Arm's Length

In this Death Match, try to make four-in-a-row while carefully managing the shockwaves.

Designer(s): penzo Match Type: DM (for 2 players)
Featured in: Simply Genius

DM7A - Arm’s Length

Don’t get knocked off by the shockwaves!

(DM by penzo)


Setup

The game is played on an 8x8 square board. At the start, some stones of each color will be pre-placed symmetrically on the board. Their position will be revealed before play begins.



The DMO, Codokay, will choose which color to play (red or blue), and whether to go first or second. After that, players alternate turns for the remainder of the game.


Gameplay

On your turn, choose an empty space on the board to place your stone.


When a stone is placed, it pushes every adjacent stone (orthogonally or diagonally, regardless of color) one space away.

  • A stone only moves if the space behind it in that direction is empty.
  • If there is another stone on the space behind it, the stone does not move.
  • If the edge of the board is behind the stone, the stone is pushed off the board and removed from play.

The below example shows what would happen if a stone is placed on G5.



A player immediately wins if either of the following occurs at the end of the turn:

  • They have four of their stones in a straight line, or
  • 10 of their opponent’s stones were knocked off the board


Special cases:

  • If both players form a 4-in-a-row on the same turn, the player who made the move loses.
  • If both players have their 10th stone knocked off in the same turn, the player who made the move loses.
  • If a player forms a 4-in-a-row on the same turn that their 10th stone is knocked off, the 4-in-a-row takes priority and they win.

Administration

All moves are public in #dm7a-game-room.


To make your move, name 1 empty coordinate. We will take the first legal move. Submissions are final once the updated game board has been posted, but if you wish to undo your submission, you may do so if the board has not been posted yet.


After the board is revealed, the DMO has 1 minute to pick the starting player, and then each player has 1 minute to make their move. Players have 5 minutes of reserve time.

Tags

Connect in a row    (The game involves players connecting pieces in a row, like gomoku.)

Grid-based    (The game involves play on a grid.)

Piece placement    (The game involves pieces being placed on a board.)

Strategy    (The game tests the players' strategic & tactical abilities.)

Turn-based    (The game involves players taking turns one after another.)