Here’s a somewhat pointless article: An idea of what form a Mass Effect Chess Set could take!
Having seen Shepard play a little of some futuristic chess in Mass Effect 3, it got me thinking about a real world counterpart.
In the game, Shepard played with various shapes of glowing blue pieces. Well that could work, but fans are more likely to enjoy playing with their favourite characters.
So here are the fruits of my wasting time thinking about it. Who would suit which pieces and why?
Firstly, I began thinking of who would best suit which piece. It wasn’t long before I was second guessing myself and finding several suitable options for several places. At that point I realised that one of the things that makes the Mass Effect series so popular is the choices you make. So why not adapt that to the chess board?
The set could contain more than the required amount of each type of piece, and each player chooses their squad from them. It also allows for the rule that any pawn that reaches the opposite end of the board can become any other piece.
So keeping that in mind, here are the options:
Queen
The most powerful piece on the board. Enemies fear it above all else.
GOOD
John Shepard
FemShep
The Normandy
Rachni Queen
BAD
Saren Arterius
Sovereign
Harbinger
Rachni Queen
Kai Leng
Geth Collosus
Geth Prime
Thresher Maw
King
The King is a piece that the Queen must protect at all costs. It is powerful in its own right, with a formidable amount of skill, but ultimately is vulnerable without protection.
GOOD
Joker
Admiral Hackett
Doctor Chakwas
BAD
The Illusive Man
Collector General
Human Reaper
Geth Dropship
Bishop
The Bishops are crafty pieces, zig zagging in and out of enemy territory in sometimes confusing ways able to use the element of surprise for a quick strike before a retreat.
GOOD
Tali’Zorah
Thane Krios
Kasumi Goto
EDI
BAD
Aria T’Loak
Donovan Hock
Cerberus Sniper
Cerberus Centurion
Geth Hunter
Geth Destroyer
Nemesis
Collector Assassin
Collector Seeker Swarm
Knight
The knight is a skilled tactician. Often on the front line of assaults, though able to pull off tricky manuevres that normal troops could not.
GOOD
Garrus Vakarian
Ashley Williams
Jacob Taylor
BAD
Shadow Broker
Cerberus Commando
Atlas
Geth Rocket Trooper
Geth Shock Trooper
Rachni Brood Warrior
Ravager
Brute
Collector Guardian
Scion
Rook
A powerhouse, able to hit hard from a distance pull back out fast. Seems to suit biotics.
GOOD
Liara T’soni
Kaiden Alenko
Miranda Lawson
Samara
Jack
Asari Commando
BAD
Morinth
Banshee
Geth Juggernaut
Geth Hopper
Phantom
Praetorian
Harbinger Possessed Collector
Pawn
The main infantry. These guys are the front line. They march forward intent on taking down any in their path. As Shepard actually compares these guys to the krogan, it’s only right that they are included here.
GOOD
Urdnot Wrex
Grunt
Legion
Mordin Solus
Zaeed Massani
James Vega
David Anderson
Captain Bailey
Urdnot Dagg
Urdnot Wreav
Eve/Urdnot Bakara
BAD
Cerberus Trooper x4
Cerberus Guardian x4
Chief Weyrlock Guld
Garm
Krogan Battlemaster x2
Krogan Warlord x2
Krogan Warrior x2
Weyrlock Clanguard x2
Vido Santiago
Blue Suns Merc x2
Eclipse Merc x2
Blood Pack Merc x2
Chief Roe
Geth Trooper x4
Geth Assault Drone x4
Rachni Soldier x2
Swarmer x6
Husk x4
Cannibal x4
Collector Drone x4
Abomination x2
Options Available
There you are.
Loads of choices. You could have a squad comprising of the original ME1 team against an army of Geth, or you could have a team of ME2 squadmates battling against Cerberus.
Or mix and match your favourites.
Let’s just hope someone from a board game company sees this and makes it happen!
