Methodology for creating sets of related word games and puzzles based on linking rationally chosen letter pairs and/or triplets and linking words that are transformations of each other

Abstract

A word game for being played among one or more participants includes a plurality of two letter word bits, each having a fixed letter combination, wherein the one or more participants attempt to create words of at least four letters by combining the word bits.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a word game among one or more participants, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of game pieces, wherein each of the game pieces includes a two-letter word bit or a three-letter word bit, each word bit being a fixed ordered two-letter combination or three-letter combination, respectively;   (b) providing a first portion of game pieces to each of the one or more participants to create a personal pool for each of the one or more participants;   (c) providing a second portion of the game pieces into a supply pool; and   (d) allowing each of the one or more participants to create words of at least four letters by combining the game pieces from the respective participant's personal pool.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game is played among a plurality of participants, the method further comprising:
 (e) assigning a target number of words of at least four letters to each of the participants;   (f) ending a round of play when a first of the participants creates the target number of words assigned thereto from the first of the participants' personal pool of game pieces; and   (g) ending the game when a participant has won a predetermined number of rounds.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the target number of words for each participant is based on a relative skill level of the respective participant, the method further comprising:
 (h) providing each personal pool with a minimum number of game pieces required to create the target number of words assigned to the respective participant.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (h) providing the winner of a round with a token, the token increasing the winner's target number of words of at least four letters by one in a subsequent round of play.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (h) allowing each of the participants to exchange at least one game piece from the respective participant's personal pool for an equal number of game pieces from the supply pool.   
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a word game among one or more participants, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of game pieces, wherein each of the game pieces includes at least one two-letter word bit and/or three-letter word bit, each word bit being a fixed ordered two-letter combination or three-letter combination, respectively;   (b) providing a first portion of the game pieces to each of the one or more participants to create a personal pool for each of the one or more participants;   (c) providing a second portion of the game pieces into a supply pool;   (d) randomly selecting at least one two- or three-letter word bit from the supply pool;   (e) allowing each of the one or more participants to create words of at least four letters by combining the at least one randomly selected two- or three-letter word bit with at least one other two- or three-letter word bit from the supply pool and/or the respective participant's personal pool; and   (f) ending the game when a participant has formed a target number of words.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the game pieces in the supply pool is a die or other multi-faced polyhedron having a two- or three-letter word bit on each face thereof, and wherein random selection of word bits is performed by having one of the one or more participants roll at least one game piece from the supply pool. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the game is played among a plurality of participants, and wherein each participant takes a turn randomly selecting the at least one word bit from the supply pool. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the game is played among a plurality of participants, and wherein the participants compete to claim the at least one randomly selected word bit from the supply pool. 
     
     
         10 . A method of playing a word game among one or more participants, the method comprising:
 (a) providing each of the one or more participants with a game card having a plurality of word bits arranged thereon in a grid having rows and columns, each word bit being a fixed ordered two-letter combination or three-letter combination;   (b) providing a plurality of game pieces in a supply pool, wherein each of the game pieces includes at least one word bit, each word bit being a fixed ordered two-letter combination or three-letter combination;   (c) randomly selecting at least one word bit from the supply pool;   (d) allowing each of the one or more participants to create words of at least four letters, each word being formed by combining the at least one randomly selected word bit with one word bit in the grid of the respective participant's game card; and   (e) ending a round of play when one of the one or more participants fills one of a row, column, or the grid with valid words of at least four letters.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the game pieces in the supply pool is a die or other multi-faced polyhedron having a two- or three-letter word bit on each face thereof, and wherein random selection of word bits is performed by having one of the one or more participants roll at least one game piece from the supply pool. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (f) providing two activator objects, one of the activator objects having a plurality of row numbers thereon and the other of the activator objects having a plurality of column numbers thereon;   (g) randomly selecting an activated square, column of activated squares, or row of activated squares in the grid on each participant's game card using the activator objects; and   (h) permitting the at least one randomly selected word bit to be combined only with the word bit in an activated square on the grid in each participant's respective game card.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the game is played among a plurality of participants, and wherein each participant takes a turn randomly selecting the at least one word bit from the supply pool. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the game is played among a plurality of participants, and wherein the participants compete to claim the at least one randomly selected word bit from the supply pool.