WO2006020848A2 - Board game with challenges - Google Patents

Abstract

A game may include a game board, game pieces, and rules for playing a game for a plurality of players. A goal of the game may be to collect character attributes during game play and use those attributes to successfully complete a final challenge. The game may also include multiple tile-like pieces, a number of character movers, and at least one die. The tile-like pieces may be used to provide character attributes and present intermediate challenges during game play. Play may include moving character movers between a beginning game space and an end game space along one or more main pathways interconnected by bridging paths.

Description

BOARDGAMEWITH CHALLENGES

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 60/601,681, filed August 12, 2004 and entitled "Board Game."

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/601,681 is incorporated herein by

reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to board games. More specifically,

the present disclosure relates to rules and apparatus for playing a pathway collection

board game for two or more players wherein the object of the game is for a player

to confront a final challenge on a game board and successfully complete that

challenge.

Background

Examples of related pathway collection games with tokens signifying point

values or tools are found in U.S. Patents and Patent Application Publications

numbered: 815,960; 907,421; 1,705,141; 2,470,632; 3,201,129; 3,799,547;

3,865,381; 3,871,659; 3,889,954; 4,192,512; 4,396,195; 4,456,258; 4,477,080;

4,666,162; 4,669,734; 4,696,476; 5,004,245; 5,009,431; 5,129,655; 6,481,714;

6,575,463; 6,581,932; D305,039; D328,616; US2002/0185813; and

US2002/0190466. Another example of an apparatus embodying some aspects of a

pathway collection game may be found in European Patent Publication WO

02/092,178. The disclosures of the aforementioned patents and patent publications

are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Summary

The present disclosure relates to rules and apparatus for playing a pathway

collection game that may utilize a game board, a plurality of game cards, a random

number device, and a number of character movers. The game board may contain a

number of interconnected pathways. In addition, the game board may include

beginning and ending game spaces, which may be the beginning and ending points

of a number of interconnected pathways. A plurality of game cards may be provided

with the game board, and the game cards may provide for variability in game play

by affecting rewards earned, penalties received, and obstacles overcome by a player

during the course of game play. A number of character movers may be provided

with the game board and game cards, such that a number of players may

simultaneously play a game according to the present disclosure.

In an illustrated embodiment, the indicia used in the game, including a game

board, game cards, and character movers, are based on characters, items, and

adventures appearing in a MaxSteeϊ™ collection of toys and games.

The advantages of a game played according to the present disclosure will be

understood more readily after consideration of the drawings and the Detailed

Description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 depicts an embodiment of a game board suitable for use with a game

according to the present disclosure.

Figs. 2A-2D depict embodiments of game cards suitable for use with a game

according to the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pathway collection game playable by

two or more players. In an illustrated embodiment, two or more players may control

character movers and move them about a game board, gaining character mover

attributes by collecting skill tokens and/or playing cards. A set of character mover

attributes collected by a player may be used in a confrontation with a nemesis

disposed at a certain location on the game board. A first player to collect a set of

character mover attributes necessary to defeat the nemesis may be declared winner

of the game.

[0002] As shown in Fig. 1, a game 8 as provided in the present disclosure may

include a game board 10 with an associated playing surface 12 having a beginning

game space 16 connected via a number of pathway spaces 17 to an ending game

space 18. Pathway spaces 17 may define both main pathways 14 and bridging

paths 15 between the beginning and ending game spaces. A plurality of game tiles

30 may be provided with the game, and the game tiles may define a number of

game challenges to be accomplished by a number of players as the players move

their character movers 40 about the game board. Progression of a character mover

about the game board may be made at the direction of a number generator 60, such

as a standard die.

[0003] Fig. 1 shows generally, at 10, an overview of a game board of a game 8

of the present disclosure. The game board 10 may have a playing surface 12 that

contains a number of separate main pathways 14. Main pathways 14 may connect a

beginning game space 16 to an ending game space 18. At least a pair of main

pathways 14 may be connected by a bridging path 15, such that a game player

moving a character mover along one main pathway may cross to another main

pathway by way of a bridging path. Main pathways 14 and bridging paths 15 may

each include a number of pathway spaces 17.

