Game apparatus and method

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a game apparatus and method comprising a square board, four sets of playing pieces, a plurality of dice, a set of bonus cards, a set of trap cards, and a set of defense cards. Players place their playing pieces in the corresponding home area and attempt to race all of the playing pieces to the opposite home area, known as the landing area. Players throw the dice to determine the amount of playing pieces and squares that each playing piece may move. Squares in the gaming board provide opportunities for the players to receive bonus, trap, and defense cards. The game provides means for creating new configurations of the elements of the gaming board. The method and apparatus provided herein may be computer-implemented.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each set of playing pieces comprising a plurality of playing pieces wherein each playing piece in the plurality of playing pieces is marked with the same visual aid;   one or more dice;   a set of defense cards;   a set of bonus cards;   a set of trap cards; and   a gaming board comprising:
 a plurality of squares having four sides; 
 a plurality of home areas wherein each home area comprises a plurality of squares, each square having a landing value and each square in each home area marked with the same visual aid; 
 a plurality of sets of shield squares, each set of shield squares marked with the same visual aid as each home area; 
 a plurality of defense square locations, wherein a defense card in the set of defense cards is drawn when a playing piece lands in at least one defense square location, said defense cards providing special abilities; 
 a plurality of bonus square locations, wherein a bonus card in the set of bonus cards is drawn when a playing piece lands in at least one bonus square location, said bonus card providing additional points; 
 a plurality of trap square locations, wherein a trap card in the set of trap cards is drawn when a playing piece lands in at least one trap square location, said trap card triggers a trap upon the playing piece landing in at least one trap square location; and 
 a plurality of walls surrounding at least one side of the plurality of squares, said plurality of walls having a configuration designating a path across the gaming board from one home area in the plurality of home areas to another home area in the plurality of home areas. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gaming board further comprises a plurality of wall square locations, wherein the configuration designating a path across the gaming board from one home area in the plurality of home areas to another home area in the plurality of home areas changes when a playing piece lands on at least one wall square location in the plurality of square locations.