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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    OldWizardGuy

    Join Date
    Apr 2017
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    Vancouver <-> Dublin
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    Default Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    Wondrous Chess Set
    This finely crafted chess board is inlaid with white and black marble and accompanied by pieces carved from ebony and ivory. Upon command the pieces animate and may be used to play a particularly lively game of chess. The board may be used by two creatures playing against each other, a creature playing by itself against the set, or even by the set playing against itself for the entertainment of observers.

    The set may also be used in combat. Upon command one or more pieces swiftly grows to full size and acts immediately (see Animated Chess Pieces, below). The board possesses 11 charges, which are renewed each day. The bearer may spend charges to animate up to:

    • Eight pawns (1 charge each)
    • Two knights (3 charges each)
    • Two bishops (3 charges each)
    • Two rooks (5 charges each)
    • One queen (9 charges)
    • One king (11 charges).
    • Any valid combination of the above, subject to the limitation on charges.

    Animated pieces serve for 11 rounds before returning to inanimate form. All currently animated pieces must be of the same type (ebony or ivory). If a piece is destroyed while animated, the chess set conjures a replacement the next day.

    Moderate transmutation; CL 11th; Craft Wondrous Item, animate objects or stone to flesh; Price 26,400 gp; Weight 4 lb.

    Animated Chess Pieces
    These constructs come in either ivory or ebony versions and usually appear during encounters involving a wondrous chess set or set on certain planes (e.g. Wonderland). They obey their masters without question.

    An animated chess piece understands Celestial, Common, Infernal, and Undercommon, but never speaks.

    Colour (Ex)
    Each animated chess piece is either ivory or ebony, which affects the abilities that the piece may use or be subjected to.

    Hardness (Ex)
    Animated chess pieces are as hard as stone. Do not halve or quarter energy damage or damage from ranged objects before applying this hardness.

    ANIMATED CHESS PIECE, PAWN
    SMALL CONSTRUCT
    Hit Dice: 1d10+10 (15 hp)
    Initiative: +5
    Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
    Armor Class: 14 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
    Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-4
    Attack: Dagger +0 melee (1d3) or slam +0 melee (1d3)
    Full Attack: Dagger +0 melee (1d3) or slam +0 melee (1d3)
    Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
    Special Attacks: En passant
    Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., hardness 8, haste, low-light vision, promotion
    Saves: Fort +0, Ref +1, Will -5
    Abilities: Str 10, Dex 12, Con -, Int 1, Wis 1, Cha 1
    Skills: -
    Feats: Improved InitiativeB
    Environment: Any
    Organization: Solitary, pair, or rank (8)
    Challenge Rating: 1
    Treasure: None
    Alignment: Always neutral
    Advancement: -
    Level Adjustment: -

    A canny-looking sculpture wielding a dagger in one hand.

    En Passant (Ex)
    Pawns are capable of surprising agility. A pawn gains a particular benefit, depending on its colour.

    Ivory: Spring Attack, as the feat.

    Ebony: Sneak Attack +1d6, as the rogue class ability.

    Haste (Su)
    A pawn may act as though hasted (caster level 5th) for the first round of an encounter.

    Promotion (Su)
    A pawn that survives at least 10 rounds during an encounter immediately transforms into any other type of animated chess piece of the same colour, other than a king. The new form is determined by the pawn's master (who usually chooses "queen"), or at random for uncontrolled pawns. The transformed pawn is treated as though it were an entirely new piece (e.g. has full hit points, lasts for another 11 rounds if summoned by a wondrous chess set, etc).

    ANIMATED CHESS PIECE, BISHOP
    MEDIUM CONSTRUCT
    Hit Dice: 3d10+20 (36 hp)
    Initiative: +0
    Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
    Armor Class: 14 (+4 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14
    Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+3
    Attack: Slam +2 melee (1d4+1)
    Full Attack: 2 slams +2 melee (1d4+1)
    Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
    Special Attacks: Divine bolt, exorcise 7/day
    Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., hardness 8, low-light vision
    Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will -4
    Abilities: Str 12, Dex 10, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 14
    Skills: -
    Feats: Extra TurningB, Improved TurningB
    Environment: Any
    Organization: Solitary or pair
    Challenge Rating: 3
    Treasure: None
    Alignment: Always neutral
    Advancement: -
    Level Adjustment: -

    A sculpted cleric with hands wreathed in golden light.

