ΔV: the game of spatial combat

An early prototype

• Coming soon: Puzzles!
• Rules
• Kickstarter
• Videos
• Production Pictures

I am about to start I have begun finished fundraising for my three-dimensional board game, called ΔV, pronounced 'delta-vee.' As in, change in velocity. The game occurs on a three dimensional analog of a checkerboard, which I've dubbed a checkerspace. The board is laser-cut clear acrylic, with 12mm holes in each playable space. For pieces, we use traditional marbles. Alternately, we'll soon post videos showing how to assemble your own checkerspace with things you have lying around the house, like cardboard, chopsticks and Lego bricks. Scroll down more to read the rules as they will appear on the reference card (subject to change- please give any feedback). Check out the kickstarter here.

Delta V is a unique game- not just because it's in 3D. The three dimensional part has been done plenty of times before. There's the Star Trek chess, Space Checkers, and Raumschach, just for starters. There are two things that make Delta V really special;

(1) It's a free culture work- anyone can start producing and selling Delta V sets today
(2) Its learning curve is pretty steep- close to that of chess- and it's a good thing

I want Delta V to be played and kept by families as a living room standard. If it takes 100 years, no real surprises there. Who knows how long it took chess to reach its current status? So I've pulled no punches. Legally, Delta V has an intellectual property status very much like that of chess. It's a part of free culture now, currently under the Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 license. Also, I've made sure to keep to the roots of chess and checkers, while introducing plenty of new dynamics to the "competing armies" archetype. There's a weird rule or two- just like en passant or castling- but with some thought, their existence really fills out the game. Click here for the current version of the rules.