GB2423940A - A travel board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A travel board game comprises a board, a dice, artificial money, and counters. Play is in two stages: the players begin by selecting a mode of travel and purchasing items necessary for the journey, then travel around the board according to the throw of the dice. Items may be exchanged or sold during the journey, and penalties such as fines may also be imposed. The board is printed with a map of the world in the centre 2 and squares around the edges 1.

Description

Page 1

Description of Board Game

Round the World Board Game Round the World is a board game for 2 to 6 players.

The object of the game The object olthis game is for each player to attempt to jrcumnavigate the globe. The winner is the first player who completes a round the world trip by getting back to their starting point having travelled the world, or by being the only player lef playing if all the other players have lost. A player looses by running out of money. Money and items useful for the trip (such as a medical kit, Swiss-army knife or a plane/train ticket) are played for during the first part of the game, The Planning Stage', which takes the player around the outside of the board. A player decides when he or she is ready to begin their journey and whether they will backpack their way around the world or use a suitcase.

Backpacking can take more time, whilst using a suitcase can be more expensive. When a player thinks he or she is ready, he or she can move onto the second part of the game, The Journey', which takes them into the centre of the board. Items can be bought/sold or exchanged during the journey.

Parts included in the game A board - 70cm x 70cm in dimension (Figure 1 shows a diagram of the board) Two dice Printed Rules of Playing the Game Six figures* Six backpacks Six suitcases (continued on page 2) Page of each travel item** - (a medical kit, a Swiss army knife, a money belt, a travel alarm, a domestic flight ticket, a train ticket, a guide book, a phrase book, malaria tablets, a map, a water bottle, hiking boots, insect repellent).

Imitation money (in 5, 10,20 & 50 notes) Six Round the World tickets Twenty karma cards depicting that; A player is paid money unexpectedly (via the Banker) from - money left in a will, a lottery win, the Player finding some money, a Premium Bond win, various gifts of money.

Player misses a turn due to' - a twenty-four hour bug, a bad reaction to a yellow fever injection, a Visa application being returned due to a technicality, forgetting to renew the passport, a computer crashing whilst arranging travel insurance on the Internet.

Player has to pay out money unexpectedly - for an unexpected bill, by loosing a cheque, for a car parking fine, due to the Player's credit card being stolen & used illegally, by damaging a borrowed CD player.

*A figure is one of six individual figures used on the board, one for each player. Each figure can carry' a backpack or a suitcase.

**A travel item is a small replica of each item that can be bought (or sold).

N.B. The use of the word his' in respect to a player, refers to his' or her'.

Rules of Playing the Game Firstly the players decide who will be the Banker, who looks after, pays out and receives money on behalf of the Bank, when required. The Banker pays out and receives all money except that which is paid out/received from items bought or sold between Players.

The Banker gives each player their 500 cash in savings (including his/her own) as 4 x 50 denomination notes, 20 x 10 notes and 20 x 5 notes.

The Planning Stage The game begins at The Planning Stage, for the players to plan and prepare for their trip by acquiring money and various items for use during the journey. Each player withdraws' their 500 savings (from the Bank) at the start of the game. Each player is represented by an individual figure, which is placed on the StartlSalary square. Each player plays the dice to determine who will start the game and the person with the highest amount on the dice starts. The playing order for the rest of the players is then continued in a clockwise direction from the first player.

The first player then throws the dice again and moves his figure the number of squares shown on the dice. A player will then land on a square that will be a blank (i.e. no action is taken) or it will depict one of the following; * a travel item square - this shows a picture of an item useful for travelling the world and the cost of the item (medical kit, Swiss army knife, money belt, travel alarm, domestic flight ticket, train ticket, guide book, phrase book, malaria Page 3 tablets, map, water bottle, hiking boots, insect repellent). The player then decides if he would like to buy the travel item shown or not and either pays the appropriate amount or waits on the square for his next turn. The appropriate travel item is passed to a player when a player buys an item.

* a money square - this shows an amount of money a player will receive and the reason why he has received it - money paid; for working overtime at work, for selling the car, for selling the Hi-fl system, by collecting money owed by a friend, by claiming a tax rebate, by borrowing money from a relative, by doing odd jobs for neighbours.

* a karma card square - a karma card is a set of cards left face down in a pile where everyone can see them. If a player lands on a karma card square he lifts and reads the top card. A karma card, when lifted by a player will add the element of fate for that player to his journey, which may be advantageous or otherwise. When read, a karma card is added back to the bottom of the karma card pile.

After a player completes a whole circuit of the outside of the board, he will decide whether to play on at the planning stage or to start his journey. If he chooses to continue at the planning stage he will receive his 250 salary in cash, as he continues past the StartlSalary square. A Player can start his journey into the centre of the board at any time after completing one circuit of the Board. When he chooses to start his journey he gives up his job', pays 1000 cash for his Round the World aeroplane ticket (payable to the Bank) and begins his journey by placing his figure at one of five cities (London, Sydney, Los Angeles, Johannesburg, Singapore) at the centre of the board.

The Journey This is the second part of the game after a player has chosen when and how he will travel. He takes either a replica backpack or a replica suitcase, depending on his choice, and after fixing this to his figure he moves his figure to London, Sydney, Los Angeles, Johannesburg or Singapore. He continues using the dice to determine the number of squares he moves.

The path he takes around the board depends on whether he backpacks or uses a suitcase - backpack routes take longer whereas suitcase routes are more expensive. Some squares have problems' relating to items'; for example, a square, when landed on might give him malaria - but if a player has the malaria tablet item then he is OK to continue, otherwise he will miss a turn or take a different route. Some squares ask for money to be paid out in order for the player to continue; for example, money for accommodation or food. Some squares when landed on will determine a player's route. Items can be boughtlsold between players at a cost decided between the buyer and seller.

The winner is the first player who completes a round the world trip by getting back to their starting point having travelled the world, or by being the only player left playing if all the other players have lost. A player looses by running out of money. Page

Key to Figure 1 The Planning Stage' part of the Board (the Start/Salary square, blank squares, travel item squares, money squares & karma card squares around the outside of the Board).

2 The Journey' part of the Board, showing the world' (squares across and around the middle of the Board).

Claims (6)

S CLAIMS

1. A board game consisting of a hoard, artificial money, playing figures, dice, printed rules and cards.

2. A board game as claim I that is for up to 6 players/participantS.

3. A board game as claim 1 and 2 that involves players playing a game, the object of which is to move figures around the board following the Rules of the Game.

4. A board game as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 that has printed rules to play the game, these rules being called the Rules of the (ialne.

5. A hoard game as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 that has a game board, the centre of which is designed to represent The World, the perimeter of the board consisting of squares.

6. A board game as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 whose parts are made from metal, plastics, wood and/or card or from a combination of these materials.