Other Literature I Made Terraria Chess! [FULL THREAD] ($100 Tournament, the Document, & more!)

[Solar Moon]

~ Introduction ~ ​

Hello! I Made Terraria Chess. It's not a reskin or anything, it's a fully-fledged project I've been working on for almost 9 months now.

Before I ramble on, here are the resources in case you're curious and want to explore on your own first:

• THE TERRARIA CHESS DOCUMENT: The Document
• THE DISCORD SERVER: Discord Server
• THE VIDEO PLAYLIST: Terraria Chess Playlist

In Terraria Chess, each boss is an ability you can use in a game of chess. For example, if you choose King Slime, your pieces can now "jump" pieces just like in Checkers. There are also 2 categories of abilities, that being Pre-Hardmode and Hardmode. Every ability in a tier is balanced around the others in that tier. The higher the tier, the more powerful the ability (and usually the more complicated).​

~ Lore ~​

Please feel free to skip this section and skip around anywhere in this post.

Alrighty then! This started in the summer of 2023. One of my favorite YouTubers, Little Z, had uploaded a new video. The thumbnail and concept were enthralling. "I Made Pokemon Chess." If you have not watched it, definitely do so. I watched it, but its content lingered in my head even days after I watched it. For reference, here's how his project worked:​

• Before the match, you assigned "types" to each of your pieces
• To take a piece, you must have the type advantage
• If you had the type advantage, you can move that piece again
• You could still take a piece with a type disadvantage, but your piece would die too
• Howwwwwwever, a piece with a type disadvantage had a 1/16 chance to "critically hit" and not be taken

Little Z was genius in how he didn't incorporate different Pokemon but rather implemented a system that can represent Pokemon as a whole. I initially tried to copy him and find something like that for Terraria, but there was nothing obvious that came to mind. At least, not yet. My mind wandered some more until I locked onto some inspiration from another board game: checkers. I've always found it annoying when 2 pawns are in front of each other having a stare-off. So I thought about a way I could implement a solution to that.​

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And thus, King Slime's ability was born, even if it technically wasn't King Slime yet. Though I did think about using the bosses, I was skeptical if I could even make something and then share it with the world as he did. But even with my current skills (though rough around the edges) I figured if he could do it, so could I.​

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So I tried using the bosses. I did my best to make each ability fun and unique, yet true to their source material. King Slime loves jumping, so that's when it clicked in my head for me, to start Terraria Chess. After writing out all of the Pre-Hardmode abilities (because I had not decided what I wanted to do with the Hardmode bosses yet) I pulled up the document on my phone and sat my brother down since he agreed to play with me to gauge how it would feel like to play and to gauge pre-release balancing.​

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I believe we played most of the Pre-Hardmode abilities. I know for a fact we played King Slime, Eye of Cthulhu, Skeletron, and Wall of Flesh (which was the first nerf ever, by the way). Overall... it worked. It was fun and made you strategize differently, similar to Pokemon Chess. But obviously, I didn't have the following Little Z did. Heck, he's so big he hired someone to make an online program so his fans could play Pokemon Chess with one another anytime, and it looks just like Chess.com with how it's made.​

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A month or so later, I released the first Terraria Chess episode, and... 1,000 VIEWS? I felt so famous. However, I was more surprised when 6 members joined the Discord overnight. ​

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Back on track. I released the sequel about a few months later, "I Invented Calamity Chess." This was fun to make as well. There was talk about making this thread 4 months ago, but I thought against it. Come Episode 3 (Forgotten Foes Update), I decided the trio was complete, and now everything I had planned for Vanilla and Calamity was finished. ​

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Well, now you're caught up on the Terraria Chess lore. I didn't have a big audience like Little Z, so I decided to try building my own.​

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~ Concepts ~​

As of Episode 3, all of the unreleased content and concepts I've been meaning to polish and release have been completed. Any content after may have more additions, but none are planned, so these are the concepts new content will add onto:

• Rules
• Abilities
• Team Attack
• Modifiers

Rules
Since Terraria Chess brings a lot of newfound strategy and content, the standard rules of Chess needed some modifications to better balance and suit the project. Additionally, they're meant to help you understand Terraria Chess and its mechanics better. Because of this, here are the additional rules I comprised for those purposes:

1. If an ability is “every X turns,” it is locked and loaded. You can use it any turn after it is loaded, and the countdown begins when you do
2. Kings can one-shot pieces with extra health and bypass abilities such as dodges, but not invincibility
3. Have fun!

