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Hi, this is an idea my dad suggested to me ages ago, and i'd really like to work on it as a modeling/ painting project.

I've seen it discussed online, but any threads i have found have long since been burried.

Idea 1: Heresy!
Any old discussions i've found suggest using 2 different armies, which makes sense, however all traditional chess boards have identical pieces in diferent colours. So i was kinda thinking maybe 2 identical space marine forces, one in black, one in white (or some other dramaticaly different colours) and just assuming maybe some are turning to chaos and need to be destroyed before its too late!
I was wondering how i could make one of the armies look a little bit renegade-y but still use models from the Space marine range (to keep the symetry of the classic chess set up)

King: Chapter master (with sword, holding helmet)
Queen: Librarian with staff and book
Bishop: Company Champions OR Chaplain (Skull helmet, problem here being that both should be black, and a heretic chaplain doesn't seem likely)
Knights: Assault Marines
Rooks: Terminators (if i can fit them on a smaller base) Techmarines, company champion, some kinda veterans?
Pawns: Tactical Marines (Obviously)

Idea 2: Ultramarines Vs, Black Legion
The 2 armies most notorios chapters/ legions face off! This would get rid of the classic chess set up in exhange for something more Fluff based. The ultramarines would use the set up above, wile chaos would be as follows:

King: Chaos Lord (not sure which)
Queen: Sorcerer?
Bishops: Chosen chaos champions
Knights: Raptors, or winged possessed
Rooks: Terminators, Obliterators, or bad ass chosen
Pawns: Chaos Space Marines

Those are the ideas i have so far, I think it's important that they all fit on the same size base, i'd use fairly stationary poses for all the models (chess is hardly dynamic!) I was wondering what your thoughts would be on this, any sugestions of what i could change to make it look better? or simply suggest your own ideas for a 40k themed chess set. I'm realise it isn't an original idea, if anyone has done something like this before it's be great to see some pics!

Thanks!

That is a really neat idea. A couple coworkers have used some scrap veneer pieces to make their own chess boards here. I may have to try something like this.

I like the idea of loyalist vs chaos too. If you're concerned about having black armored chaplains for bishops against Black Legion, you could have the chaos faction be Word Bearers. It also would be fairly fluffy if the Loyalist pieces are Ultramarine. Only thing I'd see that'd need tweaked is to have the Queen (sorceror) look like an Apostle.

Otherwise the pieces you have and their layout seem pretty good.

You could also use heavy weapon marines as rooks, to keep the base size the same.

If you are worried about similar paint schemes on both sides for things like chaplains, you can look to basing for your answer. Base the black side on with an ash waste scheme, and the white side on snow bases.

Bonus points if you do the chessboard in the same scheme.
Extra bonus points if you can have something like a lava rift/frozen river seamlessly crossing the playing field.

King = emperor on golden throne
Queen = Chosen army unique HQ
Rooks = Chosen army Epic Land Raider
Bishops = Chosen army Epic Drop Pod
Knights = Chosen army Epic Flier
Pawns = Chosen army tac squad

If you want all 40k

K- Unique HQ
Q- Libby
R- Heavy weapon or sternguard
Kn- Vet Vanguard Assault
B-Termie
P- Tac Sq or IG

For Chaos Space Marines, I think that the cultists should be pawns.

LOL, years ago I worked in a solar-panel factory with about 100 people who didn't speak english. But they spoke the game of kings!

Every employee had their own chess board and pieces and every table at lunch would have sandwiches and casualties all over it.

My friend (who got me the job) was also the same person who intoduced me to 40k.

His pieces:

King: Eldrad

Queen: Avatar of Khaine

Bishops: Jain Zar

Knights: Baharroth

Rooks: Maugan Ra

Pawns: Asurmen

It cost him a pretty penny but it looked nice and impressed all the people at the company who had never seen anything like it.

 Nevelon wrote:

If you are worried about similar paint schemes on both sides for things like chaplains, you can look to basing for your answer. Base the black side on with an ash waste scheme, and the white side on snow bases.

To be honest I actually like the idea of the white figures on a black ashy waste, and the black figures on a snow base. Think the contrast could look pretty cool. (maybe even give it a bit of the yin-yang vibe). But completely in the eye of the beholder on that one.

Great ideas all around. I've actually been tossing around some various ideas on a chess set as well (at some point way down the line most likely).
I was thinking something more along the lines of an inquisitor with retinue against a chaos cultist group.

Inquisitor side
K- Inquisitor
Q- was thinking something along the lines of a female psyker. or possibly a SoB model
Bishop- any scholar models. medicae possibly.
Rook- gun servitors
Knight- Either grey knights, or a pair of deathwatch marines could work.
Pawns- likely IG stormtroopers

K- Arch heretic
Q- witch or female daemonhost
Bishop- rogue psycher
Rook- daemonspawn?
Knight- CSM or daemons
Pawns- cultists

Another thought is to keep the Rooks as the SM / CSM and do them true scale. More imposing hulking figures on the four corners of the set.
again, just thoughts. I've also considered any various army combos. Realistically it should be what you think would be fun pieces to play with and work on. Best of luck and hope to see your creations form at some point.

