History Main / TheChessmaster

* TheChessmaster/{{Fanfic}}

The Chessmaster gets their name from his ability to manipulate people and events as if they were pieces on a chessboard as well as their ability to "think three moves ahead." Chessmasters tug at their strings of influence, patiently move their pieces into places that often seem harmless or pointless until the trap is closed, and get [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter innocent]] {{Unwitting Pawn}}s ([[ChessMotifs who else?]]) to do all the heavy lifting. The best will also have [[KansasCityShuffle layers upon layers of misdirection]] [[XanatosGambit and backup plans]] in case some unexpected hero appears to [[SpannerInTheWorks gum up the works]].

Chessmasters tug at their strings of influence, patiently move their pieces into places that often seem harmless or pointless until the trap is closed, and get [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter innocent]] {{Unwitting Pawn}}s ([[ChessMotifs who else?]]) to do all the heavy lifting. The best will also have [[KansasCityShuffle layers upon layers of misdirection]] [[XanatosGambit and backup plans]] in case some unexpected hero appears to [[SpannerInTheWorks gum up the works]].

Chessmasters can occasionally be TheStrategist, although given the volatility of war, most Strategists will only ply their schemes one campaign at a time, with an emphasis on short-term goals (and an eye towards all possible future contingencies). The GameMaster may be a Chessmaster also, but many of them prefer to give their orders more directly. Many chessmasters are [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Villains With Good Publicity]], but they can also be [[MilkmanConspiracy someone no one has ever heard of]]. Almost all [[AncientConspiracy Ancient Conspiracies]] are led by a [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness collective of chessmasters]], silently working toward their goals over generations. Chessmasters also tend to be [[SmugSnake overconfident]] and usually [[VillainousBreakdown panic]] when their [[DidntSeeThatComing "perfect" plans fail]]. The exception to this is when MagnificentBastard and Chessmaster overlap, since a MagnificentBastard is quite good at [[XanatosSpeedChess rebounding]] [[LetNoCrisisGoToWaste from defeat]]. Fond of a BattleOfWits.

[[caption-width-right:350:[-[[Music/BlackSabbath "Treating people just like pawns in chess..."]]-].]]

->''"They say it's the game of kings. That chess teaches one to think strategically. What a load of rubbish! Both sides have identical pieces, the rules stay invariably the same. How does this mirror real life? ... Pawns see only their comrades at their sides and their foes across the field. A king has a different view of the chessboard. His greatest foes surround him. His own chessmen might trap him. And that is check - and death. You see, witcher, chess is the art of sacrificing your own pieces. Now do you see?"''

Of course, actual TabletopGame/{{chess}} ability is implied, and some Chessmasters [[ChessMotifs take it literally]], mapping their plans out with an actual chessboard, occasionally with pieces shaped like the main characters. [[BellisariosMaxim Don't ask how this works, or where they get pieces]]. This is most likely a result of SmartPeoplePlayChess. Compare the ManipulativeBastard who tends to be more personal and controlling in her/his manipulations. Compare/contrast OpportunisticBastard as well.

->''"Pawns see only their comrades at their sides and their foes across the field. A king has a different view of the chessboard. His greatest foes surround him. His own chessmen might trap him. And that is check - and death. You see, witcher, chess is the art of sacrificing your own pieces. Now do you see?"''

->''"Humans aren't chess pieces, they do after all have free will -- to some degree -- but a good player can still use them. In fact, playing humans is harder. Or maybe I should say it simply requires different skills."''
-->-- '''Senna Wales''', ''[[Literature/{{Everworld}} Inside the Illusion]]''