[0004] Game board 10 may be constructed of any suitable material and may

have any suitable shape, such as a generally square shape, and it may be two-

dimensional or it may be three-dimensional. Game board 10 may be constructed of

any suitable material for forming a stable game surface. For example, the game

board may be made of cardboard or heavyweight paper, or plastic, or rubber, etc. A

playing surface 12 of game board 10 may present a playing area for game 10.

Playing surface 12 may be a design printed directly onto a base board. Alternatively,

or in addition, playing surface 12 may be a printed substrate that is fastened to a

base board through any suitable securing means. For example, playing surface 12

may be configured as a printed piece of heavyweight paper that is glued into

immovable fixation with a base board. In other embodiments, playing surface 12

and game board 10 may be configured as a flexible material that could be laid down

temporarily onto, for example, a tabletop, or a countertop, or any other suitable

surface. For entertainment value, playing surface 12 may be printed with a theme

that provides for interesting game play. For example, playing surface 12 could be

colored randomly, or it could be printed into a colorful pattern, or it could present a

chosen game theme. In an illustrated embodiment, playing surface 12 may be

printed with a jungle or wilderness theme.

[0005] As noted earlier, playing surface 12 may include a number of main

pathways 14 having a number of serially positioned pathway spaces 17. A game

player may move a character mover along a number of pathway spaces 17 making

up a main pathway 14. For example, a plurality of main pathways 14 may connect a

beginning game space 16 to an ending game space 18. Alternatively, a single main

pathway 14 may connect a beginning game space 16 to an ending game space 18.

In proceeding from the beginning game space to the ending game space, a given

main pathway may not describe a direct, rectilinear route, but may describe an

indirect, curving or otherwise direction-varying route. Alternatively, or in addition,

some main pathways 14 may proceed in a rectilinear manner from the beginning

game space to the ending game space, while other main pathways 14 may proceed

in a nonrectilinear manner from the beginning to the ending game space.

[0006] Main pathways 14 may be interconnected by bridging paths 15. Bridging

paths 15 may connect two or more pathways 14 at any of one or more locations

along the lengths of the pathways, and may serve to give a game player more

options in choosing a route between a beginning game space and an ending game

space. For example, it may be the case that a game player is moving a character

mover along a first main pathway from the beginning game space to the ending

game space. However, the game player may wish to move the character mover

along a second, different main pathway. By utilizing a bridging path 15, a player

may move from the first main pathway to the second main pathway. [0007] Main pathways 14 may be composed of a number of pathway spaces

17. A set of pathway spaces 17 on a game board may include a number of subsets

of special pathway spaces. Subsets of pathway spaces may include pathway spaces

defining obstacle challenges, spaces defining opportunities for reward accumulation,

spaces that serve to alter game play, and/or spaces that may have no special

purpose. Other types of pathway spaces are possible. Distinct subsets of pathway

spaces on the main pathway may be differentiated by the color of subsets of

pathway spaces, or by differences in shape between subsets of pathway spaces, or

by any other means to differentiate one subset of spaces from another. In an

illustrated embodiment, pathway spaces without a special function may be colored

some hue of green, as part of a general jungle theme to a game board. Pathway

spaces involving an obstacle challenge, for example, such as represented by

pathway spaces 11, 13, may be colored a different color, perhaps black. Pathway

spaces involving a reward accumulation, for example, as represented by pathway

spaces 19, may be colored blue or red. Pathway spaces involving an alteration in

game play, for example, as represented by pathway space 21, may be colored

yellow.

[0008] Another way that subsets of pathway spaces may be differentiated from

each other may be by placing differentia ble game tiles 30 upon each special

pathway space, or by each space identifying a type of game tile that may then be

drawn from a stack. Shown in Figures 2A-2D are exemplary embodiments of a

challenge pathway space 11 and game tiles 30 that may be used to differentiate

individual pathway spaces 17 from each other, or to provide added enjoyment or

variety to a game according to the present disclosure. A challenge pathway space

11 or 13, as shown in Fig. 2A may be a pathway space with which an indicium 31

defining a number obstacle has been permanently associated. Such a permanent

association may be accomplished by, for example, printing the indicia upon a chosen

pathway space. Game tiles 30, on the other hand, may have only a temporary

association with a given pathway space being, for example, placed on a pathway

space for at least a portion of the duration of a game. Game tiles 30 may include

obstacle tiles 32, equipment tiles 34, and/or challenge tiles 36. Other types of game

tiles may possibly be used, as a way to add variety to the game.

