Chatur Chaal
Graphics and Game Design
Chatur Chaal blends strategic pawn capture with Phad art storytelling, aiming for players to line up cows in a tic-tac-toe formation.
The challenge is to create an engaging gameplay experience that reflects the cultural heritage of Rajasthan, emphasizing strategic thinking and dynamic mechanics inspired by the battle between Pabuji and Khinchi.
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Incorporating Phad art into a game like Chatur Chaal is a fantastic way to engage players with Rajasthan’s cultural heritage! For a design that feels authentic yet accessible, you could integrate key Phad art motifs, characters, and stories, while focusing on strategic elements. Could you share a bit about the mechanics you envision? I’d be happy to brainstorm some gameplay ideas that align with both the storytelling and strategic goals.
Each player commands 12 pawns, aiming to capture the opponent’s pawns and earn cows. Move your pawns vertically or horizontally, starting towards the center, without hopping over others. Capture pawns by sandwiching them, earning bonus moves and cows—capture two pawns for a cow.
Line up three cows in a tic-tac-toe formation to win. Land on colored blocks to draw Chance Cards for unpredictable twists.
Studying the art style of Phad through online references as well as from a workshop by a Phad artist, Mr. Prakash Joshi. This helped us developing our motifs for the game.
We developed the cards keeping aiming for ease of reading as well as staying true to the art form.The board design fairly low in the use of design elements, to emphasize more on the gameplay as well as allowing a larger output of hand painted boards when manufactured.
