Configurable board game

Abstract

A configurable board game where playing pieces are played on a game board's playing surface and a circumstantial change is played on peripheral ledges. A position of one or more playing pieces on the peripheral ledges determines game play within the game board. Game boards can be attached together in a variety of ways to form updated playing surfaces of different shapes and sizes, thereby allowing for a variance in the play of the game. The playing pieces on the playing surface can move across multiple game boards. Thus, the rules of the game board in which the game piece moves dictates how the game piece thereon is played. Alternatively, each game piece retains its original functionality regardless of which game board it is currently positioned.

1 . A configurable board game comprising:
 a plurality of playing pieces;   a first board having a plurality of edges defining the perimeter of a first playing surface, the first playing surface comprising a plurality of distinguishable playing positions disposed within the perimeter, each playing position being configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed;   a plurality of ledges, wherein each ledge comprises a plurality of distinguishable circumstantial positions, and each circumstantial position is configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed;   a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector is configured to removably hold one of the plurality of ledges to one of the edges of the first board, thereby providing a plurality of distinguishable circumstantial positions on the periphery of the first board; and   an additional board having a plurality of edges defining the perimeter of an additional playing surface, the additional playing surface comprising an additional plurality of distinguishable playing positions disposed within the perimeter of the additional playing surface, each playing position on the additional playing surface being configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed,   wherein one of the plurality of connectors can be used to removably connect one edge of the first board directly to one edge of the additional board, thereby connecting the first playing surface to the additional playing surface to form a continuous playing surface, and   wherein one of the plurality of connectors can be used to removably hold one of the plurality of ledges to one of the edges of the additional board at a position adjacent a ledge of the first board when the first board is connected to the additional board, thereby connecting the ledge of the additional board to the ledge of the first board to form a continuous peripheral ledge of distinguishable circumstantial positions for both the first board and the additional board.   
   
   
       2 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 any number of additional boards can be removably connected to the connected first and additional boards using a corresponding number of connectors from the plurality of connectors, adding another playing surface to the existing continuous playing surface to form a new continuous playing surface; and   wherein one of the plurality of connectors can be used to removably hold one of the plurality of ledges to an exposed edge of the any number of additional boards at a position adjacent the existing continuous peripheral ledge when the any number of additional boards is connected to the connected first and additional boards, thereby connecting the ledge of the any number of additional boards to the existing continuous peripheral ledge to form a new continuous peripheral ledge.   
   
   
       3 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of edges consists of four edges arranged substantially in the shape of a rectangle. 
   
   
       4 . The configurable board game of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangle is a square. 
   
   
       5 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of distinguishable playing positions is arranged substantially in the shape of a rectangle. 
   
   
       6 . The configurable board game of  claim 5 , wherein the rectangle is a square. 
   
   
       7 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of each playing position is disposed within substantially the same plane as the surface of every other playing position on the first playing surface. 
   
   
       8 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of each circumstantial position is disposed within substantially the same plane as the surface of every other circumstantial position on the same ledge. 
   
   
       9 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein each connector comprises two prongs that are connected at a base to form a groove, the groove being configured to receive and connect a sidewall of the first board and a sidewall of the additional board. 
   
   
       10 . The configurable board game of  claim 9 , wherein the first board and the additional board each have a sidewall extending from each edge of their respective plurality of edges, each sidewall comprising a notch configured to receive the base of a connector, with one of the prongs extending along one side of the sidewall and the other prong extending along the other side of the sidewall. 
   
   
       11 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ledges is configured to be removably attached to each exposed edge of the connected first and additional boards, thereby providing a new continuous peripheral ledge that runs along the entire perimeter of the connected first and additional boards, an exposed edge being an edge not directly connected to an edge of another board. 
   
   
       12 . A configurable board game comprising:
 a plurality of playing pieces;   a first board having a plurality of edges arranged substantially in the shape of a rectangle and defining the perimeter of a first playing surface, the first playing surface comprising a plurality of distinguishable playing positions arranged substantially in the shape of a rectangle within the perimeter, each playing position being configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed, and the surface of each playing position being disposed within substantially the same plane as the surface of every other playing position on the first playing surface;   a plurality of ledges, wherein each ledge comprises a plurality of distinguishable circumstantial positions, and each circumstantial position is configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed;   a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector is configured to removably hold one of the plurality of ledges to one of the edges of the first board, thereby providing a plurality of distinguishable circumstantial positions on the periphery of the first board; and   an additional board having a plurality of edges arranged substantially in the shape of a rectangle and defining the perimeter of an additional playing surface, the additional playing surface comprising an additional plurality of distinguishable playing positions arranged substantially in the shape of a rectangle within the perimeter of the additional playing surface, each playing position on the additional playing surface being configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed, and the surface of each playing position being disposed within substantially the same plane as the surface of every other playing position on the additional playing surface,   wherein one of the plurality of connectors can be used to removably connect one edge of the first board directly to one edge of the additional board, thereby connecting the first playing surface to the additional playing surface to form a continuous playing surface, and   wherein one of the plurality of connectors can be used to removably hold one of the plurality of ledges to one of the edges of the additional board at a position adjacent a ledge of the first board when the first board is connected to the additional board, thereby connecting the ledge of the additional board to the ledge of the first board to form a continuous peripheral ledge of distinguishable circumstantial positions for both the first board and the additional board.   
   
