More variant support? In particular English/American draughts?

[autovalue]

Is there a reason certain rule variants like English draughts aren't currently supported?

This was the variant of the game I was most familiar with, and was surprised it wasn't as popular as I thought.

Based on this wikipedia article (there's way more variants with varying capture constraints than I thought!), the main distinction between the currently supported variants and English draught are:

• No Flying kings
• Men cannot capture backwards.

It'd kinda cool be nice if all these rules and constraints were configurable, allowing users to play custom games with mixed rules without forcing developers to release a new variant each time.

[RoepStoep]

There are many different draughts variants, and the aim of lidraughts is not to have them all. But we are moving towards supporting those draughts variants with the biggest real world representation (world championship cycles, international tournament, official titles / ratings, etc), which includes the variants you mention.

At this point in time the focus is first on expand features for the existing variants (e.g. Russian and Brazilian engine), and in more general directions (e.g. Swiss Tournaments and an Opening Explorer). But when new variants are added, very likely candidates are those without flying kings: English, American and Italian draughts.

See also https://github.com/RoepStoep/lidraughts/issues/14

[freadam]

Enhancing our website with a variety of checker game variants is a strategic move that will undoubtedly elevate the user experience and broaden our appeal to a diverse audience of players. By incorporating different checker game variations, we cater to the preferences and skill levels of a wide range of users, creating a dynamic and engaging platform.