GB2393918A

GB2393918A - Board game

Info

Publication number: GB2393918A
Application number: GB0223832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Berkovi
Original assignee: NUBBLE PARTNERSHIP Ltd
Current assignee: NUBBLE PARTNERSHIP Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-12
Filing date: 2002-10-12
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Also published as: GB0223832D0

Abstract

A board game comprises a board with a playing area 4 defined by a number of zones 2 each associated with one of six visual identifiers 3. Dice 6,7, with corresponding identifiers are thrown, with a players pieces 5 being positioned on the corresponding zones identified by the throw of the dice. The object is to create a continuous chain of pieces from a peripheral start zone, "1", to a central finish zone "1", which chain may be disrupted by substitution of a piece by an opponent.

Description

1 239391 8

BOARD GAME

The present invention relates to a board game and particularly, but not exclusively one to be played by two to six players or teams. For the purposes of the remainder of this 5 specification a team will be considered collectively as a player and referred to accordingly.

There are a number of board games which provide a mental challenge, exemplified by the game of chess, and others based almost purely on luck, for example Snakes and Ladders_. The present invention aims to provide a board game providing a stimulating 10 mental challenge element together with a "chance" component to provide a new challenge at almost every turn.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a board game comprising: at least one random identity generator; a board having a plurality of zones 15 arranged adjacent to one another to define a playing area each zone having a visual identity associated with one identity of the at least one random identity generator; a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each piece of a set being visually identifiable to enable it to be categorized as one of the set and associated with a player, each piece being arranged to be placed on one of the zones; and a set of rules, the rules requiring the following: 20 (a) Operation of the random identity generator by a player to identify one or more zone visual identities; (b) Placement of pieces associated with the player on one or more zones having a visual identity corresponding to that determined by the random identity generator; (c) The repetition of steps (a) and (b) by each player in turn; and 25 (d) Completion of a chain of player pieces across adjacent zones of the playing area from one predetermined start zone to a predetermined finish zone in order to win the game.

As will become apparent from the following description of the figures a game in

accordance with the present invention provides an almost endless number of permutations 30 on every turn, but also requires the player to maintain a longer term strategy.

- 2 One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the board of a game in accordance with the present invention; 5 Figure 2 is a side elevation of a playing piece in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates die for playing the game of the invention; and Figure 4 illustrates schematically the various moves that may be made by a player in accordance with the rules of the game.

Referring to figure 2 the board indicated generally as 1 is comprised a board, which may be of card and foldable in the conventional manner. On the board are marked a number of zones 2. The zones illustrated are circular but could be of any other shape, provided it is evident which zones are adjacent to one another. For example it is evident 15 from Figure 1 that each non-peripheral zone 2 has six adjacent zones 2.

Each zone 2 has a visual identity 3 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is represented by the numerals 1 to 6. Numerals are convenient visual identifiers for the purpose of the present specification, but to create a more aesthetically pleasing board the

20 visual identifier would be of different colours.

One hundred and twenty one zones are grouped together to form a playing area in the shape of a six pointed star 4, with the zones on each point and at the centre having the same visual identity"]". Intermediate zones comprise visual identities "2", "3", "4", "5" 25 and "6" arranged in roughly concentric circles.

Additional components of the game are six sets of pieces 5, each piece as shown in Figure 2, with each set comprising twenty pieces of the same colour, different to that of any other set, to enable that set to be associated with a particular player. Each piece 5 is 30 dimensioned to sit within a zone 2 on the board 1.

- 3 The game also comprises two dice 6, 7 as illustrated in figure 3. Each die has six faces representing each of the visual identities 3, of the zones 2 on the board 1. If the zones on the board had coloured visual identities then the six sides of each die 6, 7 would be coloured accordingly.

s The game also comprises a set of rules that require the game be played in the below described manner.

In the embodiment illustrated the game is for two to six players, (or teams), aged 7 10 to adult.

