If we're going to have a class system..
There is one king, despite being the all important peice the king really isn't that powerful. It's just the backbone of the society.
There is one queen, the queen can move as a bishop or a rook making it perhaps the best peice in the game.
There is two bishops/Two rooks.
There is two knights, knights have an awckward pattern and move in an L shape. Perhaps in our villain group they are the evil geniouses who make no sense when they talk but build tremendously powerful death lasers for instance.
There are eight pawns. Though pawns can only move on step foward at the start of thier first move they may choose to move two spaces, it shows to be a proper chess group of villainy we have to be a socialism of sorts and give the pawns an extra oppurtunity to excell. Once pawns have reached the other side they are free to promote themselves to any non-king peice. Proving hard work and perservance can pay off better then inherited power.
I choose to be a knight bitches. \m/ 😈 \m/ 😛