GB2337005A

GB2337005A - Apparatus for a board game

Info

Publication number: GB2337005A
Application number: GB9910649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edmiston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-07
Filing date: 1999-05-07
Publication date: 1999-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-07
Also published as: GB9910649D0; GB2337005B; GB9809891D0

Abstract

An apparatus for a board game has a board divided into grid unit areas divided into a common playing zone and at least two individual playing zones 6,7 and a set of pieces 9,10 for use by each player, each set comprising building pieces 9 and interruption pieces 10. The board and pieces are such that the building pieces 9 of each set may be superimposed on grid unit areas commencing from an edge 4,5 of an individual playing zone 6,7, so as to form an unbroken path from the edge towards and into the common playing zone, and each interruption piece 10 may be superimposed on grid unit areas immediately adjacent to grid unit areas occupied by one or more building pieces 9 of an opposing player, thereby designating said one or more building pieces as a piece or pieces to be removed.

Description

1 Apparatus for a board cfame 2337005 The invention relates to an

apparatus for playing a game and, in particular, to an apparatus for playing a competitive game which may be played by two or more players. The invention provides a board game comprising: a board having a multiplicity of columns and rows defining a multiplicity of grid unit areas, the grid being divided into at least two individual playing zones of equal numbers of grid unit areas and a common playing zone, each said individual zone adjoining an edge of said common playing zone and being identifiable as being intended for the use by a different player, and the common playing zone being designated for use by all players; and a set of pieces for use by each player, each said set comprising a multiplicity of building pieces of such a size and configuration that they are each able to cover at least five grid unit areas and a multiplicity of interruption pieces that are distinguishable from the building pieces, each set of pieces being identifiable as those of one player; the board and pieces being such that the building pieces of each set may be superimposed on grid unit areas commencing from an edge of a respective individual playing zone so as to form an unbroken path from said outer edge of the respective individual playing zone towards and into the common playing zone, and each interruption piece may be so superimposed on grid unit areas immediately adjacent to grid unit areas occupied by one or more building pieces belonging to a set of pieces other than that to which the interruption piece belongs thereby designating said one or more building piece as a piece or pieces to be removed for replacement.

is 2 is With that arrangement, a game may be played by two or more persons, the game involving placement by each player in turn of a piece from his set of pieces thereby to achieve the desired object of the game. For example, each player may commence play from within his own designated individual playing zone, for example, from an edge thereof remote from the common playing zone. It may be stipulated, for example, that in the individual playing zone of each player only the building pieces of that player may be laid.

Advantageously the pieces are required to be so placed that each subsequent piece abuts at least one previously placed piece of the same player along at least two edges. The number and dimensions of the building pieces are preferably so selected that at least one third of them cannot be accommodated in the player's individual zone. Any building pieces that cannot be wholly accommodated within the individual zone must then be so placed that they are wholly or partly within the common playing zone. Each player may be permitted to place either a building piece or an interruption piece in the common playing zone. For example, a first player may so place an interruption piece that it abuts, along two adjacent mutually perpendicular edges, a piece or pieces of the opposing player, whereupon that piece of those pieces must be removed from the board by the opposing player and re-played in a subsequent turn. Entertainment may thus be derived from the game by each player endeavouring to acchieve the object of disposal of all of his building pieces, whilst simultaneously endeavouring by means of use of his interruption pieces to interfere with the attempt of any opposing player(s) to achieve that object.

Advantageously, there are two individual zones, the common playing zone being located between the two individual zones. It is also possible, however, for there to be more than two individual zones.

3 Advantageously, the building pieces are so dimensioned that they are able to cover at least six grid unit areas. Advantageously, the building pieces are so dimensioned that they cover not more than ten grid unit areas. Preferably, the building pieces are so dimensioned that they are able to cover from seven to nine grid unit areas.

In general, it is preferred for the interruption pieces to be smaller, that is, to cover a smaller number of grid squares, than the building pieces. The interruption pieces may be so dimensioned that they are able to cover not more than five grid unit areas, for example, from three to five grid unit areas.

Advantageously, the building pieces and the interruption pieces are so configured that the interruption pieces can abut against the building pieces along at least two perpendicular edges simultaneously. The building pieces may comprise one or more peninsular areas and at least one recessed area. The interruption pieces may then comprise at least one peninsular area that is so configured that it can f it into a recessed area of the building pieces.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a board of one form of board game according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a building piece for that game; Fig. 3 shows three interruption pieces; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the board of Fig. 1 showing partially completed game between two opposing players.

With reference to Fig. 1, the board comprises a flat, rectangular sheet of a material, which is preferably substantially rigid. The upper surface of the sheet, which provides the playing area, is divided by lines into a grid 4 of 20 by 27 squares of equal size (1 inch x 1 inch; 2. 5cm x 2. 5cm) Each said square constitutes a grid unit area.

The grid is divided by two transverse lines into three playing areas of equal size, consisting of two outer playing areas and a central playing area positioned between the outer areas. Each of the three playing areas contains 20 by 9 grid squares. The opposed edges of the board that are remote from the central area define a base line 4,5 from which the respective player is to start playing.

Each of the outer playing areas is identifiable as an individual playing zone 6 or 7 for the exclusive use of one of two competing players. The central playing area is designated as a common playing zone 8.

