Fracas

: "For the term meaning "a disorderly quarrel", see "" at Wiktionary."

Fracas is a computer game, similar to the board game Risk, but without any elements of chance. It utilizes a random map creator, as well as a map editor with which users can create their own maps. This random map generator allows the user to edit many different game parameters, such as land-to-water ratio, and country proportions. With the ability to accommodate up to six players, the game features several artificial intelligence personalities, as well as the ability to host or join games on a local computer network [ [http://www.smozzie.com/fracas.html smozzie.com] Description of Fracas on Fracas homepage. URL last accessed 2007-08-20.] . The focus of the game is on eliminating other players [ [http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=3500 Review of Fracas] , Home of the Underdogs. URL last accessed 2007-08-20.] by capturing their headquarters, assigned or chosen at the beginning of play.

The game is played in three stages - Reinforcements, Action, and Tactical Movement.

Reinforcement phase

The reinforcement phase allows players to add additional troops to the game board in any manner they choose. The number of troops received by a player is dependent on the number of territories held by that player at the opening of their turn. The number of territories is multiplied by a constant, anywhere from 1 to 5 depending on user preferences, and the result represents the number of territories that a player will receive each turn.

Action phase

During the action phase of a player's turn, a player may attack a territory owned by another player, annex a territory owned by no one, or build a harbour on a non-landlocked territory. Should a player choose to annex an unowned territory, they must have a territory touching it, or on a shared body of water with a harbour. In order to attack a territory owned by another player, a player must have a territory or territories near the target territory containing more attacking troops than the target country and its neighbours have available for defence. [ [http://www.arcorion.com/main/games/Fracas/ arcorion.com] Fracas review on Arc Orion. URL last accessed 2008-06-07.]

Harbours

Building a harbour allows the troops in that territory to contribute to an attack on an overseas target, with strength reduced to a user-customizable fraction of land-based strength. When a territory is captured by another player, depending on game settings, a harbour built on that territory may also be destroyed.

Defeating another player

When a player is defeated through the destruction of their headquarters, a number of things can happen to any other territories still owned by that player. Depending on game settings, territories may
* Remain loyal
* Become neutral
* Become owned by the conqueror
* Randomly follow any of the above options on a territory by territory basis

Move phase

The tactical movement phase of a turn allows a player to move troops from one territory to another one that is reachable from the territory of origin. The player can move anywhere from one to all of the troops in that territory.

Random events

Fracas includes the option to include random events in the game. These events include receiving an extra territory that was previously unowned, being given extra troops, or receiving extra troops in one of a players territories. The random events can be set to occur frequently, rarely, or never.

Open source

In June 2007, the creator and owner of Fracas released the source code for the game [ [http://www.smozzie.com smozzie.com] Open Source announcement. URL last accessed 2008-06-07.] , with the sole stipulation that no money be charged for derivative works. Fracas is written in Visual Basic 6

References

Other meanings

FRACAS Clothing (LLC) is a mixed martial arts apparel company, specializing in clothing & fight gear. The company was started in Scottdale, Arizona by owner Spencer Waldman. Apparel from this company can be purchased at the website http://www.fracasclothing.com and at multiple MMA stores and events.

Fracas was also the name of a shareware game for the Macintosh. In this top-down shooter game by Cerberus Development, you played a human fighting a horde of infernal monsters with a rifle. The game featured 9 different levels, and the levels 10 to infinity were randomly mixed from different parts of the first nine levels. It came with 2D sprite graphics, realistic sound effects and tracker music with hard rock and heavy metal influences.

Fracas was also the name of a DOS-based computer game. The game was a clone of Bomberman, featuring wizards and magical devices. Instead of the normal Bomberman enemies, the game opted for a variety of odd blob-based foes with the option for either 4-player cooperative or deathmatch. It was released by Geckosoft in 1996. The full version was recently released as freeware.

External links

* [http://smozzie.com/fracas.html Official Gaming site]
* [http://www.coolbubble.com/features/geckosoft/ Free Geckosoft Fracas]