    Divine Bolt (Su)
    As a standard action a bishop may spend one of its daily turn attempts (see below) to fire a blast of energy at a target within 30 feet, with effects determined by the bishop's colour. This is a ranged touch attack with no increment.

    Ivory: Positive energy dealing 3d6 points of damage to an undead creature or an ebony animated chess piece, or restoring 3d6 hit points to a living creature or ivory animated chess piece.

    Ebony: Negative energy dealing 3d6 points of damage to a living creature or an ivory animated chess piece, or restoring 3d6 hit points to an undead creature or ebony animated chess piece.

    Exorcise (Su)
    A bishop gains a particular power over undead, determined by its colour.

    Ivory: Turn undead, as a good-aligned cleric.

    Ebony: Rebuke undead, as an evil-aligned cleric.

    ANIMATED CHESS PIECE, KNIGHT
    MEDIUM CONSTRUCT
    Hit Dice: 3d10+20 (36 hp)
    Initiative: +0
    Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
    Armor Class: 16 (+2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 14
    Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+12
    Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d6+9)
    Full Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d6+9)
    Space/Reach: 5 ft./10 ft.
    Special Attacks: Magnificent charge
    Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., hardness 8, low-light vision, powerful build
    Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will -4
    Abilities: Str 22, Dex 14, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1
    Skills: -
    Feats: -
    Environment: Any
    Organization: Solitary or pair
    Challenge Rating: 3
    Treasure: None
    Alignment: Always neutral
    Advancement: -
    Level Adjustment: -

    The sculpted head of a magnificent warcharger.

    Magnificent Charge (Ex)
    A knight deal triple damage during a charge and does not provoke attacks of opportunity while charging.

    Powerful Build (Ex)
    A knight is treated as a creature of its own size or one size category larger, whichever would be more beneficial at the time.

    ANIMATED CHESS PIECE, ROOK
    LARGE CONSTRUCT
    Hit Dice: 5d10+30 (57 hp)
    Initiative: +0
    Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
    Armor Class: 20 (+11 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 20
    Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+13
    Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d6+9) or rock +8 ranged (1d6+6)
    Full Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d6+9) or rock +8 ranged (1d6+6)
    Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
    Special Attacks: Barrage, rock throwing, siege weapon
    Special Qualities: Castling, construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., hardness 8, low-light vision
    Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will -4
    Abilities: Str 22, Dex 10, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 1
    Skills: -
    Feats: -
    Environment: Any
    Organization: Solitary or pair
    Challenge Rating: 5
    Treasure: None
    Alignment: Always neutral
    Advancement: -
    Level Adjustment: -

    This graven image of a fortified tower launches barrages of rocks.

    Barrage (Ex)
    As a full-round action a rook may throw a rock at its full base attack bonus at each opponent within 30 feet.

    Castling (Su)
    Once per encounter a rook may activate a shield other effect as a standard action (caster level 5th). It may only use this ability on its master or another animated chess piece of the same colour.

    Rock Throwing (Ex)
    The range increment is 120 feet for a rook’s thrown rocks.

    Siege Weaponry (Ex)
    A rook that makes a full attack against an object or structure deals double damage.

    ANIMATED CHESS PIECE, QUEEN
    MEDIUM CONSTRUCT
    Hit Dice: 9d10+20 (69 hp)
    Initiative: +5
    Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
    Armor Class: 30 (+5 Dex, +15 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 25
    Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+11
    Attack: +3 scimitar +14 melee (1d6+8/18-20)
    Full Attack: 2 +3 scimitars +14/+9 melee (1d6+8/18-20)
    Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
    Special Attacks: Enchanted weapons, superior two-weapon fighting
    Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., hardness 8, low-light vision
    Saves: Fort +3, Ref +8, Will -2
    Abilities: Str 20, Dex 20, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 14
    Skills: -
    Feats: -
    Environment: Any
    Organization: Solitary or minor court (1 queen, 1 rook, 1 knight, 1 bishop, and 4 pawns)
    Challenge Rating: 9
    Treasure: None
    Alignment: Always neutral
    Advancement: -
    Level Adjustment: -

    The sculpted image of a regal half-orc queen wielding two blades.

    Enchanted Weapons (Su)
    A queen grants the benefits of a constant inherent greater magic weapon effect to any weapon it wields (caster level 9th)

    Superior Two-Weapon Fighting (Ex)
    A queen fights with a scimitar in each hand as though each were a primary weapon. It does not take a penalty on attack or damage rolls for attacking with two weapons.

