| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Uzzy |
Posted - 31 Jul 2007 : 20:52:23
Hello. 
I've been wondering for a while now about Chess in the Realms. I know that they play it, as it's seen in Cormyr: The Novel, but recently I've begun thinking about some of the various sets that might exist in the Realms, both mundane and magical. Given the wide variety of themed sets in existence in the real world, I'm sure that people in the realms would have come up with a few. I was wondering if anyone here had some ideas for possible chess sets?
I've got two Cormyr ones. Firstly, the Purple and Red Dragons, wirh Rhigaerd and Salember as the kings (Detailed in Chapter 28 of Cormyr) and a much more modern one, with the Purple Dragons of Cormyr, led by Azoun V up against the Zhentilar, led by Fzoul. Alusair and Scyllua as the queens, respectively. Any other Realmsian ideas for chess sets? |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 02 Aug 2007 : 04:44:14
The first thing I thought of when I read that article is that since they are extraplanar creatures, they would make a great summon for a cleric of the Red Knight (ahem, especially the knight pieces). |
| freyar |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 17:02:53
Slightly off-topic, but I just thought that it might be nice to "realmsify" the chaturani chess-monsters from Dragon 358. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 16:13:53
quote:
Originally posted by Uzzy
With the added randomness of the spider dice, if I remember right.
I actually like that idea (though I've never played chess), but I'd increase the number of times the dice could be rolled. The description, as I recall, said you could only roll once, and you had to roll the two spiders to get any benefit. To me, this meant you have to lose a turn on a very small chance of gaining any benefit. I'd only do that if my defeat was otherwise assured. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 15:52:11
The description of 'sava' in Dissolution certainly had a chess-feeling to it.
|
| Uzzy |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 14:50:16
With the added randomness of the spider dice, if I remember right. |
| Brian R. James |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 14:19:40
sava is alot like chess isn't it?
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 01:11:39
Realms products are usually not that consistent as to whether chess is called "chess" or "lanceboard" in the Realms. That implies that while there may be regional name variants for the various pieces, fundamentally the game is the same. Ed notes [back in Oct. '05] that "Chess isn’t even called “chess” in the Realms; we real-world writers just render it (sometimes) into that word when describing it."
You'll also find some useful tidbits about the game in the entry for the "Magical Chessmen of Ultham-Urre" in Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. It was first mentioned in the Ol' Grey Box, as I recall. See also the "Noble" series novel Escape from Undermountain. |
| Tacitus |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 00:44:37
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
I could definitely see a Thay versus Mulhorand chess set cropping up as a way to appreciate their victory. It just goes along with "Alavairthae". Of course, it would be odd with things like Eltab as the Queen and some of the heroes of the battle of Thazalhar as the various pieces (Jorgmacdon the conjurer, Velsharoon the necromancer, Ythazz Buvarr the lich, Zhengyi the necromancer, etc....). Later variations would obviously replace all 8 of the major pieces with the 8 Zulkirs presently in power (after all, many of those earlier heroes became renegades when the rule of Zulkirs arose). The Mulhorandi side would be the 8 major mulhorandi deities (absent Set and Sebek).
Zhengyi were present at the battle of Thazalhar? |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 31 Jul 2007 : 22:33:59
I could definitely see a Thay versus Mulhorand chess set cropping up as a way to appreciate their victory. It just goes along with "Alavairthae". Of course, it would be odd with things like Eltab as the Queen and some of the heroes of the battle of Thazalhar as the various pieces (Jorgmacdon the conjurer, Velsharoon the necromancer, Ythazz Buvarr the lich, Zhengyi the necromancer, etc....). Later variations would obviously replace all 8 of the major pieces with the 8 Zulkirs presently in power (after all, many of those earlier heroes became renegades when the rule of Zulkirs arose). The Mulhorandi side would be the 8 major mulhorandi deities (absent Set and Sebek). |
| Uzzy |
Posted - 31 Jul 2007 : 21:15:14
I love you Wooly. I had no idea Aurora's had that in.
Everytime I open up my PDF of Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog, it gets even better. It's a very nice feeling. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 31 Jul 2007 : 21:08:13
There were a couple mentioned in Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog. |
