However, it has been suggested that they might actually all belong to a single set. And if that was indeed the case, there were essentially four different types of pieces .....
This possibility of there having been more than the normal two types of pieces in the game inspired a modern hnefatafl variant, called 'berserk' hnefatafl. Four of the attackers are 'commanders' (which, like the king, can move by jumping over an enemy piece), and one of the defenders is a 'knight' (which can move as well as capture a piece by jumping over it). In addition, the 'berserk rule' states that when a piece captures an enemy piece, it can move again, as long as it makes another capture. The starting line-up of 'berserk' hnefatafl looks like this:
Clearly, I had to make a 'berserk' hnefatafl set for my collection. As to what material to use, it's pretty obvious I really like shells for creating chess sets: the very first chess set I ever made, a chess set I made for a friend more recently, and a Tamerlane chess set I made last year. From the trips I made to collect the shells for the last two of these sets, I still had a box full of mussel shells. So why not use these to make a set for berserk hnefatafl? I decided on using wooden hearts as bases, as their shape nicely fits the shape of the mussels.
One piddock serving as the king, twelve defenders and 24 attackers were quickly made, using some modelling clay to fix the mussels to their bases.
When thinking of what to use to make the board, I stumbled across an Etsy site selling adhesive bathroom tile 'stickers', and I felt the colours would go well with the colours of the mussels.
Defenders were painted white, with the sole knight painted silver ...
... and attackers were painted red, with the four commanders painted gold.
I deliberately did not paint the insides of the mussels, for two reasons. One reason is that the colours of the insides of the mussels match the bathroom tile stickers. And, also, I felt leaving the insides unpainted gives them a bit more depth.
On to making the board! Square of plywood, painted white, and groups of four mini-tiles each serving as the squares.
Works pretty well, I think!
Putting the pieces on the board results in my home-made set for berserk hnefatafl.
I'm glad I decided not to paint the insides of the mussels. It really gives them a bit more character.
What do you think of my 'berserk' hnefatafl set?
