WarGear Wiki

Go-Geared is modeled after the game of Go in that the object of the game is to capture more than one half of the board, But unlike Go where the best strategy is to surround the center, with Go-Geared the generally accepted best strategy is to start by controlling the center.

In order to capture a space (without actually playing a stone in that space) you need to surround it on three sides. The diagram below on the left displays 5 different examples of this. Note that the exception to the rule occurs in corners (the stones marked 'c'), where only 2 stones are required for capture.

Once you have surrounded the target territory, it will be captured and a unit will be placed on it at the beginning of your next turn as shown below.

Note that the capturing stones do NOT need to have units on them; they can be “0”s.

8-sided dice will win about 44% of the time.
1-sided dice ALWAYS lose when attacking stones with “1”s on them.

Generally speaking it is best to take advantage of the fact that you can make two moves. Both moves can be on the board, but it is highly recommend that one always plays from the bowl. In the following typical sequence, white will make a move that will (with 1-sided dice) guarantee a capture.

By moving a unit on the board to B and playing from the bowl to A, White will surround a black stone on three sides.

• The opening game is a battle for the center.
• AlWAYS play 1 move from the bowl to the board.
• Avoid playing next to an opponent's stone UNLESS your stone is 'supported'
• OPTIONALLY you may move a stone on the board. (you should do this almost always).
• In games with 0 sided dice - NEVER attack your opponent's 1 - you will alway lose. You MAY however attack your opponent's 0 - you will always win.
• In games with 8 sided dice - it is advisable to attack your opponent's 1 ONLY if your stone is in a lost position OR you are behind in the game.