From: "jldayton" Subject: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 12:11:59 -0500 Lines: 127 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Message-ID: Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien NNTP-Posting-Host: 1cust67.tnt7.minneapolis.mn.da.uu.net 63.11.60.67 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.cwix.com!cpmsnbbsb04!cpmsnbbsa07 Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37114 As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I can't determine a logical character. WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. If Frodo is captured, the game is over, right? The Frodo figurine would be set on a pedestal to make the piece taller than the others. (All other hobbit characters are cast as pawns.) WHITE KING'S PAWN: Sam Gamgee, Frodo's loyal serveant. BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? BLACK KING'S PAWN: Smeagol makes sense in this position, also makes a logical counterpoint to Sam. WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. WHITE QUEEN'S PAWN: Pippin, due to the relationship between him and Gandalf in Book V. BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. BLACK QUEEN'S PAWN: Grima/Wormtongue. WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. WHITE KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Gimli the dwarf, who was so smitten by Galadriel. BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. BLACK KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Other than the Kings pawn and Queens pawn, I am having a little trouble coming up with characters to be the pawns on the black side. I want all of the pieces to be unique characters. From here on for black pawns I will say: Orc? Any ideas? WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP: Aragorn should be next to Gandalf on the board. WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Merry, for the same reasons that Pippin is pawn to Gandalf. This also places Merry and Pippin next to each other. BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? WHITE KING'S KNIGHT: Elrond. I'm open to debate on this one. Putting Elrond here places all three of the ringbearers of the Three rings as power pieces on the white side (Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond). Would have to put him on horseback if he's going to be a knight. WHITE KING'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Legolas. As the elven member of the Fellowship, he can be Elrond's pawn. This also places him next to Gimli on the board. I want all members of the Fellowship represented, but only Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn are power pieces. BLACK KING'S KNIGHT: The leader of the Nazgul. BLACK KING'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. I understand she will be playing a major role in the films, and it makes sense to place her next to Aragorn. And she rides horses in the films, doesn't she? This makes Elrond and Arwen the two white knights (father/daughter team). WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Who could be pawn to Arwen? May have to wait for the movie to determine this. BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Another one I can't determine. Don't want another Nazgul- this is Saruman's knight, not Sauron's. BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. WHITE KING'S ROOK'S PAWN: Bilbo is the logical choice to be the pawn for Rivendell or for Bag End. BLACK KING'S ROOK: The Dark Tower, Barad-dur. BLACK KING'S ROOK'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? WHITE QUEEN'S ROOK: Minas Tirith, where Aragorn and Arwen become rulers. WHITE QUEEN'S ROOK'S PAWN: Boromir is the logical choice to be the pawn for Minas Tirith. BLACK QUEEN'S ROOK: Isengard, of course. BLACK QUEEN'S ROOK'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? So, that's what I've come up with. Again, any input, ideas? jldayton@msn.com ###### From: Pythoness Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 11:45:57 -0700 Organization: Oregon Public Networking Lines: 11 Message-ID: <240520011145571824%zigi@ravenland.com> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: 56k-016.efn.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit User-Agent: YA-NewsWatcher/5.0.1 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!canoe.uoregon.edu!logbridge.uoregon.edu!news.efn.org!zigi Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37124 In article , jldayton wrote: > WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. You're not trying to start another "Is Gandalf Gay" debate, are you? Just kidding. Actually it sounds pretty impressive, and you've put a lot of thought into it! zg ###### From: Bingo Bracegirdle Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 20:32:43 +0100 Organization: only during wedmath Lines: 141 Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-71.ekto.dialup.pol.co.uk (62.137.160.71) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 990732760 3331657 62.137.160.71 (16 [62434]) X-Orig-Path: spamfree.fsnet.co.uk!bingo X-Newsreader: Turnpike Integrated Version 4.02 U Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news-lei1.dfn.de!news.uni-leipzig.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!modem-71.ekto.dialup.pol.co.UK!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37149 In article , jldayton writes >As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to >come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not >that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > >OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in >hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I >can't determine a logical character. No, no, no *NO* - you have (most of it) all *wrong*!!!! >WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. Nonsense, the *only* choice is Gandalf. Or at a pinch Celeborn (or at a greater pinch - Elrond). The only recommendation for Celeborn is that he has a wife which I will come to anon... But Frodo? No! Frodo is a splendid chap but he is no King and never could be. Hobbit-Kings? The very idea! >WHITE KING'S PAWN: Sam Gamgee, Frodo's loyal serveant. Well, yes. I have no objection to Hobbits as prawns. Though Elves would serve equally well. As would Rohirrim warriors. >BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? Good gracious no. The Man had legs and arms for goodness sake. How do you think he got about - on a magic eyebath?! Use your imagination. Start with the worst possible image of Old Nick and then make him even *more* evil. By all means let him have red eyes but let's give the chap a body - this is chess not snakes and ladders! >BLACK KING'S PAWN: Smeagol makes sense in this position, also makes a >logical counterpoint to Sam. I fear you are on dangerous ground here. Gollum is a complex character and it is highly debatable whether he was ever *wholly* evil. The Black prawns *must* be absolute rotters. Only the Orcs of Barad-Dur fit thart role I'm afraid, so Ors it should be. >WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. Gandalf? Gandalf is a chap my dear boy. Even in Middle Earth the differences between the sexes were recognised and dare I say, enjoyed. You can't have the Wizard masquerading as a woman. Whatever next! Gimli rogering Legolas? No, on seconf thoughts, let's not explore that particular avenue further. Anyway, Gandalf is emphatically *not* a queen, however "queer" he may appear at times. No, the only possible choice (I said I would come to her later), is Galadriel. >WHITE QUEEN'S PAWN: Pippin, due to the relationship between him and Gandalf >in Book V. Prawns are *usually* all of a prawness. Why differentiate them? If you must do so, you will need to find five extra Hobbits. I cannot really see the Gaffer, or old Lotho as prawns, can you? I suggest you stick to anonymous Hobbits for *all* the serfs and do the same for the black pieces - i.e. orcs. >BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. Dear me. You *are* confused about gender aren't you? Saruman may have been a right bastard to translate literally from the Sindarin but he had a todger. The only logical choice is Shelob. She was, after all, Sauron's "Pet". What better Black Queen could you have than her? >WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and >counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. No, no. Galadriel only rides a horse once. What's wrong with the eagles? Or, if you baulk at eagles standing in for horses, then Theoden, or one or more of the Rohirrim. They were "horse-lords" after all!" >WHITE KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Gimli the dwarf, who was so smitten by >Galadriel. If you must. I Prefer Hobbits. > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is >the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. At last a choice I can agree with. Alternatively I would suggest Angmar, the leader of the Nazgul. >BLACK KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Other than the Kings pawn and Queens pawn, I >am having a little trouble coming up with characters to be the pawns on the >black side. I want all of the pieces to be unique characters. From here on >for black pawns I will say: Orc? Any ideas? I have already said I am not in favour of individual characters for the pawns on *either* side. I know some Chess sets have followed this practise but I personally deplore it. It adds nothing to the game and weakens the prominence of the major pieces who *should* take precedence and be clearly distinguished from the rabble. > >WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP: Aragorn should be