Summary of the rules

1. Each player chooses a set of up to 20 coloured pieces 5, hereinafter referred to as "pawns", and sits facing one of the points of the star on the board.

2. Players throw the dice 6, 7 in turn to reveal two identifiers.

3. One or two pawns on a turn can be placed on the board to match the identities on the dice 6, 7.

4. Each player tries to create a continuous chain of pawns of one visual identity 3 linking a "1 " zone at a point of the star to the central "1 " zone.

5. Player can capture other players' pawns, but a triangle of three pawns of one 25 colour prevents another player capturing any of those pawns.

6. Players can block other players' chains.

7. The winner is the first player to create a linked set of pawns of one visual identity 30 from the "1" zone at the edge of the board to the central "1" zone.

HOW TO PLAY

Getting ready to play Players choose a set of pawns of one colour.

Deciding who will start Each player rolls two dice 6,7 in turn. The first player who throws the same numbers on both dice makes the first move. The players then take turns, starting with that player and moving clockwise around the group.

Playing the game The aim of the game is to place pawns on the board to create continuous chain of one's own colour to link the "1" zone at the edge of the board to the "1" central zone.

15 Throwing the dice and placing pawns on the first turn On the first turn of a game, the first player throws the two dice to reveal two numbers. The player can now decide whether to place one or two pawns on the board on 20 zones matching the two numbers thrown.

Referring now to Figure 4 suppose that the first player holding a set of black pawns (hereinafter referred to and represented by the letter "X") throws the dice to reveal "1" and "2". They can now place one pawn on each of these zones as shown at "A" on figure 4.

25 The pawns on the "1 " and "2" zones are touching to form the start of a chain of pawns linking the "l" zone at the edge to the central "l" zone. Pawns do not however have to be placed on adjacent zones for any given turn.

Note that play on the central "1" zone can only occur at the end of a game, since it 30 forms the last move played by a winner. So if any player throws two "l"'s early in the

- s - game, they can only play on "1" zones at the edge of the board.

Throwing the dice and placing pawns after the first turn Once there are some pawns on the board, the next players to throw can choose from 5 any of the following moves: (1) Create their own chain of pawns (2) Capture opponents' pawns (3) Start to form a safe triangle of three connected pawns to prevent their capture (4) Block opponents' pawns chains 10 (5) Miss a turn rather than use any pawns Each of the first choices will now be explained with further reference to figure 3.

Creating your own chain of pawns 15 Now suppose that the second player holding a set of white pawns, (hereinafter referred to and represented by the letter "O"), throws a "3" and a "5". Like the first player, they can place their pawns on matching colours as shown at "B" on figure 4.

As play continues, each player tries to create a continuous chain of pawns from the 20 edge to the centre.

Capturing opponents' pawns Instead of placing a pawn on an unoccupied zone, a player may decide to place a pawn on a space occupied by an opposing pawn. The opposing pawn is removed from the 25 board and replaced by the capturer's pawn. The captured pawn is retained, but in accordance with alternative rules could be returned to its owner. This move is shown at "C" on figure 4. The player holding "X" pawns has thrown a "3" and decides to use one of their pawns to capture an opposing player's "O" pawn from its "3" zone.

- 6 Forrning a safe triangle If a player can form a triangle of three adjacent pawns this formation prevents their pawn from capture. A player can use this formation to strengthen their chain or to block an opponent's chance of completing a chain of pawns. Pawns in one triangle can also form 5 part of another triangle, so reinforcing each other. A safe triangle of pawns are illustrated at D of Figure 4.

Blocking opponents' chains Although each player is trying to create a continuous chain of pawns, it may first be 10 necessary to stop an opponent from completing their chain, by placing a pawn on a space which blocks the opponents links. This is an alternative to capturing and is called "blocking"; an example is shown at E of figure 4. The player with "X" pawns has thrown a "5" and an "X" pawn is now placed on a "5" zone amongst a group of "O" pawns, temporarily blocking a continuous chain. Of course the "X" pawn can subsequently be 15 captured or replaced by a "O" pawn if another "5" is thrown. That is unless a safe triangle can be formed by "X" pawns.

