CHOW#28 - CHESS - The Knight

[Oblio]

http://www.oreganoproductions.com/chow/chowlines.jpg

ROUND #28


:right: PLEASE CONSOLIDATE YOUR WIPS AND FINALS INTO YOUR FIRST POST.

:right: CLEARLY DESIGNATE YOUR FINAL.

:right: DESCRIPTIONS ARE MANDATORY.

:right: PLACE THE IMAGE IN A FRAME WITH YOUR NAME/TOPIC
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/ChowPics/frame.jpg
(you can add CA logo, etc).


:right: Please save your files starting with your nickname.
example: "Oblio_CHOW23_Platformer33 copy copy.jpg" ;)
-------------------------
DEADLINE
SUNDAY, JUNE 4th
The way the deadline works: if deadline is on a Sunday and your image is posted on that Sunday 23:59 your local time it's a good entry.
In fact - as long there is Sunday somewhere on the planet your entry is ok. I will make the poll sometimes Monday afternoon my time (GMT +2) yet i'll have a look at the last entries.
--------------------------
CHESS - The Knight
Videogame Character -
This time it's serious.

This is the story of the Chess Pieces BEFORE they become abstratc.
A young King goes into adventure to find his missing parrents as the BLACK EVIL is conquering all the nearby lands.He will battle evil and he will have to cross to GODS territory to help the WHITE in the battle. When he will cross to the other world, he and his crew will be turned to what classical chess pieces are today. (abstract looking chess pieces)
Back to the beginning of his adventure:
In his journey he will make a party with other characters. The first to join him is the Knight.
"Concept" this guy.

Requirements.
- His form should tell the player that he is the Knight - general knowledge - the horse head. Should explain why he turns into today's piece - also in the game... people should read well the board.
- Should be specified why he attacks in L shape. (weapon, special move, description for the animation)
- Should explain why there are 2 Knights alike in the same army.
- Should explain why he is the only one that can "jump" another piece. Movements othe rthen JUMP - concept why he passes other pieces are encouraged.

- OPTIONAL NOTE - King (with crown) is the tallest piece.


Now... concept! :yayca:

[Oblio]

Extra topic - We need a nice official border for the CHOW finished pieces.
If you guys feel like doing one... please share the .PSD with us so we can make one border for all our images.
Thank you.

[voraz]

I'm guessing it will be dificult to pass all that information with one single image, I guess it will either be necessary to make a composite image, unless you can explain all that in the text?

[Oblio]

composite - the character in full body pose (one view only is enough but feel free to develop it as you please) , additional images/sketches - like in a char sheet. :bashful:

[Molly]

Awesome topic!

Mx

[chaosrocks]

theKnights Darrel and Harreld are twins. Raised with horses. When they were born there were two foals born tha same night. so the the twins were raised ever together. Some of the people were unsure wheither the brothers could walk. with horses as their totem they joined the prince's forces as the the anchor of the messenger system and cavalry. they are so fast and agile that they are excellent scouts and spies, and as such are often where you don't expect them to be (three up and two over.....etc)
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/chaosrocks/Chaosrock_chow28_knight.jpg

heres where Im heade withthis although 2 horse and two people ...I have to be crazy

Sunday 10:22 pm....update and done

chaos

[Simon Boxer]

Really cool topic, indeed. Great concept story.

Gonna be hard to share a .psd though, since everyone will be using a different size canvas. However, what I feel is a decent size (and a fairly discrete border) would be:

+4 pixels left, right and above
+25 pixels down
5pt arial font (or the equivalent size of another font)

[JakkaS]

Great idea Oblio! :hatsoff:

[Tom Garden]

my mind is STEAMING with ideas!!! :D

This one will be fantastic

just to clarify - final piece must have a full body of the knight character - it can be in an environment or not - and also you could put the king in there as well?