next to Gandalf on the board. I have no quibble with that though I personally prefer Elrond in that role, or, at a pinch, Cirdan. >BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. >Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? I favour Nazgul for *both* Black bishops. >WHITE KING'S KNIGHT: Elrond. If the Rohirrim or eagles are not used then Glorfindel would be my best alternative. >BLACK KING'S KNIGHT: The leader of the Nazgul. Agreed. >WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. If Glorfindel were chosen for the King's Knight I would agree that this makes a sensible combination. But I *still* prefer Eagles! >BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Nazgul are naturals in this position. Think of their roles in the story, particularly upon the Pelennor fields. >WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the >white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than >characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or >Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. Stuff and nonsense. The *only* logical choices are the four towers of the books, Orthanc, Barad-dur, Minas Tirith and the White Havens. Personally I would plump for Minas Tirith and the White Havens for White Rooks and Barad-dur and Orthanc for Black rooks. I hope that's given you something to put in your pipe and smoke over! Regards, -- Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) 12 South Smials, Longbottom ###### From: grimgard Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 15:52:12 -0400 Organization: Prodigy http://www.prodigy.com Lines: 20 Message-ID: <3B0D666C.679BA87F@prodigy.net> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: a010-0458.laur.splitrock.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: newssvr06-en0.news.prodigy.com 990734053 4117541 209.255.180.204 (24 May 2001 19:54:13 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@prodigy.net NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 19:54:13 +0000 (UTC) X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.7 [en] (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: en Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!newsfeed01.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!newsfeed.hanau.net!news-fra1.dfn.de!news0.de.colt.net!colt.net!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.cwix.com!newscon02.news.prodigy.com!newsmst01.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.com!postmaster.news.prodigy.com!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37115 jldayton wrote: > As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to > come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not > that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > > OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in > hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I > can't determine a logical character. > Actually, the Fellowship Foundry marketed such a set over twenty years ago. There may have been others as well. You might want to take a look at the merchandise at www.tolkienshop.com to see what's already been released. Just out of curiosity, are you American? If so, what's your USCF rating? grimgard ###### From: "Jamie Armstrong" Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 21:06:37 +0100 Lines: 25 Message-ID: <9ejplo$6rr$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-223.idaho.dialup.pol.co.uk X-Trace: news5.svr.pol.co.uk 990734840 7035 62.137.63.223 (24 May 2001 20:07:20 GMT) NNTP-Posting-Date: 24 May 2001 20:07:20 GMT X-Complaints-To: abuse@theplanet.net X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!diablo.theplanet.net!news.theplanet.net!newspost.theplanet.net!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37132 "Bingo Bracegirdle" wrote in message news:CjzN$CAbHWD7EwPe@spamfree.fsnet.co.uk... > In article , jldayton > writes> >WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and > >counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. > No, no. Galadriel only rides a horse once. What's wrong with the eagles? > Or, if you baulk at eagles standing in for horses, then Theoden, or one > or more of the Rohirrim. They were "horse-lords" after all!" > ;) Jamie -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Website: http://www.geocities.com/jamie.armstrong/ Email: Jamie.Armstrong@genie.co.uk or: Jamie-Armstrong@dirt-pixie.freeserve.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ###### Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!not-for-mail From: Neil Franklin Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: 25 May 2001 00:25:47 +0200 Organization: My own Private Self Lines: 113 Message-ID: <6ur8xee650.fsf@chonsp.franklin.ch> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: chonsp.franklin.ch X-Trace: chonsp.franklin.ch 990743150 1496 10.0.3.2 (24 May 2001 22:25:50 GMT) X-Complaints-To: news@chonsp.franklin.ch NNTP-Posting-Date: 24 May 2001 22:25:50 GMT X-Newsreader: Gnus v5.7/Emacs 20.4 Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37165 "jldayton" writes: > Not that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... Not that that stopped r.a.b.t having fun with an idea. Particularly substituting book characters with some other systems characters. > WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. If Frodo is captured, the game is over, > right? The Frodo figurine would be set on a pedestal to make the piece > taller than the others. (All other hobbit characters are cast as pawns.) > > WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. Surely those that get crowened in the end: Aragorn and Arwen. If they lose, they do not get crowned. :-) And Arwen moving around fast does fit the film. :-) :-) Gandalf, as a wizard, should be the Kings bishop. Frodo, I suppose, will have to be Aragorns Pawn. Hmmm. That actually fits the small hobbit in the big politics. Sam then Arwens Pawn? So they are together. Sort fo fits too. OTOH I also think that all pawns should be identical. Gondorians? But that gets rid of the Hobbits. Bad. Or all Hobbits? Yes, I know there were only 4 in the wanderers. > WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and > counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. Would she not better be the queens bishop? OK, actually her grand mother, but you know what I mean. > WHITE KING'S KNIGHT: Elrond. I'm open to debate on this one. Putting > Elrond here places all three of the ringbearers of the Three rings as power > pieces on the white side (Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond). Would have to put > him on horseback if he's going to be a knight. > > WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. I understand she will be playing a major role > in the films, and it makes sense to place her next to Aragorn. And she > rides horses in the films, doesn't she? This makes Elrond and Arwen the two > white knights (father/daughter team). Knights are on horses. So white knights should be Rohirrim. Definitely. Eoman on kings side, he did help the (future) king Aragorn. Eowyn on queens side, well, she did have _some_ relationship with Arwen. "Did you just taky _your_own_ queen with that knight?". :-) > WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than > > characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or > Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. > > WHITE QUEEN'S ROOK: Minas Tirith, where Aragorn and Arwen become rulers. Rivendell (where king comes from) and Lorien (where queen comes from). > BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? Obvious character. Image? > BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. Does not fit. Actually a big problem, as there is no female side at all in Mordor. Perhaps the entire side should remain empty! Or filled with more Pawns/Orcs! Sort of fits Sauros modus operandi. Yes, I know that changes the game. But it fits the story. :-) OTOH what about Shelob? With Gollum as either her bishop or knight. Only one of three left open (we have a rook, see below). Yes, we lose Saruman, but so did Sauron. :-) > BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is > the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. Fits very good. > BLACK KING'S KNIGHT: The leader of the Nazgul. Also a good choice. > For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the > white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than > characters. > > BLACK KING'S ROOK: The Dark Tower, Barad-dur. Or the two towers at the sides of the black gate? Then use the Barad-dur (with eye on it) as image for Sauron? -- Neil Franklin, neil@franklin.ch.remove http://neil.franklin.ch/ Hacker, Unix Guru, El Eng HTL/BSc, Sysadmin, Archer, Roleplayer - Intellectual Property is Intellectual Robbery ###### From: Bingo Bracegirdle Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 22:01:35 +0100 Organization: only during wedmath Lines: 18 Message-ID: References: <9ejplo$6rr$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-324.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.uk (62.137.169.68) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 990738221 3483201 62.137.169.68 (16 [62434]) X-Orig-Path: spamfree.fsnet.co.uk!bingo X-Newsreader: Turnpike Integrated Version 4.02 U Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news-fra1.dfn.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!modem-324.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.UK!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37300 In article <9ejplo$6rr$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk>, Jamie Armstrong writes > >horsey ones on a chess board - the Bishops have to walk...