GB2219748A

GB2219748A - Board game

Info

Publication number: GB2219748A
Application number: GB8913795A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Simon Bull; Raymond Thomas Bull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-15
Filing date: 1989-06-15
Publication date: 1989-12-20
Also published as: GB8814173D0; GB8913795D0

Abstract

A game comprises a board 10 marked with a circuitous staggered pathway 12 with start squares 26, and finish areas 16. Playing pieces are provided for moving around the board 10 and when each playing piece reaches the finish area 16 a respective one component 52, 54, 56 of a model 50 representing a windmill is placed on the area 16 such that the winner is the first person to obtain a complete model of a windmill. Up to four players can play a game each starting at a corner start square 26 and finishing on their own finish area 16. Each move five playing pieces consecutively under the control of a dice and the directions given on the pathway in order to collect five components to build the windmill. <IMAGE>

Description

Game This invention relates to a board game wherein each of a plurality of players has pieces for moving on a 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 some of which are linked together to define a pathway around the board, other of the defined areas defining a start area and a finish area for each player, and a set of playing pieces for each player, each set being marked to be distinquishable from the others, the game being won when a player has moved all of the playing pieces in a set consecutively from the respective start area to the respective finish area.

Preferably a composite structure is provided for each player made up from a plurality of components, the rules providing for one of the components to be placed on the respective finish area everytime one of the playing pieces lands thereon. The structure is desirably in the form of a model of a windmill and desirably comprises the same number of components as there are playing pieces in each set.

Preferably a number indicator, which may be a dice, is provided to determine the number of defined areas along the pathway which a playing piece can be moved in a players go. A plurality of said areas may be marked with instructions regarding the movement of a playing piece which instruction must be obeyed if the playing piece lands on a respective one of the marked areas at the end of a player's turn. Some of the marked areas may comprise instructions to seek instructions from another source, perhaps from one of a pile of marked cards.

A plurality of defined areas preferably define a passage with a closed end extending away from the pathway which may represent a well with the closed end of the passage representing the bottom of the well.

Playing objects may be provided which may represent buckets. Rules may be provided whereby when a playing piece lands on a respective one of a plurality of the marked areas a playing object is placed on the respective finish area. When a pre-determined number of playing objects have been placed on a finish area, the respective playing piece on the pathway at that time is placed at the bottom of the well.

An embud iment of the present invention will now de described by way of example only with reference to thg accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a Game board in which Figs 1A and 1B join respectively X - X and Y - Y; and Fig 2 shows a composite structure suitable for use with the board of Fig 1 Referring to Fig 1, a game board 10 with a layout comprises a circuitous staggered pathway 12 running around the board 10. The pathway 12 comprises 70 square areas 14 joined together consecutively by their ends or sides. Finish areas 16 are provided within the area bounded by the pathway 12, each adjacent a respective one of the corners of the board. The finish areas 16 each comprise a square area 18 containing a central circular area 20 representing the site of a windmill and five smaller circular areas 22.The areas, 20, 22 in each area 16 are all of one colour which is different to those colours of the other areas 16. An entrance 24 is represented adjacent the outer corner of each square 18.

Each of the squares 14 nearest the corners of the board 10 constitute a start square 26, which is of the same colour as the closest areas, 20, 22 and is marked with the word "Start". Adjacent each start square 26 alongside the pathway 12 are five circular areas 28 of the same colour as the respective start square 26.

Playing pieces (not shown) are placed on the areas 28 prior to being moved around the pathway 12 in accordance with the rules of the game.

A number of the squares 14 are particularly marked, squares 30 with the face of a miller, squares 32 with windmill sails, squares 34 with mousetraps, and squares 36 with bags of flour. One of the squares, i.e. square 40, represents the top of a well, and leading from the square 40, are fifteen rectangular areas 42 representing the rest of the well leading to the bottom 44. Also represented on the board 10 are a bucket shed 46 and a larger bag of flour 48.

There are provided four sets of five playing pieces, each set corresponding in colour to one of the start squares 26, as well as a number of models of buckets (not shown) which are normally placed on the shed 46, and a set of cards (not shown) which are normally placed on the bag of flour 48.

Fig 2 shows a model 50 of a windmill. There are provided four suitably coloured models 50 each for a respective one of the start squares 26. The models each comprise five detachable components: three are upwardly tapering tower pieces 52; there is a head piece 54 which fits onto the top of the pieces 52, and a combined sail and mast piece 56 which fits onto the piece 54.

