Layered board game

Abstract

A layered game board includes a base game board, a movable game surface, and a play surface. The movable game surface is provided on top of the base game board and is movable in relation to the base game board. The movable game surface has game-related characteristics directly affecting game play in portions overlapping the base game board. The play surface is provided on top of the movable game surface for placement of a game piece such that a position of the game piece relative to the base game board is unaffected by movement of the movable game surface. An example includes a weather wheel provided for rotation on a game board depicting a world domination-type game. The movable game surface and the play surface can be provided as a retrofit expansion set for existing games.

1 . A layered game board, comprising: 
 a base game board;    a movable game surface, provided on top of the base game board and movable in relation to the base game board, having game-related characteristics directly affecting game play in portions overlapping the base game board; and    a play surface, provided on top of the movable game surface, for placement of a game piece such that a position of the game piece relative to the base game board is unaffected by movement of the movable game surface.    
   
   
       2 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the game-related characteristics are displayed so that a type of effect is known and visible to the user, yet its timing and intensity are determined by other game factors.  
   
   
       3 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface overlaps a substantial portion of the base game board in substantially all positions.  
   
   
       4 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface comprises a translatable portion that be moved with respect to an axis of the movable game surface.  
   
   
       5 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface is disc-shaped.  
   
   
       6 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface comprises an environmental effects layer.  
   
   
       7 . The layered game board of  claim 6  wherein the environmental effects layer comprises a rotatable weather wheel.  
   
   
       8 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface comprises a sub-portion that is movable on the movable game surface.  
   
   
       9 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface comprises a removably attachable element that displays game-related characteristics.  
   
   
       10 . The layered game board of  claim 1  further comprising a game surface support to movably position the movable game surface on top of the base game board.  
   
   
       11 . The layered game board of  claim 10  wherein the game surface support comprises a central pin anchored to the base game board.  
   
   
       12 . The layered game board of  claim 10  wherein the game surface support comprises a track for positioning on the base game board, the movable game surface being movable within the track.  
   
   
       13 . The layered game board of  claim 12  wherein the track defines a closed path comprising a plurality of path segments.  
   
   
       14 . The layered game board of  claim 12  wherein the track is positioned so that the movable game surface is movable within the track to overlap a substantial portion of the base game board.  
   
   
       15 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the base game board defines a circular recessed portion to receive the movable game surface to permit it to be movably positioned.  
   
   
       16 . The layered game board of  claim 15  wherein the movable game surface comprises a circular protruding portion to engage with the circular recessed portion of the base game board.  
   
   
       17 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the play surface and the base game board have substantially similar dimensions.  
   
   
       18 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the play surface permits viewing of both the base game board and the movable game surface.  
   
   
       19 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the play surface is transparent.  
   
   
       20 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the play surface comprises a polarizing filter.  
   
   
       21 . The layered game board of  claim 1  wherein the movable game surface comprises a polarizing filter.  
   
   
       22 . The layered game board of  claim 1  further comprising a second movable game surface, provided below the play surface, characteristics of the second movable game surface directly affecting game play in portions overlapping the base game board.  
   
   
       23 . The layered game board of  claim 22  wherein the characteristics of the second movable game surface change the manner in which game play is affected by the characteristics the movable game surface.  
   
   
       24 . A layered expansion set for a base game board, comprising: 
 a movable game surface, for positioning on top of the base game board and movable in relation to the base game board, having game-related characteristics directly affecting game play in portions overlapping the base game board; and    a play surface, provided on top of the movable game surface, for placement of a game piece such that a position of the game piece relative to the base game board is unaffected by movement of the movable game surface.    
   
   
       25 . A layered game board, comprising: 
 a transparent game board having game characteristics printed thereon and defining a play surface; and    a movable game surface provided below the game board and movable in relation to the game board, the movable game surface having game-related characteristics directly affecting game play in portions overlapping the game board.    
   
   
       26 . The layered game board of  claim 25  wherein the play surface is for placement of a game piece such that a position of the game piece relative to the game characteristics on the game board is unaffected by movement of the movable game surface.