Obviously it has been far too long since I first started this blog, and even longer since I first had this idea. I think I have finally decided on the forces for the chess set.

While modern chess sets often feature white versus black, fancier chess sets often feature sides of different colors, including browns and reds. This typically depended upon the materials being used for the pieces. For my part, I've long planned on a red versus black arrangement. My two dilemmas revolved around which subfaction to choose for each side and which unit(s) to choose for each piece. I've always wanted the opposing sides to be comparable while being distinct, and the Adeptus Astartes (or loyalist Legiones Astartes) versus Heretic Astartes (or traitor Legiones Astartes) has always been my first choice, not least because I first came up with this idea when the Bolter and Chainsword only supported the [Chaos] Space Marines. The subfaction issue is always the first to be decided since that decision will lead to the units available to represent the pieces. On the issue of subfactions, I've seriously considered Black Templars (or the Iron Hands) versus Word Bearers or Blood Angels versus the Black Legion. However, a recent development has given me an easy solution.

The Legio [Bolter & Chainsword] is the mascot Chapter of this site. That Chapter is composed of Space Marines from all of the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, similar to the Deathwatch of the Ordo Xenos. While we had lore about a schism to allow for a Chaos counterpart to the Legio at one time, we have long since dropped that. Our solution for a renegade counterpart to the Legio, then, became the Red Corsairs. At one point back in the 2nd and 3rd editions, the Red Corsairs retained their original color schemes, but defaced the symbols of their parent Chapters and the Imperium. The red scheme came later, though it may have been re-adopted from 2nd edition (I'd have to dig through my attic to find Codex: Chaos to be sure). Either way, the Red Corsairs, though formed around a core of former Astral Claws Space Marines, consists of renegade Space Marines from various Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. The predominantly red with black color scheme serves as a nice counter to the predominantly black with red of the Legio. The recent announcement of the new Red Corsairs models, including upgrades to other Heretic Astartes kits, provides the model source I need.

So I'll feature the Legio (or Deathwatch, if you prefer) as the black side and the Red Corsairs as the red side.

Now I just need to figure out which models to use for each piece type. I'm committed to the standard bearer/icon bearer as the king and the captain as the queen, with chaplains and librarians (and their Chaos/renegade counterparts) as the bishops, jump pack types as knights, and regular troopers as pawns. All I really need to figure out is what to do for the rooks. I'm leaning towards Terminators (or maybe Gravis models for the Legio), though I like the idea of the shield and will use that if there is an appropriate shield-armed Red Corsair option. Ultimately, the rooks need to stand out from the pawns, though the base heights (see my previous post in this project blog) should serve as one distinguishing element. It could be that a "sergeant" variant (i.e., with power weapons) is all that will be necessary to distinguish the rooks from the pawns.

Oh, and I still need to factor in the Knightmare Chess adaptability that I want, so I need to be able to combine piece types via distinguishing elements as well as having a gray version of each piece type. For those not in the know, Knightmare Chess is like normal chess, but you also have cards that allow players to do unique things. Among those things are the ability to merge pieces (e.g., the Confabulation card allows you to merge a pawn and a knight, creating a piece that can move and capture like each) as well as creating neutral pieces (so each player can move and capture with the same piece). There's a lot more to that game so I recommend following the link to the Board Game Geek website entries (1994 edition, 2, and 2014 edition) if you want to find out more and you aren't so much of a chess purist that a bit of randomness won't trigger you.

In all likelihood, I'll go with pure black and red (and gray for the neutral Knightmare Chess pieces), though I'll use contrast paints and washes so that the models are a little less boring. The "solid" colors will (should) provide a result closer to the types of chess sets that I prefer, being a little more elegant from a chess purist standpoint.