The object of the game is to move all of a player's playing pieces from the areas 28 to the areas 22, and build the model 50 one component 52, 54, 56 at a time, every time a playing piece reaches one of the areas 22.

The game finishes when all of a player's playing pieces are on the circles 22 and his model 50 is thus complete.

The game is played in the following manner. Any of two to four players can play the game and each player selects one of the sets of playing pieces and puts them on a respective one of the areas 28 on the board 10. The player to start is decided by throwing a dice, the player obtaining the highest number starting. That player throws the dice again and moves a first of his playing pieces the number of squares 14 shown on the dice around the board 10 in a clockwise direction starting at the respective start square 26. The players take turns to move their playing pieces around the board in this fashion.

When a playing piece has gone almost around the whole board 10, upon passing the square 14 immediately before the respective start square 26, the playing piece is moved onto one of the areas 22. A further one of the playing pieces is then moved around the board 10 in this manner. Upon a playing piece being located on one of the areas 22 a respective one of the components 52, 54, 56 is placed on the area 20 such that when a player's last playing piece reaches the area 20, the model 50 is completed by adding the piece 56. The first player to complete the model 50 wins the game.

If a playing piece lands on any of the particularly marked squares 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 this affects the pieces motion around the board 10. If a piece lands on the miller square 30 the player takes a bucket from the shed 46 and places it on or adjacent the respective area 20.

When a player takes a fifth bucket, he replaces the buckets in the shed 46 and the playing piece he is moving around the board 10 "falls" down the well 40 and must climb out of it by moving along the areas 42 in accordance with throws of the dice. If a playing piece lands on the square 40 it also "falls" down the well., If a playing piece lands on a sail square 32 the player throws the dice again and has a further turn. If a playing piece lands on a mousetrap square 34 the player misses his next turn. Upon a playing piece landing on a flour square 36 the player must take a one of the cards from the large bay of flour 48 and obey the message thereon. The card will give instructions for moving the playing piece such as for example "have another go" or "go back six spaces". Upon a playing piece landing on a mouse square 38 the playing piece is moved back to its respective start square 26.

There is thus described above a board game with a number of interesting features. The provision of the model windmill provides a ready and interesting indication of a player's progress. There are a number of ways in which a playing piece's progress can be hindered or helped, thus increasing the interest of the game.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the board may be laid out differently and could be for a different number of players. Different and/or additional particularly marked squares could be provided.

Claims

Claims:

1. A game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas some of which are linked together to define a pathway around the board, other of the defined areas defining a start area and a finish area for each player, and a set of playing pieces for each player, each set being marked to be distinguishable from the others, the game being won when a player has moved all of the playing pieces in a set consecutively from the respective start area to the respective finish area.

2. A game according to claim 1, in which a composite structure is provided for each player made up from a plurality of components, the rules providing for one of the components to be placed on the respective finish area everytime one o f t,he playing pieces lands thereon.

3. A game according to claim 2, in which the structure is in the form of a model of a windmill.

4. A game according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the structure comprises the same number of components as there are playing pieces in each set.

5. A game according to any of the preceding claims, in which a number indicator, is provided to determine the number of defined areas along the pathway which a playing piece can be moved in a players go.

6. A game according to claim 5, in which the number indicator comprises a dice.

7. A game according to any of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of the defined areas are marked with instructions regarding the movement of a playing piece which instruction must be obeyed if the playing piece lands on a respective one of the marked areas at the end of player's turn.

8. A game according to claim 7,in which some of the marked areas comprise instructions to seek instructions from another source.

9. A game according to claim 8, in which the other source comprises a pile of marked cards.

10. A game according to any of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of defined areas define a passage with a closed end extending away from the pathway.

11. A game according to claim 10, in which the passage represents a well with the closed end of the passage representing the bottom of the well.

12. A game according to any of the preceding claims, in which playing objects are provided which represent buckets

13. A game according to claim 12, in which rules are provided whereby when a playing piece lands on a respective one of a plurality of the marked areas a playing object is placed on the respective finish area and when a pre-determined number of playing objects have been placed on a finish area, the respective playing piece on the pathway at that time is placed at the bottom of the well.

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

1 5. Any novel subject matter or com.bination including novel subject mn t t er herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.