I realized some pieces made the King a sitting duck, so I had to buff the King to make strategies less... cheesy. But in general, the rules sort of act more as a guide than a set of rules. And well if you want to break all of these rules if it means having more fun, feel free to.

Abilities
Every ability is classified as one of 3 categories: PASSIVE, HYBRID, AND ACTIVATE.

Passive abilities are the easiest to keep track of since they're always active. Hybrid is usually a blending between Passive and Activate abilities, not exactly falling into one or another. Activate abilities take effect at will and require a strategy to make the most effective.

As I mentioned, the abilities are all within a tier that is balanced around the other abilities in their tier. In total, there are 3 tiers of abilities. Vanilla has a total of 2 tiers, that being Pre-Hardmode and Hardmode. Calamity has those two tiers but additionally a Tier 3, a Post-Moonlord tier.

Vanilla now has every boss that has ever been added (such as Turkor and Ocram) while Calamity now has every boss in addition to many of its large fan-made ones (such as THE LORDE and Nameless Deity). I won't be regurgitating every ability here, but here is an example of how complex Tier 1 is compared to Tier 3:

• Tier 1: King Slime - Pawns now have the gelatinous ability to “jump” pieces like checkers. You cannot jump backward unless it is a king or queen, and only these 3 pieces can jump. [PASSIVE]

• Tier 3: XP-00 Hypnos - Hypnos, the rejected contraption, for it had a mind of its own. One in every three turns, you can “confuse” the enemy and move a piece for them. This does not count as a turn for anyone, and they can move a piece normally after. You must do this AFTER your turn. Hypnos is also a supercomputer and can undo the opponent’s ability when it is used. If it is a one-time use, they start glitching and must wait 3 turns until they can activate it again. If it is not, Hypnos can do this 3 times and the opponent must wait 1 turn. This has no cooldown. [ACTIVATE]

I already know what you're asking. "But didn't you say there's FOUR tiers?"

Well yeah. It's a very special ability for a very special boss. One that unites yet reigns above all abilities.

Tier 4 contains one ability: Nameless Deity. I'm mentioning this one because of how it works. Nameless Deity is EVERY ability in a Tier. So for example, if you choose Tier 1 abilities, Nameless Deity can use any of those abilities. However, since it is using Tier 1 abilities, Nameless Deity is a Tier 2 ability. It always counts the highest Tier of the abilities it's using and then +1. This is how it is a Tier 4 ability, as it was made to use EVERY ability ever made.

It was also made as a means of testing your knowledge and experience with Terraria Chess as a whole. All of the timers and abilities and how they mix create many unique interactions and synergies.

Nameless Deity is and will always be the most broken ability of Terraria Chess ever.

Well, don't you want to shine?
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Team Attack
Any of you ever play Fossil Fighters? If you haven't, please fix that immediately, that's what inspired Team Attack. In Fossil Fighters, Team Attacks united 3 dinosaurs that were similar in a certain attribute (such as the era they resided in, diet, and so on). Team Attacks were very powerful, though taxing.

Terraria Chess incorporates a similar concept with a twist. I'll use Mechdusa as an example from here on out.

Mechdusa has 3 components that make it up: The Twins, Destroyer, and Skeletron Prime, right? Look at the table below.

	Mechdusa
The Twins	Destroyer	Skeletron Prime

Team Attack is meant to be played as a best of 3.

In this example, the first game played is The Twins, and Destroyer is played in the second game. For the third game, you will play your Team Attack ability. This means that one component ability of the Team Attack will go unused. That makes sense, right?

Additionally, Team Attacks also act as Tier 3 abilities, and can be used outside of Team Attack.

Team Attack features bosses such as Mechdusa, Goozma, Noxus, and many more.

Goozma for example is the culmination of all slimes, so its component abilities are King Slime, Slime God, and Astralgeldon.

Modifiers
Modifiers are mods for Terraria Chess. They are separate from abilities and act as content you can place onto a game or you can play with only modifiers. Modifiers act as a way to bring your Terraria Chess closer or further away from regular Chess. Modifiers are very simple and are essentially Tier 0 "abilities" that are active for both players.

Modifiers are based on things such as mini-bosses with strong themes (like the Celestial pillars), NPCs, and even mechanics (such as Rage and Adrenaline from Calamity).

Here is an example of a modifier:
"Cirrus - Take a shot every time you look at this *document. Oh wait, you’d die! *(Every time you make a stupid mistake or forget something).