[fuuryoku]

hehe, been slowly working on chess-themes pieces for a while now. Almost requires I do one here.

http://www.thomscottart.com/images/fuuryoku_knightgirls.jpg

It was in the first days of the ascension of the boy king, His highness Sophos Peter Strategos, that the band of eight was formed. Eight generals, battlemasters of great prowess and loyalty to the young king.

Of these the vanguard were the leaping spears of the sisters Lippezanne’. Ebon and Ivoire, mirror images of each other, bounding over lines of enemy troops on the hafts of their long spears, then cutting hard against the flanks of the enemy with the long bladed heads of those same weapons.


-Fuu

[Mr. Visions]

A long time ago in a far off kingdom, whose name remains lost to us, lived a royal family. The king and queen of the family were bitterly torn by greed, pride, and the lust for power. The schism was so large that the armies became divided within the kingdom. The Queen had her army and the King had his. They separated but still lived under the same roof, designating their spaces by color. Living within the land was a witch, who grew tired of the quarreling within the family to whom the country looked for guidance. In an attempt to mend the wounds and have them see their flaws, the witch cast a spell, literally tearing the royals in two: their evil corrupted side on one hand, and what little virtuous side on the other. The dark side seeing they had more power tried to conquer it’s virtuous reflection for complete dominance. The virtuous side refused to surrender, and so began an epic battle that would unite King and Queen once again, but would sadly rage on for centuries and send their kingdom into peril. For their selfishness and lack of duty to rule their kingdom properly, the witch cast both armies into statues, and placed them on a battlefield that would forever be there home: the chessboard. Now the armies have eternity to try to solve their grievances through their players. If one side can ultimately claim their victory, than they may reclaim their humanity and rule once more.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/Vision2020/mrvisions_chow28_platformer.gif
Sir Roland of the King's Knights: Roland is of the King’s original knights and most loyal subjects. Although now united under one banner, Roland still shows favoritism towards his king. He is forever locked in his “L” motion attack so that at his first opportunity, he may jump in front of his King and protect him at all costs. The Witch saw that such a loyal subject shouldn’t go unrewarded, even if it was a curse. That is why Sir Roland and others who swore a similar oath of loyalty have been given the honor of making the first move in any battle, for his cause is noble and his motives pure. And what better icon to be than a royal steed, ready to gallop to his lord’s defense.

[SquirrelHunter17]

just a note to help everyone out, the knights in chess are based on men that ride horses, hence the horsehead shaped peices and the ability to jump over others (because horses can jump over people).

but thats only the reality, if there are more creative ideas on this one, i would absolutely love to see them. ;)

[ferak seg]

It is not obvious to me, so as it is an old story, do that mean that we have to design something medieval? Can we try something a little more futuristic?

[fuuryoku]

ferak seg: I'd say the concept does require some trappings of antiquity in the image, but there's an easy out for that- Lucas it. (Long time ago in a galaxy/ mythic kingdom/ alien culture far, far away. :)


anyway, updated with a color WIP while I was taking a surfing break.

-Fuu

[Interceptor]

this topic is fucking KILLER, Oblio. I can't wait for you to fill my mind with your crazy ideas in Montreal. It looks like it's time for me to get back into the CHOWs ;)

[seba_boi]

just a note to help everyone out, the knights in chess are based on men that ride horses, hence the horsehead shaped peices and the ability to jump over others (because horses can jump over people).

Yeah, I thought Knights are horsemen, that's why they have a figure of a horse representing them... Note that they are also the only chess piece that can move before a pawn...

Rooks were also supposed to be horsemen before, but instead rides chariots, therefore they cannot "jump" other pieces... Now, they're fortified fortresses...

[ChaosEidolon]

Oh woah...now this is weird...

I was about to start doing the new challenge on Polycount.com, which is to recreate a character from a boardgame as a video game character.

Well....guess what i picked...

