Game Rules

Playing Crusade & Conquer is similar to chess... well kind of.  While many of the characters and their movements mirror classic chess,  the new board, castles, and game pieces have introduced twists and turns that will make even the most strategic and advanced players think twice.   But this game is not just for the masters.  Anyone can learn... and once you do you'll never turn back.

Starting Positions

Note that the King always starts on his X and the Flag Bearer always starts in front of the King.

Winning Crusade & Conquer

There are two potential endgames (ways to win the game) in Crusade & Conquer. The first endgame is to kill the opposing King. The second endgame is to get your Flag Bearer into the opposing King’s starting position (the opposing X).

The Castle

The Castle has two levels or floors. The upper level is where the King and Queen begin the game; with the King always starting on the X. Remember, the game is lost if the opposing Flag Bearer reaches your King’s starting X.

Game pieces cannot jump up or down more than one level in a single movement and must stop their movement as soon as a level is traversed. There are two exceptions to this rule:

• Castle Exception #1: the Knight is allowed to complete the L-shape movement as long as it only moves one level per turn. If the Knight must move up two levels to complete its L-shape movement, the move is not allowed.
• Castle Exception #2: because it can “fly”, the Dragon’s movements in and around the Castle are not restricted. However, the Dragon can only move more than one space in a single turn if it is flying over teammates.

Pawns

If unobstructed, a Pawn is allowed to move one square forward at a time. A Pawn is not allowed to kill an opponent when moving forward. A Pawn is not allowed to move backwards. A Pawn may only kill an opponent when moving on a diagonal but is not allowed to move more than one space per turn. With the exception of the Flag Bearer, a Pawn may kill any opposing piece.

Pawns – Two-Space Rule

If unobstructed, a Pawn may move forward two spaces in a single turn when moving from its starting position. This two-space rule does not apply to Pawns starting the game in The Castle. Pawns starting the game in The Castle may only move one square forward from their starting positions.

Pawns – Reviving the Fallen

A Pawn may be switched for a fallen (killed) teammate if it reaches a space in the opponent’s back row. This applies to both spaces in and outside of The Castle.

Knights

A Knight is only allowed to move in the shape of an L and must always move a total of three spaces (two spaces in one direction and one space in a perpendicular direction). A Knight may jump teammates and opponents to complete its L-shape movement. A Knight may only kill an opposing game piece on the last space of the L-shape movement. With the exception of the Flag Bearer, a Knight may kill any opposing piece. A Knight is allowed to complete its L-shape movement when traversing a level of The Castle but may only move up or down one level per turn.

Kings

A King is allowed to move only one space per turn in any direction. A King cannot jump teammates or opposing game pieces it complete his move. A King may kill any opposing piece, including the Flag Bearer, by moving in any direction. A King must end his move as soon as he kills an opposing game piece. A King must also end his move as soon as he traverses a level of The Castle.

Rooks

A Rook may only move forward, backward, and sideways but may do so for as many spaces as are open. A Rook cannot jump teammates or opposing game pieces to complete a move. With the exception of the Flag Bearer, a Rook may kill any opposing game piece but may only do so by moving forward, backward, and sideways. A Rook must end its move as soon as it kills an opposing game piece. A Rook must also end its move as soon as it traverses a level of The Castle.

Bishops

A Bishop may only move diagonally but may do so for as many spaces as are open. A Bishop cannot jump teammates or opposing game pieces to complete a move. With the exception of the Flag Bearer, a Bishop may kill any opposing game piece but may only do so by moving diagonally. A Bishop must end its move as soon as it kills an opposing game piece. A Bishop must also end its move as soon as it traverses a level of The Castle.

Queens

A Queen may move in any direction for as many space as are open. A Queen cannot jump teammate or opposing game pieces to complete a move. With the exception of the Flag Bearer, a Queen may kill any opposing game piece by moving in any direction. A Queen must end her move as soon as she kills an opposing game piece. A Queen must also end her move as soon as she traverses a level of The Castle.

Dragons

A Dragon may move one space per turn in any direction. A Dragon may jump its teammates in any direction for as many spaces as they are in a straight line. A Dragon cannot jump opposing game pieces, even if they are between teammates. With the exception of the Flag Bearer, a Dragon may kill any opposing game piece by moving in any direction. A Dragon may also kill any opposing game pieces (except the Flag Bearer) by jumping teammates to complete the move. A Dragon must end its move as soon as it kills an opposing game piece. A Dragon may traverse more than one level of The Castle in a single move only if it is jumping over teammates.

Flag Bearers

A Flag Bearer may only move one diagonal space per turn. A Flag Bearer cannot jump teammates or opposing game pieces to complete a move. A Flag Bearer cannot kill any opposing game pieces but can only be killed by the opposing King. A Flag Bearer must end its move as soon as it traverses a level of The Castle. A Flag Bearer can win the game by reaching an opposing King’s starting position.