   
       13 . The configurable board game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 any number of additional boards can be removably connected to the connected first and additional boards using a corresponding number of connectors from the plurality of connectors, adding another playing surface to the existing continuous playing surface to form a new continuous playing surface; and   wherein one of the plurality of connectors can be used to removably hold one of the plurality of ledges to an exposed edge of the any number of additional boards at a position adjacent the existing continuous peripheral ledge when the any number of additional boards is connected to the connected first and additional boards, thereby connecting the ledge of the any number of additional boards to the existing continuous peripheral ledge to form a new continuous peripheral ledge.   
   
   
       14 . The configurable board game of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of edges of the first board and the plurality of edges of the additional board are each arranged substantially in the shape of a square. 
   
   
       15 . The configurable board game of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of distinguishable playing positions of the first board and the plurality of distinguishable playing positions of the additional board are each arranged substantially in the shape of a square. 
   
   
       16 . The configurable board game of  claim 12 , wherein the surface of each circumstantial position is disposed within substantially the same plane as the surface of every other circumstantial position on the same ledge. 
   
   
       17 . The configurable board game of  claim 12 , wherein each connector comprises two prongs that are connected at a base to form a groove, the groove being configured to receive and connect a sidewall of the first board and a sidewall of the additional board. 
   
   
       18 . The configurable board game of  claim 17 , wherein the first board and the additional board each have a sidewall extending from each edge of their respective plurality of edges, each sidewall comprising a notch configured to receive the base of a connector, with one of the prongs extending along one side of the sidewall and the other prong extending along the other side of the sidewall. 
   
   
       19 . The configurable board game of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ledges is configured to be removably attached to each exposed edge of the connected first and additional boards, thereby providing a new continuous peripheral ledge that runs along the entire perimeter of the connected first and additional boards, an exposed edge being an edge not directly connected to an edge of another board. 
   
   
       20 . A method of using a configurable board game, the method comprising:
 playing a first game using a plurality of playing pieces, a playing surface defined by a plurality of distinguishable playing positions each configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed, and at least one ledge removably disposed at the perimeter of the playing surface using a connector, the at least one ledge having a plurality of distinguishable circumstantial positions formed along the perimeter of the playing surface with each circumstantial position configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed, wherein the arrangement of the playing surface and the at least one ledge defines a first setup, a first set of rules is used for the play of the first game, one of the playing pieces is a circumstance changer that is repetitively repositioned along the at least one ledge during the first game, and the position of the circumstance changer dictates the play of the first game;   reconfiguring the first setup into a second setup for a second game, wherein reconfiguring the first setup includes at least one of:
 changing the shape of the playing surface, 
 changing the size of the playing surface, 
 disposing an additional ledge at the perimeter of the playing surface using a connector, the additional ledge having a plurality of distinguishable circumstantial positions formed along the perimeter of the playing surface with each circumstantial position configured to provide a boundary within which a playing piece can be disposed, 
 removing one of the at least one ledge from the perimeter of the playing surface, and 
 repositioning one of the at least one ledge along the perimeter of the playing surface; and 
   playing the second game using the plurality of playing pieces and the second setup, wherein a second set of rules is used for the play of the second game, the second set of rules differing from the first set of rules, one of the playing pieces is a circumstance changer that is repetitively repositioned along the at least one ledge during the second game, and the position of the circumstance changer dictates the play of the second game.   
   
   
       21 . A game system comprising:
 a first game board having a first set of play pieces configured for playing a first game; and   a second game board having a second set of play pieces configured for playing a second game, wherein the first game board and the second game board are adapted to adjoin each other such that each of the first set of play pieces and the second set of play pieces can by played on the first game board and the second game board.   
   
   
       22 . The game system of  claim 21  further comprising a third game board having a third set of play pieces configured for playing a third game, wherein the third game board is adapted to adjoin one of first game board and the second game board such that each of the first set of play pieces, the second set of play pieces and the third set of play pieces can by played on the first game board, the second game board and the third game board.