[0009] Game tiles 30 may be placed upon a subset, or all, of pathway spaces

17. Each game tile may be made of a material similar to that of game board 10, or

the tiles may be made of a different material from the game board. A game tile 30

may have at least two distinct surfaces. If the game tile is configured with both a

front surface and a back surface, the two surfaces may be distinct from one another.

For example, the back surface of a game tile 30 may be configured such that all

game tiles have a similar or identical appearance on their back surfaces. It is also

possible that subsets of game tiles, such as obstacle tiles 32, equipment tiles 34,

challenge tiles 36, or any other types of tiles, may share common back surface

designs only among game tiles of the same subset. The front surface of a game tile

30 may be distinct from the back surface of the same tile. The front surface of a

game tile 30 may also be distinct from front surfaces and/or back surfaces of all or

some other game tiles. The front surface of a game tile may be configured with a

number of differentiable icons. For example, the front surface may contain one or

more of a number 31, an image 33 and an icon 35, or any other distinct feature or

features.

[0010] As noted, the front surface of a game tile may have any distinctive

number, image or icon, or some combination of these. A number 31 on a game tile

may represent a number that a player must exceed with a random number

generator, perhaps a standard die, to either successfully overcome an obstacle tile

or to accumulate an equipment tile (described below). An image 33 on a game tile

may be a decorative image meant solely to differentiate one game tile from another.

Or, the image may represent different types of equipment that must be gathered

before a game player can attempt and successfully complete a final challenge. On a

nemesis card 36, which is an example of a specific type of challenge tile (seen in

Figure 2D), a plurality of images 33 may represent a collection of equipment icons a

player may need to have in their possession to successfully complete a final

challenge. An icon 35 may represent a special characteristic a game tile may have.

For example, on an equipment tile 34, the icon 35 may signify that the equipment

tile gives a player points to use in a later challenge, that the player may take another

turn, that the player may roll the die (or use another random number generator)

again, or that the player may move their character mover a defined number of

pathway spaces. Yet another equipment tile may be a "wild" tile that a player may

use for any of the above-described functions, or for some other function.

[0011] A game tile 30 may be placed front surface down on a pathway space 17

of a game board. In one embodiment, the game tile may be placed face down so

that a game player may not be aware of the nature of an obstacle before

confronting the obstacle. In another embodiment, the game tile may be placed

front surface up so that the game player may be aware of the identity of the game

tile and may use that awareness when playing a game according to the present

disclosure. Alternatively, it is possible that some game tiles may be placed front

surface up on the game board, while other game tiles are placed front surface down

on the game board.

[0012] Obstacle tiles 32 (Fig. 2B) may be used on some or all of pathway

spaces 17. For example, obstacle tiles 32 may be placed only on obstacle pathway

spaces 13. Obstacle tiles 32 may present a challenge to a game player or may

cause the game player to temporarily halt movement of a character mover. For

example, the obstacle tile may signify a challenge that the player must overcome

before the player may continue moving a character mover along a pathway. In an

illustrated embodiment, an obstacle tile may require that, upon reaching the

obstacle tile on a pathway space, the player halt movement of their character mover

until the player uses a chance number generator to generate a number greater than

or equal to a number on the obstacle tile. Alternatively, the player may be required

to generate a number that is lower than or equal to a number on the obstacle tile

before resuming movement of the character mover. An obstacle tile may be

configured to present any appropriate challenge to the player. In some cases, the

obstacle presented by an obstacle may be permanently associated with a pathway

space, such as being permanently marked on the pathway space of a playing

surface. Such an embodiment is shown in Fig. 2A. In this case, the "obstacle tile"

may be reduced only to the numerical value or values of the obstacle, permanently

associated with the pathway space, and may not include any icons or other

differentiating symbols.

