Zombies vs Villagers chess set (Thanks, Theeviljeremy!)
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I really hate post-Romero zombies, but this is...
really quite wonderful!
Not to nitpick, but only the pawns are Zombies vs Villagers: http://marchingdog.com/Pawns1.htm
The set, in it's entirety, is titled MONSTER VS. HUNTER with vampires, gargoyles and other nasties. Very good work.
So how come the bases of all the "good" pieces show crosses? There are paths to goodness other than Christianity. History shows that some of them are better at it.
@3: So how come the bases of all the "good" pieces show crosses? There are paths to goodness other than Christianity. History shows that some of them are better at it.
Because Werewolves, Vampires, Frankenstein's Monster, etc., are European folklore, and exist in a cultural matrix where they are opposed by the dominant religion in that area and time.
If you're looking for artifacts of other cultures, you can find them.
Personally, I don't get upset when European / American vampire fiction references crosses, and I don't get upset when Japanese manga references archetypes from that culture.
"Oh noz! Calcifer in Howl's Moving Castle doesn't make sense in my Christian worldview - someone has to change it to make it compatible with ** my ** concept of demons!"
@#3 You went and started a flame war.
I, for one, take offense.
Brilliant work
a bit harsh TJIC :(
It's all horror-movie cliches, Smoobly. Think of it as White Hats vs. Black Hats.
I want one of these. I don't have anywhere to put it, and I don't play chess, but I still want one. Maybe I'll get one and give it as a gift to someone who would like it even more.
I'm just waiting for a Twilight fan to come here and whine "How come the vampires are on the BAD side?"
I made a flowchart about zombies. Enjoy: http://s221355812.onlinehome.us/silly/ERIC.jpg
Wow. These are nice. That must have taken forever to carve!
@TJIC
Isn't Howl's Moving Castle originally Welsh in origin, not Japanese?
So then, Xopher, we define good as "un-bad"? Or "non-evil"?
Likely, part of the problem is labelling. The Boing-Boing post has them as Zombies and Villagers (do crosses repel zombies?), but the original site has them as Monsters vs. Hunters (do crosses repels monsters, as well?). And the line-up of pieces is labeled simply Good vs. Evil.
Vampires are not mentioned, nor do any of the rogues gallery appear to be vampires. All of their bases are adorned with skulls, in opposition to the crosses on the bases of the good guys. Again, can't escape the conclusion: evil is death, good is Christianity.
On the other hand, the set is cooler than hell. I'd love one.
Smoobly,
May I direct your attention to:
http://marchingdog.com/Bishops1.htm
**vampires, but I figured I would provide a link.
The king for the good side is Van Helsing... I think that also explains its self.
Yeah but all those particular monsters seem to be European and therefore usually pitted against Christian heros. To me it looks like some kind of wizard and druid priestess type as the king and queen which I guess you'd have a different view of if you were of one of those religions. But that's really quibbling to me because this is fitting into one type of archetype. I'm not sure what the dark bishop is, I took him for a vampire. Then there seems to be some sort of troll, a dark castle, and a stock evil hunchback. Discrimination against deformed people, anyone? Really though coming out of the body of mythology heavily filtered through Christian eyes you come up with all sorts of evil sorts who have sold their soul or lost their soul and are therefore the enemies of the goodies who wear crosses? Biased. Sure, what big archetypal cliche isn't? I don't see any hungry ghosts or Asuras to be offended. Lucky for those cross bearing heros.
Please forgive my use of pre-emptive question marks there.
hecura spirits, I am offended that there are no hecura spirits...on both sides.
Seriously tho, this is way cool.
Fictional Christian heroes, fictional monster villains.
It's OK people, nobody's FORCING you to read this, or to buy this chess set.
Google would be happy to help you find something else :-P
http://pics.novica.com/pictures/10/p56170_2.jpg
I recognize the black king! That's Technoviking!