GB2498507A

GB2498507A - Board game in which pieces are moved according to their shape

Info

Publication number: GB2498507A
Application number: GB1116796.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Curtis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-29
Filing date: 2011-09-29
Publication date: 2013-07-24
Also published as: GB201116796D0

Abstract

A board game uses a game board 51 marked with a grid of playing spaces and game pieces comprising first pieces 11, second pieces 21, and third pieces 31 having respective first, second, and third polyhedral forms. During play the pieces are moved across the board by a number of adjacent marked spaces less than or equal to the number of vertices of the game piece being moved. The first, second and third game pieces respectively may comprise cubes, square-based pyramids and tetrahedrons. The game may use equal numbers of each piece, preferably split into two equal sets of pieces. The game may include fourth game pieces 41 of a fourth polyhedral form, e.g. spheres, preferably one for each set of pieces and which, during play, are not permitted to move, the aim of the game being to capture the fourth piece 41 of the opponent. One set of game pieces may be black and the other set white. Alternatively, the pieces may be provided on an upper surface with a black bead or white bead (13, fig. 1a; 23, fig. 1b; 33, fig. 1c; 43, fig.1d) for indicating the set to which each piece belongs.

Description

Board game

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns board games. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns board games which involve moving a set of game pieces on a game board according to a set of game rules.

Background of the Invention

There exist several prior art board games which involve strategy in the placement of pieces on a two-dimensional board. Chess is perhaps the best known strategy board game, being one of the world's most popular games.

Chess is a two-player game played on a square chequered board having 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid.

Each player starts with sixteen pieces which are grouped into six different types (king, queen, rook, knight, bishop and pawn). Each type differs in how it is allowed to move on the board. Players may use their pieces to take the other person's pieces out of play, and the winner is the first player to be in a position to take their opponent's king out of play.

The relatively large number of different types of chess pieces and the different rules associated with each type mean that chess can be tricky for a beginner to learn. It also means that complex strategies and a significant degree of forward thinking must be employed to play the game wiLh proficiency, making it difficult for most people to master.

These factors mean that many people are put off even attempting to learn chess, and many more people who do begin to play never attain a sufficient degree of proficiency to really enjoy the game.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved strategy board game.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides board game apparatus comprising a game board and a plurality of game pieces for moving over the board, the board being provided with a plurality of marked spaces arranged in a grid; wherein the plurality of game pieces includes: first game pieces of a first polyhedral form; second game pieces of a second polyhedral form; and third game pieces of a third polyhedral form; and wherein the game pieces may be moved across the board by a number of adjacent marked spaces less than or equal to the number of vertices of the game piece being moved.

Relating the number of spaces which a particular type of game piece is permitted to move across the board directly to the number of vertices of that game piece provides an easy way for players to remember the specific rule associated with each type of piece. This feature is particularly advantageous in embodiments of the invention where the other rules of the game are the same for all types of game piece. Thus new players do not need to spend any significant time familiarising themselves with the functions of the different types of game piece before beginning play.

The first game pieces may comprise cubes. The first game pieces may be moved in a first predetermined manner.

The first predetermined manner may comprise moving the first game pieces across the board by up to eight adjacent marked spaces. The second game pieces may comprise square-based pyramids. The second game pieces may be moved in a second predetermined manner. The second predetermined manner may comprise moving a second game piece across the board by up to five adjacent marked spaces. The third game pieces may comprise tetrahedrons. The third game pieces may be moved in a third predetermined manner. The third predetermined manner may comprise moving a third game piece across the board by up to four adjacent marked spaces.

The apparatus may comprise equal numbers of first, secOnd and third game pieces. Preferably the apparatus comprises sixteen first game pieces, sixteen second game pieces and sixteen third game pieces. The apparatus may comprise a first set of game pieces and a second set of game pieces, each set including at least one first, second and third game piece. The first and second set of game pieces may be identical in the number and type of game pieces they comprise.

Preferably the first set of game pieces comprises eight first game pieces, eight second game pieces and eight third game pieces. Preferably the second set of game pieces comprises eight first game pieces, eight second game pieces and eight third game pieces. Advantageously, this allows the first set of game pieces to be arranged in three rows on a first side of the game board, to be used by a first player, and the second set of game pieces to be arranged in three rows on a second side of the game board opposite the first side, to be used by a second player. The first set of game pieces may comprise markings for distinguishing them from the second set of game pieces. The second set of game pieces may comprise markings for distinguishing them from the first set of game pieces. For example, the first set of game pieces may comprise a portion of a first colour and the second set of game pieces may comprise a portion of a second, different, colour.