> >;) > >Jamie Oh tish and pish. Stop splitting (horse) hairs. I just dashed the thing off whilst waiting for Tiffin. And, in mitigation, would add that I *had* imbibed somewhat freely of a glass or two of old wineyards... :-) My *corrections* were (mostly) sober, were they not? -- Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) 12 South Smials, Longbottom ###### From: Bingo Bracegirdle Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 22:03:40 +0100 Organization: only during wedmath Lines: 16 Message-ID: References: <3B0DECAF.2F@removethis.herzeleid.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-324.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.uk (62.137.169.68) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 990738240 3431524 62.137.169.68 (16 [62434]) X-Orig-Path: spamfree.fsnet.co.uk!bingo X-Newsreader: Turnpike Integrated Version 4.02 U Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!newsfeed01.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!modem-324.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.UK!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37298 In article <3B0DECAF.2F@removethis.herzeleid.net>, Mia Kalogjera writes >Bingo Bracegirdle wrote: > >> I have no objection to Hobbits as prawns. > >Morwen! Here's a Chef for you! Most astute of you to spot the malapropism. As it happens I am considered something of a dab hand at rustling up a tasty repast, but then such skills are imbibed with the mothers's milk amongst us Hobbits y'know! -- Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) 12 South Smials, Longbottom ###### From: "Steve" Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien References: Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Lines: 8 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Message-ID: Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 21:19:34 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.10.211.156 X-Complaints-To: abuse@home.net X-Trace: news1.mntp1.il.home.com 990739174 24.10.211.156 (Thu, 24 May 2001 14:19:34 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 14:19:34 PDT Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!isdnet!howland.erols.net!newshub2.home.com!news.home.com!news1.mntp1.il.home.com.POSTED!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37307 > BLACK KING'S ROOK: The Dark Tower, Barad-dur. > > BLACK KING'S ROOK'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? I think the pass at Cirith Ungol would be a good choice, then you can use Shelob as the pawn ###### From: "Öjevind Lång" Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien References: Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Lines: 95 X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.5 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: 212.151.37.57 X-Complaints-To: news-abuse@swip.net X-Trace: nntpserver.swip.net 990742071 212.151.37.57 (Fri, 25 May 2001 00:07:51 MET DST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 00:07:51 MET DST Organization: A Customer of Tele2 X-Sender: s-774765@d212-151-37-57.swipnet.se Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 00:11:06 +0200 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!newsfeed01.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!newsfeed.online.be!62.232.80.34.MISMATCH!newspeer.highwayone.net!newspeer.clara.net!news.clara.net!newsfeed1.swip.net!swipnet!nntpserver.swip.net!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37283 jldayton hath written: >As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to >come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not >that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > >OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in >hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I >can't determine a logical character. [snip] >BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is >the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Other than the Kings pawn and Queens pawn, I >am having a little trouble coming up with characters to be the pawns on the >black side. I want all of the pieces to be unique characters. From here on >for black pawns I will say: Orc? Any ideas? Shagrat, commander of the Tower of Cirith Ungol. (Shelob might be fun to include, of course.) [snip] > >BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. >Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? Lotho Sackville-Baggins? He did rule the Shire for a while and was temporarily quite powerful, poor sod. >BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? Ted Sandyman. (Or Bill Ferny.) [snip] >BLACK KING'S KNIGHT: The leader of the Nazgul. > >BLACK KING'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? Gorbag. He commanded a company of Orcs in Minas Morgul, the city that the Witch-king was in charge of. [snip] > >WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Who could be pawn to Arwen? May have to wait >for the movie to determine this. Maybe Gorfindel, since he has to take second place to Arwen? Or Erestor, who was Elrond's chief counsellor? Or perhaps Lindir, who was a rather supercilious Rivendell Elf of no consequence. >BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Another one I can't determine. Don't want another >Nazgul- this is Saruman's knight, not Sauron's. Uglúk, commander of a great band of Uruk-hai from Isengard. >BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? Lugdush, a member of Uglúk's band. [snip] >BLACK KING'S ROOK: The Dark Tower, Barad-dur. > >BLACK KING'S ROOK'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? Grishnákh, who quarrelled with Uglúk, took orders from the Barad-dûr. >WHITE QUEEN'S ROOK: Minas Tirith, where Aragorn and Arwen become rulers. > >WHITE QUEEN'S ROOK'S PAWN: Boromir is the logical choice to be the pawn for >Minas Tirith. I'd prefer Húrin the Tall, Warden of the Keys, who commanded the city in Aragorn's absence. >BLACK QUEEN'S ROOK: Isengard, of course. > >BLACK QUEEN'S ROOK'S PAWN: Orc? Any ideas? Mauhúr was another Urik-hai officer in the service of Isengard. >So, that's what I've come up with. Again, any input, ideas? >jldayton@msn.com I hope I have been of some assistance. Öjevind ###### From: Donald Shepherd Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 11:13:56 +1000 Organization: Chicken Lines: 71 Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: 192.168.46.23 X-Trace: bunyip.cc.uq.edu.au 990753282 29253 192.168.46.23 (25 May 2001 01:14:42 GMT) X-Complaints-To: news@uq.edu.au NNTP-Posting-Date: 25 May 2001 01:14:42 GMT X-Newsreader: MicroPlanet Gravity v2.50 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news1.optus.net.au!optus!bunyip.cc.uq.edu.au!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37232 In article , jldayton@email.msn.com says... > As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to > come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not > that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > > OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in > hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I > can't determine a logical character. There is/was one for sale at a games shop in town here. I drooled over it when I saw it for the first time. And the second. Not to mention the third, and... However the price tag of > $700 dampened my desire for it somewhat. I'll try to remember what each piece was: > WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. If Frodo is captured, the game is over, > right? The Frodo figurine would be set on a pedestal to make the piece > taller than the others. (All other hobbit characters are cast as pawns.) Aragorn. > WHITE KING'S PAWN: Sam Gamgee, Frodo's loyal serveant. All the pawns were Hobbits. > BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? IIRC, the King was actually the Witch King, because of the problems deciding what Sauron looked like. > WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. Galadriel. > BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. Agreed. > WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and > counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. Gandalf. > BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is > the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. Nazgul 1. > WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP: Aragorn should be next to Gandalf on the board. Elrnd, I think. > BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. > Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? Nazgul 2. The Rooks were Baradur for the Black and Minas Tirith for the White. Knights were Boromir and Faramir (I think) for the White and Warg and riders for the Black. Pawns on the Black side were orcs. Obviously this set went for style rather than storyline. I distinctly remembering Frodo not having his own piece, probably because he would look rather silly as a King or one of the "large" pieces. -- Donald Shepherd "Apathy killed the cat." ###### Lines: 73 X-Admin: news@cs.com From: ottoyuhr@cs.com (Ottoyuhr) Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Date: 25 May 2001 03:05:35 GMT References: Organization: CompuServe (http://www.compuserve.com/) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Message-ID: <20010524230535.08724.00000265@ng-cn1.news.cs.com> Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!Amsterdam.Infonet!News.Amsterdam.UnisourceCS!skynet.be!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.skycache.com!Cidera!portc03.blue.aol.com!audrey04.news.cs.com!