Check out Janggi (Korean Chess), our featured variant for December, 2024.

Musketeer Chess Variant Kits

I ordered two apiece of each of the five Chess variant kits described on this page. Each set contains two types of pieces in each color for a total of four pieces. To get pairs of the same piece, as are required for many games, you will need to get two of the same kit. These photos normally show two of each kit, and they sometimes include other pieces for the sake of comparison. The pieces I got were colored black and natural, but there are also sets available in the colors black and white. So, be sure to order the color you actually want so that your pieces will match. Nothing is included but the pieces specifically named as coming with the specific kit. Links are provided for purchasing each of these kits on ebay. The black and white versions of these pieces are all available in a single bundle called Musketeer Chess Variant Kits x5 - Series 1 COMBO - Black & White. The black and natural colored pieces are available only in individual kits.

Images of the kits are linked to affiliate links to purchase these pieces. Where possible, the link is to the House of Staunton, since they are selling the pieces for less. But they do not have any of the newer pieces, and they are out of stock of some of the older pieces. So, most of the links are to an ebay seller.

Chancellors & Archbishops

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Chancellor & Archbishop - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Chancellor and Archbishop - Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - 4 Set - Black & Ivory — Buy from
House of Staunton:

This picture shows Chancellors on the left and Archbishops on the right. The Archbishops are shown at different angles.

This picture shows white Chancellor and Archbishop pieces alongside the original pieces produced for Gothic Chess. The Chancellor design has changed quite a bit, but the Archbishop design hasn't changed as much.

Here is a closeup of both black and white Chancellors from both the Camaratta kit and Gothic Chess.

Here's a closeup of Archbishops from both sets, showing the Archbishop pieces at different angles.

Order these on ebay as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Chancellor & Archbishop - Black & Natural.

Or order the black & white pieces as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Chancellor & Archbishop - Black & White

Elephants & Hawks

Elephant and Hawk - Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - 4 Set - Black & Ivory — Buy from
House of Staunton:

Here is a closeup of the elephants, showing both front and side.

Here is a closeup showing the back view and the other side view.

Here the elephants appear between the Chancellor and the Archbishop for scale. They seem to be shorter than the Chancellor and taller than the Archbishop.

The Hawks are shown with some other pieces to show scale. These include regular tournament size Chess pieces colored black and natural and a black Archbishop from the Camaratta Chess kit.

Order the black & white pieces on ebay as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Elephant & Hawk - Black & White

Leopards & Cannons

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Cannon & Leopard - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Leopard and Cannon - Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - 4 Set - Black & Ivory — Buy from
House of Staunton

The Leopards are shown with a Knight and a Bishop for scale. They are bigger than the Knight but shorter than the Bishop.

The Cannons are surrounded by some other pieces for scale. You can see that they are taller than a Bishop but shorter than a Queen. Besides some usual Chess pieces, which are colored natural and black, they are flanked by Cannons from Cambaluc Chinese Chess, which are colored cream and black. These two together could be used for Cannons and Vaos in games that have both, such as Eurasian Chess.

Here's an elevated view, showing the holes in the Cannons.

Here's a picture John Davis provided comparing the Musketeer Chess Cannon with the Cannon from ElephantChess Chinese Chess.

Although ElephantChess no longer seems to be available, there is now a new Musketeer piece called the Bombarde, which would be suitable for a Vao. You may get it on ebay in the Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Griffin & Bombarde (Tank) - Black & Natural. Like the Cambaluc and ElephantChess Cannons, it looks like a slanted cannon.

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Griffin & Bombarde (Tank) - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Griffin & Bombarde (Tank) - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

Order these on ebay as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Cannon & Leopard - Black & Natural.

Or order the black & white pieces as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Cannon & Leopard - Black & White

Fortresses & Unicorns

Fortress and Unicorn - Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - 4 Set - Black & Natural — Buy from
House of Staunton:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Fortress & Unicorn - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

The Fortresses have removable tops, which also makes them useful for short rooks.

The Unicorns look like horned Knights, which is suitable.

Order these on ebay as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Fortress & Unicorn - Black & Natural.

Or order the black & white pieces as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Fortress & Unicorn - Black & White

Spiders & Amazons (originally Dragons)

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Amazon (Dragon) & Spider - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

The top part might resemble a spider if a spider had six legs. They look more like an oriental variation on a Rook.

Fortunately, new kits are available with more realistic looking spiders.

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Spider - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Spider - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

Before they came out, I was really hoping the Dragon pieces would look like dragons. These look more like knights with armored face masks. The piece is described as moving like an Amazon, and I suppose these pieces may be suitable for that piece.

Order these on ebay as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Amazon (Dragon) & Spider - Black & Natural.

Or order the black & white pieces as Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Amazon (Dragon) & Spider - Black & White

Fortunately, news kits are available with more realistic looking dragons.

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Dragon & Camel - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Dragon & Camel - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

Some Newer Sets

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Lion & Rhinoceros - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Warrior & Mammoth - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Wizard & Wildebeest - Black & Natural — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Lion & Rhinoceros - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Warrior & Mammoth - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

Musketeer Chess Variant Kit - Wizard & Wildebeest - Black & White — Buy on ebay:

Matching Chess Sets

The pieces are colored natural and black, and they are designed for pieces with a King whose height ranges from 3.75 inches to 4 inches.

Here are some photographs showing how the coloring of the white pieces in the kits compare to white pieces from various sets. In the following two pictures, each file has a couple pieces from a different set. From left to right, these are my first Chess set, the Chancellor and Archbishop from the Camaratta kit, the natural colored single-weight regulation King and Queen, the Chancellor and Archbishop from Gothic Chess, a cream colored King and Cardinal from Cambaluc Chinese Chess, and finally an ivory colored plastic regulation King and Queen.

These pictures carry on the same idea but add pieces from Omega Chess. Looking at them directly, I thought maybe the Omega Chess pieces, seen in the C and D files, were closer in color to the Camaratta pieces than the natural colored pieces are. But looking at the photograph, the natural colored pieces may be closer.

These two pictures show the Elephant, Chancellor, and Archbishop alongside some of the natural colored pieces I ordered:

The preceding pictures were taken with my digital camera, but I also took some with my webcam. This one shows the white pieces lined up by height:

Since I took that picture before the Fortress & Unicorn and Dragon & Spider kits came out, here is a more recent photo from John Davis showing all the pieces lined up with the Chess pieces.