Can someone explain the difference between these tropes?
Topic on Forum:Trope Talk
It's in the first paragraph of Manipulative Bastard, but basically, the difference is the Chessmaster is wholesale, and the Manipulative Bastard is retail. The Chessmaster manipulates events and groups -- think fanon Dumbledore guiding Wizarding Britain. The Manipulative Bastard screws with people's heads one person at a time.