Tablut is a traditional tafl game played on a 9×9 grid. The game was originally recorded by Linnaeus in Lapland in 1732. game description for Swords & Shields One player controls the Shields and the other controls the Swords. The Swords player must try to capture the Chief Shield, while the Shields player must clear a safe path for the Chief Shield to escape off the board. Pieces can move any number of spaces in a straight line, and are captured when bracketed on two opposite sides by opponent pieces.