''Fields of Action'' is an

abstract strategy Abstract strategy games admit a number of definitions which distinguish these from strategy games in general, mostly involving no or minimal narrative theme, outcomes determined only by player choice (with no randomness), and perfect information. ...

board game Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well. Many board games feature a comp ...

for two players.

Description

Components

*any 8x8 board such as a

checkers Checkers (American English), also known as draughts (; British English), is a group of strategy board games for two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces. Checkers ...

chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to disti ...

board. Alternating colors of squares do not have any effect on the game. *24 checkers or counters, 12 each of two colors, each set numbered 1 to 12

Setup

The checkers are placed on the board in a specific pattern.

Gameplay

"Black" moves first, and then play alternates. The active player can move one piece using the following rules: *A piece can be moved forward, backward or diagonally in one direction a number of squares equal to the number of other counters of both sides that are adjacent to it, as long as it does not end its turn on a friendly counter. *If a piece has no pieces adjacent to it, it can be moved any number of squares in one direction such that it ends its turn in an empty square that is adjacent to at least two other pieces of either color. If a piece ends its turn on top of an enemy counter, the enemy counter is removed from play.

Victory conditions

The game can be won in one of two ways: *A player captures five counters that are numbered sequentially, such as 5-6-7-8-9. The pieces do not have to be captured in sequential order. *A player's opponent can make no legal moves.

Publication history

In his 1969 book ''

A Gamut of Games ''A Gamut of Games'' is an innovative book of games written by Sid Sackson and first published in 1969. It contains rules for a large number of paper and pencil, card, and board games. Many of the games in the book had never before been published. ...

'',

Sid Sackson Sid Sackson (February 4, 1920 in Chicago – November 6, 2002) was an American board game designer and collector, best known as the creator of the business game ''Acquire''. Career Sackson's most popular creation is probably the business game ''Ac ...

described the abstract strategy game ''

Lines of Action Lines of Action (or LOA) is an abstract strategy board game for two players invented by Claude Soucie. The objective is to connect all of one's pieces into a single group. The game was recommended by the Spiel des Jahres in 1988. Rules Goal The ...

'' (''LOA'') designed by Claude Soucie. In 1982, ''LOA'' and a variation by Sackson titled ''Field of Action'' appeared in the German games magazine ''Spielbox''. An English version of ''Fields of Action'' was published in the February-March 1989 issue of ''

Games A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (such ...

'', and also published in R. Wayne Schmittberger's 1992 book ''New Rules for Classic Games''.

References

Board games introduced in 1982 Abstract strategy games Sid Sackson games {{board-game-stub