A new checkerboard …

[Haiku]

I am working on a new book where the main characters are an advanced form of a praying mantis that stands two meters tall. I needed a conqueror and eliminate style of game that a Mantodean Nymph’s could play, this is what I came up with. Haiku …

Mantodean Ferses

• A four-player checker game. You can team up but, in the end, only one is the winner.
• Everyone starts with five independently colored stones (red, blue, green, violet) on the upper level, your home.
• You can move horizontally, vertically or on an angle one step at a time.
• You can jump horizontally, vertically or on an angle over any other piece to remove it from play.
• You only get one move or jump at a time.
• There are no multi-jumps.
• You cannot jump over your own stone.

Promotion:

• If another player reaches your home, they get a Knight with two stones that can move two squares or jump over two squares at a time removing all jumped over stones.
• If the Knight reaches a second home it becomes a General with three stones, that can move three squares or jump over three squares at a time removing all jumped over stones.
• If the General reaches a third home it becomes a King with four stones, that can move four squares or jump over four squares at a time removing all jumped over stones.
• It is not a requirement to cross all stones to do a jump (i.e. a king can jump over four squares and removing just one stone if that is all there is).

The object of the game is to be the last one with a stone on the board.