Paradigms

Paradigms is an early prototype that teaches chess. Brush up on the basics, play against the computer (the early chess engine is still very rough and easy to beat), and explore a medieval hall where blunders cost health, and you need to make stealthy moves to survive as you solve chess + sokoban puzzles.

This is an early build. I am actively developing it and would love feedback. If you try it, please leave a comment or rating telling me what clicked, what confused you, and what else you'd be interested in seeing.

What you can play

• Learn: Intro lessons from board basics through check, mate, and special moves
• Puzzles: Short mate-in-two challenges that teach decision rules, not chess trivia
  
• Practice: Play versus the computer with three coach personalities
• Dungeon: Walk a 3D hall, sit at the board, talk to NPCs, and reach the arena (after bribing the guard)
• Arena: Sokoban meets Hitman, on a chess board. Push rooks like crates to kill queens and mate the king. Hide behind chess pieces to avoid flying attacks from the guard and the queens.

Controls

Chess Board

• Click or drag pieces to move
• Use on-screen buttons for hints and help

Dungeon

• Arrow keys to move and turn, space for action
• Click the floor to walk to a spot
• Click the board or NPCs to interact

Arena

• Same controls, but locked into vertical and horizontal motion on the board
• Push rooks when it's your turn to move
• Avoid enemies by moving away from them or hiding behind pieces

What you should know

• The dial on the home screen affects chess engine strength and dungeon danger. The plague doctor only starts doing flying attacks on normal difficulty and above. You can hide behind chess pieces to avoid his attacks, or get out of his range.
• NPCs have deeper interactions. Bribe the jailer, play a game of blackjack with the merchant, press the chat button to trade taunts with the chessmaster.
  
• The chess engine is embryonic right now and may not be a challenge for experienced players. I will work on this and may abandon my custom model for stockfish or something similar. But a custom model could be interesting with a more human feel, especially for character-driven play. I'd like to get your thoughts on this - what's important to you?
  

I want your notes

This release is a prototype, not a finished game. I am especially curious about:

• Did the puzzles feel fair and clear?
• Was the dungeon fun to explore, or confusing?
• Did the arena (push puzzle + plague doctor) make sense?
• Anything that broke, felt too hard, or felt too easy?

Comments are even better than donations. Please let me know what you think, as this is my first release ever, and it'll give me motivation to keep going if it's something you enjoy or see the value in. If you know chess, tell me where it felt wrong. If you're new, tell me where you got lost.