It\'s a great idea and one i\'ve toyed with myself a number of times, though never got round to doing it. I always fancied making a set for each race in the Warhammer World. A quick point before i progress to writing lists of what as what though- I always think it\'s better to use robust preferably single-piece models. It\'s just something about how \'chessy\' it feels that the peices are always quite compact representations of warriors (when they are sculpted as opposed to just wooden counters) and if you try and replicate that, not only will it stop looking like you\'ve just run out of proper pieces but they\'ll also be more resilient to breakage.
Another point are match-ups. There are some classics in the Warhammer world, usually Empire vrs Orcs and Goblins/Chaos/Vampire Counts; Dwarves vrs Skaven/Goblins; Dark Elves vrs High Elves; Wood Elves vrs Beasts of Chaos etc. So it\'s worth forming a chess set around one of those \'dark vrs light\' archetypes.
Onto suggestions:
Empire:
King- Elector Count (possibly even the Emperor himself)
Queen- Arch Lector? Wizard Lord? No nessecity for it to be female. (Grand Theogonist if you\'re going special)
Bishops- Warrior Priests
Knights- Reiksguard Knights
Rooks- Steam Tanks (obviously a small representation of one, rooks are never to scale) or possibly Cannons.
Pawns- Halberdiers
Brettonians:
King- A Baron (Leon Loencour if you\'re going for a less general set)
Queen- Damsel (Fay Enchantress if you\'re going special)
Bishops- Questing Knights?
Knights- Knights of the Realm
Rooks- Grail Knights (depending on your preference exchange the suggested Bishops for the suggested Rooks)
Pawns- Men at Arms
Dwarves:
King- Dwarf Lord (shield bearers might be a nice touch)
Queen- Rune Lord
Bishops- Slayers
Knights- Miners? I quite like that one since both Knights and Miners move strangely in their respecitve games.
Rooks- Ironbreakers or Canons. Being a traditionalist i prefer the former option.
Pawns- Dwarf Warriors
High Elves:
King- High Elf Noble
Queen- Arch Mage
Bishops- Sword Masters of Hoeth?
Knights- Silver Helms
Rooks- Again a choice between artillery and infantry, Phoenix Guard or Bolt Thrower. You Might even try Great Eagles
Wood Elves:
King- Wood Elf Lord
Queen- Arch Mage
Bishops- Wardancers
Knights- Glade Riders (Wild Riders if you\'re feeling exotic)
Rooks- Treemen (it just has to be)
Pawns- Glade Guard
Lizardmen:
King- Slann (finally a king choice that make\'s sense!)
Queen- Saurus Oldblood?
Bishops- Skink Priests
Knights- Cold One Cavalry
Rooks- Ohh, an embarrasment of riches- either Kroxigor or Stegadons. I\'d be inclined to pick the latter for the extra skinks
Pawns- Saurus Warriors
Orcs (Goblins will come after):
King- Warboss
Queen- Master Shaman
Bishops- Black Orcs
Knights- Boar Boyz
Rooks- Trolls? Though Giants may be preferred
Pawns- Orc Warriors
Goblins (with a destinctive Night Goblin Slant):
King- Warboss
Queen- Master Shaman
Bishops- Fanatics
Knights- Squig Hoppers
Rooks- Stone Trolls
Pawns- Night Goblins
Skaven:
King- Warlord
Queen- Grey Seer
Bishops- Warlock Engineers? Plague Monks?
Knights- Assassins?
Rooks- Rat Ogres
Pawns- Clanrats
Beasts of Chaos:
King- Beastlord
Queen- Great Shaman
Bishops- Bestigor
Knights- Centigor
Rooks- Dragon Ogres or Minotaurs
Pawns- Gors. For extra detail you might want to make them so they look like they\'re using Ungors as meat shields
Hordes of Chaos (mortal):
King- Chaos Lord/ Demon Prince
Queen- Master Sorcorer
Bishops- Lesser Demon of choice
Knights- Chaos Knights
Rooks- Spawn
Pawns- Chaos Warriors
Dark Elves:
King- Highborn
Queen- Arch Sorcoress
Bishops- Witch Elves
Knights- Cold one Knights
Rooks- Repeater Bolt throwers/War Hydras
Pawns- Dark Elf Warriors
Vampire Counts:
King- Vampire Count
Queen- Necromancer Lord
Bishops- Wights/Grave Guard
Knights- Black Knights
Rooks- Vampire Bats/Spirit Hosts
Pawns- Zombies
Tomb Kings:
King- Tomb King
Queen- Heirophant
Bishops- Tomb Guard or Chariots
Knights- Skeleton Horsemen
Rooks- Ushabti (it\'s just too perfect)
Pawns- Skeletons
Well those are just a few thoughts i had so pick and choose any ideas you like as you will. I wish you luck- with a decent eye this set could be very special
Dr Death
