System for playing board games

Abstract

A system for playing board games in which a game piece moves unconstrained by any set path across a game board, comprising: a plurality of board panels, each board panel having at least one edge portion abutable with an edge portion of another board panel to form a game board; each said board panel having marked thereon a pattern comprising contiguous spaces for accommodating one or more game pieces during game play, said spaces bearing indicia which govern game play in conjunction with the rules of the game; wherein said board panels can be arranged in a plurality of different configurations, and wherein each configuration results in a workable path for movement in accordance with the rules of the game between said board panels.

1 . A system for playing board games in which a game piece moves unconstrained by any set path across a game board, comprising:
 a plurality of board panels, each board panel having at least one edge portion abutable with an edge portion of another board panel to form a game board;   each said board panel having marked thereon a pattern comprising contiguous spaces for accommodating one or more game pieces during game play, said spaces bearing indicia which govern game play in conjunction with the rules of the game;   wherein said board panels can be arranged in a plurality of different configurations, and wherein each configuration results in a workable path for movement in accordance with the rules of the game between said board panels.   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said indicia are numerals. 
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein a player moves a number of contiguous spaces corresponding to the numeric value of the indicia. 
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  for playing question and answer games wherein each board panel represents a different category for questions asked in accordance with the rules of the game. 
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein a player moves after correctly answering a question. 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said spaces of each board panel denote “general” question spaces and said board panels also includes one “final question” space, and answering a question on the “final question” concludes the necessity to answer questions in that category. 
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein conclusion of the necessity to answer questions in all categories results in conclusion of the game or triggering of final stage. 
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said indicia are words or pictures that contain an instruction. 
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the instruction is to pick up a game card which itself contains detailed instructions or a scenario affecting game play. 
     
     
         10 . A board panel that may be assembled together with other board panels into a board for playing board games in which a game piece moves unconstrained by any set path across the board;
 the board panel having at least one edge portion abutable with an edge portion of another board panel to form a game board;   said board panel having marked thereon a pattern comprising contiguous spaces for accommodating one or more game pieces during game play, said spaces bearing indicia which govern game play in conjunction with the rules of the game wherein the board panel forms part of an assembled board;   wherein a plurality of such board panels can be arranged in a plurality of different configurations, wherein each configuration results in a workable path for movement between said board panels.   
     
     
         11 . An assembled game board for playing a board game in which a game piece moves unconstrained by any set path across a game board, comprising:
 a plurality of board panels as claimed in  claim 10 , each board panel having at least one edge portion in abutment with an edge portion of another board panel to form a game board.   
     
     
         12 . A board game kit comprising:
 a plurality of board panels as claimed in  claim 10  and a plurality of game pieces for movement across an assembled board.   
     
     
         13 . A kit as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of question and answer boxes adapted for interchangeable connection, each said box containing question and answer cards setting forth questions and answers in accordance with a theme and bearing markings in accordance with that theme so as to be suitable for use in a board game in which themes maybe selected and others discarded, whereby, the players at the commencement of the game connect the boxes containing questions for the themes selected. 
     
     
         14 . A kit as claimed in  claim 13  wherein each said box comprises a bracket on one side and a projection on the opposite side able to be received within the bracket so as to allow interchangeable connection of the boxes. 
     
     
         15 . A kit as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each playing piece comprises a base adapted to rest upon and to be moved manually around a game board, said piece comprising a generally planar base which is sufficiently large to be grasped by a player and column means of substantially lesser cross-section than the base extending generally normal thereto and located generally centrally in the base; said column means being adapted to receive a plurality of further game pieces in stacked configuration, wherein said game pieces are added progressively through a game to represent achievement of a milestone event in that game. 
     
     
         16 . A method of playing a board game in which a game piece moves unconstrained by any set path across a board, comprising
 (a) providing a plurality of board panels, each board panel having at least one edge portion abutable with an edge portion of another board panel to form a game board, each said board panel having marked thereon a pattern comprising contiguous spaces for accommodating one or more game pieces during game play, said spaces bearing indicia which govern game play in conjunction with the rules of the game;   (b) assembling a board from a selected number a said board panels in a desired configuration; and   (c) playing the game in accordance with the rules of the game.