[0013] Equipment tiles 34 (Fig. 2C) may be placed on pathway spaces 17 and

may provide a reward to a player who accomplishes a task denoted by a given

equipment tile. More specifically, equipment tiles 34 may be placed on equipment

pathway spaces 19. An accumulated equipment tile reward may be used during

game play. Such an accumulated equipment tile reward may be used during travel

along a pathway, or a reward may be used during a final challenge to win a game.

The equipment tile may be used to alter travel along a pathway or it may be used to

alter game play in some other manner. For example, an equipment tile may allow a

player who gains that tile to move forward or backward a number of spaces without

using a random number generator. In another example, an equipment tile may

allow a player to roll a random number generator again, or take an extra turn at

some future time. Many types of equipment tile rewards are possible. To

accumulate a given reward on an equipment tile, some embodiments of the

disclosed game may require that the player generate a specific number with a

random number generator. Alternatively, to accumulate a given reward a player

may be required to generate a number higher than, or lower than, a number present

on an equipment tile. Any other appropriate challenge may be configured to a same

or similar effect.

[0014] Information on an equipment tile may help or hinder a player who

encounters the tile. Information on the equipment tile which may assist a player

might consist of a requirement for the player to move forward on the game board a

set number of spaces, or it may consist of a description of a piece of equipment

which may help the player during game play or be reserved for later use. Helpful

equipment may allow the player to move to a pathway space of their choice, for

example, or to add numerical value to a roll of the die (thus increasing the number

of spaces the player may be allowed to move during a given turn of the game).

Information on an equipment tile which may hinder the player might include, for

example, a command for the player to stay on a pathway space for at least one

extra turn, instead of moving about the playing surface.

[0015] Challenge tiles 36 may be present on specialized pathway spaces on a

game board. Some challenge tiles may be present in the middle of the game board,

and/or on a challenge pathway space 19, while other challenge tiles may be present

at one or both ends of a game board pathway. For example, one challenge tile may

be present in the middle of the game board at a special challenge space 21 and may

serve to inhibit a player's travel over a particularly interesting or important portion of

the game board. As another example, a challenge tile may be present at a location

that serves as a terminus for each of a number of main pathways 14 present on the

playing surface 12. Such a challenge tile at the common pathway terminus may be

a final challenge that the player must complete to win a game. For example, the

challenge tile may take the form of a nemesis attribute card (Fig. 2D), which may

enumerate a set of qualities which may be needed by a player to overcome a final

challenge and win the game. [0016] To move about a playing surface 12 and progress through a number of

activities, players of a game according to the present disclosure may each control

movement of a selected or assigned character mover 40. Each character mover may

take any appropriate form for being identified distinctly in a group of character

movers. For example, the character mover 40 may be of single-piece construction

and may assume a distinctive and interesting physical appearance. Alternatively, the

character mover may be made of multiple pieces that may be assembled together.

For example, for ease of storage the character mover may be made of a visually-

distinctive vertical piece attached to a commonly-used horizontal base. Such an

attachment may be permanent or temporary; a temporary attachment may be

useful, for example, if the game player would like to disassemble the character

mover between games played. Character movers may be assigned as one per

player of the game. Character movers may be used as markers for keeping track of

the player's current location on the game board, and may provide a visual

representation of the player's progress toward a next challenge. In a preferred

embodiment of the present disclosure, character movers 40, shown in Fig. 1, may

take the form of Max Movers, bearing some resemblance to a toy Max Steel™ doll.

[0017] Having described, separately, many components of a game according to

the present disclosure, there follows a description of possible game play with the

described game board and components. The game may consist of a series of moves

repeated by game players as they progress from a beginning game space 16 to an

ending game space 18. For example, a game may begin by one or more of the

players placing game tiles on one or more of the pathway spaces. Each player may

select a character mover as their token to move about the game board. The players

may each use a number generator, for example a standard die 60, to generate a

number used to determine movement of the character movers about the game

board. Each player may move their character mover from one pathway space to

another, where the pathway spaces are separated by a number of spaces identical

to the number generated. In reaching a given pathway space, a player may

undertake and accomplish a game challenge defined by the game tile resident upon

that pathway space.

