Direction

The direction of a pattern is defined by the way the pattern, or a part of it, reappears in a different area.

For spaceships, puffers, rakes and certain breeders, this is defined as orthogonal (exclusively horizontal or vertical displacement), diagonal (both horizontal and vertical displacement), and oblique (other displacements, for example knightwise being horizontal being twice vertical displacement).

2D, square

The direction of a moving pattern is typically described as orthogonal, diagonal, or oblique, where oblique can be further broken down into the exact direction in the form of (x,y), such as (2,1) for knightships.

2D, hexagonal

Like square grids, the direction can be orthogonal, diagonal, or oblique. Many people misidentify certain orthogonal spaceships as diagonal. A diagonal line in a 2D hexagonal grid goes through the corners of cells, while an orthogonal line goes through the centres of the sides of cells.

3D, cubic

While terminology isn't fully defined, diagonal is (1,1,0), while triagonal is (1,1,1).

See also

• Speeds (category)
• Oblique spaceship
• Slope