My idea is a bit complex, but this what makes this map suitable for any amount of players
here is the sketch link for the map (needs an artist ASAP) :
Game description:
The outer most ring consists of the "defenders", each color assigned to a player, and the rest remaining neutral.
Another possibility is that for a two or three player game each player will be assigned initially with two colors, and the
remaining colors initiate as neutrals.
The game starts with each player having 3 troops on each defender, except for the king, which will be initiated with, let's
say 15 trops (option - king will initiate with 3 trops and have +3 autodeploy each turn).
All the other territories are called pawns. The second outer most ring initiates also with 3 troops each.
The inner "pizza" and its surrounding ring of pawns initiate with 3 neutral troops each.
The object of the game is to take out (option - hold for one turn), all non neutral kings on the board.
Connected teritorries are exampled on the sketch.
Thick black lines are impassables, except for the knight's case.
The idea is that the defenders can attack almost all territories on their color "land", and some (knight, queen) can also
attack neighbouring colors. But in order to keep your king well protected you need to have control over your defenders.
in order to attack another color "land", a player has to go through some pawns, which are connected also as the sketch shows
and reach the king, or other defenders (then turning them actually into attackers of their own land), and either occupy
part or the entire enemy color "land".
Some motives of chess can be, or are implemented, as :
1. the king and rook can reinforce (option - be actually connected) each other anyway.
2. the rook can skip over the unpassables.
3. the idea that when a player reached another ones defenders line, he actually becomes an "attacking defender".
more ideas are most welcome...
Bonuses, I think, should be on the amount of territories each player has, +1 for every three, as usual. But any other
suggestions are welcome.