Chessic has four forges. Each one adds new pieces and harder routes. This article explains what each forge adds, how forges unlock, and how the tutorials work.
The Four Forges
| Forge | What it adds | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | Numbers 1 to 3 | Free |
| Journeyman | Adds bishops, rooks, and knights | Free |
| Artisan | Adds number 4 and the queen | Chessic Unlimited |
| Master | Adds the wildcard | Chessic Unlimited |
Unlocking Forges
Forges unlock in order. To open a forge, play a board in the previous forge to the end, whether you clear every square or the forge cools. Restarting or quitting a board does not count. A locked forge card explains what it needs, for example Complete Apprentice first. or Included with Chessic Unlimited.
Once you have finished a board in a forge, its card shows a Forged mark and your best score there.
Starting a Forge
- On Home, choose Single Player.
- Choose a forge on Choose Your Forge.
- Strike any square to begin. The clock starts with your first strike.
Tutorials
The first time you open a forge, Chessic shows New Rules!. In Apprentice it offers the basic forge rules; in later forges it shows what that forge adds.
- Choose Learn to play a guided board that introduces the new pieces step by step.
- Choose Skip to go straight to a full board.
When a tutorial ends, choose Start (for example, Start Journeyman) to play a full board in that forge. You can replay the Apprentice tutorial at any time from How to Play > Learn by playing. Tutorials are never added to your record or history.
Pausing
Choose Pause at the top of the board, or press Escape on a Mac. Pausing a single-player forge stops its clock. The pause menu offers:
- Resume: continue the board.
- Restart Forge: a fresh board at this forge. Chessic asks you to confirm, because your current progress will be lost.
- Quit to Menu: leave the board. Chessic asks you to confirm.
- Settings: adjust music and sound effects.
Leaving the app during a single-player forge pauses it automatically. A board you restart or quit after at least one strike counts as abandoned in your record.
Results
When a board ends, Chessic may first play the Play of the Game, then shows the results: your final score and a breakdown of strikes, bonuses, and time score, your record line, and the Play of the Game card.
- Forge Again: start a new board in the same forge.
- View Board: look at the finished board. Choose Results at the top to return.
- Watch Replay: replay the whole game, with Chessic Unlimited.
- Main Menu: return to Home.
Game Center Challenges
If you open a Game Center challenge or activity for a forge while another board is in progress, Chessic asks before replacing it. The usual forge locks still apply.