Terrace (1992)

Terrace

Terrace is a strategy board game played by two, three, or four players on a multi-leveled 8×8 or, more recently, 6×6 board. The game was invented in 1950 by Dutch-born Anton Dresden, who initially designed it as a checkers variant. However, the original rules proved unworkable, and in 1988, while living in Lake Oswego, Oregon, Dresden showed his game to Buzz Siler, who bought the rights to Dresden’s design for $100 and created a simplified set of rules. The game was introduced in 1991 and won several major awards, including the Bronze Industrial Design Excellence Award in 1992. It was also featured on Star Trek.

Why is Terrace Popular?

Terrace is a popular and significant game due to its:Three-dimensional board: The game board is divided into 64 or 36 squares of uniform color, arranged in L-shaped levels (“terraces”) that rise stepwise from the board’s lowest points in two diagonally opposite corners to its highest points in the other two corners.Strategy and skill: The game requires strategy and skill to play, as players must capture their opponent’s pieces while protecting their own.Awards and recognition: Terrace has received several awards and has been featured in popular culture, such as Star Trek.

Game Components of Terrace

The Game Components of Terrace include:A 6×6 or 8×8 board with 64 or 36 squares.24 pieces (8 each of red, blue, green, and yellow).A rulebook.

Game Setup of Terrace

Set up the board with the squares in L-shaped levels.Each player chooses a color and places their four pieces on the board.The game proceeds in turns, with players taking turns moving their pieces.

Gameplay Mechanics of Terrace

Terrace is a capturing game, where players aim to capture their opponent’s pieces while protecting their own. Pieces can only capture those of equal or lesser size, and it is customary to announce “Terrace” when the opponent’s “T” piece is placed in jeopardy of being caught the next turn, and “Terrace-Mate” when the opponent’s “T” piece cannot escape. In 3 and 4 player games, when a player loses their “T”, all of their pieces are removed from the board, and other players continue the game. If a player cannot make a move during their turn, the game is a draw, with no winner or loser.

Game Objective of Terrace

The objective of the game is to capture all of the opponent’s pieces while protecting one’s own pieces.

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