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37263 jldayton wrote: >As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to >come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not >that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > >OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in >hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I >can't determine a logical character. > Interesting idea, but I think that so many different characters cast as pawns would become confusing in a brief time. I'll throw in my two cents on assorted other matters as well: >WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. >BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. Tilde crew! Come quickly! >BLACK QUEEN'S PAWN: Grima/Wormtongue. Sensible. >WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and >counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. Bishop Galadriel? >WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. I understand she will be playing a major role >in the films, and it makes sense to place her next to Aragorn. And she >rides horses in the films, doesn't she? This makes Elrond and Arwen the two >white knights (father/daughter team). BTW, does anyone know the proper form of address for a female knight? It wouldn't be "Sir" (male knight) or "Lady" (noblewoman without further distinctions), and the term might not even exist, but on the other hand, the "Joan of Arc archetype" is widespread in some fiction even from around that period, and has its best form in the character Clorinda, in Tasso's _Jerusalem Delivered_. There is also the question of how the other members of the French army addressed Joan d'Arc herself... >WHITE QUEEN'S ROOK'S PAWN: Boromir is the logical choice to be the pawn for >Minas Tirith. I had the impression that Boromir was too skillful of a fighter to qualify as just a pawn. Why not replace Arwen with him, regardless of the former's role in the movies? >So, that's what I've come up with. Again, any input, ideas? It's brave to even attempt to assemble such a set, especially based on LotR. A Silmarillion chess set would fall into place so much more easily that I'm surprised no one has made one yet. (Or more likely, someone has, and I've never heard about it.) ###### From: Mia Kalogjera Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 22:25:03 -0700 Organization: HThinet Lines: 10 Message-ID: <3B0DECAF.2F@removethis.herzeleid.net> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: ar3-m68.net.hinet.hr Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: as201.hinet.hr 990735833 167077 195.29.66.68 (24 May 2001 20:23:53 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@hinet.hr NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 20:23:53 +0000 (UTC) X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win16; I) Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!newsfeed01.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!newsfeed.hanau.net!fr.clara.net!heighliner.fr.clara.net!news-hub.siol.net!news1.hinet.hr!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37269 Bingo Bracegirdle wrote: > I have no objection to Hobbits as prawns. Morwen! Here's a Chef for you! Cheers, Mia -- Imagination is power. ###### From: Donald Shepherd Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 16:22:17 +1000 Organization: Chicken Lines: 27 Message-ID: References: <20010524230535.08724.00000265@ng-cn1.news.cs.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 192.168.46.23 X-Trace: bunyip.cc.uq.edu.au 990771783 21707 192.168.46.23 (25 May 2001 06:23:03 GMT) X-Complaints-To: news@uq.edu.au NNTP-Posting-Date: 25 May 2001 06:23:03 GMT X-Newsreader: MicroPlanet Gravity v2.50 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newscore.univie.ac.at!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news1.optus.net.au!optus!bunyip.cc.uq.edu.au!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37245 In article <20010524230535.08724.00000265@ng-cn1.news.cs.com>, ottoyuhr@cs.com says... > jldayton wrote: > > >WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. I understand she will be playing a major role > >in the films, and it makes sense to place her next to Aragorn. And she > >rides horses in the films, doesn't she? This makes Elrond and Arwen the two > >white knights (father/daughter team). > > BTW, does anyone know the proper form of address for a female knight? It > wouldn't > be "Sir" (male knight) or "Lady" (noblewoman without further distinctions), and > the term > might not even exist, but on the other hand, the "Joan of Arc archetype" is > widespread in > some fiction even from around that period, and has its best form in the Whatever she wants to be called. I'm not about to argue with anyone on a horse with a suit of armour and a weapon. I'd guess at Ma'am, because of it's status as the logical counterpoint to Sir in other fields (ie. teaching). -- Donald Shepherd "Apathy killed the cat." ###### From: "Matt Thrower" Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien References: <20010524230535.08724.00000265@ng-cn1.news.cs.com> Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 08:41:52 +0100 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Lines: 24 Message-ID: <3b0e0c86$0$12243$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: portal.cramer.co.uk X-Trace: 990776455 reading.news.pipex.net 12243 193.130.83.209 X-Complaints-To: abuse@uk.uu.net Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!newsfeed01.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!lnewspeer00.lnd.ops.eu.uu.net!lnewsifeed00.lnd.ops.eu.uu.net!lnewspost00.lnd.ops.eu.uu.net!emea.uu.net!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37324 > > BTW, does anyone know the proper form of address for a female knight? It > wouldn't > be "Sir" (male knight) or "Lady" (noblewoman without further distinctions), and > the term > might not even exist, but on the other hand, the "Joan of Arc archetype" is > widespread in > some fiction even from around that period, and has its best form in the > character Clorinda, > in Tasso's _Jerusalem Delivered_. There is also the question of how the other > members > of the French army addressed Joan d'Arc herself... I *think* the correct term is 'Dame' however odd it might sound. I know that modern females who recieve a knighthood here in the UK are granted the title Dame. ###### From: "Severian" Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien References: Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Lines: 158 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Message-ID: Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 13:57:01 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 65.13.179.104 X-Complaints-To: abuse@home.net X-Trace: news1.rdc1.tx.home.com 990799021 65.13.179.104 (Fri, 25 May 2001 06:57:01 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 06:57:01 PDT Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!newsfeed.mesh.ad.jp!newshub2.rdc1.sfba.home.com!news.home.com!news1.rdc1.tx.home.com.POSTED!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37289 Here is one example of a set already made http://www.lord-rings.co.uk/ "Bingo Bracegirdle" wrote in message news:CjzN$CAbHWD7EwPe@spamfree.fsnet.co.uk... > In article , jldayton > writes > >As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying to > >come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. Not > >that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > > > >OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in > >hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which I > >can't determine a logical character. > > No, no, no *NO* - you have (most of it) all *wrong*!!!! > > >WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. > > Nonsense, the *only* choice is Gandalf. Or at a pinch Celeborn (or at a > greater pinch - Elrond). The only recommendation for Celeborn is that he > has a wife which I will come to anon... But Frodo? No! Frodo is a > splendid chap but he is no King and never could be. Hobbit-Kings? The > very idea! > > >WHITE KING'S PAWN: Sam Gamgee, Frodo's loyal serveant. > > Well, yes. I have no objection to Hobbits as prawns. Though Elves would > serve equally well. As would Rohirrim warriors. > > >BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? > > Good gracious no. The Man had legs and arms for goodness sake. How do > you think he got about - on a magic eyebath?! Use your imagination. > Start with the worst possible image of Old Nick and then make him even > *more* evil. By all means let him have red eyes but let's give the chap > a body - this is chess not snakes and ladders! > > >BLACK KING'S PAWN: Smeagol makes sense in this position, also makes a > >logical counterpoint to Sam. > > I fear you are on dangerous ground here. Gollum is a complex character > and it is highly debatable whether he was ever *wholly* evil. The Black > prawns *must* be absolute rotters. Only the Orcs of Barad-Dur fit thart > role I'm afraid, so Ors it should be. > > >WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. > > Gandalf? Gandalf is a chap my dear boy. Even in Middle Earth the > differences between the sexes were recognised and dare I say, enjoyed. > You can't have the Wizard masquerading as a woman. Whatever next! Gimli > rogering Legolas? No, on seconf thoughts, let's not explore that > particular avenue further. Anyway, Gandalf is emphatically *not* a > queen, however "queer" he may appear at times. No, the only possible > choice (I said I would come to her later), is Galadriel. > > >WHITE QUEEN'S PAWN: Pippin, due to the relationship between him and Gandalf > >in Book V. > > Prawns are *usually* all of a prawness. Why differentiate them? If you > must do so, you will need to find five extra Hobbits. I cannot really > see the Gaffer, or old Lotho as prawns, can you? I suggest you stick to > anonymous Hobbits for *all* the serfs and do the same for the black > pieces - i.e. orcs. > > >BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. > > Dear me. You *are* confused about gender aren't you? Saruman may have > been a right bastard to translate literally from the Sindarin but he had > a todger. The only logical choice is Shelob. She was, after all, > Sauron's "Pet". What better Black Queen could you have than her? > > >WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and > >counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. > No, no. Galadriel only rides a horse once. What's wrong with the eagles? > Or, if you baulk at eagles standing in for horses, then Theoden, or one > or more of the Rohirrim. They were "horse-lords" after all!" > > >WHITE KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Gimli the dwarf, who was so smitten by > >Galadriel. > > If you must. I Prefer Hobbits. > > > > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is > >the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. > > At last a choice I can agree with. Alternatively I would suggest Angmar, > the leader of the Nazgul. > > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Other than the Kings pawn and Queens pawn, I > >am having a little trouble coming up with characters to be the pawns on the > >black side. I want all of the pieces to be unique characters. From here on > >for black pawns I will say: Orc? Any ideas? > > I have already said I am not in favour of individual characters for the > pawns on *either* side. I know some Chess sets have followed this > practise but I personally deplore it. It adds nothing to the game and > weakens the prominence of the major pieces who *should* take precedence > and be clearly distinguished from the rabble. > > > >WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP: Aragorn should be next to Gandalf on the board. > > I have no quibble with that though I personally prefer Elrond in that > role, or, at a pinch, Cirdan. > > >BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. > >Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? > > I favour Nazgul for *both* Black bishops. > > >WHITE KING'S KNIGHT: Elrond. > > If the Rohirrim or eagles are not used then Glorfindel would be my best > alternative. > > >BLACK KING'S KNIGHT: The leader of the Nazgul. > > Agreed. > > >WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. > If Glorfindel were chosen for the King's Knight I would agree that this > makes a sensible combination. But I *still* prefer Eagles! > > >BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT: > > Nazgul are naturals in this position. Think of their roles in the story, > particularly upon the Pelennor fields. > > >WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the > >white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than > >characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or > >Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. > > Stuff and nonsense. The *only* logical choices are the four towers of > the books, Orthanc, Barad-dur, Minas Tirith and the White Havens. > Personally I would plump for Minas Tirith and the White Havens for White > Rooks and Barad-dur and Orthanc for Black rooks. > > I hope that's given you something to put in your pipe and smoke over! > > Regards, > -- > Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) > 12 South Smials, > Longbottom ###### From: "Severian" Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien References: Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Lines: 178 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Message-ID: Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 14:02:00 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 65.13.179.104 X-Complaints-To: abuse@home.net X-Trace: news1.rdc1.tx.home.com 990799320 65.13.179.104 (Fri, 25 May 2001 07:02:00 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 07:02:00 PDT Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newshub2.home.com!news.home.com!news1.rdc1.tx.home.com.POSTED!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37285 I found a few more as well http://www.danburymint.co.uk/lor/chess.html http://www.shopping-emporium.co.uk/chess/lord_of_the_rings.htm http://members.tripod.de/schachladen/lordof.htm http://sculptorsdream.com/ (this one has some interesting goblets) Most of these have been around for years, I've dreamed of having one since I first read the books, but they all cost too much. "Severian" wrote in message news:NwtP6.15265$e6.70825@news1.rdc1.tx.home.com... > Here is one example of a set already made > http://www.lord-rings.co.uk/ > > "Bingo Bracegirdle" wrote in message > news:CjzN$CAbHWD7EwPe@spamfree.fsnet.co.uk... > > In article , jldayton > > writes > > >As a Tolkien fan and Chess fanatic who has no life (g), I've been trying > to > > >come up with the pieces for an official Lord of the Rings chess set. > Not > > >that I plan to produce and merchandise such a thing.... > > > > > >OK, so here's what have come up with so far. I would be interested in > > >hearing any input and feedback to this. There are some pieces for which > I > > >can't determine a logical character. > > > > No, no, no *NO* - you have (most of it) all *wrong*!!!! > > > > >WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. > > > > Nonsense, the *only* choice is Gandalf. Or at a pinch Celeborn (or at a > > greater pinch - Elrond). The only recommendation for Celeborn is that he > > has a wife which I will come to anon... But Frodo? No! Frodo is a > > splendid chap but he is no King and never could be. Hobbit-Kings? The > > very idea! > > > > >WHITE KING'S PAWN: Sam Gamgee, Frodo's loyal serveant. > > > > Well, yes. I have no objection to Hobbits as prawns. Though Elves would > > serve equally well. As would Rohirrim warriors. > > > > >BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red > eye? > > > > Good gracious no. The Man had legs and arms for goodness sake. How do > > you think he got about - on a magic eyebath?! Use your imagination. > > Start with the worst possible image of Old Nick and then make him even > > *more* evil. By all means let him have red eyes but let's give the chap > > a body - this is chess not snakes and ladders! > > > > >BLACK KING'S PAWN: Smeagol makes sense in this position, also makes a > > >logical counterpoint to Sam. > > > > I fear you are on dangerous ground here. Gollum is a complex character > > and it is highly debatable whether he was ever *wholly* evil. The Black > > prawns *must* be absolute rotters. Only the Orcs of Barad-Dur fit thart > > role I'm afraid, so Ors it should be. > > > > >WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. > > > > Gandalf? Gandalf is a chap my dear boy. Even in Middle Earth the > > differences between the sexes were recognised and dare I say, enjoyed. > > You can't have the Wizard masquerading as a woman. Whatever next! Gimli > > rogering Legolas? No, on seconf thoughts, let's not explore that > > particular avenue further. Anyway, Gandalf is emphatically *not* a > > queen, however "queer" he may appear at times. No, the only possible > > choice (I said I would come to her later), is Galadriel. > > > > >WHITE QUEEN'S PAWN: Pippin, due to the relationship between him and > Gandalf > > >in Book V. > > > > Prawns are *usually* all of a prawness. Why differentiate them? If you > > must do so, you will need to find five extra Hobbits. I cannot really > > see the Gaffer, or old Lotho as prawns, can you? I suggest you stick to > > anonymous Hobbits for *all* the serfs and do the same for the black > > pieces - i.e. orcs. > > > > >BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. > > > > Dear me. You *are* confused about gender aren't you? Saruman may have > > been a right bastard to translate literally from the Sindarin but he had > > a todger. The only logical choice is Shelob. She was, after all, > > Sauron's "Pet". What better Black Queen could you have than her? > > > > >WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid > and > > >counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. > > No, no. Galadriel only rides a horse once. What's wrong with the eagles? > > Or, if you baulk at eagles standing in for horses, then Theoden, or one > > or more of the Rohirrim. They were "horse-lords" after all!" > > > > >WHITE KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Gimli the dwarf, who was so smitten by > > >Galadriel. > > > > If you must. I Prefer Hobbits. > > > > > > > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This > is > > >the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. > > > > At last a choice I can agree with. Alternatively I would suggest Angmar, > > the leader of the Nazgul. > > > > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Other than the Kings pawn and Queens pawn, > I > > >am having a little trouble coming up with characters to be the pawns on > the > > >black side. I want all of the pieces to be unique characters. From here > on > > >for black pawns I will say: Orc? Any ideas? > > > > I have already said I am not in favour of individual characters for the > > pawns on *either* side. I know some Chess sets have followed this > > practise but I personally deplore it. It adds nothing to the game and > > weakens the prominence of the major pieces who *should* take precedence > > and be clearly distinguished from the