Shieldwall

Shieldwall is a board game, that despite its Dark Age look and subject has in fact been recently developed by game designer Greg Clouter over a two year period. The inspiration for the game was the Battle of Hastings, and importance of the Shieldwall to the defence, and how its destruction was the key to the Norman victory.

 The game is played on a sturdy 88 square chequer board coloured black and ivory, decorated with heraldic eagles, similar to those seen on the border of the Bayeaux Tapestry. The playing pieces, cast in resin to create a marble and ivory effect, stand around 3.5cm in height and have a look and feel very reminiscent of the famous Lewes Chess set. In all the game looks very attractive, and as a coffee table adornment I think it would prove acceptable the most critical of partners.

The game itself has two types of playing piece, Shields and Swords. The shields are the defensive or blocking pieces, whose aim is to prevent the attacking pairs of swords from taking friendly playing pieces, or advancing to the defenders baseline, which is the ultimate objective of the game. The winner is the player who holds most possible spaces on the opponent’s baseline. 

The rules for movement are simple, as are the axes of attack for the “sword” pieces. The complexity of the game comes from the combinations of these moves to create intricate attack patterns, or defensive networks. I was able to start playing this game quite quickly, the rules only cover two sides of an A4 sheet, but it took me a number of games before I was able to be confident that the moves I made were fully legitimate, as there are a number of restrictions within the game. The designer claims that the rules are as easy to learn as draughts, while the strategies are as complex as chess. I certainly agree with the later comment, though I found the restrictions rather than the rules harder to recall.

  As my confidence in the rules grew I was able to enjoy the games more, and they were fun, challenging and thought provoking. Defending pieces can strengthen their play by forming shieldwalls, but knowing when to do this, and how to place the walls is the key to the game.

 Was I any good? Well let us say that I doubt that I would be a league winner, though I did enjoy the games I played. While my friend Clive, a skilled and successful Chess player picked up the games concept and strategies very quickly, and has been recommending it to his games playing colleagues. And I have no hesitation in doing the same.

 Shieldwall games are made to order costing £33 and require around 28 days for manufacture and delivery. For full information and current postal prices contact Gregory Clouter on Penzance 01736 332914 or visit the website at www.shieldwall.co.uk

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