The apparatus may further comprise fourth game pieces of a fourth polyhedral form. The fourth game pieces may comprise spheres. The fourth game pieces may be moved over the board in a fourth predetermined manner. The fourth predetermined manner may comprise maintaining the fourth game pieces on the same marked square for the duration of a game, The fourth predetermined manner may include ending the game when a fourth game piece is in a position to be taken.

The apparatus may comprise two fourth game pieces. The first set of game pieces nay include a fourth game piece.

The second set of game pieces may include a fourth game piece. Preferably the first set and the second set both include one fourth game piece. Embodiments of the invention in which the fourth game piece is a unique game piece in each set have the advantage that the fourth game pièce readily stands out from the other game pieces when a game is in progress. This is desirable because taking the fourth game piece belonging to an opponent is the object of the game.

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Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure la shows a perspective view of a first game piece according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure lb shows a perspective view of a second game piece according to the first embodiment; Figure ic shows a perspective view of a third game piece according to the first embodiment; Figire id shows a perspective view of a fourth game piece according to the first embodiment; and Figure 2 shows a plan viOw of a game board and game pieces according to the first embodiment.

Detailed Description

Figures la, b, c and d show the various different types of game piece which are used in an embodiment of the invention. The game piece 11 shown in figure la, hereinafter referred to as a Cube, is a solid wooden cube 12 with sides 2cm long. A spherical wooden bead 13 with a diameter of 5mm is glued to one face of cube 12. A full set of game pieces according to this embodiment includes sixteen such Cubes 11.

Eight of the Cubes 11 have a bead 13 which is painted black.

The remaining eight Cubes 11 have a bead 13 which is painted white.

The game piece 21 shown in figure lb, hereinafter referred to as a Pyra, is a solid wooden square-based pyramid 22. The edges 24 of the square base are 2cm long. H The remaining edges 25 are 2.5cm long. A spherical wooden bead 23 with a diameter of 5mm is glued to the apex of pyramid 22. The apex is slightly truncated so as to provide a surface to which the bead 23 can be securely bonded. A full set of game pieces according to this embodiment includes sixteen such Pyras 21. Eight of the Pyras 21 have a bead23 which is painted black. The remaining eight Pyras 21 have a bead 23 which is painted white.

The game piece 31 shown in figure ib, hereinafter referred to as a Tetra, is a solid wooden tetrahedron 32 with base edges 34 which are 2cm long. The remaining edges 35 are 2.5cm long. A spherical wooden bead 33 with a diameter of 5mm is glued to the apex of tetrahedron 32. The apex is slightly truncated so as to provide a surface to which the bead 33 can be securely bonded. A full set of game pieces according to this embodiment includes sixteen such Tetras 31. Eight of the Tetras 31 have a bead 33 which is painted black. The remaining eight Tetras 31 have a bead 33 which is painted white.

The game piece 41 shown in figure ib, hereinafter referred to as a Sphere, is a solid wooden *sphere 42 with a diameter of 2cm. A spherical wooden bead 43 with a diameter of 5mm is glued to the top of the sphere 42. Diametrically opposite the bead 43 the sphere has a circular flat region (not shown) created by sanding the surface of the sphere 42, which allows the Sphere 41 to stand stably on a flat surface. A full set of game pieces according to this embodiment includes two such Spheres 41. One of the Spheres 41 has a bead 43 which is painted black, whilst the other has a bead 43 which is painted white.

The game apparatus of the present embodiment also includes a game board 51, which is shown in Figure 2. The game board 51 is a wooden board having an eight-by-eight square grid of alternating black and white squares, like that used in chess, painted on one of its surfaces. Each square has sides 3cm long.

The game apparatusmade up of the game board and the game pieces is used to play a game as follows. The game is played between two individuals, or two teams. If played between two teams, each team must arrive at a collective decision on how to move for eah turn. Players (or teams) take it in turns to make a move. The first player (or team) plays with a first set of game pieces comprising those pieces with white beads. The second player plays with a second set of game pieces comprising those pieces with back beads. The first set of game pieces consists of eight white Cubes, eight white Pyras, eight white Tetras and one white Sphere. The second set of game pieces consists of eight blac]c Cubes, eight black Pyras, eight black Tetras and one black Sphere.