Further moves Play continues clockwise to the next person who throws the dice for their turn. The 20 next player now takes a turn, and the next player and so on around the group.

As pawns are placed on the board, players must take care to have enough pawns to "capture" or "block" or complete their winning moves.

25 If a player has used up or lost all of their pawns before completing a winning chain, they forfeit their position in the game.

Play continues until one player has the possibility of completing the chain from the edge to the centre, or is the only player with pawns to play. This player has to complete the 30 chain to win.

- 7 The End To win the game a player must be able to complete a chain with the central "1" zone as the last move on their turn. For example, suppose that a player needs to throw a "2" and a "l" to complete their chain. If they throw a "1" and a number other than "2" they cannot 5 play on the "l" zone.

An example of a complete winning chain is shown in Figure 4 under the reference F. 10 If neither player is able to complete a chain through lack of pawns, the game is considered drawn.

Games of varying difficulty Each player has 20 pawns available at the start of a game.

For harder games either 15 or even 12 pawns can be used instead of 20.

To make the game easier captured pawns can be returned to other player.

20 One embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention has been described by way of example only. However various modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent. For example the numbers could be represented by colours, the playing area need not be star shaped, and the playing area need not be symmetrical with the finish at the centre.

Claims

- 8 CLA1MS

1. A board game comprising: at least one random identity generator; a board having a plurality of zones arranged adjacent to one another to define a playing area each zone 5 having a visual identity associated with one identity of the at least one random identity generator; a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each piece of a set being visually identifiable to enable it to be categorised as one of the set and associated with a player, each piece being arranged to be placed on one of the zones; and a set of rules, the rules requiring the following: 10 (a) Operation of the random identity generator by a player to identify one or more zone visual identities; (b) Placement of pieces associated with the player on one or more zones having a visual identity corresponding to that determined by the random identity generator; (c) The repetition of steps (a) and (b) by each player in turn; and 15 (d) Completion of a chain of player pieces across adjacent zones of the playing area from one predetermined start zone to a predetermined finish zone in order to win the game.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the board has a plurality of start zones arranged at points on the periphery of the playing area, and a finish zone at or near the 20 centre of the playing area.

3. A game as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rules define a maximum number of players, or teams and wherein the board has a corresponding number of start zones, each start zone being separated from a single finish zone by an equal number of intervening 25 zones.

4. A game as claimed in claim 3 wherein the playing area is symmetrical about a central finish zone and has the form of a star with a start zone at each point of the star, the intervening zones between the start zones and finish zone comprising concentric circles of 30 zones of the same visual identity.

- 9 -

5. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the visual identities are colours.

6. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the at least one random identity 5 generator is a die with each side having one visual identity thereon corresponding to the visual identity of the zones.

7. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim comprising two dice wherein the rules require both dice to be thrown at each throw.

8. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the board has 121 zones arranged in the form of a 6 pointed star.

9. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein there are less playing pieces 15 than zones.

10. A game as claimed in claim 9 wherein the number of pieces is 20 per set.

11. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the rules permit a first player to 20 capture another players piece from a zone on which the first player wishes to place his piece.

12. A game as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rules require the captured piece be returned to that other player.

13. A game as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the rules require that the captured piece is removed from the game.

14. A game as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the rules provide for the 30 prevention of capture of a piece if that piece is arranged in a triangle with two pieces of the

- 10 same set positioned on adjacent zones.

15. A game as claimed in any proceeding claims wherein the rules provide that a player in his turn may position pieces on any zone of the board, having an identity corresponding 5 to that of the random identity generator for that turn, and need not commence on any start zone, but the finish zone can only be occupied to complete a chain extending from a start zone to the finish zone.

16. A game as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the rules provide for increasing 10 the difficulty of the game by reducing the number of pieces available to each player.

17. A board game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, the accompanying Figures.