GB2442268A - Board game apparatus for containing dice and method of play - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game apparatus comprises a frame having a grid of recessed substantially square-shaped holes <B>B</B> in which a plurality of dice can be placed. The apparatus also comprises two cubes, of the same size as the dice, being used as player's tokens. The holes <B>B</B> are shaped by having additional recesses on all four sides of the square holes <B>B</B> to enable the numbers on the dice to be changed by shaking the apparatus therefore creating a random number display. A method of playing the game is also disclosed.

Description

I

Method And Apparatus For Playing A New Game The invention refers to a new apparatus and method for playing a game.

Different board games have been invented for entertainment and educational purposes. Many board games require movement of pieces around the board.

Pieces may be moved as determined by a random indicator such as a die or several dice, or by a predetermined rule which allows a specific piece to be moved in either a specific direction, and or a specific distance. Games which require the use of a random indicator would require the random indicator to be used for each move throughout the game. Where random indicators are used to determine the distance and or the direction of each move, no board game requires the random indicators to select all possible moves throughout each game before the game commences.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising of a grid which may be 8 units by 8 units, or it may be larger or smaller. Each unit may be distinguished either by a printed border, an embossed or raised edge, or may be recessed. In addition to the grid, a number of dice are included, whereby each unit of the grid will contain one die, with the exception of 2 units. In addition the apparatus provides 2 objects of similar dimensions to the dice included, which are distinguishable from each other and the dice, and denote the players' positions on the grid.

At the start of each game, each unit of the grid contains either one die, or one players' position indicator. The number face up on each die is randomly selected before the game commences. The numbers face up on each die determine all permitted moves for the duration of the game.

Accordingly, this apparatus provides a board game in which all moves are determined by a random indicator, and whereby all moves permitted during each game are determined prior to the start of play. The selection of moves permitted in each game will most likely be different every time the game is played, but the selection of moves remains the same until the end of each game.

Preferably, the grid is constructed in such a fashion as to allow each die and each player's position indicator to be easily removed from each unit on the grid, and that each die and player's position indicator can be easily placed in an empty unit. It is also preferable that each unit of the grid holds its contents sufficiently, so as to allow random selection of the face up numbers on all of the dice by shaking the apparatus, without the contents of each unit being dislodged from the unit.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus without the random indicators, and FIGURE 2 shows a side view cross section of the apparatus without the random indicators, and FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus with the random indicators, prepared to commence playing.

The invention is an apparatus and method for playing a 2 player game.

As shown in Figure 1 the apparatus comprises of a square board A on which a grid of 64 recessed squares B are arranged in an 8 by 8 pattern. The recesses are deep enough so as to allow a small cube such as a die or similar object to be placed inside and easily removed, as shown in Figure 2.

The method for playing the game using this apparatus requires I die to be placed in each of the recesses B on the game board A with the exception of 2 specific recesses C and D as shown in Figure 3. The recesses C and D each contain an object of similar size to the dice used with this apparatus, each being of a distinctly different colour. The objects inside the recesses C and D represent the players' tokens and indicate the position from which each player makes their move.

The game is played between 2 players each controlling one token. Before commencing play, players must decide which player will move first and which colour token each player will use. The game board is then shaken so as to cause the dice to move within the recesses, randomly altering the number showing on each die. The apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is designed so as to allow each die to move freely within the recess, and so that each die remains within the recess during shaking. Once complete, the numbers showing on each die must not be altered for the remainder of the game.

The player moving first can move their token from the starting recess C to another recess, the target recess, by counting the number of recess between the starting recess and the target recess. If the number is equal to the number shown on the die in the target recess, the move is permitted. The player must remove the die from the target recess and replace it with their token. The route to the target recess does not have to be in a straight line, the route can follow a path moving up, down, left and right, but not diagonally and the route cannot pass over the same recess more than once.

In Figure 3, the player whose token lies in recess C could plot the following route: 1 down, 2 right, 3 up, thus reaching the recess immediately to the right of the recess marked C which contains a die showing the number 3. As this route contained 3 steps, and the die in the target recess also contains the number 3, the move is permitted. The first player may remove the die from this recess and replace it with the player's token.

Following the first players move, the second player must move their token from its starting position in recess D to another recess by following the same rules outlined above for the first player's move. An example of a permitted move for the second player could plot the following route: 1 down, 2 down, 3 left, 4 left, to a target recess containing a die showing the number 4. The game continues with each player moving their token in turn to a recess containing a die showing a number equal to the number of recesses the token will pass on the players' chosen route to the target recess.

As each player moves their token, and removes the die from the target recess, an increasing number of recesses will be left empty. When plotting the route from the starting recess to the target recess it is not permitted to pass over an empty recess. It is also not permitted to plot the route to the target recess over a recess containing the opponent's token.

A further rule restricts the movement of the players' tokens so that it is not permitted to move to a recess that is further than 6 recesses from the recess occupied by the opponents token. In the games starting position, the recesses C and D are exactly 6 recesses apart, which is the maximum permitted distance between the 2 players' tokens. For the purpose of calculating the distanced between the 2 players' tokens, it does not matter if the recesses between the 2 tokens contain a die or not.

The game continues until the position of the players' tokens, and the pattern of empty recesses are such that the player whose turn it is to move their token does not have any permitted moves available to make. The winner of the game is the player who makes the last permitted move.

Claims (2)

1. A method and apparatus for playing a new game.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.