Alfaerie Variant Chess Graphics

The graphics shown below constitute a set of chess variant pieces which I have somewhat pretentiously named the Alfaerie collection. I've made an effort to be keep the pieces simple and have them match up well with the existing Alpha Chess font. The "Animal" pieces are all profiles facing left, with only the head and neck shown. Due to my limited artistic abilities, they do not look as nice as the Knight, but I've tried to come close.

The intent here is not to assign graphics to certain pieces. For example, the piece that looks like a Unicorn could be used as a Bishop+Nightrider, or as some other piece such as a 3D unicorn piece. Or the piece that's a graphical combination of Nightrider and Bishop could be used as a Bishop+Nightrider. The name or graphic used for a piece in this set does not necessarily correlate to a particular piece or movement capability.

This collection is admitedly geared toward those comfortable with western style chess pieces. I will be attempting to add more pieces as time permits.

You may download and use the Alfaerie graphics if you wish. The .zip file contains bitmaps for using the pieces with Zillions of Games, and also GIF files with transparent backgrounds. It also includes various Zillions of Games rules files and some web pages documenting these games. Please remember to check the 'use folder names' checkbox when you extract the files, and extract them to your zillions folder (if you have one). download alfaerie.zip

Colors King King King King Dark square Light square Queen Queen Queen Queen Rook Rook Rook Rook Bishop Bishop Bishop Bishop Knight Knight Knight Knight Pawn Pawn Pawn Pawn Chess King Queen Rook Bishop Knight Pawn King Queen Rook Bishop Knight Pawn Inverted King Queen Rook Bishop Knight Pawn King Queen Rook Bishop Knight Pawn Bishop + Knight Rook + Knight Bishop + Knight Rook + Knight Historical Wazir Ferz Ship War Machine Elephant Camel Wazir Ferz Ship War Machine Elephant Camel Animal Forms Camel Giraffe Lion Snake Crocodile Bird Camel Giraffe Lion Snake Crocodile Bird Gryphon Squirrel Unicorn Grasshopper Ram Ox Gryphon Squirrel Unicorn Grasshopper Ram Ox Dragon Rhino Zebra Pegasus Bird 2 Dragon Rhino Zebra Pegasus Bird 2 Tiger Kangaroo Tiger Kangaroo Riders Nightrider Elephant Rider War Machine Rider Camelrider Nightrider Elephant Rider War Machine Rider Camelrider Queen + Nightrider Rook + Nightrider Bishop + Nightrider Queen + Nightrider Rook + Nightrider Bishop + Nightrider Composite King + Knight Queen + Knight Rook + Knight Bishop + Knight Pawn + Knight Camel + Bishop King + Knight Queen + Knight Rook + Knight Bishop + Knight Pawn + Knight Camel + Bishop King + Bishop King + Rook Knight + Camel Elephant + War Machine Bishop + Pawn Rook + Pawn King + Bishop King + Rook Knight + Camel Elephant + War Machine Bishop + Pawn Rook + Pawn Knight + Ferz Knight + Wazir Pao + Vao (Leo) Knight + Ferz Knight + Wazir Pao + Vao (Leo) Composite Forward/Backward Fwd King + Bwd Knight Fwd Bishop + Bwd Knight Fwd Bishop + Bwd Rook Fwd Knight + Bwd King Fwd Knight + Bwd Queen Fwd Knight + Bwd Bishop Fwd King + Bwd Knight Fwd Bishop + Bwd Knight Fwd Bishop + Bwd Rook Fwd Knight + Bwd King Fwd Knight + Bwd Queen Fwd Knight + Bwd Bishop Fwd Knight + Bwd Rook Fwd Queen + Bwd Knight Fwd Rook + Bwd Bishop Fwd Rook + Bwd Knight Fwd Knight + Bwd Rook Fwd Queen + Bwd Knight Fwd Rook + Bwd Bishop Fwd Rook + Bwd Knight Leapers / Hoppers Zebra Grasshopper Cannon Vao War Machine Elephant Zebra Grasshopper Cannon Vao War Machine Elephant Modern Tank Airplane Rocket Bulldozer Gun General Tank Airplane Rocket Bulldozer Gun General Miscellaneous Fool / Jester Guard / Prince Crooked Bishop Crooked Rook Moon Champion Fool / Jester Guard / Prince Crooked Bishop Crooked Rook Moon Champion Stone Block Fortress Banner / Flag Archer Windmill Stone Block Fortress Banner / Flag Archer Windmill Minister Duke Mage Chancellor Cardinal Man Minister Duke Mage Chancellor Cardinal Man Prince Princess Falcon Paladin Reflecting Bishop Nightknight Prince Princess Falcon Paladin Reflecting Bishop Nightknight Thief / Assassin Spearman (North) Spearman (Northwest) Spearman (Northeast) Thief / Assassin Spearman (North) Spearman (Northwest) Spearman (Northeast) Pawns Knight pawn Berolina pawn Weak pawn Quick pawn Steward Knight pawn Berolina pawn Weak pawn Quick pawn Steward Diminished Half Queen Half Rook Half Bishop Halfling Rook Halfling Bishop Half Queen Half Rook Half Bishop Halfling Rook Halfling Bishop Narrow Knight Wide Knight Crab Barc Narrow Knight Wide Knight Crab Barc Chinese Horse Elephant Cannon Vao Chinese Pawn Horse Elephant Cannon Vao Chinese Pawn Japanese Gold General Silver General Horse Lance Pawn Gold General Silver General Horse Lance Pawn Dragon King Dragon Horse Promoted Silver General Promoted Lance Promoted Horse Promoted Pawn Dragon King Dragon Horse Promoted Silver General Promoted Lance Promoted Horse Promoted Pawn Ultima Pincer Pawn Coordinator Withdrawer Immobilizer Long Leaper Chameleon Pincer Pawn Coordinator Withdrawer Immobilizer Long Leaper Chameleon Chess With Different Armies Colorbound Clobberers Bishop + War Machine Elephant + Wazir Elephant + Ferz + War Machine Bishop + Knight Bishop + War Machine Elephant + Wazir Elephant + Ferz + War Machine Bishop + Knight Remarkable Rookies Half Rook War Machine + Wazir Great War Machine + Ferz Rook + Knight Half Rook War Machine + Wazir Great War Machine + Ferz Rook + Knight Nutty Knights Forward Rook + Backwards Prince Narrow Knight + Ferz Forward Knight + Backwards Prince Forward Chancellor + Prince Forward Rook + Backwards Prince Narrow Knight + Ferz Forward Knight + Backwards Prince Forward Chancellor + Prince

Notes

• The standard chess piece graphics were derived directly from Eric Bentzen's Chess Alpha font.
• The Lion graphic is based on John William Brown's Murray Lion graphic used in Centennial Chess.
• The Cannon and Vao graphics utilized Fergus Duniho's idea of horizontal and diagonal oriented cannon figures. The idea for using the Rook and Bishop as the basis for these shapes is my own.
• The Gold and Silver general figures utilize Fergus Duniho's idea of using alchemical symbols for Gold and Silver.