Citizen’s Chess: Design Philosophy
Q: What is Citizen’s Chess?
A: Citizen’s Chess is variation of classic Chess designed to simulate life in the real world. Everything from work, relationships, home ownership, disease, hunger, marriage, break-ups, college, car accidents, hospital bills, and even death. Pretty much anything you can think of.
The model I designed is specific to the United States of America. This is simply due to the fact that I live there now and have lived there all my life. So it seemed like the logical place to start.
Q: Why did you create Citizen’s Chess?
A: Often times I find that discussions surrounding economic opportunity devolve into heated debates where boundaries are drawn along political party lines. I wished to come up with a way to promote thoughtful discussion while also allowing people to remain objective in their analysis. By talking about government/society indirectly through chess, I hope that the mental distance will allow for more productive discussions.
Q: Why Chess of all things?
A: I needed a way to simulate the struggles of an individuals, while also demonstrating the impact of resource allocations. Chess strikes a nice balance between being intellectually stimulating while also being visually striking. Instead of talking about spreadsheets and abstract numbers, chess allows you to show information in a very intuitive manner.
As an example, you can get a rough idea of who is “winning” in a chess match by looking at how many pieces are on the board and what those pieces are.
Q: Why are the players in Citizen’s Chess referred to as “Xin” and “Entropy?”
A: “Xin” is intended to be used just like a normal person’s name and shows the struggles of an individual.
Of course, the obstacles people face in life can be abstract concepts like hunger, debt, social pressure, illness, age, etc. These are not “people” that you fight against. It seemed fitting to refer to these obstacles collectively as “Entropy.” Especially since the ultimate obstacle is death. And everything tends towards a state of entropy.
Q: Why does “Xin” only get one starting piece? And why does “Entropy” get so many? Seems kind of unfair.
A: Well, the simulation isn’t designed to be fair. It is designed to represent the reality that people might find themselves in. Ideally, there would be more starting pieces for “Xin;” however, this simulation only takes into account the benefits guaranteed to citizens at birth. There are no benefits that I am presently aware of in America that I could have used to justify additional starting pieces.
As for why Entropy gets so many, well,... I guess “Entropy” just doesn’t show mercy no matter what stage of life you are in. It’s crazy that death as an infant is even a possibility. If life were a video game, then it would have terrible balance issues and the developers should work on a patch.
Q: Explain the thought behind the rules of Citizen’s Chess.
A: Sure. Which one?
Q: “Xin” gets to keep all pieces he captures and use them the next round. Why?
A: Basically, that represents getting ahead in life. Like capturing a Rook might mean you bought a house. Or maybe you got a Bishop, so then that could represent a college degree or certification. Maybe more Pawns means more in your savings account. They just represent the acquisition of resources.
Q: But if “Xin” loses a piece, why don’t they get it back the next round like “Entropy?”
A: Well think about it this way, if you build a savings (ie. capture some Pawns), you could still lose all your savings somehow. So maybe you sacrifice a Pawn for the sake of capturing a Rook. This would be like buying a house. You lose your savings, but gain a different kind of resource. You don’t magically, get your money back after you’ve spent it. Same concept applies here.
Q: But then, why does “Entropy” regain any lost pieces?
A: Because if you pick an apple, it’ll literally grow back. If you beat an illness, it can still come back. Maybe you were hungry and so you got rid of it by eating. Hunger will still come back later. Entropy will always come back and it certainly doesn’t get less deadly the more times you “beat” hunger.
Q: Why add a Queen on round 5?
A: This represents finding a partner in life. Maybe you take a spouse and pool your resources together. It might be a little easier to “make it” in life if you have a helping hand.
You don’t start with a Queen since the government doesn’t guarantee a spouse at your birth. Still, it is something you might find later in life.
Although, some of us are still waiting for “later” to come...
Q: *Ahem* Why the rule of flipping a coin in Round 6?
A: This only applies if you had a queen at the end of the previous round.
Well, if you haven’t “made it” in life, it can be pretty stressful and so even though your “Queen” was still around in the end of the previous round, she might decide to leave and take her chances elsewhere.
“Making it in life” would be defined in “Citizen’s Chess” as “Xin” achieving a checkmate.
Oh, and you’re not guaranteed a Queen from Round 6 onwards since if you lose your “Queen”/Spouse (death, break-up, etc.) she is gone and that’s that.
Q: Can a player have multiple Queens?
A: Is that a pun? Lol
Q: It was not intended that way, no.
A: Oh. Well then, um,... actually, I’m still not comfortable with this question...
Q: *Ahem* Dice are introduced starting round 9. The player can then lose just by getting an unlucky roll. All while not even taking a turn. This seems ridiculous.
A: There is no guarantee that you won’t get hit by a car on your way to work. Or just die in your sleep. It’s not fair, but it is reality.
Q: That’s a pretty harsh look on the world.
A: I didn’t make the rules. Not for real life, anyway. I just created a game that simulates life’s indifference.
Q: What is the message of Citizen’s Chess?
A: Well, I guess that depends on how the game goes, eh? You can change the rules of Citizen’s chess depending on what country you wish to simulate. Some countries might net you more starting pieces. Maybe that makes a difference, maybe it doesn’t. You won’t know ‘till you try.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with this “simulation” you designed?
A: Honestly, I’m hoping people take “Citizen’s Chess” and build on the idea. It would be great to see “Citizen’s Chess Denmark Edition” or “Spain Edition” or even “Canada Edition.” I would love to see how people interpret and design their games. It might help give insight into what life in other countries is like.