Chess in Middle Earth ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elemmakil · 04-30-2011, 02:20 PM

Pity someone didn't bring this up whilst the good Professor was still alive - knowing him, he would have come up with details on ALL the pieces!

Galadriel55 · 04-30-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elemmakil

Pity someone didn't bring this up whilst the good Professor was still alive - knowing him, he would have come up with details on ALL the pieces!

I second that. Oh, and there would also be a History of Chess in M-E series.

Rumil · 05-01-2011, 02:31 PM

As Aiwendil says,

I'd guess that this refers to some 'chess-like' game. Indeed the Prof's beloved Anglo-Saxons, the Norse and Celtic nations all apparently played some variant of the 'Tafl' game.

Interesting wiki page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafl_games

For Pratchett-readers, the game Thud was inspired by these.

No idea if the hobbits ever played 'Cripple Mr. Onion' or sang a song about what's on the end of a wizard's staff though!

Galadriel55 · 05-01-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumil

As Aiwendil says,

I'd guess that this refers to some 'chess-like' game. Indeed the Prof's beloved Anglo-Saxons, the Norse and Celtic nations all apparently played some variant of the 'Tafl' game.

Interesting wiki page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafl_games

Great article! I see hobbits playing "escape the Nazgul" with this sort of game!

Aiwendil · 05-01-2011, 07:07 PM

There's also a good tafl site here, with an applet to play various versions.

05-01-2011, 02:31 PM	#3
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	Check it out As Aiwendil says, I'd guess that this refers to some 'chess-like' game. Indeed the Prof's beloved Anglo-Saxons, the Norse and Celtic nations all apparently played some variant of the 'Tafl' game. Interesting wiki page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafl_games For Pratchett-readers, the game Thud was inspired by these. No idea if the hobbits ever played 'Cripple Mr. Onion' or sang a song about what's on the end of a wizard's staff though! __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

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04-30-2011, 02:20 PM	#1
Elemmakil Pile O'Bones Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 19	Pity someone didn't bring this up whilst the good Professor was still alive - knowing him, he would have come up with details on ALL the pieces!

05-01-2011, 07:07 PM	#5
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	There's also a good tafl site here, with an applet to play various versions.