7 ways that Fortnite is ACTUALLY like Chess

Hello!

 My background is very "all round" when it comes to games, ranging from video games since my first Sega Master System II in the 1990's, to a long list of board and card games. The strategy element, or even the mechanics of gameplay, is what infinitely interests me, and I have found that the more of it there is, the more I enjoy a game.

 Also, I have been playing a lot of Fortnite and a lot of Chess recently, so was super excited to stumble across a popular article on Chess.com about "7 ways that Fortnite is like Chess".

https://www.chess.com/article/view/7-ways-fortnite-is-like-chess

 Well, it was pretty anti-climactic, because I didn't feel like I learned much, and about 30% of what was mentioned I could actually agree with. A lot of points were the equivalent of saying "people play chess and people play fortnite and that is what they have in common".

 While I'm not much accomplished in both games, and not much of a writer in general, I would like to present 7 more actual game related ways that show Fortnite (the Battle Royale version) is like Chess, from my perspective:

• 7) Preparation and planning are better to improve outcomes. 
  
   This is more of my personal opinion regarding Fortnite and why this point comes 7th. While you cannot exactly plan for all outcomes in both Fortnite and Chess, having an idea in mind of where to go and what to do tends to fare better than just rushing in without thinking and seeing what happens. 
  
  
• 6) The opening will define the rest of the game. 
  
   There are set places on the map that you can "open" on in Fortnite. I would go as far to say that some places are worse than others and will stack the odds against you, and just like in Chess, if you open in a weak position, you may swiftly be taken advantage of!
  
  
• 5) Positioning is important. 
  
    In both games there is an "edge of the board" and a "centre", which can trap, expose, or defend you depending on the circumstances. Where you place yourself throughout the entire game will effect your options. In Fortnite there's high ground, low ground, structures, and open plains. In chess there is enemy territory, pawn structures and various paths of manoeuvre. There is a similarity to being bottlenecked in a river valley in Fortnite when compared to being blocked in by a pawn chain in Chess.
  
  
• 4) Both games require a strategic style. 
  
   And by strategy I mean how you play rather than where you play. As far as I'm aware, at any given point you should be on the spectrum between aggressive and passive, but I'll elaborate.
  
   In Fortnite, you can simply grab the nearest shotgun and go out hunting for people in the most aggressive way possible, making lots of noise and trying to psychologically dominate everyone. Otherwise, you can go the opposite way (at the risk of being called a camper noob) hiding all the time and being very passive, unless you're forced to to act in a situation. In Chess, again, you can go for as many immediate attacks as you can in quick succession, or you can quietly move pieces out of the way on your side of the board.
  
   Generally in both games, it appears you should be more in the middle of this spectrum, and ultimately, it pays to be flexible.
  
  
• 3) Tactics (short-term) are relevant as well as the game changes. 
  
  There are probably some better tacticians out there who can expand on this better than I can. In Fortnite, it would probably be where your focus is at any given time, whether accumulating weapons, building & resources, attacks on other people etc.
  
  In Chess, the tactics are more defined. If you were going for stealth/tactical style play, then discovered attacks, decoys, and traps may be more your thing, for instance.
  
  
• 2) Your armoury (a.k.a. pieces) have different values and usefulness. 
  
   There are high value weapons and items in Fortnite, and there are plenty of low value less useful ones, similar to your one queen being your most valuable and useful piece, and knights and bishops being more common in occurrence but ultimately less valuable individually. Some may be used more preferably over others and confer different advantages.
  
  
• 1) Tempo is a factor in both games. 
  
   Temporality is something I am a little bit obsessed with in general and is my number one thing to consider. In Fortnite, you need to act quickly, not just because the storm will sweep you up, but also because the closer you stay to the storm, the less options you will leave yourself. The phrases "out of the frying pan and into the fire" and "between a rock and a hard place" come to mind. With Chess, not only are competitive games timed, and you have different time rules, but you need to try to be more ahead of your opponent. In some games I've found myself with one move away from losing the upper hand, and have to strive to keep up.
  
  
  

 Hopefully you enjoyed the article. There's always more to discuss about the above points, but I should refrain from writing a 10,000 word essay. Feel free to comment or message if you want to converse about it.