GB2301781A - Board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game comprises a board 10, playing pieces and a random selector and is arranged to simulate the reaching of an island 11 by each player. This is achieved by the provision of a bridge B pivoting under gravity as players are able to advance over placements on the bridge. Players may only pass onto the bridge if its end is lowered towards them and similarly pass off the bridge when the exit side is lowered.

Description

Board Game This invention relates to board games and, in particular, to board games comprising a board, playing pieces and a random selector, the board providing placements for the playing pieces whereby the playing pieces may be progressed over the placements according to the operation of the random selector.

There have been proposed numerous board games following the principle of playing pieces being progressed around placements on a board according to the playing of dice by the players.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved board game with features lending extra interest and skill for the players.

According to the invention there is provided a board game comprising a board, playing pieces and a random selector, the board providing placements for the playing pieces whereby the playing pieces may be progressed over the placements and according to the operation of the random selector, the game further comprising a pivotable unit also including placements for the playing pieces, pivoting of the unit determining whether the playing pieces can move onto and from the unit to or from other placements.

Preferably the pivotable unit pivots about a horizontal axis under gravitational forces and under the action of placing playing pieces thereon, the pivotable unit having a plurality of placements located to either side of the axis of pivoting.

Conveniently the pivotable unit acts as a bridge which is locatable with one or other of its ends in contact with the board at any one time, according to the positions of the playing pieces on the bridge.

The placements may be located for two or more players, each player having a set of base placements and a set of home placements connected by transit placements, at least some of the transit placements being located on the bridge and the object of the game being to progress the playing pieces from the base to the home placements over the bridge placements.

Access to and from the bridge placements is only possible when the bridge has its end in contact with the board at the end suitable for gaining entry to or exit from the bridge placements.

The board may be marked so that the bridge extends across marking simulating water, the home placements only being reached by crossing the water area.

The preferred rules of the game and an embodiment of the board and the associated parts will become apparent by reference to the drawings, in which; Fig.l is a plan view of a board game according to the invention, Fig.2 is a perspective view of components of the board game constituting the 'home camp', Fig.3 is a section on the line X-X in Fig.2, Fig.4 is a side view of flag components to fit in the base camp of Fig.2, Fig.5 is a perspective view of a component of the game, comprising a bridge, Fig.6 is a section on the line Y-Y in Fig.5, Fig.7 is a perspective view of a base camp component of the game, Fig.8 is a section on the line Z-Z in Fig.7, Fig.9 are side elevations of playing pieces for the game, and Fig. 10 shows two perspective views of a random selector for the game.

Referring to the drawings, Fig.1 shows a plan view of the board game with assembled components including a board 10 which is marked out to represent a central island 11, an area of water 12 surrounding the island 11 and land areas 13, 14, 15 and 16 located to each corner of the board 10.

The central area of the island 11 has removably located thereon a 4-part assembly A constituting a "home camp". The components 19 are each substantially the same and provide generally triangular units having an elevated area or platform 20 in which depressions 21 provide placements for the playing pieces (to be described).

A ledge 22 is stepped below the platform 20 and provides three spaced apart placements 23 (the "danger zone") for the playing pieces. The placements 21 in the platform 20 are in three rows which extend from the placements 23 in the ledge 22.

At one corner of each unit 19 is provided an opening for receiving "standards" 25 which are four in number and which each carry a different device 26 at their upper end, in this case devices representing a helmet, a shield, a crown and a pennant, each located on a stem and marking the home camp of the individual players. When assembled the platforms 20 are separated from one another by a castellated upright 28 carried on each unit 19.

The game also provides a bridge unit, identified as B in Fig.l, which is arranged to be located over the water 12 between the island 11 and the land areas 13, 14, 15 and 16, as seen in Fig.1. The bridge units are more clearly shown in Fig.5. Each bridge unit B comprises a base 30 to which is attached through pivots 31 a rectangular, pivotable beam 32.

In the beam 32 are formed twelve apertures or placements 33 for playing pieces. These placements 33 are arranged along two rows for each bridge and the placements are in pairs in a crosswise direction. The beam 32 pivots about the pivots 31 according to the location of playing pieces in the placements 33, movement of the beam 32 about its pivot being under gravity'and being caused by the weight of the playing pieces.

Thus if there are more playing pieces to the left of the pivot that end of the beam 32 engages the board, or vice versa.

Referring now to Fig.7 there is shown a "base camp" C for the playing pieces. The base camp C comprises a rectangular box providing a base 35 in which is formed nine placements 36 for nine the playing pieces, the placements 36 being formed as part circular depressions. In use the base camp is located adjacent a respective land area 13, 14, 15 or 16. Of the placements 36 one row is for white playing pieces and two other rows for red playing pieces.

