Goals

Problem statement:

Board games of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” have existed in different times. All these board games were based on memory, and it couldn’t be played by someone who didn’t know the sayings by heart.

“The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” has a long tradition of being read and memorized. There is even a folk version of the poem. It established a worldview about both literature and culture, and it was a touchstone for all Georgians and a reliable means of communication and correspondence.

In the 19th century, the first board games of the poem appeared. At the time of Ilia Chavchavadze, a board game of aphorisms was published twice, and the newspaper “Iveria” wrote about it.

Despite past popularity, in the modern world, the poem has lost its popularity. Board games make a very good method for understanding and internalizing a text. In this regard, this text consists of unique opportunities, because it makes the player travel directly in Rustaveli’s verbal world.

In order to understand any literary text, it’s necessary to allow the reader to identify with its characters. The game provides great opportunities in this regard, with both its visual and role play potential. Players are participating in the story - travelling in the tangible verbal environment and aphorisms where fiction and reality meet.

Proposed Solution:

2016 was the year dedicated to 750th year jubilee of “the Knight in the Panther’s Skin.” The first illustrated board game of the poem has been worked out by us, which can be played by a person of any age.

I think that this game should be popularized, so I wish to hold a tournament with the universities. To do this, we need funding to modify the game for team play.

We presented the game in several schools. Children played with joy, because playing is an additional way of studying but it is free of tiring recitations. The game consists of 30 aphorisms and knowing them allows the player to dash forward and win, overcoming various obstacles.

Even if a player doesn’t know the aphorisms, it doesn’t hinder them from playing as they will learn through the game. If the player wishes to use other aphorisms, it is possible to make custom cards. I held the presentation of the game in several schools of Tbilisi, youth organizations, and I gifted it to over twenty segments of children and students, I held a lecture about interactive games and let teams play.

Below is some information and media coverage about the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz66lvlhirQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1NXbLXzC4g&feature=share
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36ittOHWhpM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcT4_Z0z68&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQ4MeRzVBI
http://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/vefkhistkaosnis-koreuli-targmani/28138746.html
http://radio1.ge/ge/videos/view/174111.html
http://www.doctrina.ge/ვეფხისტყაოსანი-როგორც/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1877253112493667/?pnref=story

Sustainability:

The State University is helping us publish the event and provide with material resources: the hall, tables, chairs, microphones, dynamics, laptop, and prize basket.

However, since this a team championship, it must be held in a slightly different form. The already existing, already printed game is intended for individual players, but has no championship rules. Our goal is to expand the game for team and tournament play. For this we need to print a brochure and create a more detailed map and cards. We also need to buy bigger dice and game characters.

We will hold a championship with the purchased items, and we will give the winner teams already printed board game as gifts. The project will continue for the whole year and will cover almost all the universities in Tbilisi that wish to take part.

If the idea gets the funding, the items will stay with the author of the idea and in the future we will try to develop the project and to make it more social and diverse in the public life. After the completion of the project, we will give the items to university libraries and city libraries.

Equal gender opportunity:

Everyone can play this game. More importantly, the poem features strong male and female characters, which reference historical knights and Queen Tamar.