Changed w/o discussion: The Chessmaster

Back in November, the image on The Chessmaster was changed from this◊ to this◊. The old pic was chosen here; while the Doom pic certainly works, I'm good to move it to Image Links and swap back to the old. Thoughts?

edited 30th Mar '15 2:26:05 PM by Willbyr

I'm actually more inclined to lean toward Doom than I am Cyclops, in all honesty, although I might be influenced by Doom's (practically canonical) status as Memetic Badass.

Both of these images are equally tepid for me.

Flip a coin for me. Both images are a bit more literal than I'd really care for, though.

I'd give somewhat more of an edge to Doom, because of the mechanoid pieces standing and the humanoid ones lying.

I'd go for Cyclops, since the pieces being shown are those of his friends and teammates, including himself, which is exactly what the trope is about.

I vote Doom for the same reason as Duck

What does the mechanical nature of the chess piece have to do with visualising the trope? If anything, it would count against this trope as it suggests the person in question is manipulating machines rather than people.

Because they're his pieces.

As far as symbolising the manipulation of people and such, I think that's equal in both images. Neither is bad, for that matter.

The idea of Cyclops being the manipulator is what leads me to lean toward that pic.

Why?

@Another Duck: But controlling mindless automatons isn't quite what a Chessmaster is meant to be about. And that's exactly what the impression I get from the mechanical-looking chess pieces.

Doom being a manipulator is nothing special. Cyclops was such a goody-two-shoes for so long that his turn toward the trope was significant character development.

edited 30th Mar '15 8:37:12 PM by Willbyr

Fair enough, although that requires knowledge of the characters. Still, I can certainly see it pushing one image when they're almost identically good.

I'm tepid on both pictures too, although I think that Dr Doom is more likely to be recognised as a chessmaster than is Cyclops so I'd go for Doom over Cyclops if we can't find a better picture.

For me, it's Scott - for the same reason that was stated above, he's clearly shown manipulating living people, his teammates and friends, not some faceless mechanical creatures.

Doom's upright pieces while the pieces for the heroes have toppled is what sells it to me. We see Cyclops advancing, but we see Doom winning.

edited 31st Mar '15 1:35:12 PM by Ultimaneo

Clock is set. Crowner?

edited 28th Apr '15 7:24:44 AM by Willbyr

So much for a crowner, I guess.

I prefer Scott, because the fact that Doom is controlling his own bots makes him look more like a Marionette Master than this trope. But if the opinions are that divisive, then let's crowner it.

Crowner's hooked. As this is essentially a runoff, please don't something unless you're dead-set against it...trying to avoid a deadlock.

I almost feel like voting both up...

Bump for votes; both are in the green but Cyclops has a lead.

Eh, I'm flip-flopping my vote on Doom just so we can get this settled.

Calling this one; I've replaced the old pic and adjusted the tag for this thread. Locking up.