Description
Archon is visually very similar to chess, but with a
number of significant changes.
While the pieces on the board have similar relative
abilities to the different pieces in chess, when one
piece attempts to take another, the removal of the
targeted piece is not automatic. Instead, the two
pieces are placed into a full-screen 'combat arena'
and must battle to determine who takes the square.
Generally (but not always) in combat, a stronger
piece will succeed over a weaker piece in either
defending or capturing a square. It is also possible
for the fight to result in a double-kill, in which
both pieces are eliminated. This uncertainty adds a
level of complexity into the game, since it is not
always possible to predict if taking a square will
be successful.
Each character's strength is also affected by the
color of the square on which the combat occurs and
by a light-and-dark cycle on the 'neutral' squares,
indicated by the changing color of the board. The
'light' side is stronger on the white squares and
during the light cycle, and the 'dark' side is
stronger on the dark squares and during the dark
cycle.
Different pieces have different abilities in the
combat phase. These include movement, life, and
weapon effectiveness. The weapons vary by reach and
the amount of damage inflicted on an opponent. For
example, the pawn (represented by knights on the
'light' side and goblins on the 'dark' side) moves
quickly, but has very little strength; its weapon, a
sword or club, has limited reach and power. A dragon
is considerably faster and can fire a powerful
projectile blast, while a golem moves slowly and
fires a slow but powerful boulder.
Some pieces have special abilities. The Phoenix can
turn into a ball of fire, both damaging the enemy
and shielding itself from enemy attacks. The
shapeshifter assumes the shape and abilities of
whatever piece it is up against.
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