Wow, random-a$$ comments with nothing to with chess (wahoo!)
I also have noticed certain similarities to chess and Toribash. I have even started work on certain opener moves (one of which is actually named after one of the greatest Hypermodern chess players!) This is a pretty crazy coincidence considering I started the project before I even read the thread.
I greatly enjoy playing chess (but my iPod chess is really tough even on intermediate >:O). Hopefully there are quite a few Toribash players who take the chess to Toribash comparison as seriously (or vaguely as seriously) as I do. (Insert laughing and pointing here) It's cool at least 1 other Toribash player is interested in chess, even though I completely disagree with the tactical ideas of your all-too-symmetrical opener. I don't want to get into real specifics on the post, but your opener offers no central control or either fianchetto to make up for this. Anyway, I would like to take the Toribash is like chess thing further (I've already started that with my opener ideas as a followup to my ToriTheory essay, but without all the big words.)