[0018] In an illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, a game board

and associated game components may be used to play a "Max Steel™ Jungle

Adventure" board game. Max Steel™ is a commercial action figure toy, and a

nemesis present in the jungle adventure game may be one of the nemeses provided

for play with the Max Steel™ action figure. In an illustrated embodiment of the

present disclosure, the nemesis of the jungle adventure game may be Elementor™.

An object of the game may be to become a first player to reach a common terminus

of a number of game board pathways and defeat Elementor™ after having acquired

a set of equipment tiles necessary to defeat Elementor™. [0019] In an exemplary game 8, challenge tile pathway spaces have an

unknown identity before a player occupies one of those spaces, as the challenge tile

on a given space is placed face down until removed by the player. As the player

successfully completes a challenge, they may, depending upon the nature of the

challenge completed, proceed around a game board or acquire an equipment tile.

Progression about the game board and acquisition of appropriate equipment tiles

may allow the player to proceed toward a confrontation with Elementor™ and

possible victory in the game. An object of the game may be to attempt and to

overcome various obstacles and to collect a number of equipment tiles. Upon the

accumulation of a number of equipment tiles, a player may progress to the ending

pathway space 18 to complete a final challenge against Elementor™. Successful

completion of an Elementor™ challenge may lead to the player being declared

winner of the game.

[0020] In this example, game play may begin with game players placing a game

board or playing surface in an appropriate location. Each player may choose a

distinctive Max Steel™ character mover as their on-board character and may place

the character mover on a beginning pathway space 16. If present, a special

character mover representing Elementor™ may be placed at ending pathway space

18. Alternatively, Elementor™ may be represented by a printed image on the

playing surface. Obstacle tiles 32 and equipment tiles 34 may be shuffled and

placed face down on assigned obstacle and equipment pathway spaces on the

playing surface. Challenge tiles may likewise be placed on their assigned pathway

spaces. Any nemesis attribute cards may be placed to one side of the game board,

with their front surfaces visible. Game play may begin with a youngest player taking

a first turn. Each game player may choose any of the main pathways 14 leading

away from the beginning pathway space as the pathway they would like to follow. A

pathway may be chosen because it leads to a number of challenge areas that the

player would like to attempt.

[0021] To move a character mover about the playing surface, a player may roll

a die to determine a random number. The player must decide to follow one of a

number of pathways, and must then move their character mover a number of

spaces that is the same as the number displayed by the die. Once the player's

character mover has been placed on one of the pathways, the player may move the

character mover forward (toward the ending space) or backward (toward the

beginning space) so long as they do not change travel directions during a single

turn. The player must move the character mover the number of spaces denoted by

the number on the die, unless the character mover encounters an obstacle tile, in

which case the player must end movement of the character mover.

[0022] Upon reaching an obstacle tile, a player may be required to end

movement of their character mover and turn the obstacle tile such that the front

surface of the obstacle tile is visible. A given obstacle tile may have a number upon

its face. To overcome the obstacle presented by a number-containing obstacle tile,

the player may be required to roll a die and have the die show a number that is

equal to or higher than the number on the face of the obstacle tile. If the obstacle

tile is "defeated" in this manner, the player may roll the die again and complete a

regular movement. The defeated obstacle tile may then be moved to any available

space on the playing surface. If the player does not defeat the obstacle tile they

have reached, the player's turn is over. On a subsequent turn, the player may move

backward along the pathway, or the player may attempt to defeat the obstacle tile

again. [0023] Some pathway spaces on a game board may be configured as number

obstacles, and may be confronted by a player in a similar manner as a pathway

space containing an obstacle tile. The number obstacle pathway space may be

permanently marked with a set of one or more numbers, or it may be marked with a

given number tile. If a player reaches the number obstacle, the player may be

required to roll a die and have the die show a number that is the same as one of the

one or more numbers on the number obstacle pathway space. For example, if the

number obstacle pathway space is marked "1-3-5," then the player reaching the

pathway space may be required to roll the die and have it display one of the

numerals 1, 3, or 5 to proceed along the game board pathway.

