Method and apparatus for a board game

Abstract

A board game uses a board ( 1 ) which is marked with centre ( 2 ) middle ( 3 ) and outer (4) playing circuits and player tokens ( 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113 ) which move on the board ( 1 ). The game ends when a player's token ( 107, 111 ) lands on an End of Game square ( 6, 7 ) and that player also holds an End of Game card which has been obtained by the player's token ( 107, 111 ) landing on a square that is marked with a star ( 12, 13, 14, 16 ). Player tokens ( 108, 112 ) moving on the middle circuit ( 3 ) may land on mystery ( 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 ), Score ( 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48 ), and Question squares ( 27, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 33 ). Player tokens ( 109, 113 ) moving on the outer circuit ( 4 ) may land on mystery ( 57, 58, 59, 61 ), decision ( 62, 63, 64, 66 ) and Question squares ( 67, 68, 69 and 71 ). Player tokens may also land on six squares ( 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56 ) which are marked with the words “Miss a Turn”. These six squares ( 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56 ) are located at points where the middle circuit ( 3 ) coincides with the centre circuit ( 2 ) or the outer circuit ( 4 ).

1 . A board game comprising a substrate which has a playing surface, the playing surface being adapted for the movement of a plurality of player tokens on it; and having markings on it, the markings comprising a plurality of playing circuits, the playing circuits comprising at least a first, second and third playing circuit, each playing circuit:
 being divided into a set of playing positions, such that player tokens may be placed on each playing position;   intersecting each other playing circuit at a plurality of intersecting positions so that a playing position at each of the plurality of intersecting positions is common to at least two of the plurality of playing circuits; and   adapted to provide a playing path which defines the play of at least one player token associated with said playing circuit.   
   
   
       2 . A board game as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the play defined by the playing path corresponds to one or more predefined game functions of the player token associated with said playing circuit. 
   
   
       3 . A board game as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the predefined game functions are unique to each respective playing circuit. 
   
   
       4 . A board game as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each player token is confined to movement only on its respective playing path. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . A board game as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the playing positions of the first playing circuit comprise:
 at least one playing position which bears indicia that it is a starting position for player tokens;   at least two playing positions each of which bears indicia that to the effect that the landing of a player token on it contributes to ending a game   
   
   
       9 . A board game as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the playing positions of the first playing circuit further comprise:
 at least two playing positions each of which bears indicia to the effect that the landing of a player token on it results in the awarding to that player of a token which contributes to the ending of a game.   
   
   
       10 . A board game as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the playing positions of the second playing circuit comprise:
 at least two playing positions, each of which bears indicia that it is a starting position for player tokens;   a plurality of playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a card on which is a question to be answered;   a plurality of playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a “mystery” card; and   a plurality of playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to increment a score.   
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A board game as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the playing positions of the third playing circuit comprise:
 at least two playing positions, each of which bears indicia that it is a starting position for player tokens;   a plurality of playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a card which requires the player to make a decision relevant to the playing of the game;   a plurality of playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a “mystery” card; and   a plurality of playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a card on which is a question to be answered.   
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A board game as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising markings that indicate where:
 mystery cards;   decision cards;   question cards; or   penalty cards   are to be placed on the board.   
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of playing a board game on a substrate which has a playing surface, the playing surface:
 being adapted for the movement of a plurality of player tokens on it; and   having markings on it, the markings comprising a plurality of playing circuits, the playing circuits comprising at least a first, second and third playing circuit, each playing circuit:   being divided into a set of playing positions, such that player tokens may be placed on each playing position; and   intersecting each other playing circuit at a plurality of intersecting positions so that a playing position at each of the plurality of intersecting positions is common to at least two of the plurality of playing circuits; and,   adapted to provide a playing path which defines the play of at least one player token associated with said playing circuit,   the method of playing the game comprising:   at least two players placing at least one of the plurality of player tokens on each of the playing circuits.   
   