Looks like i might be doing both at the same time now

[carotello]

A bit of a long story, but after a few changes, here it is finished.
http://carotellogallery.com/CA/carotello_chow28_theknight.jpg
Lyn and Torden were twins. Their mother had died to illness when they were two. Their father , a nobleman, had been killed at battle with the army of the Black Witch when they were twelve years old, an event that marked their lives. That day they swore to avenge their father.
Aricin, their father's wizard took the children in, and taught them everything he knew about magic, and under the tutelage of the warriors that had served their father they learned everything they needed to know about war. Both boy and girl grew up to be accomplished warriors as well as sorcerors.
When they turned eighteen, they embarqued upon their quest of revenge. Mounted on their white steeds, they made it to the black castle where the Black King lived with his wife, the Black Witch. As the walked through the black gates, they notice the place was deserted. Overly self-confident in their youth and inexperience, they decided to split. As Lyn entered the main room, she saw the Black Witch standing before her, high up on a dais. As Lyn voiced her challenge, a leering grin split the ugly face of the Black Witch. She said: "So a noble lady has decided to mount a horse and become a warrior? Maybe she needs a lesson in propriety." and rising up her arms, she uttered the words: "Since a lady no more, then a lady you shan't be. A steed you choose over your loom , then your steed shall become you!"
As the horrible enchantment travelled from the Witch's hands towards Lyn, Torden walked into the room. As he jumped towards his sister, trying to shield her with his body, the spell hit them both. When they came to, they had been fused with their horses, half human, half horse. Despite the disfigurement, they managed to escape from the castle, followed by the mocking cackle of the Black Witch.
Torden, always the gentler one, grew accostumed to his new shape with time. Lyn however grew bitter and dark, and the desire for revenge consumed her utterly.
When the White King announced he was out to Battle the Black King, she volunteered first, eager to leave, and eager to die if necessary. Torden had no choice but to follow her, as the love they had for one another ruled above all.
The King was astonished by the swiftness of the movements of the couple of warriors.
With their training in magic, they knew how to go right through their enemies, literally, shimmering and becoming like air, and then striking sideways; changing direction abruptly in the last minute, like gazelles, always coming at their opponent from the most unexpected angle to slash at them swiftly with their swords. Sister and brother, pale and deadly, the centaurs ruled the battlefield, one driven by the thirst for revenge and by love the other.

[ceberae]

Damn, carotello, here I thought I'm going to be soooooooo unique and make a centaur :) Back to the drawing board I go. Very nice dynamics in that pose by the way.

[carotello]

Awh, you should do one. I actually like it when people do the same things, because they are always completely different anyway. Originality nowadays lies in the little things I think, plus I saw your work, and you'd probably make one awesome centaur ;-)

[skvv]

Devil May Cry 3 had chess piece enemies, statues actually but later in game a whole set on a chess board as big as dante.

basically looked like bigger versions of smaller pieces though.

look near bottom: http://www.capcom-central.com/DevilMayCry/dmc3.php?page=enemies

p.s. anyone remember battlechess?? that was the pimpshit. i don't remember much from being young, but i do remember the queen kicked the others in the nuts.

[Puck]

Hello, This is my first try at this. Oh, and Battlechess was incredible, i still remember the knight killing the king by disrobing him - hilarious!

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i145/puck_pics/knightsketch001.jpg

UPDATE:

Hey thanks for the feedback dCept, I hope i fixed the bored face, but unfortunately i read your post too late to fix the awkward pose (I was well into rendering it by then). I agree with you totally, when i look at the pose from a distance it seems really stiff, something ill have to work on for the next one.

So, here's my final ->

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i145/puck_pics/puck_chow28_chessknight.jpg

Two horsemen knights, brothers. The horsement usually have a hatred of men, but they were ordered by the horse king to aid the young king of men to help him defeat the black army. Strong legs and light frame allow them to jump clear over most obstacles. Why the long face?

[Kian]

Im a bit late for this one. But Ive got an idea, so I'll give it a shot

[ah.heng]

thought i would mention that there're also 2 horseriders in chinese chess, and they move in an L shape too. i'm not sure if it was coincidence or inspired.

