Characters: Chess |
Yes, even the gamepieces of Chess get their own character sheet. Don't you know the game is Serious Business?
Interesting note, the Five Man Band and Five Bad Band tropes listed here can often be used to tell which characters of a series will take which position in a themed chess set.
Every character on this page possesses the following tropes:
The primary goal of the game is to capture this piece, by any means necessary. He can only move one square in any direction. When he's threatened, it's customary to say "Check", and "Checkmate" in the situation where he cannot escape capture. Typically designed as a tall piece with an elaborate crown.
One of the most important pieces in the game and the most powerful, the Queen can move as far as she wants in any clear direction, and capture anything in her path. However, you only get one, so she must be used wisely. Usually slightly shorter than the King, with a smaller crown.
The erratic Knights can only move two squares forward and one to the side (visualise their movement grid as the mighty L block from Tetris), and can 'leap over' any units, ally or enemy, that are in their way. Designed as the head of a horse.
Also known as the 'Castle', these pieces can move in a straight line along the grid. They are placed on the corners of the board, and appear as castle turrets or keeps.
Pieces initially placed either side of the King and Queen, these can move any distance diagonally on the grid.
The lowest-ranking and most common pieces, of which each player gets eight, placed in front of the other pieces. They can only move one square ahead, though they can also jump two squares on their first move, and they can capture any piece on one of the squares in front and to the side of them. If they are lucky enough to cross the board, they can be promoted to any other piece- usually a Queen.
Interesting note, the Five Man Band and Five Bad Band tropes listed here can often be used to tell which characters of a series will take which position in a themed chess set.
Every character on this page possesses the following tropes:
The King
The primary goal of the game is to capture this piece, by any means necessary. He can only move one square in any direction. When he's threatened, it's customary to say "Check", and "Checkmate" in the situation where he cannot escape capture. Typically designed as a tall piece with an elaborate crown.
- Henpecked Husband
- Overshadowed By Awesome
- Big Bad / Big Good
- Keystone Army: If the King goes down, they all go down.
- We Cannot Go On Without You: Same as above.
- MacGuffin Guy
- Non Action Guy: If a piece of yours ever actually gets captured by the King, you're either really bad at this or have one hell of a plan.
- Not So Harmless: In the late-game though, he'll get more freedom to move.
The Queen
One of the most important pieces in the game and the most powerful, the Queen can move as far as she wants in any clear direction, and capture anything in her path. However, you only get one, so she must be used wisely. Usually slightly shorter than the King, with a smaller crown.
- Badass: The most powerful unit at your disposal, and the biggest threat from your opponent.
- The Dragon / The Lancer
- Gender Flip: In earlier forms of chess the piece is the King's (male) prime minister.
- Lady Of War
- Super Soldier
- Too Awesome To Use: She can move in any direction, but you only get one and she's a One Hit Point Wonder like the rest.
- Took A Level In Badass: Thanks to a rule change.
The Knight
The erratic Knights can only move two squares forward and one to the side (visualise their movement grid as the mighty L block from Tetris), and can 'leap over' any units, ally or enemy, that are in their way. Designed as the head of a horse.
- The Chick / The Dark Chick: The Knight's movements are comparatively erratic.
- Cool Horse
- Knight In Shining Armour
The Rook
Also known as the 'Castle', these pieces can move in a straight line along the grid. They are placed on the corners of the board, and appear as castle turrets or keeps.
The Bishop
Pieces initially placed either side of the King and Queen, these can move any distance diagonally on the grid.
- Church Militant
- Evil Genius / The Smart Guy
- Hijacked By Jesus: Before chess reached Europe, this piece represented a war elephant.
The Pawn
The lowest-ranking and most common pieces, of which each player gets eight, placed in front of the other pieces. They can only move one square ahead, though they can also jump two squares on their first move, and they can capture any piece on one of the squares in front and to the side of them. If they are lucky enough to cross the board, they can be promoted to any other piece- usually a Queen.
- Mooks
- Cannon Fodder
- However, Pawns can be much more valuable than you think.
- Mook Promotion
- Red Shirt Army
- Took A Level In Badass
- Magikarp Power
- Samus Is A Girl: A lot of people simply assume the pawns are male, since they're the Red Shirt Army. However, if a pawn makes it to the far side of the board, that pawn will be promoted, usually to Queen.
No comments:
Post a Comment