Design Document

Hnefatafl design document:

Game scenario:

Two players play against each other on a 9x9 board. The defender must, when able, move his King to one of four corners of the board. The attacker must surround the King to remove him from the board. At any point, players can surround other pieces and remove them from the board. The first to complete their objective is the winner.

Asset List:

Sixteen pieces for Player One

Eight pieces for Player Two

One King for Player Two

One 9x9 Board

One Dice

Game-piece Design:

My game-piece design will be focused on early scandinavian vikings as this is where it first originated from. Defenders of the King will comprised of shields and the attackers will have axes. Given that Hnefatafl is an ancient Scandinavian Viking game, it was an instant decision to make it based off certain weaponry, their longboats or the clothing  and armour they wore. Having done research on other Hnefatafl boards and varying pieces, some had the most simplest designs, all the way to intricately carved pieces, some brandishing full armour and shields. The king will also be larger than all the other pieces placed on the board.

I decided to make shield pieces for the defender as it just seemed appropriate. The player is tasked with the defence of the King. The other team has axes as its playing piece and fits well with the shields. The King’s piece is shaped as a Helmet which can either denote a crown or other piece of equipment reserved for a person of great importance

Each set of pieces are coloured plainly. The attacker has white pieces and the defender will have grey. The King will be coloured in black simply to distinguish its importance and role.

Below are some rough sketches of what the playing pieces may look like:

Board Design:

Whilst researching different board designs, they vary a lot between cloth and wooden boards. Cloth boards are usually difficult to set up and keep flat so I opted for a wooden board within a stiff cardboard box/case. The case has a hollowed out interior and has a small drawer inside that is used to house the game pieces, dice and instructions. On the top of the board is the playing side consisting of a 9x9 board and appropriate markers to signify where all the playing pieces are located and the four locations for the King to escape the board.

The design of this board is similar to the picture here but without the intricate border around the edges and although this picture shows an 11x11 board, mine, as stated above will be on a 9x9 board.

N/A. (N/A). Hnefatafl game board set up. Available: http://www.norseamerica.com/norse_games_hnefatafl_game.html. Last accessed 5th March 2015.

Damian Walker. (N/A). The History of Hnefatafl. Available: http://tafl.cyningstan.com/page/3/the-history-of-hnefatafl. Last accessed 7th March 2015.

N/A. (N/A). N/A. Available: http://ec.l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock4254472.jpg. Last accessed 5th March 2015.

Rules:

Players must decide who rolls first.

Dice serves as a means of movement.

Pieces can only move in an orthogonal direction (Horizontally and vertically, not diagonally)

The number on the dice denotes how many spaces to move. If they are unable to move due to space restriction, they must move to the highest possible number.

Any piece can move as long as it has a space to move to.

Players must surround a piece on two sides (adjacent) before they can remove it.

The opponent must surround the King on four sides before he can be removed.

The King can move the same as the other pieces on the board.