    ANIMATED CHESS PIECE, KING
    MEDIUM CONSTRUCT
    Hit Dice: 11d10+20 (80 hp)
    Initiative: +5
    Speed: 30 ft. (8 squares)
    Armor Class: 30 (+5 Dex, +15 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 25
    Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+8
    Attack: -
    Full Attack: -
    Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
    Special Attacks:
    Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., hardness 8, low-light vision, sovereign's aura
    Saves: Fort +3, Ref +8, Will -2
    Abilities: Str 10, Dex 20, Con -, Int -, Wis 1, Cha 14
    Skills: -
    Feats: -
    Environment: Any
    Organization: Solitary or major court (1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, and 8 pawns)
    Challenge Rating: -
    Treasure: None
    Alignment: Always neutral
    Advancement: -
    Level Adjustment: -

    The sculpted image of a handsome king bearing a sceptre.

    Kings cannot attack.

    Sovereign's Aura (Su)
    A king radiates an aura out to 30 feet, with effects determined by the king's colour. This ability affects animated chess pieces but not other creatures that are normally immune to morale effects.

    Ivory: A sparkling sapphire aura granting the benefits of good hope to allies within range.

    Ebony: A fiery ruby aura granting the effects of rage to willing allies within range.

    Spoiler: To do...
    Show
    More colour-dependent effects?
    Grant Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence scores, feats, skills...
    Bishop - Heal, Knowledge (religion)
    Knight, Queen, King - Knowledge (nobility)
    King - Diplomacy
    etc.
    Last edited by rferries; 2020-05-18 at 12:03 PM.

  2. - Top - End - #2
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Goblin

    Join Date
    May 2016

    Default Re: Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    Cool!

    Did you know that Dragon #358 has a set of chess constructs already? They're called chaturani. Yours are rather more conservative, power-wise: chaturani have Int scores and (usually) more extensive abilities, and they really lean hard in the chess theme. For example, pawns can only move towards an enemy (never away) in combat; a bishop moves fast on the diagonal but slow orthogonally; a rook does a straight-line dervish dance attack; the king can't move into a threatened square; the knight has a short-range teleport ability called "Knight's Move"; and the queen has completely unhindered movement and Skirmish.

    Anyway, you should check it out: it's pretty entertaining.

  3. - Top - End - #3
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    GreenSorcererElf

    Join Date
    Dec 2019
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    Default Re: Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    way cool!!

  4. - Top - End - #4
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Breccia's Avatar

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    Mar 2013

    Default Re: Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    For bonus points, what happens if you throw your rook at your king?

  5. - Top - End - #5
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    OldWizardGuy

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    Default Re: Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    Quote Originally Posted by Blue Jay View Post
    Cool!

    Did you know that Dragon #358 has a set of chess constructs already? They're called chaturani. Yours are rather more conservative, power-wise: chaturani have Int scores and (usually) more extensive abilities, and they really lean hard in the chess theme. For example, pawns can only move towards an enemy (never away) in combat; a bishop moves fast on the diagonal but slow orthogonally; a rook does a straight-line dervish dance attack; the king can't move into a threatened square; the knight has a short-range teleport ability called "Knight's Move"; and the queen has completely unhindered movement and Skirmish.

    Anyway, you should check it out: it's pretty entertaining.
    Nice! The movement restrictions seem a bit too harsh IMHO (unless perhaps visiting an "Elemental Plane of Chess" where they're enforced on all creatures), but I should have figured these were already adapted somewhere.

    Quote Originally Posted by el minster View Post
    way cool!!
    Merci!

    Quote Originally Posted by Breccia View Post
    For bonus points, what happens if you throw your rook at your king?
    Ha, I tried my best to replicate that with the "Castling" ability :D

  6. - Top - End - #6
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

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    Jun 2011
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    Default Re: Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    I suggest allowing the knight to make a single 90 degree turn when charging, and allow them to pass through occupied spaces on a charge.
    Extended Signature

    Words of Wisdom from other Playgrounders:
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    Like your own little harem of jealous wearable anime girls.
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  7. - Top - End - #7
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    OldWizardGuy

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    Default Re: Wondrous Chess Set (magic item) & Animated Chess Pieces (monsters)

    Quote Originally Posted by legomaster00156 View Post
    I suggest allowing the knight to make a single 90 degree turn when charging, and allow them to pass through occupied spaces on a charge.
    I didn't want to be too literal in the conversion (e.g. Castling doesn't activate a teleport effect to swap places with the king), but perhaps the charge could be altered to a trample attack instead.

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