Chess and D&D [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chess and D&D [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zousha_Omenohu
12-03-07, 07:01 PM After listening to "One Night in Bangkok" about ten times in a row, I've gotten to wonder how to run a chess game in-game. Since chess isn't a game of chance, like cards or dice, it sounds like it would be trickier to run. How would I run a situation where a character challenges the PCs to a game of chess, short of pulling out an actual chess board and actually playing the game, which would most definately bog the whole game down?
nytemare3701
12-03-07, 07:11 PM Intelligence/Wisdom Modifier to a D20. :)
Zousha_Omenohu
12-03-07, 07:13 PM I don't know, that still has the element of chance, and there's really no luck involved in chess, just skill. As far as my experience goes, anyway.
Krusk
12-03-07, 07:53 PM I like the int+wis mod+1d20 compare the results. The winner is whoever rolled higher.

If you want to take the chance out of it take the d20 out, or allow the take 10 option.
Tanel
12-03-07, 08:03 PM I'd say any of these:

Knowledge (tactics/strategy/games) vs. Knowledge (tactics/strategy/games)

Bluff vs. Bluff

Int. vs. Int.
Holy_Beholder
12-03-07, 08:04 PM I don't know, that still has the element of chance, and there's really no luck involved in chess, just skill. As far as my experience goes, anyway.

There is luck involved, but it isn't significant enough to show up unless both players are around similar skills. I have been in games where either person could win, and it varies from game to game, but most of them are a foregone conclusion. So maybe 1d6+wisdom modifier+intelligence modifier.
Watsyurname529
12-03-07, 08:39 PM Also, don't forget experience for the chess player. Int and Wis are great and will help you win but xp in chess will help (if not the most) a lot. I don't know how you would do it, Profession or Knowledge check, etc. but that would also be a factor.
Dracomortis
12-03-07, 08:54 PM I use a skill called Knowledge (games and hobbies) in my games to solve situations like this. The players involved make opposed skill checks, with the higher total result winning that particular game, having been able to outsmart, outmaneuver, or simply out-luck the opponent, as appropriate to the individual game. In the case of a tie, the person with the higher modifier wins if playing a game in which there cannot be a tie.

If you prefer to take the randomness out, you can remove the dice roll. However, luck is a factor in any game, even if it isn't immediately obvious. I've beaten players far more experienced than me - and lost to those far less experienced than me - at chess simply because one of us overlooked a particular move. Even the best of players can make a mistake.
Narf_the_Mouse
12-03-07, 10:36 PM Make five Int, Wis, or 'Beat the other guy senseless with the chessboard' rolls. Best three out of five.

There. Random, but not very.
BarivusTheFearless
12-03-07, 11:20 PM Yeah you would have to roll. Just give certain NPC a chess skill for NPCs you want to be good at chess.

You can't really pull out a chess board. more than likely you'll be better at chess or the challenging PC will be better... this will create an imbalance (either you will loose too often, or be winning too often) and that would not be realistic...
if you happen to be as skilled at chess as your players, the game could wind up taking up the rest of your session... i've played chess matches lasting several hours... so that's not a good solution.

if you know your players well enough you could make your decision on how to handle it... if they are accomplished chess players, and you are quite skilled yourself, you may just want to break out the board if the NPCs in your world are of a more intelligent variety.

*EDIT: I realize I contradict myself now with the first and last paragraphs. That's just how my thought developed. LOL
Zousha_Omenohu
12-04-07, 12:08 AM But in my case, the player's would probably win every time. I suck at chess.:(
BarivusTheFearless
12-04-07, 01:00 AM But in my case, the player's would probably win every time. I suck at chess.:(

exactly my point at a lack of balance.

and i just thought of something. what about %? roll for % against ur int/wis to see how many of their moves are good. :)

you actually have me thinking. i might be encouraged to make a build for chess.
CheeseMan
12-04-07, 01:33 AM There is luck involved, but it isn't significant enough to show up unless both players are around similar skills. I have been in games where either person could win, and it varies from game to game, but most of them are a foregone conclusion. So maybe 1d6+wisdom modifier+intelligence modifier.

