Stack Go variation idea

Played with stackable discs instead of stones that can be placed on top of own colour. They represent building or mining interests and after 19 (size of board) moves each produce a bonus for each player, a stack of N gets N-1 bonus

William Fraser :- I'm curious. Can you give an example of how the bonuses work?

Moon spinner:- After every 19 (or board size) moves each, any stacks where size N>1 score a bonus of N-1. If a stack loses it liberty's it all taken. Big problem is go uses stones so would have to stick two together with chewing gum and three would be a nightmare

Okay, sounds interesting. I'd play. (perhaps we should start with 9x9, though) Two more questions:

1. When does the game end?
   
2. Are there any points for territory and/or prisoners at the end of the game?
   

We could play here on Little Golem, with the move of adding to a stack being represented by passing and indicating where the tall (i.e. N>1) stacks are (cut and paste the previous such comment and update with the new status).

Ends:- just like go, maybe if (territory+prisoners)>area/2, unplayed territory could be marked with grey stones that are either 1/4 or 3/4 shades 1/2 shades been reserved for neutral zones or fixed borders like a river

I still don’t understand what a bonus is. Is it a number of points to add to the final score?
Also, stacking a stone counts as a move, instead of occupying an empty point?

My original idea was, each player plays 19 discs each and then any discs on board that are above the 1st layer produce bonus discs to be added from unplayed discs to prisoner/bonus pot, this represents capital gains from having buildings making money. Repeat with another 19. Hopefully the 3D aspect would make it harder for AI

I think I get it, at every move one has to choose between a normal move - making territory, or stacking - making tall buildings that produce bonus points (as prisoners) every N moves - where N is the size of the board. Making stacks/building that will be captured is a loss of resources, so it makes sense to start them only on reasonably safe stones/disks. In reverse it is good to attack the opponents groups having buildings.

A 19x19 game of go has between 250 to 300 moves, let's say 13 to 16 intervals of 19 moves. This means stacking a stone/disk in the first interval has over 13 points value - more value than a move in a corner - more than double the value of komi, so it is very good to stack quickly unless you are in danger to be captured. The closer it gets to the end of the game the less value stacking has.

Sounds interesting.

I made a mistake, a 300 moves game is very long. A normal game is between 150 and 250 moves, so staking is a little less valuable.

The player with higher stacks would be motivated to start long ko fights ... :-)

Indeed @richyfourtytwo, it adds one more dimension to ko fights :0)

You say 150 moves, but it'll actually be longer, as many of the moves will be stacking moves.....

In fact, I'm wondering if it would be optimal to play nothing but stacking moves (and keeping one's giant stack alive), and anyone who tries anything else will get punished......

The truth is, if stacking is possible, the game will never end.

I'm not a Go player, but isn't the game of Margo a bit of stacking/3D go?

Margo, by Cameron Browne uses pyramid stacking (1 disc centrally on 4)