BIG NOTE, Just having the statues is not only what I would like. Making a chessboard out of the ground would take a huge amount of deed space just to have a convenient push timer. I would like them to have permissions on pushing, and be pushed instantly regardless of whether or not its on a deed. If not instant push timer, then dragging that does not lower speed. Make sure they are dye-able so people can choose different colors.
Side note.. checkers too? Chips of any kind in fact. As long as these game pieces are moveable more games are playable.