[Oblio]

just to boost this a bit further.
i don't have the time to finish this but i want to give you an ideea of approach.
If the time allows.. i will expand this a bit more.. yet.. i trully fear i will not be able to take on this subject this week.

A good way to find ideas for a realy suitable character is to go AGAINST the description. Again - this is just a good approach in finding the one who will satisfy all the requirements.
Therfore:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d105/afantana/Oblio_Knight.jpg


- There are 2 in the same team - i said - what if they are enemies? Rivals? Maybe they were somehow before this life.. and now.. they are forced to work together. Or maybe they were rivals yet inthe final battle, they both sacrificed to save the old King... and in that act they become real friends.

- Symbolics: We need a horse, a horse head... yet we need a character...
As they died all together... the loyal horses did not want to leave.. and posessed the bodies of their Knights...
That will give us on the animation a lot of freedom, and adds oddity and mistery.. depending on how we unfold/forge the story later on.

- Since they are posessed by the spirit - we need no longer to have someone agile - that will give us the possibility to have a massive Knight. It fits the coolness of a knight... and it is somehow against the initial description. So we add a massive armor.. with horse motives...

- Fighting - since the Knight can attack beyon other piece.. a long range weapon seems the choice - so i gave one of them a sort of.. crossbow... yet teaked to fire on the attack line... just to make it .. different and ... blah blah.. and i thought to give the other one a sort of close combat weapon.. as i see this guy .. killing from behind with smooth rotating moves...


anyway - i really have to go - i hope this will help you guys in your approach.
We'll talk more to montreal...
Sorry for the crappy english - no time to spellcheck and... sory for the crappy drawing.. it's just.. to make a point.
cya


EDIT: HA HA - PUCK - i've seen your entry after i posted - :) nice approach.

[ceberae]

carotello: :) yeah but I had yet another idea!!!

http://www.logoesque.com/SKart/KnightWIP.jpg
concept: The Knight - Donovaan.
description: Once upon a time a stately knight left his castle, to rush against the clock in search of his brother, bringing only but a locket with him. The road was long, the way treacherous, but the knight pushed onwards, until a winding trail he took to cut through a forest brought him to his final resting place. His steed, Irokou, had finally succumbed to exhaustion, leaving his master all alone to tread through the darkness of none other than the Forest of Mist.

By then, both the armour that the knight wore and the weapons he wielded have worn beyond repair and have failed him as well. In a moment of desperation, the knight used the bones of his own steed (the flesh of which has already been devoured by the angry mists of the forest) to build a scythe and armour in hopes of fighting his way out. But... he failed. The locket he carried was lost within the depths of the Forest of Mists, and the knight's spirit remained. Now he wonders through the ancient forest, his spirit tied to this world and this place by his quest to find "something that was once lost".

Finding his locket and bringing it to him allows Donovaan to leave the Forest of Mists and join you on your quest. Perhaps along the way his ancient memories will return, and his history and motives will become clear. He wields a heavy scythe made from the bones of his horse. Being a spirit, he can solidify and vanish at will, allowing him to pass through his enemies to attack from the back.

[Interceptor]

I thought I was so clever with the scythe idea...

[carotello]

ceberae: Awh, crap...after looking at your drawing I feel like going myself back to the drawing board...
Very nice.

[Shamagim]

Actually theres only a few weapons that go with the "L" shape attack ( do not confuse it for "V" shape), that thats a Scythe, a Halbert or any other type of slashing polearm and a Flail.

[Marked970]

I thought I was so clever with the scythe idea...

Sadly, I think everyone was thinking of using a sycthe...I'm going to try to hop on with this CHOW... I really need the help...

[Tom Garden]

phew - so far mine is untouched! :S not for long tho i'm sure!