   
       22 . A method of playing a board game as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising each player moving player tokens on each of the plurality of playing circuits in accordance with pre-defined rules of the board game such that:
 the play defined by the playing path corresponds to one or more predefined game functions of the player token associated with said playing circuit wherein the predefined game functions are unique for each respective playing circuit, and:   each player token is confined to movement only on its respective playing path.   
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A method of playing a board game as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the playing positions of the first playing circuit comprise:
 at least one playing position which bears indicia that it is a starting position for player tokens;   at least two playing positions each of which bears indicia that to the effect that the landing of a player token on it contributes to ending a game;   the method of playing the board game further comprising ending the game subsequent to a player token of a player landing on a playing position which bears indicia to the effect that the landing of a player token on it contributes to ending a game.   
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A method of playing a board game as claimed  claim 21 , in which the playing positions of the second playing circuit comprise:
 at least two “start” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that it is a starting position for player tokens;   a plurality of “question” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a card on which is a question to be answered;   a plurality of “mystery” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a “mystery” card; and   a plurality of “score” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to increment a score   the method of playing the board game further comprising each player:   placing at least one player token on each “start” playing position;   drawing a “question” card when a token of the player lands on a “question” playing position;   drawing a “mystery” card when a token of the player lands on a “mystery” playing position; and   incrementing their score by a pre-determined amount when a token of the player lands on a “score” playing position.   
   
   
       28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A method of playing a board game as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the playing positions of the third playing circuit comprise:
 at least two “start” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that it is a starting position for player tokens;   a plurality of “decision” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a card which requires the player to make a decision relevant to the playing of the game;   a plurality of “mystery” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a “mystery” card; and   a plurality of “question” playing positions, each of which bears indicia that a player whose token lands on it is to draw a card on which is a question to be answered   the method of playing the board game further comprising each player;   placing at least one player token on each “start” playing position;   drawing a “decision” card when a token of the player lands on a “decision” playing position;   drawing a “mystery” card when a token of the player lands on a “mystery” playing position; and   drawing a “question” card when a token of the player lands on a “question” playing position.   
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A method of playing a board game as claimed in  claim 21 , in which when a player token lands on any of the playing positions that are intersecting positions on both
 the third playing circuit; and   either of the first playing circuit and the second playing circuit, then   a penalty is imposed on the player in accordance with the rules of the game.   
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . A method of playing a board game comprising a plurality of playing paths, the method comprising the steps of:
 advancing player tokens along the plurality of playing paths where each player token is dedicated to one of the respective playing paths;   providing for interaction between the advancement of at least two player tokens at a plurality of intersecting positions common to at least two playing paths;   determining the advancement and interaction of player tokens in accordance with predetermined game functions corresponding to the respective playing paths.   
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the predetermined game functions comprise one or a combination of:
 a subject framework of a field of knowledge;   at least one characterization from an action, fantasy or drama story;   characterizing elements of an action, fantasy or drama story.   
   
   
       36 . Apparatus for a board game comprising:
 a substrate with a playing surface having a plurality of playing paths:   random number generation means for advancing player tokens along the plurality of playing paths where each player token is dedicated to one of the respective playing paths;   the playing paths adapted to provide for interaction between the advancement of at least two player tokens at a plurality of intersecting positions common to at least two playing paths;   a set of rules for determining the advancement and interaction of player tokens in accordance with predetermined game functions corresponding to the respective playing paths.   
   
   
       37 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the predetermined game functions comprise one or a combination of:
 a subject framework of a field of knowledge;   at least one characterization from an action, fantasy or drama story;   characterizing elements of an action, fantasy or drama story.   
   
   
       38 . Apparatus adapted to conduct a board game, said apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to operate in accordance with a predetermined instruction set,   said apparatus, in conjunction with said instruction set, being adapted for use in one or a combination of:   playing the game of  claim 1 ;   
   
   
       39 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code and computer readable system code embodied on said medium for conducting a board game within a data processing system, said computer program product comprising:   computer readable code within said computer usable medium for one or a combination of:   displaying game information;   playing the game of  claim 1 ;   
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . Apparatus adapted to conduct a board game, said apparatus comprising:
 A processor configured to operate in accordance with a predetermined instruction set, said apparatus, in conjunction with said instruction set, being adapted for use in one or a combination of:   performing the method as claimed in  claim 21 .   
   
   
       43 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code and computer readable system code embodied on said medium for conducting a board game within a data processing system, said computer program product comprising:   computer readable code within said computer usable medium for one or a combination of:   displaying game information;   performing the method steps as claimed in  claim 21 .