoining rank in two steps, or to any part of its starting rank in one.