Introduction

Note: The game is much easier to see using the graphical web interface than the ASCII email version!

Rules

Two players, Light and Dark, share a common pool of 48 hexagonal bridge tiles. Each tile contains a white bridge and a blue bridge, and may be oriented in three ways such that the corner colours are the same for each rotation.

         .--oo          .--oo          .--oo
        o   oo\        /    oo        / ooo \
       ooo  oo )      oooo    )      oooo    )
        o   oo/        \ ooo /        \    oo
         `--oo          `--oo          `--oo

Start: The game starts with a single tile in the middle of the playing area (this is the opening player's first tile).

Play: Light places a single tile adjacent to the starting tile such that edge colours match, then players take turns placing two tiles per turn adjacent to at least one existing tile such that edge colours match. The two tiles played each turn must themselves be adjacent.

Aim: The game is won by the player who forms a closed group of their colour containing at least one bridge. Only one tile need be played if that tile wins the game for either player.

For example, the following figure shows a game won by Dark (o) who has enclosed a 'o' group containing one bridge. The closed Light group in the lower left contains no bridges so doesn't count.

                    .--oo              
                   /    oo
              .--ooooo    `--oo          
             / ooo   ooo   ooo \
        .--ooooo    .  ooooo    `--oo        
       o   oo     oo    oo    oo   oo\
      ooo  oo .  ooooo    .  oooo  oo `--oo  
       o   oo     oo ooo o   ooo   oo     oo
        )  ooooo    .  oooo  oo .  ooooo    )      
       o   oo  ooo   ooo o   ooo   oo  ooo /
      ooo  oo .  ooooo    .  oooo  oo .--oo 
       o   oo  ooo      oo    oo   oo/
        `--ooooo    .--ooooo    .--oo  
             \    oo     \ ooo /
              `--oo       `--oo  

If a move forms winning groups for both players, then the mover loses. If the tiles run out before either player wins then the game is drawn.

Strategy and Tactics

Palago is proving to be surprisingly deep in strategic terms. My rules page offers some initial advice, but this only hints at the complexity involved and we are constantly learning more about the game.

In a nutshell, players must discover and become familiar with the key danger patterns, then nullify enemy threats each turn while developing their own position. In general, a player's position is stronger the more exposed tips they have. Beware of attacking prematurely as this will often lose unless the attack forces an imminent win!

There is only one safe opening pair.

History

Palago tiles and rules by Cameron Browne, copyright (c) Cyberite Ltd, 2008, under exclusive licence to Colour of Strategy Ltd.

The Palago tile design is based on Mambo tiles simplified to a single colour, which in turn are a variation on hexagonal Truchet-like tiles.

The name "Palago" was suggested by Mike McManaway (of Tantrix fame) in reference to the Palau islands, due to the similarity in shape between these South Pacific islands and the shapes that emerge during each game. Palago is being released by Mike's company Colour of Strategy Ltd.

Graphical web interface: http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/List.php?Palago.

Please see the official Palago page for further details: http://www.playpalago.com/.

Cameron's original rules page: http://www.cameronius.com/games/Palago/.

Implementation and Help file by Cameron Browne, July 2009.