GB2172810A - Board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game has a board (10) formed with a layout representing a road plan having roads (12) joining with a peripheral motorway (14). Each of two or more players has a playing piece (30) and the game provides a selection of road sign pieces, exit cards identifying exit locations, instruction cards, and a pair of dice marked with reference numbers and different illustrations. Each player is provided with an exit location at the side of the board opposite to a starting location and the rules provide for each player placing a number of road sign pieces at selected locations on the board (10). The players have alternate turns and throw both dice, with the numbers and/or illustrations displayed determining the extent of movement of the playing piece, all road signs having to be observed. Certain dice combinations enable the player to vary the road signs or to take and obey an instruction card. The game is won by the first player to move the respective playing piece (30) exactly to his predetermined exit location on the motorway (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game This invention relates to a board game of the type wherein each of at least two players has a piece for moving on the board in accordance with rules of the game.

According to the present invention there is provided a game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas representing a layout of roads, a plurality of pieces representing road signs, a playing piece for each player, and rules providing for each player selectively locating at least some of the road sign pieces on the board, providing the players with alternate turns for moving the respective playing piece with the intention of reaching a predetermined location, and determining the extent of movement of the playing piece in each turn, the game terminating when the playing piece of one of the players reaches the respective predetermined location.

Preferably the game further includes a plurality of instruction cards, the rules randomly providing for the selection of one of the cards by a player.

Preferably also the game includes a set of marked components for each player to use in a turn, whereby the use by a player randomly displays certain of the markings and the dispiayed arrangement determines the extent of movement of the respective playing piece, or the selection of an instruction card, or provides for the player to alter one or more of the road sign pieces.

The board may comprise, together with the plurality of defined areas representing the road layout, a further plurality of defined areas representing areas of land or fixtures bordering roads.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. is a plan view of the board of a game according to the invention; Figs. 2a-2c are diagrammatic part views of road junctions on the board; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic part view of a road illustrating an overtaking manoeuvre; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic part view of a road illustrating a U-turn manoeuvre.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a game board 10 is formed with a layout representing a street or road plan where roads 12 criss-cross the board 10 and join with a peripheral area of the board 10 representing a motorway 14. The arrangement of roads 12 provides a number of road junctions 16.

Each road 12 and the motorway 14 is provided with laterally extending lines 18, which are parallel and equispaced longitudinally, and a central longitudinally extending dividing line 20, whereby each road 12 and motorway 14 has two sides and each side is divided into spaces 22. The areas bounded by the roads 12 and motorway 14 are formed to represent land areas 24 and fixture areas, such as a petrol station 26 and a police station 28.

The game is played by two to four players although it is best played with two or four players.

Each player has a single playing piece 30, with the pieces 30 being ideptifiably different from one another and representing for example four different models or colours of motor cars.

The game also provides a selection of pieces (not shown) representing roadsigns for use as hereinafter described. Further, the four sides of the board 10 are marked as being north, south, east and west respectively and each side has marked thereon start/exit locations identified by reference numbers 1 to 6. The game also includes four sets of six cards known as exit cards (not shown) numbered respecively N1 to N6, S1 to S6, El to E6, and W1 to W6, for use in predetermining exit locations at hereinafter described. A futher set of cards known as triangle cards (not shown) are provided, those cards containing different sets of obligatory instructions for use during the game as hereinafter described.Finally there is provided for the game a pair of six sided dice (not shown), each of which has four sides marked respectively with the reference numbers 1 to 4, one side having a star illustration, and the remaining side having a triangle illustration.

At the commencement of a game, each player occupies a respective side of the board 10 and chooses one of the playing pieces 30, which is then placed on a selected one of the start locations on the respective side of the board 10. Each player is then presented by another player with the respective set of exit cards corresponding to that side of the board 10 opposite to the side from which the player is starting. The exit cards are presented face down and the player chooses one of the exit cards, which then indicates to the player the number of the exit location to which the player's playing piece 30 has to be moved. The exit card is retained by the player and is not shown to the other players. The same procedure is followed for each player until each player has identified the respective exit location.

Each player also chooses or alternatively draws unseen from a bag, a predetermined number of the road sign pieces (not shown), and places these pieces on the board 10 at selected locations, considered to be either two the player's advantage or to hinder the other players. If three or four players are playing, each player will draw three road sign pieces, while if only two players are playing, each player draws five road sign pieces. The first throw of the dice by each of the players determines, by the highest total score achieved, which player is to commence the game. The players have alternate turns and in each turn can move the respective playing piece along the roads with the intention of reaching the identified exit location.The rules provide for the playing piece to be moved a number of spaces 22 equivalent to the total of the numbers thrown on the dice, the playing piece 30, unless allowed by subsequent rules, being kept to the left or nearside of the centre line 20 on each of the roads 12 orthe motorway 14. All the road signs which mass include traffic lights and direction indicators, must be observed when the playing piece 30 is being moved.