[0024] Some pathway spaces may contain equipment tiles, representing

equipment that may be collected by a player before they reach the end of a game

board pathway. For example, collected equipment may be indicated by an icon for a

jet pack, or a jeep, or a watercraft, or a weapon of some sort, etc. As with an

obstacle tile, the equipment tile may reside on a pathway space such that its front

surface is hidden. To collect the equipment tile, the player may be required to move

their character mover onto the equipment tile pathway space with an exact roll of a

die. This is unlike the case with an obstacle tile, which may halt the movement of

the character mover even if the player did not reach that obstacle with an exact roll

of the die. If the player reaches an equipment tile pathway space, the player may

turn the equipment tile such that its front surface is visible. Each equipment tile

may include a number as one of the indicia on its front surface. For the player to

collect the given equipment tile, the player may be required to roll the die and have

the die display a number equal to or greater than the number on the equipment tile. [0025] Equipment tiles may also be collected by a player in a manner other than

by a player's character mover landing exactly on a pathway space containing the

equipment tile. For example, some pathway spaces on a playing surface may be

designated as special equipment spaces. Special equipment spaces may be denoted

by an icon, or a distinctive color, or any other appropriate signifier. If the player

moves their character mover along a pathway and the character mover crosses a

special equipment space, the player may turn over any one of the equipment tiles

which they previously passed on the pathway such that the tile's front surface is

visible. Once the equipment tile is turned face up by the player, the player may

attempt to collect the equipment tile by rolling with a die a number equal to or

greater than the number displayed on the face of the exposed equipment tile. In

this manner, the player may collect an item of equipment without having to move

their character mover directly onto the equipment tile pathway space.

[0026] An equipment tile that has been collected by a player may be kept in

front of that player for immediate or future use. For example, the player may use

an accumulated equipment tile to overcome an obstacle tile which they reach with

their character mover. Alternatively, or in addition, the player may use one or more

accumulated equipment tiles in a final challenge against Elementor™ (discussed

below). Any equipment tile that the player chooses to use during a game must be

placed back onto the playing surface on an empty equipment tile pathway space. [0027] Equipment tiles may come in a number of different types. Equipment

tiles may be labeled as: +1 attack, +2 attack, roll again, extra turn, +3 spaces, +5

spaces, and wild. An "attack" tile may be used to overcome various obstacles that a

player may reach during travel about a game board. "Roll again" may be used if, for

example, the player attempts to overcome a number-based obstacle but does not

roll, with a die, a number needed to successfully overcome the obstacle. "Extra

turn" may be used any time the player wishes to advance further along a pathway or

wishes to attain some other goal that requires movement about the game board. A

"+3 spaces" or a "+5 spaces" tile may be used by the player to advance more

quickly about the game board, or to move in any desired direction, without the

player having to roll the die. A "wild" tile may allow the player to choose any of the

above actions as needed in a specific game situation. Each of the equipment tiles

may have indicia upon one face, and the indicia may include a number, an icon,

and/or an image.

[0028] A player may proceed about a game board as described above,

overcoming obstacles and collecting equipment tiles. After the player encounters a

pathway space containing an equipment tile, the player may wish to attempt to win

a game by overcoming a final Elementor™ challenge. To enter the final challenge

against Elementor™, the player must move their character mover over a pathway

space that relates to an Elementor™ attribute tile. If the player's character mover

passes over a nemesis attribute tile pathway space, the player may choose from

among a plurality of nemesis attribute tiles that denote a set of characteristics that

Elementor™ may have during a final challenge. In an illustrated embodiment, there

may be four nemesis attribute tiles (Fig. 2D), each with a plurality of numbers and

images that define Elementor's™ attributes in the final challenge.

[0029] The Elementor™ final challenge may be defined by a nemesis attribute

tile, which may be used to denote the equipment tiles a player must have

accumulated to increase their odds of overcoming Elementor™ in the final challenge.