"
(I DO NOT CONDONE UNDERAGE DRINKING I WAS REFERENCING ONE OF HER QUOTES IN THE MOD. IF YOU DO USE THIS MODIFIER DRINK EGGNOG OR HOT CHOCOLATE INSTEAD, BOTH ARE DELICIOUS.)

As I also mentioned, Modifiers act as "Tier 0" abilities" in a way. I mentioned this because Nameless Deity can use Modifiers and be a Tier 1 ability (the modifiers would just be one-sided).

Anyways, those are the primary concepts of Terraria Chess. As of right now, everything added forward will at least follow this formula for the most part.

~ Tournament ~​

And of course, the incentive I proposed - a tournament challenging mastery over Terraria Chess and its meta. Since Terraria Chess was released I announced a Tournament with a grand prize of $50. As of now though (due to a growing interest), there will also be runner-up prizes, making the prize pool $100.

Here is the prize breakdown:
1st - $50
2nd - $25
3rd - $10
4th - $5
5th - $5
6th - $5

The rules of the Tournament are a little different as well.

• First and foremost, there is no time limit
• I will be the one screen sharing and moving pieces via Discord
• Best of 3 for each bracket
• If it goes to game 3, both players will play the same, randomized ability (within the same random tier) to test true mastery
• No take-back moves. Make sure you understand both abilities fully

With that being said, the Tournament will be vanilla abilities only. However, if enough people are interested, I will host a completely SEPARATE tournament for Calamity abilities alone.
In this instance:

• I will be promising another $100 prize pool with the same prize breakdown
• Those who win a prize in one tournament cannot participate in the other
• This requires a significant amount of interest, let alone sign-ups

On the bright side, this means more people can win more money. And yes. Nameless Deity is banned.

~ Future & Goals~​

With how expansive this project is, I've planned out quite a bit of content to last a great amount of time. First, I will go over what has been accomplished and a roadmap of what plans to be. First of all, the vanilla abilities and Calamity abilities were made together. Episode 1 covered vanilla, and Episode 2 covered Calamity (as well as the Calamity game mode). Episode 3 recently exposed Team Attacks and Modifers.

But there's still so much that can be done, so much that can happen. I mean, a Discord member and I were just scrolling these forums a few months ago and came across a... Terraria card game? A steady patreon and everything, such creative progress!

Unfortunately, I have no clue how to get to that point, nor do I anticipate to. But without further ado, the road map:​

• Fargo's Episode
• Community Remix Update
• Labor of Love Update
• The Tournament

This is very iffy because the tournament has a set date and I plan to release all of those videos before then. Here are the possible iffy ideas that may happen AFTER the tournament has concluded.​

• Infernum Episode
• Playing others

And well, the possibilities are sky-high. What if there was a 3D-printed Terraria Chess board with custom pieces? A Terraria Chess GAME? A book?!

~ Community ~​

But none of this would be possible without the players and their love for the game. When I first released Terraria Chess, there was a handful of people who joined and are now known as the Terraria Chess veterans for sticking around. However, they went above and beyond simply helping me to balance the game (such as Duke Fishron and Lunatic Cultist pre-nerf...) Some of them even created their OWN spin-offs/add-ons to Terraria Chess, and I believe they are very well made.

So this section is to feature each creator and give them a spotlight. Now then, let me share the passages they've given me to share.
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BASIC MODE​

by Verifyd​

Bored of Chess? Looking to play something more nuanced without losing your 1500 Elo advantage on your 500 Elo friend?

Basic Mode is for you! Normal enemies have their own small abilities. You get to pick three different enemy abilities each to go up against the other. Take it in turns to pick enemies with whoever picks second playing as white. There are three types of enemies:

INSTANT - Instant activation speed at any point that is immediately resolved​

MOVE - Similar to instant, but these take your turn to activate and so cannot be activated on another player's turn (these can also be countered by instant speed abilities)​

CONTINUOUS - An effect that aids you throughout the length of the game in some way​

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Fun Examples:​

Green Slime (Instant) - Once per game, any pawn may "jump" pieces like checkers. You may jump as many pieces as you want during that one turn​

Blazing Wheel (Continuous) - As white, your A pawn becomes indestructible and moves on its own. As black, your H pawn becomes indestructible and moves on its own. Every other turn after your opponent's turn, move the pawn clockwise around the edge of the board, taking any piece it would land on regardless of color or invincibility status (including kings)​

Gnome (Move) - Once a game you can petrify one of your pawns for the rest of the game. The pawn can't be captured in any normal way or capture anything; it can't move either​

(Concept credit: wurmlord09)​

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As of right now, Pre-Hardmode and Hardmode are purely aesthetic notes and do not change the game in any way.​

Creator's note: Basic Mode is something that I verifyd (aka "verifyd productions") intend to continue updating. However, like Minecraft, if you want to play an older version of the game - it still exists! Major update features are planned that WILL at some point exist.