exactly what i was thinking, EXCEPT first compare wis+int modifiers of the players. if there's a difference of more than 4 or 5, higher modifier automatically wins. otherwise, use Beholder's roll. if there's a large skill gap, no chance. if there's a small skill gap, chance is considered.
KoreKore
12-04-07, 02:00 AM well I actually had a game whree my charecter and another charecter played chess constantly. we used knowledge tactics most of the time But the Dm allowed us to use the better of int or wis for rolls so my marshall and my opponents monk were pretty evenly matched. Well we were eventually since the Dm actually let us get ranks in knowledge tactics for playing chess all the time.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zousha_Omenohu 12-03-07, 07:01 PM	After listening to "One Night in Bangkok" about ten times in a row, I've gotten to wonder how to run a chess game in-game. Since chess isn't a game of chance, like cards or dice, it sounds like it would be trickier to run. How would I run a situation where a character challenges the PCs to a game of chess, short of pulling out an actual chess board and actually playing the game, which would most definately bog the whole game down?
nytemare3701 12-03-07, 07:11 PM	Intelligence/Wisdom Modifier to a D20. :)
Zousha_Omenohu 12-03-07, 07:13 PM	I don't know, that still has the element of chance, and there's really no luck involved in chess, just skill. As far as my experience goes, anyway.
Krusk 12-03-07, 07:53 PM	I like the int+wis mod+1d20 compare the results. The winner is whoever rolled higher. If you want to take the chance out of it take the d20 out, or allow the take 10 option.
Tanel 12-03-07, 08:03 PM	I'd say any of these: Knowledge (tactics/strategy/games) vs. Knowledge (tactics/strategy/games) Bluff vs. Bluff Int. vs. Int.
Holy_Beholder 12-03-07, 08:04 PM	I don't know, that still has the element of chance, and there's really no luck involved in chess, just skill. As far as my experience goes, anyway. There is luck involved, but it isn't significant enough to show up unless both players are around similar skills. I have been in games where either person could win, and it varies from game to game, but most of them are a foregone conclusion. So maybe 1d6+wisdom modifier+intelligence modifier.
Watsyurname529 12-03-07, 08:39 PM	Also, don't forget experience for the chess player. Int and Wis are great and will help you win but xp in chess will help (if not the most) a lot. I don't know how you would do it, Profession or Knowledge check, etc. but that would also be a factor.
Dracomortis 12-03-07, 08:54 PM	I use a skill called Knowledge (games and hobbies) in my games to solve situations like this. The players involved make opposed skill checks, with the higher total result winning that particular game, having been able to outsmart, outmaneuver, or simply out-luck the opponent, as appropriate to the individual game. In the case of a tie, the person with the higher modifier wins if playing a game in which there cannot be a tie. If you prefer to take the randomness out, you can remove the dice roll. However, luck is a factor in any game, even if it isn't immediately obvious. I've beaten players far more experienced than me - and lost to those far less experienced than me - at chess simply because one of us overlooked a particular move. Even the best of players can make a mistake.
Narf_the_Mouse 12-03-07, 10:36 PM	Make five Int, Wis, or 'Beat the other guy senseless with the chessboard' rolls. Best three out of five. There. Random, but not very.
BarivusTheFearless 12-03-07, 11:20 PM	Yeah you would have to roll. Just give certain NPC a chess skill for NPCs you want to be good at chess. You can't really pull out a chess board. more than likely you'll be better at chess or the challenging PC will be better... this will create an imbalance (either you will loose too often, or be winning too often) and that would not be realistic... if you happen to be as skilled at chess as your players, the game could wind up taking up the rest of your session... i've played chess matches lasting several hours... so that's not a good solution. if you know your players well enough you could make your decision on how to handle it... if they are accomplished chess players, and you are quite skilled yourself, you may just want to break out the board if the NPCs in your world are of a more intelligent variety. *EDIT: I realize I contradict myself now with the first and last paragraphs. That's just how my thought developed. LOL
Zousha_Omenohu 12-04-07, 12:08 AM	But in my case, the player's would probably win every time. I suck at chess.:(
BarivusTheFearless 12-04-07, 01:00 AM	But in my case, the player's would probably win every time. I suck at chess.:( exactly my point at a lack of balance. and i just thought of something. what about %? roll for % against ur int/wis to see how many of their moves are good. :) you actually have me thinking. i might be encouraged to make a build for chess.
CheeseMan 12-04-07, 01:33 AM	There is luck involved, but it isn't significant enough to show up unless both players are around similar skills. I have been in games where either person could win, and it varies from game to game, but most of them are a foregone conclusion. So maybe 1d6+wisdom modifier+intelligence modifier. exactly what i was thinking, EXCEPT first compare wis+int modifiers of the players. if there's a difference of more than 4 or 5, higher modifier automatically wins. otherwise, use Beholder's roll. if there's a large skill gap, no chance. if there's a small skill gap, chance is considered.
KoreKore 12-04-07, 02:00 AM	well I actually had a game whree my charecter and another charecter played chess constantly. we used knowledge tactics most of the time But the Dm allowed us to use the better of int or wis for rolls so my marshall and my opponents monk were pretty evenly matched. Well we were eventually since the Dm actually let us get ranks in knowledge tactics for playing chess all the time.