rabble. > > > > > >WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP: Aragorn should be next to Gandalf on the board. > > > > I have no quibble with that though I personally prefer Elrond in that > > role, or, at a pinch, Cirdan. > > > > >BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. > > >Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? > > > > I favour Nazgul for *both* Black bishops. > > > > >WHITE KING'S KNIGHT: Elrond. > > > > If the Rohirrim or eagles are not used then Glorfindel would be my best > > alternative. > > > > >BLACK KING'S KNIGHT: The leader of the Nazgul. > > > > Agreed. > > > > >WHITE QUEEN'S KNIGHT: Arwen. > > If Glorfindel were chosen for the King's Knight I would agree that this > > makes a sensible combination. But I *still* prefer Eagles! > > > > >BLACK QUEEN'S KNIGHT: > > > > Nazgul are naturals in this position. Think of their roles in the story, > > particularly upon the Pelennor fields. > > > > >WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the > > >white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than > > >characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or > > >Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. > > > > Stuff and nonsense. The *only* logical choices are the four towers of > > the books, Orthanc, Barad-dur, Minas Tirith and the White Havens. > > Personally I would plump for Minas Tirith and the White Havens for White > > Rooks and Barad-dur and Orthanc for Black rooks. > > > > I hope that's given you something to put in your pipe and smoke over! > > > > Regards, > > -- > > Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) > > 12 South Smials, > > Longbottom > > ###### Lines: 1 X-Admin: news@aol.com From: sharky504@aol.com (Sharky504) Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Date: 25 May 2001 14:21:50 GMT References: <3b0e0c86$0$12243$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net> Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Message-ID: <20010525102150.27474.00001247@ng-xb1.aol.com> Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!news.tesion.net!news.belwue.de!news-stu1.dfn.de!news-koe1.dfn.de!news-was.dfn.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!howland.erols.net!portc.blue.aol.com.MISMATCH!portc03.blue.aol.com!audrey04.news.aol.com!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37205 I Recommend using the Balrog as the Black Queen ###### From: Bingo Bracegirdle Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 20:11:28 +0100 Organization: only during wedmath Lines: 96 Message-ID: <+v9CcJAg5qD7EwIx@spamfree.fsnet.co.uk> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-1007.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.uk (62.137.171.239) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 990817892 178653 62.137.171.239 (16 [62434]) X-Orig-Path: spamfree.fsnet.co.uk!bingo X-Newsreader: Turnpike Integrated Version 4.02 U Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!newsfeed01.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!modem-1007.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.UK!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37286 In article , Severian wrote: >I found a few more as well My, you have been busy! :-) >http://www.danburymint.co.uk/lor/chess.html This set is not at all bad though I am not convinced that silver, or any metal is the best material to bring out the very individual characteristics of the main protagonists. I have no quibble with most of the assignments and it is mildly gratifying to see that they (like me!) have kept all the prawns as either plain hobbits or orcs! But I would rather have seen Arwen as the White Queen. That is her rightful place. Why deprive her of it? That means Galadriel can take *her* proper place and replace Gimli as the second white Bishop. Gimli as bishop - I ask you! The very *last* thing dwarves are any good at is diplomacy and statecraft. I should know, my paternal grandfather, Hugo had dealings with old Thorin and *that* put the family off dwarves for life! And I do think Galadriel's breasts are a little *too* pert for a woman of her refinement and experience. Not that I have anything against the breasts of Elvish Maidens you understand (no smutty remarks *please*!). The figure of Gandalf is a very sorry and shabby excuse for a Wizard, not to mention the Maia he *truly* was. Whatever has he got in his hand? An asparagus spear? He looks more like the Gaffer after too long a day in his Tater field and *after* he had spent rather longer than is strictly good for an aged gentlehobbit in the "Ivy Bush"... Finally, who squashed the Hobbit? I know we are on the short side but this one looks like he's been crushed under a very large and heavy log! My verdict? Good in parts, but I wouldn't buy it. Even it they were giving the pieces away in packets of shredded wheat. 2/10 >http://www.shopping-emporium.co.uk/chess/lord_of_the_rings.htm It's interesting that both this and the Danbury set have assigned Shelob to the role of Black Queen - just as I suggested! I think that resin is a better material and these figures do look more lifelike to my eyes, though it is difficult to see much detail in the low resolution jpegs on the site. But the "style" is definitely not to my artistic taste. Too "toytown". Once again something seems to have happened to Galadriel's mammarys. Either the artist thinks that a woman of her years (6000 is it?) should be showing the ravages of time's gnarled fingers on her person or the resin has slipped in the cast. In any event the result is a rather too ample bosom desperately in need of support or major re- structuring! Gollum is not too bad but why is he wearing what appears to be a red satin posing pouch!?! As for the rest I'm afraid that they are all too "twee" for my tastes, but still better than the Danbury set. 4/10 >http://members.tripod.de/schachladen/lordof.htm I find these German pieces much more elegant. Perhaps because they are simpler in design and have a degree of motion lacking in the previous two sets. It's a shame there are no decent images of the individual pieces to look at. I could live with this set. Indeed they would make ornaments of some beauty in their own right. 7/10! >http://sculptorsdream.com/ (this one has some interesting goblets) This is really no better (or worse) than the Danbury set. It would seem that the artist laboured under the delusion that because there is "darkness" within the mythology of Arda and the LOTR the figures must all be dark and gloomy - or so I find them. Not to my taste I'm afraid, there is no joy in these pieces and the LOTR is ultimately about the finding of hope and joy and peace after long and hard struggle - for some at least! The goblets are better. All in all I'd give this set 3/10. http://www.lord-rings.co.uk/ This Lord of the Rings "Official Licensed Chess Set" is simply dreadful. It has no redeeming qualities in my eyes at all - not even the cheap price. A nasty, shoddy piece of work which should never have seen the light of day. One hopes (vainly?) the merchandising which will inevitably flood the marketplace after the release of Jackson's films will be just a *little* better than this! 1/10 >Most of these have been around for years, I've dreamed of having one since I >first read the books, but they all cost too much. Lucky you! You are better off without them - except for the German set, which, surprisingly for Germans, is quite exquisite in parts. Thank you for the links :-) Regards, -- Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) 12 South Smials, Longbottom ###### From: Bingo Bracegirdle Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 20:17:16 +0100 Organization: only during wedmath Lines: 17 Message-ID: <4vaDsMA8+qD7EwpK@spamfree.fsnet.co.uk> References: <3b0e0c86$0$12243$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net> <20010525102150.27474.00001247@ng-xb1.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-1007.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.uk (62.137.171.239) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 990818232 190757 62.137.171.239 (16 [62434]) X-Orig-Path: spamfree.fsnet.co.uk!bingo X-Newsreader: Turnpike Integrated Version 4.02 U Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news-fra1.dfn.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!modem-1007.bald-eagle.dialup.pol.co.UK!