Two sets of playing pieces are provided, each set being identifiable, for example by the colour or colours of the pieces, as that of one of the competing players. Each set comprises a multiplicity of building pieces 9 (see Fig. 2) and a multiplicity of interruption pieces 10 (see Fig. 3). Each piece is flat and is so dimensioned and configured that when placed on the board, it covers a whole number of grid squares. In the form of building piece 9 illustrated in Fig. 2, the piece is arranged to cover eight grid squares of the board of Fig. 1 (the board of Fig. 1 being shown on a smaller scale than the pieces of Figs. 2 and 3). The configuration of the piece is so selected that the boundary has a number of stepwise progressions providing pairs, or a series of pairs, of mutually perpendicular adjacent edges 11. The building pieces also include a three-sided recess 12 corresponding to one grid square. The particular configuration of the piece 9 of Fig. 2 is selected in part for the opportunites provided for interlocking with other playing pieces, but also because it suggests an animate character, having two "legs" and a "head".

The interruption pieces 10 are also dimensioned to cover a whole number of grid squares, that number preferably being a lower number than that covered by the building pieces. Three possible forms of interruption piece are shown in Fig. 3, dimensioned to cover three, five and four grid squares, respectively. The configuration of the interruption pieces is generally such that they may interlock in many different ways with the building pieces, having adjacent mutually perpendicular edges 13.

Before the game is started, each player is allocated an individual playing zone 6 or 7 and a corresponding set of pieces. Each player in turn places a building piece 9 in his individual playing zone, the first piece being required to abut the base line 4 or 5, respectively, of the playing zone along at least one edge of the piece, and subsequent pieces being so placed such that at least two edges of the subsequent piece abut against at least two edges of a previously placed piece of the same player. Play continues with each player in turn placing a building piece 9 to form an uninterrupted path from the outer edge of his individual playing zone. Eventually, the or each player may decide. or be forced by lack of free space in their individual zone, to place one or more pieces such that it extends, or they extend, into the common zone 8. Thereafter, each player may decide, when it is his or her turn, to place an interruption piece 10 instead of a building piece 9. The interruption piece 10 is so placed that it abuts a piece or pieces of the opposing player along at least two adjacent perpendicular edges of the interruption piece. The opposing player then removes from the board all those of his building pieces 9 of which one or more edges are in contact with an edge or edges of the interruption piece 10. Once a player has placed a whole or part piece in the common zone 8, that player's individual 35 zone 6 or 7 may be attacked by the opposing player using 6 his interruption pieces (but the opposing player is still not permitted to place his own building pieces in the other player's individual zone). In addition to the penalty of having to remove adjoining pieces from the board, the player who has been the target of the attack by an interruption piece 10 may be required to miss a turn. Pieces removed from the board must then be re-played in a subsequent turn.

The object of the form of the game described is for each player to cover as much of the board as possible with his building pieces and, where possible, to prevent by use of the interruption pieces the opposing player's progress towards the same object.

Fig. 4 shows a board on which a game between two players, referred to below as players A and B, is in progress. Player A has started to play from base line 4 at the edge of playing zone 6, and player A's building pieces 10A are indicated by vertical or horizontal hatching. Player A's building pieces are confined to playing zone 6.

Player B has started play from base line 5 at the edge of playing zone 7, player B's building pieces 10B being indicated by diagonal hatching. Player B's pieces have been so placed that they form a continuous path across playing zone 7 and into the common playing zone 8. At the stage of the game shown in Fig. 4, Player A may, if he so wishes, place an interruption piece such that it has at least two adjacent perpendicular edges in abutment with at least two edges belonging to at least one of Player B's pieces located wholly or partly in common zone 8. Player B is not yet able to place any interruption pieces, as player A's building pieces are confined to playing zone 6. On placement by player A of an interruption piece as described, player B would then be required to remove from 7 the board the or each of his building pieces having any edge in abutment with the interruption piece.

There is described above an embodiment suitable for use by two competing players. It will be appreciated that, if the game is to involve more than two players, extra individual playing zones will need to be provided.

8

Claims

Claims is An apparatus for a board game comprising a board having a

multiplicity of columns and rows defining a multiplicity of grid unit areas, the <grid being divided into at least two individual playing zones of equal numbers of grid unit areas and a common playing zone, each said individual zone adjoining an edge of said common playing zone and being identifiable as being intended for the use by a different player, and the common playing zone being designated for use by all players; and a set of pieces for use by each player, each said set comprising a multiplicity of building pieces of such a size and configuration that they are each able to cover at least five grid unit areas and a multiplicity of interruption pieces that are distinguishable from the building pieces, each set of pieces being identifiable as those of one player; the board and pieces being such that the building pieces of each set may be superimposed on grid unit areas commencing from an edge of a respective individual playing zone so as to form an unbroken path from said outer edge of the respective individual playing zone towards and into the common playing zone, and each interruption piece may be so superimposed on grid unit areas immediately adjacent to grid unit areas occupied by one or more building pieces belonging to the set of pieces of an opposing player, thereby designating said one or more building piece as a piece or pieces to be removed for replacement. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there are two individual zones, the common playing zone being located between the two individual zones. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there are more than two individual zones.

9 7.

8.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the building pieces are so dimensioned that they are able to cover at least six grid unit areas. 5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the building pieces are so dimensioned that they cover not more than ten grid unit areas. 6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the building pieces are so dimensioned that are able to cover from seven to nine grid unit areas.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the interruption pieces are so dimensioned that they are able to cover not more than five grid unit areas.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the building pieces and the interruption pieces are so configured that the interruption pieces may abut against the building pieces along at least two perpendicular edges. 9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the building pieces comprise one or more peninsular areas and at least one recessed area. 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the interruption pieces comprise at least one peninsular area that is so configured that it can fit into a recessed area of the building pieces.

11. An apparatus for a board game substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated by, any one of Figs. 1 to 4. 12. An apparatus for a board game comprising a multiplicity of pieces including a multiplicity of pieces according to Fig. 2 in combination with one or more pieces according to Fig. 3.