Board game

Abstract

A board game can be played by persons of all ages, with minimal training. The board includes a set of coded spaces, and a set of home bases, each home base having indicia which correspond to the various coded spaces. Each home base is associated with a different player or team. The players or teams accumulate or lose game pieces, based on instructions received according to operation of a spinner. The first player or team to place game pieces on all of the spaces, belonging to that player or team, wins the game. The game allows players to develop intricate strategies for allocating and positioning game pieces. Also, players or teams may agree to become allies, enabling the game strategy to become as complex as desired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a game, comprising: 
 a) providing a playing area having a plurality of coded spaces and a plurality of home bases, and providing a plurality of game pieces,    b) associating players with the home bases, and with a plurality of coded spaces bearing indicia corresponding to indicia on said home bases,    c) randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein said instruction governs acquisition and placement of game pieces, and    d) determining a winner based on which player is first to place game pieces on all of said coded spaces which are associated with that player's home base.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are five possible instructions obtainable in step (c), 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a coded space belonging to the first player,    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a coded space belonging to that player, and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the coded spaces are selected to have color codes.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the coded spaces are selected to have patterns.  
     
     
         5 . A method of playing a game, comprising: 
 a) providing a playing area having a plurality of coded spaces and a plurality of home bases, the coded spaces and home bases having identifying indicia, and providing a plurality of game pieces having indicia corresponding to those of said coded spaces and home bases,    b) associating players with the home bases, and with a plurality of coded spaces bearing indicia corresponding to indicia on said home bases,    c) randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein said instruction governs acquisition and placement of game pieces, and    d) determining a winner based on which player is first to place game pieces on all of said coded spaces which are associated with that player's home base.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the directing step comprises determining an instruction, according to operation of a random device, wherein there are five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a coded space belonging to the first player,    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a home base belonging to that player, and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fifth instruction also comprises allowing a player to take a game piece from any coded space or home base on the board and place it on any other coded space or home base on the board.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fifth instruction also comprises allowing a player to take a game piece from the player's coded space or home base and to place the game piece on a coded space belonging to another player.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fifth instruction also comprises allowing a player to move a game piece from a coded space of another player, to a coded space of yet another player.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the coded spaces are selected to include color codes.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the coded spaces are selected to have pattern codes.  
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a game comprising directing a plurality of players to place game pieces on, and to remove game pieces from, coded spaces on a board, the coded spaces being associated with different players, and determining a winner based on the first player to place game pieces on all of his or her own coded spaces.  
     
     
         13 . A method of playing a game, comprising: 
 a) providing a playing area having a plurality of coded spaces and a plurality of home bases, and providing a plurality of game pieces, wherein the coded spaces, home bases, and game pieces, bear indicia, such that each home base is associated with a plurality of coded spaces and a plurality of game pieces having the same indicia,    b) associating each player with a home base and with the coded spaces and game pieces bearing indicia identical to those of the home base,    c) randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein said instruction governs acquisition and placement of game pieces, and    d) determining a winner based on which player is first to place his or her game pieces on all of said coded spaces which are associated with that player's home base.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein step (c) comprises assigning an instruction from among five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a home base belonging to the first player,    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a home base belonging to that player, and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for playing a board game, comprising: 
 a) a game board defining a plurality of coded spaces, the game board also having a plurality of home bases,    b) a plurality of game pieces, and    c) means for determining one of a plurality of instructions at random.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the coded spaces are color-coded.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the coded spaces are coded with patterns.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the determining means comprises a spinner.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the game pieces are all substantially identical.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the home bases have mutually distinct codes, said codes corresponding with codes of said coded spaces, and.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the game pieces have indicia corresponding to said codes, wherein each home base is associated with a plurality of game pieces having indicia matching the code on said each home base.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of instructions includes five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a coded space belonging to the first player,    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a coded space belonging to that player, and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of instructions includes five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a home base belonging to the first player,    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a home base belonging to that player, and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         24 . Apparatus for playing a board game, comprising: 
 a) a game board defining a plurality of coded spaces, the game board also having a plurality of home bases, the home bases having mutually distinct codes corresponding to codes of said coded spaces,    b) a plurality of substantially identical game pieces, and    c) a spinner for determining one of a plurality of instructions at random,    wherein said plurality of instructions includes at least the following five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,  
 ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,  
 iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a coded space belonging to the first player,  
 iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a coded space belonging to that player, and  
 v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.  
   
     
     
         25 . Apparatus for playing a board game, comprising: 
 a) a game board defining a plurality of coded spaces, the game board also having a plurality of home bases, the home bases having mutually distinct codes corresponding to codes of said coded spaces,    b) a plurality of game pieces, the game pieces having indicia which correspond to said codes, wherein each home base is associated with a plurality of game pieces having corresponding indicia, and    c) a spinner for determining one of a plurality of instructions at random,    wherein said plurality of instructions includes at least the following five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to that player,  
 ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,  
 iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on a home base belonging to the first player,  
 iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a home base belonging to that player, and  
 v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.