Playing pieces are provided, as shown in Fig.9 which, in this case, are in four sets, each set being distinguished from the other. Each playing piece comprises a spherical base portion 39 and a distinguishing portion 40 attached thereto, the distinguishing portions 40 in this case corresponding to the helmet, shield, crown and pennant items 26 carried on the standards 25. The playing pieces are locatable in the depressions 36 in the base camp, in the openings 33 in the bridge B, and in the depressions 21 and 23 of the home camp A.

There are nine playing pieces for each player of which three are with red bases and six are with white bases.

A random selector is provided which may be of the kind shown in Fig.lO. As shown in Fig.10 each face of a six-sided cube may have applied thereto a different symbol the relevance of which will be understood in relation to the Rules.

The game structure as described can be played according to the Rules which follow, or in accordance with other Rules by which the playing pieces progress over the placements from the base camp to the home camp placements using the random selector.

Although the game is shown as having provision for up to four players, provision for more or fewer players can be provided within the scope of the game. Moreover instead of the bridge unit being a simple pivotable beam other means may be used for detecting which way the beam should tilt, such as electric or electronic means.

There now follows a preferred set of Rules for playing the game.

Rules The object of the game is to get all your pieces (red and white) across the bridge and into the home camp.

The game commences by each player throwing the selector or dice in turn until a blue spot is thrown. Then that player is the first to throw the dice. The players throw the dice in turn in a clockwise direction. The dice is colour coded as follows: blue - no move, white - move any white piece forward 1 space, white with red dot - move any white piece forward 1 space and throw again (Note: if it is not possible to move the player may still throw again), red - move any red piece forward 1 space or use the throw to send an opponents piece back to its home base (see rule 8 and 9), red with white dot move any red piece forward 1 space or use the throw to send an opponents piece back to his home base (see rule 8 and 9) and throw again. (Note: if it is not possible to move or send an opponents piece back to its home base, the player may still throw again).Play is as follows: 1) On the throw of the dice the player moves his pieces according to the colour shown. He may only move onto the first space on the bridge when the bridge is resting on the bank of the base camp.

2) Players may only move 1 space at a time in a forward direction.

3) Either lane of the bridge may be used for both red or white pieces.

4) When the balance of the bridge under weight of the pieces takes the bridge down onto the home camp bank, players may not move pieces from their base camp onto the bridge.

5) Players may only exit from the bridge if the bridge is touching the home base bank.

6) The home base has three lanes, 1 Lane with 3 red spaces and 2 Lanes with 3 white spaces. In front of each of the home camp spaces there is a black danger zone 22.

7) Players must move one space at a time through the danger zone to fill up their home camp.

8) Once a player has one red piece in his home camp he is then eligible to remove other players pieces back to their base camp. (See dice moves).

9) When a red or red and white spot is thrown the player may choose to move his own red piece or alternatively remove an opponents piece. An opponents piece can only be moved if:a) The player wishing to remove him has a red piece in his home camp.

b) The opponent has a piece (red or white) in the black danger zone.

Note: If more than two players are playing, the player may only remove an opponents piece to his immediate right.

The winner is the first player to move all his pieces safely into his home camp.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A board game comprising a board, playing pieces and a random selector, the board providing placements for the playing pieces whereby the playing pieces may be progressed over the placements and according to the operation of the random selector, the game further comprising a pivotable unit also including placements for the playing pieces, pivoting of the unit determining whether the playing pieces can move onto and from the pivotable unit to or from other placements.

2. A board game according to claim 1 wherein the pivotable unit pivots about a horizontal axis under gravitational forces and under the action of placing playing pieces thereon, the pivotable unit having a plurality of placements located to either side of the axis of pivoting.

3. A board game according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the pivotable unit acts as a bridge which is locatable with one or other of its ends in contact with the board at any one time, according to the positions of playing pieces on the bridge.

4. A board game according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the placements are provided for two or more players, each player having a set of base placements and a set of home placements connected by transit placements, at least some of the transit placements being located on the bridge and the object of the game being to progress the playing pieces from the base to the home placement over the bridge placements.

5. A board game according to claim 4 wherein access to and from the bridge placements is only possible when the bridge has its end in contact with the board at the end suitable for gaining entry to or exit from the bridge placements.

6. A board game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the board is marked so that the pivotable unit extends across marking simulating water and home placements are reached only by crossing the water area.

7. A board game substantially as described with reference to the drawings.