[Simon Boxer]

As is mine, although I've gone for something slightly more abstract... Fingers crossed.

skivvy - I remember battlechess, that was awesome! I was thinkin about that in regards to the knight. He didn't really jump obstructing pieces, they just float out of the way like a sliding door. heheh

[Shamagim]

I´m done...somehow it came out a little stiff :(.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/shamagim/Shamagim_CHoW28_Knight.jpg

Concept: Zebra Warrior

Description: While escaping the black evil, the prince traveled south hoping to avoid the advanced outposts. But finding himself unprepared for the incredible hot weather, he fainted in the middle of nowere.

Then he woke up in the middle of the night, beside a warm and conforting campfire and covered by what appeared to be a lion skin. As he looks around to figure out who saved him, he founds a massive figure skinning an animal, the figure turns around an presents himself as a zebra warrior, a hunter that despite of his bulkiness, trains himself to run faster than any other man of his and any other tribe, he claims to be in a path of selfdiscovery, and his name shall not be revealed untill he finish crossing that path.

The prince ask this warrior for help to cross the border, and the warrior gladly accepts, saying that he was convinced that the prince was his path for a reason.

He wears a battle mask and a cape made by zebras he hunted himself with his ruddimentary flail.

[JakkaS]

Very nice concept Shamagim :D

[Kian]

Father & Son: These Knights practice a sword martial art that is passed down to one heir each generation. Their deadliest attack involves waiting for thier opponent to strike, they then sidestep and leap forward two or three paces with their sword in a "closeline" position. Instantly decapitating their enemy.
Here, the Father: Kythen stands with pride of his Son's: Asden, skill and power.
They are a deadly team, and only the foolish would mess with them.

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/2043/2knights7vg.jpg

[dCepT]

Here goes another centaurish one... not too original, I know...
This is my WIP and placeholder. I'll have some colors on this bugger tomorrow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/dCepT/2dpics/ChessknightW.jpg

Kian: Damn.. You're gonna be a hard act to follow! Lovely rendering! I like the backstory as well!

Ceberae: Nice sketch! Looking forward to seeing where you take it!

Shamagim: Cool concepts! THe lower arms look a bit off, though... one is smaller than the other.. Diggin' on the helmet!

Oblio: Thanks for the thoughts! I'm sooo not doing this fresh and original.... next time I'll keep that stuff in mind!

Puck: Cool! I like the kama-ish weapons! And they do seem agile. Poses are a bit stiff for being airborne, though.. and the expression they have is kinda one of boredom... Hope I'm not being an ass... hehe... just my two cents

carotello: Very cool pose! Dynamic sketch for sure... looking forward to the finished result!

artiphats: Got any progress shots? I'd like to see more :)

fuuryoku: Nice poses for sure! I like the armour and the asian theme. Is the top one using her pole for jumping or is it an attack? I suppose jumping seeing as how the spear end is pointed upwards...

chaosrocks: Nice idea.. I'm looking forward to seeing 'em more developed... are you going to have them mounted?

d-C

[Pixeldragoon]

Kian


D:

You stole both my ideas in one pic... The horse chestplate and the mohawks.... Now I feel unoriginal....

[misledtomisery]

good god people....nice round so far...and a bunch are just wips....

i need to step it up a bit....
heres my wip

crude mechanical/clockwork/toy type knight. only has 1 arm, but his entire torso swings/rotates so the arm can be on either side. the horse's reigns are tethered to the 1 wrist, thereby guiding the horse (whom i think i will stitch up his eyes...) into the direction necessary for the attack. horse will also have some weird mechanical type parts, mainly in the calcanus for increased jumpin potential.....eh.

http://misledtomisery.com/conceptart/chessknghtwip.jpg

closer on the torso

http://misledtomisery.com/conceptart/chessclose.jpg

[DannySketch]

Kian....DAM dude! just DAM!

really liking shamagim's one as well

great round so far guys

[Dead Bunny]

Crap on a stick I'll hafta bust my brainworms conceptualizing this one...

[Oblio]

now - this feels like a nice concept-ing round.
I only wanted to warn about the fact.. that these guys are in the WHITE army .. the good army...
Unless you guys want to make the BLACK army being the good one...
i mean... think how the opponents should look - if our guys are only bones and skulls... even if painted white... the others should be a different approach.