The game is set up by arranging the eight white Cubes along the first row of squares on the game *board and the eight black Cubes along the eighth row of squares on the game board. The Pyras are arranged onthe next rows in (i.e. white Pyras on the second row and black Pyras on the seventh row) . The Tetras are arranged on the rows adjacent the Pyras (i.e. white Tetras pn the third row and black Tetras on the sixth row) To begin the game, each player (or team) sacrifices one of their Cubes or Pyras and the discarded game pieces are put aside Each player then places their Sphere in the space left by their sacrificed piece Figure 2 shows a game board and pieces at this stage of a game It will be seen that the white player has substituted their Sphere 41 for a Pyra 21 whilst the black player has substituted their Sphere 41 for a Cube 11 (the discarded Cube and Pyra are not shown) The player (or team) váho makes this substitution first also takes the first move. Which player goes first may be decided by agreement between the players or by the toss of a coin Players may be allowed as much time as they require to decide on their next move, alternatively the game may be played such that a fixed period of time is aflbwed for each move, for example 2 minutes. It will be appreciated that this variatior typically resultsin a faster-paced game of shorter duration.

The maximum number of places on the board which a game piece is permitted to move in a single turn is determined by the number of vertices that game piece has. Thus, a Cube can move up t6 eight places on the board in a single turn, a Pyra can move up to five places, and a Tetra can move up to four places Spheres (having no vertices) cannot move at all Cubes, Pyras and Tetras can all move forwards, backwards and/or sideways between adjacent squares (not necessarily moving in a straight line), but may not move diagonalli.

A moving piece may not jump over another piece on the board. Movement of a piece may lead to it occupying a-different free square, or to it occupying a squa±e already occupied by one of the opponent's pieces. In the second scenario, the proponent removes the opponent's piece fror.

play by taking it off the board and placing it to one side The object of the game is to capture the opposing player's Sphere by means of the proponent's piece landing on the square occupied by that Sphere. The piece taking the sphere may be any Pyra, Tetra or Cube belonging to the proponent.

When this occurs the game is over and the player whose Sphere has been taken has lost. The other player (or team) is therefore the winner If, before this stage is reached, one of the players loses all of their moving pieces (i e Cubes, Tetras and Pyras) then the game is over and the player with only a Sphere left has lost This is because if a player has no moving pieces left there is no possibility that they can take the other player's Sphere, and it is only a matter of time before their own phere is taken.

It is impossible for the game tO result in a draw.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many differentvariations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

The game pieces need not be made of wood, and indeed need not all be made from the same material. For example the first set may be made of metal and the second set may be made of glass. Alternatively all of the game pieces could be made of polished stone. The game piedes need not include a bead for distinguishing one set from the other. Instead, the game pieces themselves may be differently coloured, ot they may bear some other form of distinguishing marking. If no bead is used then the apexes of tha Pyras anci Tetras do not need to be truncated.

The game board need not be wooden. It could alternatively be made from, for example, glass or cardboard.

The spaces on the game board do not need to be black and white, and indeed may in some embodiments of the invention be all the same colour.

The dimensions of the game pieces can be different from those provided above, although clearly the game pieces must fit within the spaces on the board. Other polyhedrons than those described above may be used, provided they have the correct number of vertices. Spheres, for example, may actually be ovoid or egg-shaped.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or

elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually et forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

<claim-text>-Claims 1. Board game apparatus comprising a game board and a plurality of game pieces for moving over the board, the board being provided with a plurality of marked spaces arranged in a grid; wherein the plurality of game pieces includes: first game pieces of a first polyhedral form; second game pieces of a second polyhedral form; and third game pieces of a third polyhedral form; and wherein the game pieces may be moved across the board by a number of adjacent marked spaces less than or equal to the number of vertices of the game piece being moved.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. Board game apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first game pieces comprise cubes.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. Board game apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the second game pieces comprise square-based pyramids.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. Board game apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the third game pieces comprise tetrahedrons.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. Board game apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus comprises egual numbers of first, second and third game pieces.</claim-text> <claim-text>-12 - 6. Board game apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus comprises two sets of game pieces, each set including at least one first, second and third game piece.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. Board game apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus further comprises fourth game pieces of a fourth polyhedral form.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. Board game apparatus according to claim 7, in which the fourth game pieces comprise spheres.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. Board game apparatus according to claim 7 or claim B, in which the apparatus comprises two fourth pieces.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. Board game apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figs. la, lb, ic, id and 2 of the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>