SlipPushes an enemy piece (not the king) one square onto a free square.
GreeceHermes
Greece · Style Trickery
HermesThe messenger of the gods
Hermes nudges enemy pieces aside, swaps your own pieces in a flash and even steals knights or pawns. The god for players who love a good trick.
Shifts pieces, swaps places and steals. For players who love tricks.
- Free to download
- No ads
- No account
- Plays offline
Who is Hermes?
The messenger of the gods shifts pieces, swaps places and steals.
Hermes is the messenger of the gods, patron of travelers and of thieves. The two go together surprisingly well. On his wings he arrives faster than you can say "check", and usually leaves just as fast, with something in his pocket that used to be yours. He nudges pieces along when nobody is looking, and winks while doing it. Never honest, always charming.
Before the first move, Hermes hides the Thief's trap on the board. If your opponent moves onto the square, Hermes steals up to 6 favor from him.
Powers
Hermes's three powers
Every move earns 1 favor, every captured piece adds its value on top. Instead of moving, you use a power. After that it needs a few moves before it is ready again.
- Slip
Pushes an enemy piece (not the king) one square onto a free square.
- Swap
Two of your own pieces swap places (not the king).
- Master Thief
Ultimate power: Steals an enemy knight or pawn. It fights for you, but needs 2 moves to settle in.
In mythology
Who was Hermes really?
Hermes was the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. On the very day of his birth he made the first lyre from a tortoise shell and stole a herd of cattle from his brother Apollo. To make peace, he gave Apollo the lyre. As messenger of the gods he wore winged sandals and a traveler's hat and carried the herald's staff. He protected travelers, merchants, shepherds and even thieves, and he guided the souls of the dead to the underworld. In the game his cunning becomes powers that shift pieces, swap places and steal from your opponent.
Tactics
How to win with Hermes
Nudge defenders out of position
Slip pushes an enemy piece one square over. If that leaves something undefended, you strike on your very next move.
Swap to save moves
Swap can put a rook on an open file at once or pull a buried bishop into play. That saves you several moves.
Steal the most annoying knight
Master Thief is a once per game move. Take the knight that bothers you most, but remember it needs 2 turns to settle in.
Thief's trap in the center
The Thief's trap steals up to 6 favor. Hide it on a central square your opponent wants early on and slow down his powers.
Quips
Hermes has something to say about everything
Hold on tight to your favor.
at the startHey! That’s theft! … Wait, that’s my job.
after a lossEmpty pockets? Mine are full.
when the trap snapsFine. But I still stole something from you. Maybe.
after a defeat
Every mythology has a god of the Trickery style: Bastet and Loki play a similar game with very different powers.
ApolloTime and foresight
Greece
AthenaProtection and strategy
Greece
HadesUnderworld and banishment
Greece
Good to know
Questions about Hermes
The download is free. Beat Hermes three times and Hermes joins your side. Otherwise the only way to buy is the Key of the Gods, which unlocks every god.
The ultimate power Master Thief. It costs 25 favor, works only once per game and does this: Steals an enemy knight or pawn. It fights for you, but needs 2 moves to settle in.
Every mythology has one god for the Trickery style. Besides Hermes, these are Bastet (Egypt) and Loki (The North).
24: eight each from Greece, Egypt and the North, each with a play style of their own. Zeus is playable right away, Gaia and Hermes join you after three wins.