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Nycki 2024-11-22 15:29:24 -08:00
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<img src="paper-pyramid-nest.webp">
<img src="paper-pyramid-nest.webp" alt="three paper pyramids of different sizes, laying on the table as if a stack were just tipped over.">
So apparently I haven't written about [Looney Pyramids](https://www.looneylabs.com/pyramids-home) yet! Formerly known as Icehouse Pyramids, these were invented by Andy Looney in 1987 as a prop for a science fiction setting for his book [The Empty City](http://archive.wunderland.com/WTS/Andy/EmptyCity/emptycity.html). The game was called Icehouse, and it was meant to be a Martian counterpart to Chess, but "alien" in every possible way:
<img src="paper-pyramid-bottlecap.webp">
<img src="paper-pyramid-bottlecap.webp" alt="a paper pyramid next to a bottlecap, for scale. the pyramid is about half an inch wide at the base.">
- The game is for 4 players, with no assigned partners. Diplomacy is allowed but [only once play begins](https://ee0r.com/icehouse/hypothermia/07/default.html).
- Pieces cannot be moved after placing, except in rare circumstances, similar to Go.
@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ So apparently I haven't written about [Looney Pyramids](https://www.looneylabs.c
- There are *no turns*. You can move whenever you feel like it. You can make lots of quick moves, or you can wait and make lots of late moves.
- To prevent stalling, there is a timer set to 'about 30 minutes', and placed where nobody can see the remaining time.
<img src="paper-pyramid-comparison.webp">
<img src="paper-pyramid-comparison.webp" alt="the paper pyramid compared to a plastic Looney Pyramid. it's about the same size.">
These design concepts were ahead of their time in my opinion. Andy Looney and friends, I think they called themselves the 'Wunderland Toast Society', they absolutely changed board gaming in a way we wouldn't see again until James Ernest started Cheapass Games and started selling cut-and-play titles like [Kill Doctor Lucky](https://crabfragmentlabs.com/shop/p/kill-doctor-lucky) in 1996. In fact, whenever a James Ernest game says to use 'tokens of your choice', I always use Looney Pyramids.
<img src="paper-pyramid-tree.webp">
<img src="paper-pyramid-tree.webp" alt="three paper pyramids stacked upright in a pine tree shape, with a hand visible holding them in place.">
Anyway, I had to blog about this because I found Bill Adams' [Origami Icehouse Pieces](https://web.archive.org/web/20050521082358/http://www.iglou.com/biladams/IceHouse/) page buried in the Internet Archive. I've downloaded a local copy in case anything happens to the Archive and I'll probably mirror it at some point [unless he objects](/blog/2024-09-21-01-ethics-of-reuploading/). I'm not sure if he's still around or how to get in touch with him; if you do then let me know.