On Sat, Sep 09, 2006 at 12:43:58AM -0400, Don Sheldon wrote: > > TREE HUNTERS > > Unit - a unit is two or more pieces which are touching AND share a > footprint (i.e., when viewed from directly overhead they appear to > overlap). > Offensive rating - the offensive rating of a unit is equal to the sum > of the pips of the offensive pieces plus the number of additional > pieces in the unit after the first. [similar definition for defensive rating] With one piece of each size, the possible distinct arrangements are pretty easy to emumerate. With 3 separate units, you can have O/D ratings of 6/0, 5/1, 4/2, 3/3, 2/4, 1/5, or 0/6. With two units, your two-piece unit earns you an extra point in both O&D, and you may sacrifice 1 to 5 points in either to have poised pieces. With a single unit, you gain 2 extra points in both O&D, and may sacrifice up to 6 to have poised pieces. Using no poised pieces, you get the most powerful units with ratings of 8/2, 7/3, 6/4, 5/5, 4/6, 3/7, and 2/8. The 5/5 superunit is of particular interest to me, because it is not possible to have an attack rating above 5 without having a defensive rating below 5. So, it seems to me the game will naturally degenerate to a stalemate of 5/5 units. (One way to achieve this is an attacking large with a defending small inside, slightly overhanging the bottom edge of a defending medium.) -Jesse