SM

K- Chapter Master or Captain
Q- Librarian (GOI to move in lines)
Q side Bishop- Chaplain
Q side Knight Assault Marine
Q side Rook- Devastator
K side Bishop Techmarine
K side Knight Biker
K side Rook Terminator
Pawns Bolter Marines

Eldar
K side/ Queen Side

K+ QAutarch/ Farseer
Bishops- Howling Banshees +Striking Scorpians
Knights- Swooping Hawks +Warp Spider
Rook- Fire Dragon +Dark Reaper
Pawns Dire Avengers or Guardians

DE
K+Q Archon + Succubus
Bishop Mandrake +Incubi
Knight Scourge+Reaver
Rook Wrack+ Truebron
Pawns- Wyches

Necrons
K+Q Overlord+ Cryptek
Bishop Lychguard+ Deathmark
Knight Tomb Blade+ Wraith
Rooks Immortals+ Destroyer
Pawns Warriors

Orks
King Warboss
Queen Big Mek
Bishops Nobs+Burna
Knight Deffkopta+ Stormboy
Rook MAN+Loota
Pawns Boyz/Grots

If you are going asymmetrical, you can use an apothecary for your white side bishop, and a chaplain for the black.

 Nevelon wrote:
If you are going asymmetrical, you can use an apothecary for your white side bishop, and a chaplain for the black.

Guard:

K-Company Commander
Q-Standard Bearer
Bishop-Stormtrooper
Knight-Guardsman with Flamer
Pawn-Conscript
Rook-LEMAN RUSS BATTLE TANK

Necrons:

King: Overlord or Overlord Special Character
Queen: Cryptek or Cryptek Special Character
Rook: Sword and Board Lychguard
Knight: Triarch Praetorian
Bishop: Immortals
Pawn: Warriors/Scarabs (on small base)

Alternate Guard list:

King: Creed (Or any suitable company commander)
Queen: Lord Commissar
Bishops: Priests
Knights: Sentinels
Rooks: Ogryn
Pawns: Guardsmen

Crons

K-Overlord
Q-Lord
B-Lychguard
K-Triarch Praetorians
R-Wraiths
P-Scarabs

Tau

K-Crisis Shas'o
Q-Crisis
B-Stealth Suits
K-Vespid?
R-XV88
P-Drones

Space Marines:

K: Chapter Master
Q: Jump Pack Chaplain
B: Librarian
KT: Company Champion
R: Terminator
P: Tactical

Tau
K:Ethereal
Q:Crisis Suit
B:Stealth Suit
KT: Kroot
R: Drone
P: Fire Warrior

Sisters of Battle:
K: Kyrinov
Q: Saint
B: Seraphim
KT: Repentia
R: Sister Superior
P: Sister of Battle

Imperial Guard
K: Company Commander
Q: Lord Commissar
B: Sanctioned Psykers
KT: Storm Troopers
R: Harker
P: Cadian Guardsmen

Tyranids:
K: Warrior Prime
Q: Zoanthrope
B: Lictor
KT: Genestealer
R: Hive Guard
P: Hormagaunt

Necrons:
K: Overlord
Q: C'Tan
B: Wraith
KT: Warriors
R: Lychguard
P: Scarabs

Daemons:
K: Skulltaker
Q: The Masque
B: Changeling
KT: Bloodletters
R: Plaguebearers
P: Daemonette's

Imperial Guard:

King-Company Commander/Platoon Commander
Queen-Standard Bearer/Primaris Psyker
Rook-Ogryn/LRBT
Knight-Rough Rider/Sentinel
Bishop-Priest or Commissar
Pawn-Regular Guardsmen/Stormtroopers

Eldar

King- Farseer
Queen- Autarch
Bishop- Fire Dragons
Knight- Striking Scorpions (cause let's face it they're ninja's)
Rook- WRAITHGUARD
Pawn- Dire Avengers

And now to go play some chess with my Eldar

surely scouts should be the pawns no?

If they make it to the other side they get upgraded to a marine representing one of the other pieces.

I'm liking alot of these suggestions, especially guard based ones.
I had the thought that the shoulder markings if i did marines would be a little graphic which shows the peice they represent, instead of usual tactical, assult, devestator and HQ insignia. I'll make a WIP thread when i actually decide on a theme and start getting the models.#

Cheers!

My version
Pawns: Standard Guardsmen
Rooks: Heavy Weapons Team (gun doesn't matter but a Lascannon would be good)
Bishop: Hellhound
Knights: Sentinal with Auto Cannon
King: Commander
Queen: Leman Russ Tank

If you want 9" squares, thats a good idea XD

Alpha Legion chess:

Alpharius: King
Everyone else: Pawns.

 IHateNids wrote:
If you want 9" squares, thats a good idea XD

One option if you want tanks is to use the old epic scale ones. Not sure how easy they would be to find these days...

To the eBay mobile!
<insert wierd trumpet bit>

Or you could use an all-tank one.

P=Chimera
R=Manticore
K=Basilisk
B=Hydra
Q=LRE
King=LRBT

Be aware that this is a modelling project mostly.
Serious chess gamers don't want to be distracted by fancy miniatures that may even break during the game.

But, it has popped up a few times anyway.

The heresy and orks seem to be good themes to do with. Can even be as simple as blue marines against red marines.

Daemons chess theme: (My opinion)
King : Ku'gath (because its awesome)
Queen : Daemonette champion
Bishop : decimator (forge world model)
Knight : Bloodcrusher
Rook : pink horror
pawn: bloodletters

Hereric chaplins do exist, thwy are xalled Dark Apostles.