So.. i fyou choose to make the Kinght very creepy... or.. evil looking. - please specify why is on th egood side.. why does it fit from DESIGN POV.
All i want to say.. is think of the consistency of the whole army.

Or not... :) i just wanted to tell you tha tussualy things ar ereally more complex - there is no need for us to go all the way... but it seemed that as soon as we put our minds to this in a pro way... peole get more enjoyment.
Now.. concept :)

[MasumiX]

I think that you miss that the L shape movement is in compensation for the limit of the horse, fleet of foot yes; but to attack you must do so from the "side" of the horse to your foes. Thus you need to turn the horse 90 degrees from your facing. There you have the L shape

[rWDrk]

fuuryoku: Cant wait untill its finished it think its going to be a great piece!

Kian: Wow nice nice nice, good concept nice rendering. Remind me of a 2d animation serie "knights of the round table" or something :P

cheeeeers R3M

[chaosrocks]

I can make my own comments ..thank you :(
chaos

[vigostar]

Kian- that discription is pretty clever... Great work on the designs as well.

[dCepT]

misledtomisery: Nice sketch! Gonna be cool to see it cleaned up and ready to go!

Here's my final, I haven't got the time to polish it, sadly... I'll do it as soon as I get the chance... but for this CHoW, this is what I've got....

PS: gonna add a description tomorrow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/dCepT/2dpics/dCepT_CHOW28_Chess_theKnight.jpg

peace

d-C

[Delvennerim]

Just started...Aaaah. Hopefully I can finish this in time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/Delvennerim/horseknight.jpg

[Simon Boxer]

Really cool stuff croppin up. Shamagim, Kian - great work.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/cognitionsb/cognitionsb_CHOW28_PEGjun06.jpg

Pegasus Knights

The best wizards and alchemists were summoned for the creation of a knew breed of fighter. The king had high expectations, using the mythical Pegasus as a source for inspiration - a mounted mammal that soared swiftly would surely be of use, but even better would be a bird-like fighter. It was up to the town mystics to bring this idea to life.

First they would need a suitable child to experiment on, one still in the womb. The healthiest mothers were assembled and used for testing. The wizards cast spells and the mothers drank potions. Many children were born unaffected, but some were not so lucky. Eventually a winged child was born. Two, in fact, as Talia Hammersworth gave birth to identical twins, both equipped with tiny extra limbs that would soon sprout wings.

From then on these children had one sole purpose, and were adopted by the King to be branded the Pegasus Knights.

[JakkaS]

dCepT - nice idea and the attack presentation.
cognition.sb - original idea....but I think there is something wrong with his right arm...too much light in my opinion and maybe you try to add the "Horse's tail" to the helmet.

[Simon Boxer]

Ah yea, good idea. Thanks for the feedback, Mr Jakkas, I'll get onto it.

Edit: Reworked it a bit, added the 'horse tail'. Looks better, cheers. Will balance the shadows a bit more later.

[Octothreat]

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6404/chow28final3uw.jpg

The young King, upon his Lordly Stilts, commanded the force of a beast such as the land had never known before. This horse, with a mindless rider slumped to its broad back, was fearless in battle, commanding its Knight to swing the deadly makeshift multi-spear in deadly scythe-like arcs. The young King, with his reflectively metallic shield, would doubly frighten his foes with reflections of this beast.

[surfacemonkey]

just a wip, first try at chow. I don't think i'll finish something competitive, but i wanted to try.

i wanted the character to be just muscle, blood and armor. all the "man" was removed by the chessboard. The lance is the knight's weapon. The lance attached to the right arm ensures that the attack will only be an "L-shaped" attack movement.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a9/whoami2u/ChowFirstTry_WIP1.jpg

I just noticed that the armor design looks like Kians', with the horse head on the chest. If i have time to finish, i'll change that.