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37287 In article <20010525102150.27474.00001247@ng-xb1.aol.com>, Sharky504 writes >I Recommend using the Balrog as the Black Queen What's wrong with Shelob? She is after all, a "woman" (which is more than can be said for the Balrog - however one grooms him). She is altogether evil without any redeeming characteristics. She is also in many ways a closer ally of Sauron than any other of his direct or indirect servants inasmuch as she guards the passes of Mordor more effectively than a host of Orcs or a gaggle of nazgul. She is also infinitely old. She is not the ideal mate for Sauron - sadly Tolkien did not supply one, or if he did, he kept her, or it, very much under his hat, but she is closer IMV than a Balrog. -- Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) 12 South Smials, Longbottom ###### Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien From: tbarrie@cs.toronto.edu (Trevor Barrie) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set X-Nntp-Posting-Host: dvp.cs.toronto.edu Message-ID: <2001May25.162533.14418@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Organization: CSLab, University of Toronto References: Date: 25 May 2001 20:25:33 GMT Lines: 81 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!sunqbc.risq.qc.ca!torn!utnut!utcsri!cs.toronto.edu!tbarrie Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37301 In article , jldayton wrote: >WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. If Frodo is captured, the game is over, >right? Makes sense. The king is a fairly weak piece, but all-important. >WHITE KING'S PAWN: Sam Gamgee, Frodo's loyal serveant. > >BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? Doesn't really work with the King's "weak but powerful" nature, but I suppose you could argue that his piece is weak because he doesn't bother to get involved personally very often. >BLACK KING'S PAWN: Smeagol makes sense in this position, also makes a >logical counterpoint to Sam. > >WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. > >WHITE QUEEN'S PAWN: Pippin, due to the relationship between him and Gandalf >in Book V. > >BLACK QUEEN: Saruman. Makes a logical counterpoint to Gandalf. Okay, this all works. >BLACK QUEEN'S PAWN: Grima/Wormtongue. > >WHITE KING'S BISHOP: Galadriel. She is a powerful character whose aid and >counsel affected Frodo throughout the story. > >WHITE KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Gimli the dwarf, who was so smitten by >Galadriel. > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP: The Mouth of Sauron, from Book V chapter 10. This is >the only character I can think of who was close to Sauron. > >BLACK KING'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Other than the Kings pawn and Queens pawn, I >am having a little trouble coming up with characters to be the pawns on the >black side. I want all of the pieces to be unique characters. And I take it you also want all the pawns to be unique characters? I'm not sure how important that is for the evil side. >WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP: Aragorn should be next to Gandalf on the board. > >WHITE QUEEN'S BISHOP'S PAWN: Merry, for the same reasons that Pippin is >pawn to Gandalf. This also places Merry and Pippin next to each other. Did Merry have a strong connection to Aragorn? >BLACK QUEEN'S BISHOP: Need a powerful character who is close to Saruman. Lurtz?:) >Or a logical counterpoint to Aragorn. Any ideas? Denethor? But putting him on Sauron's side would be unfair, I think. >WHITE KING'S KNIGHT: Elrond. I'm open to debate on this one. Putting >Elrond here places all three of the ringbearers of the Three rings as power >pieces on the white side (Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond). What do you mean by "power pieces"? The knight and bishop are minor pieces, not major pieces. >Would have to put him on horseback if he's going to be a knight. Knights don't _have_ to be on horseback, but there should be some easy way of telling each class of piece apart at a glance (and also a way of telling the pawns from the pieces). Horseback is a good way of doing so. >WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the >white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than >characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or >Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. I don't like using towers for rooks - rooks _move_, after all - but I suppose it's traditional. ###### Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien From: tbarrie@cs.toronto.edu (Trevor Barrie) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set X-Nntp-Posting-Host: dvp.cs.toronto.edu Message-ID: <2001May25.173435.2838@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Organization: CSLab, University of Toronto References: Date: 25 May 2001 21:34:35 GMT Lines: 82 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.skycache.com!Cidera!torn!utnut!utcsri!cs.toronto.edu!tbarrie Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37297 In article , Bingo Bracegirdle wrote: >>WHITE KING: Frodo, it has to be. > >Nonsense, the *only* choice is Gandalf. Or at a pinch Celeborn (or at a >greater pinch - Elrond). The only recommendation for Celeborn is that he >has a wife which I will come to anon... But Frodo? No! Frodo is a >splendid chap but he is no King and never could be. Hobbit-Kings? The >very idea! Of what was Gandalf king? If you insist on excessive literalness, Aragorn would be the obvious choice. But Frodo fits very well. >>BLACK KING: Sauron. Not sure what the figurine would look like. A red eye? > >Good gracious no. The Man had legs and arms for goodness sake. How do >you think he got about - on a magic eyebath?! Use your imagination. But representing him seems wrong. >>BLACK KING'S PAWN: Smeagol makes sense in this position, also makes a >>logical counterpoint to Sam. > >I fear you are on dangerous ground here. Gollum is a complex character >and it is highly debatable whether he was ever *wholly* evil. He was certainly evil enough to appear on the black side. >>WHITE QUEEN: Gandalf, as the most powerful character on the good side. > >Gandalf? Gandalf is a chap my dear boy. Even in Middle Earth the >differences between the sexes were recognised and dare I say, enjoyed. >You can't have the Wizard masquerading as a woman. You're paying far too much attention to the names given to the pieces in the current standard set. While I wouldn't ignore this entirely, I'd say their role in chess is considerably more important. The queen (or vizier, if you prefer) is the most powerful piece on its side; Gandalf is the clear choice. Throw in the fact that the queen is by _far_ the most likely chess piece to come back from the dead, and I don't think any other character even bears consideration. >>WHITE QUEEN'S PAWN: Pippin, due to the relationship between him and Gandalf >>in Book V. > >Prawns are *usually* all of a prawness. Why differentiate them? Because there are more than 8 characters who deserve to be represented on the light side. Heck, there are more than 16! >No, no. Galadriel only rides a horse once. What's wrong with the eagles? Hmmm. On the one hand, flying creatures make even more sense than mounted people for the knights' "leaping" ability. On the other hand, knights don't get around the board very quickly. I'm not sure eagles would work. >Or, if you baulk at eagles standing in for horses, then Theoden, or one >or more of the Rohirrim. They were "horse-lords" after all!" I like Rohirrim for knights. Eowyn and Eomer, perhaps? >I have already said I am not in favour of individual characters for the >pawns on *either* side. On a conceptual level, I like the idea of the light side consisting of individuals while the dark side's pawns are a faceless horde. >>WHITE KING'S ROOK: For the Rooks, the black pieces are easier than the >>white ones. The Rooks will be locations, preferably towers, rather than >>characters. Ideas I have for Frodo's Rook are: Rivendell, Bag End, or >>Weathertop. Probably Rivendell. > >Stuff and nonsense. The *only* logical choices are the four towers of >the books, Orthanc, Barad-dur, Minas Tirith and the White Havens. >Personally I would plump for Minas Tirith and the White Havens for White >Rooks and Barad-dur and Orthanc for Black rooks. The White Havens played no major role in the War of the Ring. I'll post my idea for a complete set in a seperate message. ###### Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien From: tbarrie@cs.toronto.edu (Trevor Barrie) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set X-Nntp-Posting-Host: dvp.cs.toronto.edu Message-ID: <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Organization: CSLab, University of Toronto References: Date: 25 May 2001 22:00:37 GMT Lines: 74 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!sunqbc.risq.qc.ca!torn!utnut!utcsri!cs.toronto.edu!tbarrie Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37296 Here's how I'd do it (first, the more traditional version): WHITE King - Aragorn. I'd previously championed Frodo as King, but we then find a problem in that I really want two characters who represent the same piece to form a matching pair in some sense. Unfortunately, Aragorn is a fairly singular character; if he's not King, I can't find a good place for him, and he's definitely too important to leave out entirely. Also, the "weak but important" argument I gave for Frodo doesn't really hold water; the King's military strength is probably greater than that of either minor piece, which wouldn't make a lot of sense for Frodo. Queen - Gandalf. This is pretty obvious. Bishops - The important Elvish monarchs, Galadriel and Elrond. Also the two other Elvish ringbearers. Knights - Riders of Rohan, specifically Eowyn and Eomer. Rooks - Minis Tirith and Meduseld (Theoden's hall in Edoras). Pawns Central pawns - Frodo and Sam. Probably Frodo as King's Pawn. If Frodo as a pawn seems inappropriate, bear in mind that a LOT of chess games come down to whether a certain pawn makes it to its destination. Bishops' pawns - Gimli and Legoals. Gimli in front of Galadriel, Legolas in front of Elrond. Knights' pawns - Boromir and Faramir. No particular connection to the Riders, I just didn't have anywhere else to put them. Rooks' pawn - Merry and Pippin. Pippin at Minis Tirith and Merry at Meduseld, of course. BLACK King - Sauron. Queen - Saruman, for the reasons jldayton gives. Bishops - Wormtongue and the Mouth of Sauron. Like the white bishops, these are characters whose contribution is more in words than in actions. Each one beside the villain to whom they're chief flunky, of course. Knights - Nazgul. Either on their fell beasts or as dark riders on horses, I'm not sure which. (One of each would seem unbalanced.) One should probably be the Witch King, the other generic. Rooks - Barad-Dur