On the throw of the dice, if one dice displays a number and the other displays the star or triangle, the number determines the number of spaces moved by the playing piece 30. If each dice displays the same number the player has the option of advancing the playing piece 30 by the total number thrown, or changing, adding or removing a road sign, or changing stop to go or vice versa on a traffic light. If one dice displays the star and the other dice the triangle, this constitutes a nil score. If each dice displays the triangle, this obliges the player to take the top card from the pack of triangle cards and to obey the instructions contained thereon. The triangle card is then returned to the bottom of the pack. If each dice displays the star, the player may change, add or remove a road sign, or change stop to go or vice versa on a traffic light.

As regards the junctions 16, no playing piece is permitted to remain within a junction or intersection at the end of any move. In the event of an intended left-hand turn at a junction there is deemed to be one junction space through which the playing piece must move (see Fig. 2a). Where it is intended to continue straight over a junction, the playing piece 30 is required to move through two junction spaces (see Fig. 2b). Where a right-hand turn is intended, the playing piece 30 is required to move though three junction spaces (see Fig. 2c). If it is possible to clear a junction with the number thrown by the dice, the complete number of spaces must be used.If it is not possible to clear a junction using the total number thrown, the playing piece 30 must remain at the space 22 immediately prior to the junction.

Overtaking of the playing piece 30 of another player is only permissible if a sufficient number is thrown by the dice to enable the overtaking manoeuvre to be completed, with the overtaking playing piece having regained the nearside of the road. Four spaces 22 are used to complete the overtaking manoeuvre (see Fig. 3). If the number thrown is not sufficient to complete the overtaking manoeuvre, the playing piece must remain in the space 22 immediately behind the obstructing playing piece 30. It is also possible to effect a U-turn, except on the motorway 14. A sufficient number must be thrown by the dice to complete this manoeuvre, three spaces 22 being used to complete a U-turn (see Fig. 4).

No road signs may be placed on or at an entrance to the peripheral motorway 14 and reversing is not permissible.

The game is won by the first player to throw a number with the dice which enables the respective playing piece 30 to leave a road 12 and finish exactly upon the predetermined exit location on the motorway 14. In the event of a playerthrowing a number which takes the playing piece 30 beyond the required exit location, the move must be taken in full according to the rules, and the playing piece must continue on the peripheral motorway 14 with a view to re-entering a road 12 and making a firther attempt to end exactly upon the required exit location. For starting and finishing purposes only, the whole of each of the peripheral motorway functions with the roads 12 counts as one space.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the layout of the board may differ from that described and shown and the playing pieces may be of any desired shapes. Also the manner of identifying exit locations may differ from that described and shown and random selection of numbers and symbols may be made by other then using dice.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Application claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (9)

1. A game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas representing a layout of roads, a plurality of pieces representing road signs, a playing piece for each player, and rules providing for each player seiectively locating at least some of the road sign pieces on the board, providing the players with alternate turns for moving the respective playing piece with the intention of reaching a predetermined location, and determining the extent of movement of the playing piece in each turn, the game terminating when the playing piece of one of the players reaches the respective predetermined location.

2. A game according to claim 1, including a plurality of instruction cards, the rules randomiy providing for the selection of one of the cards by a player.

3. A game according to claim 1 or 2, including a set of marked components for each playerto use in a turn, whereby the use by a player randomly displays certain of the markings and the displayed arrangement determines the extent of movement of the respective playing piece, orthe selection of an instruction card, or providesforthe player to alter one or more of the road sign pieces.

4. A game according to claim 3, wherein the set of marked components comprises a pair of six sided dice, each of which has four sides marked respectively with reference numbers one to four, and the other two sides with different illustrations.

5. A game according to any of the preceding claims, including a set of cards identifying exit locations on the board for each player, the rules providing for the random selection of one of the exit cards by each player at the commencement of the game to identifythe respective predetermined location.

6. A game according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the defined areas on the board include the representation of a motorway or dual carriageway around the periphery of the board.

7. A game according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a further plurality of defined areas on the board represent areas of land or fixtures bordering roads.

8. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.