[Wafflehouseninja]

Well Fist Time CHOWer here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/Waffleninja/CHOW_knight.jpg

Back Ground:

In the years Leading up to Dark Army invasion the kingdom of Tathra was blessed with extended peace and prosperity. With years of calm the Tathra army grew weak and under sized. In the shadow of the Looming invasion desperation drove the lords of Tathra to take desperate measures to bolster the fighting strength. This included hiring mercenaries and more despicable using hardened criminals as warriors.

The Leucrota Brothers where murderous fiends but this made them prime canidats for recruitment. The Brothers Showed reckless disregard for human life including there own. They made a name for themselves by charging almost naked into battle. They specialized in busting through, leaping over and other wise bypassing the main fighting force to assassinate enemy commanders.

[Mr. Visions]

Final sent and posted - This was fun, I hope to catch up after the workshop. Can't wait to do the rest of em. Good stuff guys and good luck.

- Visions

[JakkaS]

I see many great concepts guys.
Shamagim, Kian, Dcept, cognition.sb – these are my favorites.

Here is something quick from me.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/_JAKKAS-CHOW28.jpg

…He was one from the finest generals in the black army. Betrayed be one of his adjutants, he joined the white army. Now he wears the White Armor and his broken Black Sword. Black soldiers fears them at most cause they know he is still looking for the traitor.

[Kian]

Great concept Jakkas and Shamagim.

[Chuck,mate.]

imho, for a horse/horse-like sort of character, maybe a strong horse-like face
would have been a good way to portray the knight (horse) chess piece.
instead of drawing a horse head on a human body. (for all of you guys who did that...)
just an idea.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6053/horseknight8iw.jpg

anyways - very cool entries this time `round.
keep it up everyone.

[Tom Garden]

Hi everyone! Here is my entry - could have done a lot better, but been a busy week!

Anyways, it also has a big backstory :) But, it seemed like a serious concepting round, so i really went for it :P

http://tomgarden.co.uk/Webpics/tomgarden_chow28_knight.jpg

The Backstory

Tarnass, an old master of fighting forms, used to lead battles into war, when the king of his time was in power it was an age in which this man believed in the cause he was fighting for. He was master of the broadsword and more unconventionally, axes. Also he utilised techniques to the full on horseback.

Recent times had seen shameful kings in power, which sent Tarnass into a solitary lifestyle, which has lasted for 18 years.

Until one year, the endless battle ravishing the lands finally came to his doorstep. It was the work of the black evil. Tarnass picked up his axe and sword and decided that he would not give up his home, and decided it was time to fight. The old man had not lost his edge, his skill overwhelmed the battlefield and joining the allied white forces on the field, they all managed to decimate the opposing side. He and 5 others had survived. Tarnass was told of a new king who was bringing revolution to the world, it rang true of the cause Tarnass once fought for. He vowed to train the 5 others on their return to the kingdom to help train an army of men that could finally vanquish the black evil.

They rounded up some horses and commenced the return journey, they sadly saw no allied troops only more black evil, this speight of bad luck diminished their numbers down to just 2, Tarnass, and one of his trainees, Thyron.

They spotted someone the other side of the bloody battlefield. It was the young king. The young king explained his mission, Tarnass and Thyron decided to join him in his quest, but warned him of the coming danger. They suggested finding more members for their team.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The horse statue today used in chess was inspired from the reports back from the battlefield from people who had survived the two knight’s battles. All they can remember is the terrifying sight of horse skulls and the hair of the horse maine. However the “skull” was deemed too scary for a chess set, so it was settled as a horse.

The ability to jump other players came from the agility each knight possessed, as well as the skill Tarnass and Thyron displayed in battle with their absolute command of horses. Being able to jump higher and further than anyone else on the field.

The “L” shaped attack pattern Is rumoured to be that the knights favoured to use an axe as their primary weapon, alongside more conventional Broadswords. The axe had a distinctive “L” shape.

