Board games with projectiles and methods of playing the same

Abstract

Board games include one or more of a game board with a pathway, a plurality of playing pieces, a target, one or more projectiles for launching at the target, a plurality of cards, and a movement indication device. Movement of the playing pieces around the pathway is determined by where a projectile lands on the target upon being launched by a player, by indicia on a card drawn from the plurality of cards, and/or by a movement indication device. Targets may be integral to or separate from the game board.

1 . A method of playing a board game, comprising: 
 providing a game board having a pathway defined by a plurality of spaces, the plurality of spaces including a first set of spaces and a second set of spaces;    providing a plurality of playing pieces for moving around the pathway in turns;    providing a target having a first subtarget and a second subtarget;    providing a projectile for launching toward the target;    launching the projectile toward the target;    moving a playing piece in a predetermined direction to a space of the first set of spaces if the projectile lands on the first subtarget; and    moving a playing piece in the predetermined direction to a space of the second set of spaces if the projectile lands on the second subtarget.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the space of the first set of spaces is a nearest space of the first set of spaces in the predetermined direction; and    the space of the second set of spaces is a nearest space of the second set of spaces in the predetermined direction.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the target further has a third subtarget; and    the method further comprises moving a playing piece in the predetermined direction to a second nearest space of the first set of spaces in the predetermined direction if the projectile lands on the third subtarget.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first set of spaces includes a subset of spaces; and    the method further comprises: 
 providing a plurality of cards with instructions to move the playing pieces;  
 drawing a card from the plurality of cards if a playing piece lands on a space of the subset of spaces; and  
 moving a playing piece according to the instructions when a card is drawn.  
   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of cards includes: 
 a first set of cards with instructions to move a playing piece in the predetermined direction; and    a second set of cards with instructions to move a playing piece in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first set of cards includes: 
 a subset of cards with instructions to move a playing piece to a nearest space of the first set of spaces; and    a second subset of cards with instructions to move a playing piece to a second nearest space of the first set of spaces.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target is integral to the game board.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target is separate from the game board.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a target support member for supporting the target at an angle relative to a horizontal surface.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the projectile launches by compressing the projectile against a surface and releasing the projectile.  
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a board game, comprising: 
 providing a game board having a pathway defined by a plurality of spaces;    providing a plurality of playing pieces for movement around the pathway in a predetermined direction;    providing a movement indication device for determining movement of the playing pieces around the pathway;    providing a target;    providing a projectile for launching toward the target;    taking turns moving the playing pieces in accordance with the movement indication device;    if a playing piece lands on a space with a first designation, launching the projectile at the target; and    if the projectile lands on the target, moving a playing piece in accordance with the movement indication device again before the next turn.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 each space of the plurality of spaces includes at least one designation from a plurality of designations; and    the movement indication device is adapted to output a plurality of instructions instructing movement of a playing piece to a nearest space with a given designation.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the movement indication device is a die with sides corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of designations.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the target is integral to the game board.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the target is separate from the game board.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a target support member for supporting the target at an angle relative to a horizontal surface.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the projectile launches by compressing the projectile against a surface and releasing the projectile.  
   
   
       18 . A board game comprising: 
 a game board including a pathway defined by a plurality of spaces;    a plurality of playing pieces to be moved around the pathway;    a target with a plurality of subtargets;    a projectile for launching toward the target for determination of movement of the playing pieces; and    a plurality of cards with instructions for further determining movement of the playing pieces.    
   
   
       19 . The board game of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the plurality of spaces includes at least a first set of spaces and a second set of spaces;    the plurality of subtargets includes at least a first subtarget and a second subtarget;    the first subtarget includes instructions for movement of a playing piece to a space of the first set of spaces if the projectile lands on the first subtarget; and    the second subtarget includes instructions for movement of a playing piece to a space of the second set of spaces if the projectile lands on the second subtarget.    
   
   
       20 . The board game of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the space of the first set of spaces is a nearest space of the first set of spaces in the predetermined direction; and    the space of the second set of spaces is a nearest space of the second set of spaces in the predetermined direction.    
   
   
       21 . The board game of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of subtargets further includes a third subtarget including instructions for movement of a playing piece to a second nearest space of the first set of spaces if the projectile lands on the third subtarget.  
   
   
       22 . The board game of  claim 19 , wherein the first set of spaces includes a subset of spaces with instructions to draw one of the plurality of cards.  
   
   
       23 . The board game of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of cards includes: 
 a first set of cards with instructions for movement of the playing pieces in the predetermined direction; and    a second set of cards with instructions for movement of the playing pieces in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.    
   
   
       24 . The board game of  claim 23 , wherein the first set of cards includes: 
 a first subset of cards with instructions for movement of the playing pieces to a nearest space of the first set of spaces; and    a second subset of cards with instructions for movement of the playing pieces to a second nearest space of the first set of spaces.    
   
   
       25 . The board game of  claim 18 , wherein the target is integral to the game board.  
   
   
       26 . The board game of  claim 18 , wherein the target is separate from the game board.  
   
   
       27 . The board game of  claim 26 , further comprising a target support member configured to support the target at an angle relative to a horizontal surface.  
   
   
       28 . The board game of  claim 18 , wherein the projectile includes a compressible element configured to be compressed and released by a player so that the projectile launches from a surface.  
   
   
       29 . A board game comprising: 
 a game board including a pathway defined by a plurality of spaces, each space including a designation from a plurality of designations;    a plurality of playing pieces to be moved around the pathway;    a target;    a projectile for launching toward the target if a playing piece lands on a space with a first designation; and    a movement indication device configured to output instructions for moving the playing pieces around the pathway in turns and when the projectile lands on the target.    
   
   
       30 . The board game of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions instruct movement of a playing piece to a nearest space with a given designation.  
   
   
       31 . The board game of  claim 30 , wherein the movement indication device is a die with sides corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of designations.  
   
   
       32 . The board game of  claim 29 , wherein the target is integral to the game board.  
   
   
       33 . The board game of  claim 29 , wherein the target is separate from the game board.  
   
   
       34 . The board game of  claim 33 , further comprising a target support member configured to support the target at an angle relative to a horizontal surface.  
   
   
       35 . The board game of  claim 29 , wherein the projectile includes a compressible element configured to be compressed and released by a player so that the projectile launches from a surface.