A nemesis attribute tile may include at least two given numbers, and a plurality of

equipment tile images. A first number inscribed upon the nemesis attribute tile may

denote a first value of nemesis "life points." A second number inscribed upon the

nemesis attribute tile may denote a second value of nemesis life points. The second

value of nemesis life points may be used in the Elementor™ challenge if the player

accumulated, during game play, a number of equipment tiles carrying images that

match the images on the nemesis attribute card. [0030] To defeat Elementor™ in a final challenge, a player may be required to

roll a die and achieve a number that is greater than the value of Elementor's™ life

points. As noted above, a given nemesis attribute tile may have two values of

nemesis life points. A first value of life points may be the "strength" of Elementor™

if the player reaches the final challenge without having accumulated any equipment

tiles. A second value of life points may be the "strength" of Elementor™ if the player

reaches the final challenge having accumulated all the equipment tiles represented

on the nemesis attribute tile. For example, the first life point value may be "eight,"

while the second life point value may be "four." If the player reaches the final

challenge without the full complement of equipment tiles represented by the images

on the nemesis attribute tile, the first life point value may be decremented by "one"

for each equipment tile collected by the player that is represented on the nemesis

attribute tile. For example, if the first life point value is eight, and there are three

equipment tiles represented by the images on the nemesis attribute tile, then the life

point value for a player collecting one of the represented equipment tiles may be

seven. For two represented equipment tiles: six. And for the complete set of three

represented equipment tiles: four (including a one-point bonus for collecting all three

represented equipment tiles). It may be that the initial life point value, and the

value of life points if the player has only collected one equipment tile, may be higher

than the highest number the player could roll (six) if the game is played with a

standard die. This circumstance may encourage the player to collect more than one

equipment tile before attempting the final challenge. [0031] If a player rolls a die and achieves a number greater than Elementor's™

assigned life points, then the player may be declared the winner of a game. If the

player rolls a die and does not achieve a number greater than Elementor's™

assigned life points, then the player fails the final challenge and may not be declared

the winner of the game. If the player fails in the final challenge, then the player

must return to the nearest Elementor™ nemesis attribute pathway square and

continue playing the game. The player who fails the final challenge must also place

back onto pathway spaces any of the equipment tiles they accumulated in the

course of the game.

[0032] It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple

distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been

disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and

illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations

are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-

obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features,

functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite "a"

or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to

include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding

two or more such elements.

[0033] Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of

features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through

presentation of new claims in a related application. Such new claims, whether they

are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether

different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also

regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present

disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A set of game components, comprising:

a game board (10) comprising:

a beginning game space (16);

an ending game space (18);

a first plurality of pathway spaces (17) defining a plurality of

separate main pathways (14), each extending continuously between

the beginning game space (16) and the ending game space (18); and

a second plurality of pathway spaces (17) defining one or a

plurality of bridging paths (15), each bridging path (15) configured to connect at

least two main pathways (14);

a plurality of game tiles (30) configured to be placed upon at least a

subset of the pathway spaces (17);

a plurality of character movers (40) configured to be supported on any

selected one of the pathway spaces (17), the beginning game space (16) and

the ending game space (18); and

a number generator (60).

2. The set of game components of claim 1, wherein the game board (10),

the game tiles (30), and the character movers (40) embody a game theme.

3. The set of game components of claim 2, wherein the game theme is a

jungle adventure theme.

4. The set of game components of claim 1, wherein each game tile (30)

has indicia () and at least a portion of the pathway spaces (17) include indicia

associated with at least one game tile (30).

5. The set of game components of claim 4, wherein at least some of the

game tiles (30) each include indicia () representing a number of game challenges

6. The set of game components of claim 4, wherein at least some of the

game tiles (30) each include indicia () representing a reward.

7. The set of game components of claim 1, wherein at least some of the

pathway spaces (17) include indicia () representing a game challenge

8. A game using the set of game components of claim 1, the method

comprising the steps of:

placing a first game tile (30) including indicia () of a first game

challenge on a first pathway space (17);

selecting a character mover (40);

using a number generator (60) to generate a number;

moving the character mover (40) from a second pathway space (17) to

the first pathway space (17), wherein the second pathway space (17) is

separated from the first pathway space (17) by a number of pathway spaces

(17) determined by the generated number; and

accomplishing the first game challenge defined by the first game tile

(30) when the character mover (40) is placed on the first pathway space (17)

when the first game tile (30) is located on the first pathway space (17).

9. The method of claim 8, further including the step of:

progressing from a beginning game space (16) to an ending game

space (18) by performing the steps of moving the character mover (40) and

accomplishing a plurality of game challenges.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of:

using the plurality of game challenges accomplished to determine a

final challenge to be accomplished at the ending game space (18).