[seba_boi]

imho, for a horse/horse-like sort of character, maybe a strong horse-like face
would have been a good way to portray the knight (horse) chess piece.
instead of drawing a horse head on a human body. (for all of you guys who did that...)
just an idea.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6053/horseknight8iw.jpg

anyways - very cool entries this time `round.
keep it up everyone.
Man, that's actually brilliant...!

Anybody else remember that '80s cartoon Bravestarr... I kept thinking of his horse that "transforms" into a gun-weilding, uh, standing horse...

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/3030.jpg

[Tom Garden]

AWESOME cartoon!!! Eyes of the HAWK!!!

[Mr. Visions]

imho, for a horse/horse-like sort of character, maybe a strong horse-like face
would have been a good way to portray the knight (horse) chess piece.
instead of drawing a horse head on a human body. (for all of you guys who did that...)
just an idea.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6053/horseknight8iw.jpg

anyways - very cool entries this time `round.
keep it up everyone.

That's actually how I was trying to go about my entry, although the characterization in mine is a bit more subtle. I tried to stay asay from the horsehead itself as much as possible. The only horsehead incorporated into my design was on the chessplate, and even there I tried to abstract the image. I felt that the knight's character should reflect ideas or characteristics of that of a horse. A horse is considered noble, and loyal, and usually closely tied to royalty. I think whener doing concepts I feel that it's best to find ways to direct your viewer to the idea instead of just giving it to them. But, I did like alot of the designs that were more direct, and some were very creative. Nice turn out everyone.

- Visions

[carotello]

Yeah, I am excited about this round. Everyone seems to have gotten into this one. I just finished mine. Wonder what will be next.

[artdwx]

Okay it's been awhile since I put a concept in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/artdw2000/ChessKnightcopy.jpg

As the boy king searched for his champions to journy in to the land of shadows he first seeked out the twin knights of the horse clan. but when he found the famed knight Questrian he found that the twin was not a brother in his sense but the knights horse who bore the image of the knights face on his armor and decorated in the designs of the horse clan. The two fought as one and indoing so this arose stories that there was two knights. Questrian carried a strange weapon a broadsword shaped like an "L" this let he cover longer strides in battle and when mounted it seemed to surpass the closer enimies. Being asked to go with king was a great honor and agreed to protect the king with his brother's and his own life.
hope you all like....

for more of my work go to artwanted.com/artdw2000

[chaosrocks]

Update and done
chaos

[hjj]

didnt finish it, but this is how far i came...maybe next time.
its suppose to be somekind of teleporting knight :)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e315/hjjhjjhjj/chessknight.jpg

[Mr. Visions]

hjj, that's a pretty sweet start man. You should definately finish that up. I would loved to see this up this week. Awesome.

- Visions

[fuuryoku]

Fantastic work all around this round.

Unfortunately I have to bow out this round. Thanks to one of my cats having a veterinary emergency and needing an immediate spay and watch over her recovery, I didn't have time to finish mine.

-Fuu

[Mr. Visions]

Is anyone else having a hard time seeing Kian's piece? His doesn't pop up for me for some reason? From what I've heard it's hot business.

- Visions

[kyi_72]

https://tiger.towson.edu/~kichik1/conceptart/chow/kyi_72_chow28_knight.jpg

the nibor are a usually peaceful race, spending most of their time eating vegetation, reading, contemplating the world and studying their unique form of martial arts that utilizes their exceptionally powerful legs and retractable sickle shaped claw to execute precise leaping attacks. they are known to work in pairs, manuevering their opponents into each other and leaving them confused and more supceptable to their fierce and deadly kicks.

they are capable of running bursts of up to 60mph and able to leap 36 ft from a crouched position. an amazing feat considering their average height of 5'7.

[artiphats]

Damn I didnt realize the deadline was tonight. Some great entries this round, but my concentration started going toward the currect EOW, so I'll have to catch a CHOW another time.

[Octothreat]

.....

[Kian]

Shit, is it not working Visions? I'll upload onto imageshack or sumthin

Edit: Ok its on imageshack now