and Orthanc, situated appropriately. Pawns - Orcs. I'd sort of like to get Gollum in there, but one odd pawn would look really bad. However, as I mentioned before, I don't much like buildings as chess pieces, so as an alternative one could use large creatures for rooks: Shelob and the Balrog as black rooks, Treebeard and Quickbeam as white rooks. These four should be easily enough distinguishable from ordinary people as not to cause confusion, and while the thought of, say Eomer being devoured by Shelob might be unpleasant, it's less absurd than having him run over by Barad-Dur. I think I like that. The only possible problem I see is that it might be hard to tell the bishops from the pawns on the white side. (A problem I've seen even with unthemed chess sets, if they're poorly designed.) Still, this shouldn't be a problem if they're well sculpted; for one thing, the pawns would all be depicted as ready for battle, and the bishops not. (Oops, another problem: Saruman doesn't wear dark colours...) ###### From: Bingo Bracegirdle Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 11:57:03 +0100 Organization: only during wedmath Lines: 20 Message-ID: References: <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: modem-18.ekto.dialup.pol.co.uk (62.137.160.18) Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 990874723 317259 62.137.160.18 (16 [62434]) X-Orig-Path: spamfree.fsnet.co.uk!bingo X-Newsreader: Turnpike Integrated Version 4.02 U Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news-fra1.dfn.de!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!modem-18.ekto.dialup.pol.co.UK!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37299 In article <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu>, Trevor Barrie wrote (snipped): I'd go for it with one possible quibble over Gandalf as queen. Why not swop him for Galadriel and make him a bishop? The fact of the matter is that no one is ever going to come up with a definitive set that everyone finds agreeable to their tastes and preconceptions. Yours is pretty close though! :-) As for Saruman being clad in white. The LOTR makes it plain that his clothes reflected whatever he wished them to reflect - white when it suited, multi-coloured when haranguing Gandalf. So why not black when standing next to Sauron? Regards, -- Bingo Bracegirdle, Sherrif (retrd) 12 South Smials, Longbottom ###### User-Agent: Microsoft Outlook Express Macintosh Edition - 5.01 (1630) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set From: Tetsuo Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Message-ID: References: <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Mime-version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit Lines: 58 Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 11:33:01 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 213.118.76.182 X-Complaints-To: abuse@pandora.be X-Trace: afrodite.telenet-ops.be 990876781 213.118.76.182 (Sat, 26 May 2001 13:33:01 MET DST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 13:33:01 MET DST Organization: Telenet Internet Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!afrodite.telenet-ops.be!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37291 in article 2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu, Trevor Barrie at tbarrie@cs.toronto.edu wrote on 26-05-2001 00:00: > Here's how I'd do it (first, the more traditional version):... great ideas....what about a chess set of the Elder days, with the Noldor as the white set and Morgoth and his allies at Angband as the opposite site : Black : King : Morgoth. Mighty with Grond...well, you know what he should look like (wiht two feet though) Queen : Ungoliant. Kinda hard to fit in a square, but it's not like this is ever going to happen anyway... Bishops : a Balrog and a Dragon, Glaurung or Ancalagon the Black (has anyone ever made a good painting of Ancalagon, btw?) I guess. Knights : Sauron and ...anyone got another idea for this?...maybe Thuringwethil in some bat-like shape. Rooks : Thangorodrim and...uhm...Utomno? Pawns : orcs, I like it when all pawns have approx. the same size and priority (and I'm basically getting out of inspiration). White : King : Fingolfin seems obvious, but then he should be smaller than Morgoth...maybe Thingol would be a better choice, since you can't really make an image of Iluvatar or Manwë I guess...Ulmo is a possibility tho, with the horns and all. Queen : Well, if the previous is Thingol this should be Melian of course...if not, you could make this Luthien, but then the king should be Beren which doesn't really feel right...bleh, the white set is really kinda silly... Bishops : Thorondor and...I dunno...sigh.. Knights : too many possibilities I guess... Rooks : the two Trees (to make things completely silly) Pawns : different kinds of Elves, Dwarves and Men... Well, prolly the most unbalanced and unlogic chess-game ever, heh...didn't spend too much thought in it tho, if you got any better ideas (which I don't doubt at all), please tell them.... -- ----------- | Sig v.1.1 | |___________| / /| :-=-=-=-=-=-: |___________________ | Tetsuo |/ /| |-=-=-=-=-=-|-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-: |______________________ | 101001011 | ICQ# : ask me |/ /| | 001010010 |-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=: | | 011010011 | Artpage : http://zap.to/m_mortier | | | |/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ###### User-Agent: Microsoft Outlook Express Macintosh Edition - 5.01 (1630) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set From: Tetsuo Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Message-ID: References: <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Mime-version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Lines: 29 Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 11:58:56 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 213.118.76.182 X-Complaints-To: abuse@pandora.be X-Trace: afrodite.telenet-ops.be 990878336 213.118.76.182 (Sat, 26 May 2001 13:58:56 MET DST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 13:58:56 MET DST Organization: Telenet Internet Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!afrodite.telenet-ops.be!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37294 in article B7356192.A131%maarten.mortier@pandora.be, Tetsuo at maarten.mortier@pandora.be wrote on 26-05-2001 13:33: > Bishops : a Balrog and a Dragon, Glaurung or Ancalagon the Black (has anyone > ever made a good painting of Ancalagon, btw?) I guess. > Knights : Sauron and ...anyone got another idea for this?...maybe > Thuringwethil in some bat-like shape. Sorry, bishops should be knights here, and the reverse of course, or it makes even less sense... -- ----------- | Sig v.1.1 | |___________| / /| :-=-=-=-=-=-: |___________________ | Tetsuo |/ /| |-=-=-=-=-=-|-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-: |______________________ | 101001011 | ICQ# : ask me |/ /| | 001010010 |-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=: | | 011010011 | Artpage : http://zap.to/m_mortier | | | |/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ###### Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien From: tbarrie@cs.toronto.edu (Trevor Barrie) Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set X-Nntp-Posting-Host: qew.cs.toronto.edu Message-ID: <2001May29.040000.19930@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Organization: CSLab, University of Toronto References: <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> Date: 29 May 2001 08:00:00 GMT Lines: 16 Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!news.tesion.net!news.belwue.de!news.uni-stuttgart.de!uni-erlangen.de!newsfeed.germany.net!news.stealth.net!207.35.177.132.MISMATCH!news3.bellglobal.com!torn!utnut!utcsri!cs.toronto.edu!tbarrie Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37420 In article , Bingo Bracegirdle wrote: >I'd go for it with one possible quibble over Gandalf as queen. >Why not swop him for Galadriel and make him a bishop? I've been over this before.:) The queen is the most powerful piece on the board; also, they often come back from the dead, and bishops rarely do. That spells "Gandalf" to me. >As for Saruman being clad in white. The LOTR makes it plain that his >clothes reflected whatever he wished them to reflect - white when it >suited, multi-coloured when haranguing Gandalf. That wasn't clear to me, actually. I thought he changed clothes when he changed attitude, not that he had a single suit which changed based on his whim. ###### From: Fabian Gremm Newsgroups: alt.fan.tolkien,rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LOTR Chess Set Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 15:29:15 +0200 Organization: Technische Universitaet Darmstadt Lines: 18 Message-ID: <3B13A42B.A1ABF3BE@rbg.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de> References: <2001May25.180037.9338@jarvis.cs.toronto.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: ultra10.rbg.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.77 [en] (X11; U; SunOS 5.7 sun4u) X-Accept-Language: en Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed00.sul.t-online.de!t-online.de!newsfeed.r-kom.de!fu-berlin.de!news.tu-darmstadt.de!not-for-mail Xref: chonsp.franklin.ch rec.arts.books.tolkien:37340 Why not change Meduseld <-> Hornburg, because this represents the two battles, one against Saruman and the other against Saron's army ... cheers Trevor Barrie wrote: > > Here's how I'd do it (first, the more traditional version): > > WHITE > Rooks - Minis Tirith and Meduseld (Theoden's hall in Edoras).