FARGO TERRACHESS​

by IceCubeDisorder​

"If everything is OP, nothing is OP." -Sun Tzu

Note that since the bosses are way stronger, there will be a 16x16 board with four of each piece.

• Every boss will have their original ability AND new ones down below
• A turn = you and the opponent made a move

King Slime: Every 3 turns, choose a lane. A slime ball falls to the opponent there. The king can shoot a barrage of spikes (horizontal and vertical) with a range of two tiles that is insta-kill and uses the turn. Pawn has double range its normal range.

Eye of Cthulhu: When your pawn dashes, shoot out a scythe that way. If less than 50% of pieces, this becomes universal and you dash two squares now. If less than 20% of pieces, your pieces can only dash, but they can dash 5 tiles and can pierce infinitely.

WARNING: I'M PRETTY SURE NONE OF US HAD ACTUALLY PLAYED A ROUND OF THIS, SO PLAY TEST IS VERY NEEDED.

TERRARIAN POWER​

by IceCubeDisorder​

"You basically made another version of Terraria Chess." - Solar Moon

You have 2 grinding points as Pre-Hardmode power, 6 as Hardmode power, and 14 as Calamity power at the start. You can use those points to choose abilities (or accessories) at the beginning. There are six tiers, each costing an amount of grinding points.

For example, for Pre-Hardmode abilities, I can choose:

Hermes Boots (Activate) - You can move the same piece twice, but you cannot capture or check using that piece. (3 Turn Use)

And,

Shackles (Passive) - At the start of a game, you will put a shackle on two pieces. Those act as one extra health.

(These each cost 1 point to select, and a game of Pre-Hardmode gives you 2 grinding points to spend).

Warning: This mode is less balanced, so playtest is needed.

BLOCK MODE​

by Yoshi​

Every turn, you get a point. A tier 1 ability costs 1 point, and a tier 2, 2. A tier 3, 3. But tier 4 costs 5, and tier 5 costs 10 points.

When you purchase a tier, you roll a random number generator from 1-7, because there are 7 abilities per tier. (You roll after you choose which tier). The turn you roll you move normally, and the turn after you roll you use what you rolled, but it doesn't cost a turn. Points only start counting again AFTER the turn you used the ability in. You have 1 reroll for every tier.

Terraria Blocks: Each block gives a quick buff, and doesn't cost a turn. You can use Tier 1 every turn, wait 2 turns for Tier 2, wait 3 for Tier 3, wait 5 for Tier 4, or 10 for Tier 5. Which block you get is determined by a random number generator. You DO NOT have to do the action you got. All the actions you roll are done the turn after, so the enemy can get ready.

EXAMPLES:
Tier 1: Copper - You get 1 free reroll for any tier (4) (This number shows what number you need to roll to use this)
Tier 2: Mud - Poison a pawn, it dies in 4 turns (the death of that pawn cannot put anyone in check (4)
Tier 3: Hellstone: - Move the queen (7)

Tier 4 are 5 have not been made yet.

It's scientifically true that if you always get what you want here, you'll probably win the lottery! No scam!​

~ Closing Sentiment ~​

I Made Terraria Chess. Not only that, but I'm glad I did. If this is how many people are having fun that I KNOW of, I can only imagine how many are enjoying it elsewhere. I want to thank you for reading this far, regardless of how you feel about Terraria Chess.

I'm not sure how often I'll post updates on here. Part of me wants to do it in sync with Terraria's State of the Game, but there's not that much content coming out every month. However, it depends on whether there's something outside myself (such as community creations or artistic media) I feel should be shared. Other than that, it may vary around every 3 months or so. Whatever ends up being the case, I promise to at least make it consistent.

But if there's anything you're still concerned about, have questions, or even wanna ask about my top 3 cheeses, feel free to contact me!
I'll try to respond here as best as I can. Thank you for your time, and thank you for clicking on my humble little post.

Also, I apologize if the formatting is a little janky, the "preview" function did not want to cooperate well.

MY DISCORD: solarmoon_2885

THE DISCORD SERVER: Right here!
(Unfortunately, I only have forums and Discord)​

THANK YOU FOR READING!​

 

[Yoshi!]

This is a very good game. 10/10 would recommend. (Dont look at my name)