Game apparatus and method

Abstract

A game apparatus and method of play using a frustum board having a plurality of attachment nodes; and, a plurality of accessories, wherein the board and accessories are comprised of one or more attachment nodes; a set of playing currency; one or more distinguishable sets of playing characters; and, a means of chance. The board may be further comprised of one or more projections, wherein each projection is comprised of one or more attachment nodes and may further include one or more functional elements. The board may be uniquely themed and decorated to appeal to a variety of consumers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game apparatus comprising: a frustum board having a plurality of attachment nodes; a plurality of playing currency; at least one set of playing characters; and, a means of chance. 
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the game is further comprised of an accessory or a plurality of accessories, wherein an accessory is comprised of at least one attachment node. 
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 2 , wherein at least one accessory is an active accessory and at least one accessory is a passive accessory. 
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the game is further comprised of a projection or a plurality of projections; and, wherein a projection is comprised of at least one attachment node. 
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 4 , wherein a projection includes, or multiple projections include, a functional element or multiple functional elements. 
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the game is further comprised of at least one deck of playing cards; and, wherein a deck of playing cards includes positive playing cards and negative playing cards. 
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the game is further comprised of a dropping mechanism which may be operated by a manual, a mechanical, or an electrical means, or by any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the game is further comprised of a non-player character or of multiple non-player characters. 
     
     
         9 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the game is further comprised of a manual, a mechanical, or an electrical component that causes the frustum board, and any projection, accessories, playing character, or any combination thereof located on the frustum board to move or vibrate. 
     
     
         10 . The game apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein at least one playing character is a specialized playing character. 
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a game on a frustum board having a plurality of attachment nodes; a plurality of playing currency; at least one set of playing characters; and a means of chance, wherein the means of chance determines an order of play; wherein a team assembles the frustum board to include or omit a projection, or multiple projections; and, wherein a projection is comprised of at least one attachment node; wherein a team also assembles the frustum board to include or omit an accessory, or multiple accessories; wherein an accessory is comprised of at least one attachment node; wherein an attachment node of the frustum board, of a projection, and of an accessory permits their mutual connection; wherein a team receives a predetermined amount of playing currency, selects at least one set of playing characters, performs a battle break, and executes a first turn, and any subsequent turns, as follows:
 (a) the team chooses to utilize an amount of the playing currency to purchase an additional playing character, multiple additional playing characters, an enhancement, multiple enhancements, or any combination of both playing character(s) and enhancement(s);   (b) then, the team collects all playing characters that are in play and drops said playing characters onto the frustum board; if a playing character comes to rest on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (c) if a team assembled the frustum board to include an accessory, or a plurality of accessories, and if a playing character comes to rest on an accessory or on a plurality of accessories located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character on an accessory or on a plurality of accessories located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (d) if a team assembled the frustum board to include a projection, or a plurality of projections, and if a playing character comes to rest on a projection or on a plurality of projections located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character on a projection or on a plurality of projections located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (e) if a playing character comes to rest on or in contact with a surface or an object other than the frustum board, a projection on the frustum board, an accessory on the frustum board, or on another playing character located on either the frustum board, a projection on the frustum board, or an accessory on the frustum board, or any combination thereof, then said playing character is removed from play; and,   
       wherein a team or teams will continue to take a turn in the predetermined order of play; and, 
       wherein a team or teams will alternate taking turns until a winner is declared, or until only one playing character, or the playing characters of only one team, remains in play. 
     
     
         12 . The method as specified in  claim 11 , wherein the playing characters are dropped by a manual, a mechanical, or an electrical dropping mechanism, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method as specified in  claim 11 , wherein at least one accessory is an active accessory; and, wherein a playing character that interacts with an active accessory may harm or benefit a team or multiple teams. 
     
     
         14 . The method as specified in  claim 11 , wherein a team assembles the frustum board to include or omit a functional element or multiple functional elements; wherein a functional element is comprised of at least one attachment node; wherein an attachment node of a functional element, of the frustum board, of a projection, and of an accessory permits their mutual connection; and, wherein a playing character that interacts with a functional element may harm or benefit a team or multiple teams. 
     
     
         15 . The method as specified in  claim 11 , wherein the game is further comprised of at least one non-player character; and wherein every non-player character is included in drops of any playing character(s); and, wherein a non-player character may interact with a playing character or a non-player character and harm or benefit a team or multiple teams. 
     
     
         16 . The method as specified in  claim 11 , wherein the game is further comprised of at least one deck of playing cards; and, wherein a team executes a first turn, and any subsequent turns, as follows:
 (a) the team utilizes a means of chance to determine whether to draw a playing card;   (b) if the team draws a playing card, then the team may fulfill the playing card or retain the playing card;   (c) then, the team chooses to utilize an amount of the playing currency to purchase an additional playing character, multiple additional playing characters, an enhancement, multiple enhancements, or any combination of both playing character(s) and enhancement(s);   (d) then, the team collects all playing characters that are in play and drops said playing characters onto the frustum board; if a playing character comes to rest on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (e) if a team assembled the frustum board to include an accessory, or a plurality of accessories, and if a playing character comes to rest on an accessory or on a plurality of accessories located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character on an accessory or on a plurality of accessories located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (f) if a team assembled the frustum board to include a projection, or a plurality of projections, and if a playing character comes to rest on a projection or on a plurality of projections located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character on a projection or on a plurality of projections located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (g) if a playing character comes to rest on or in contact with a surface or an object other than the frustum board, a projection on the frustum board, an accessory on the frustum board, or on another playing character located on either the frustum board, a projection on the frustum board, or an accessory on the frustum board, or any combination thereof, then said playing character is removed from play; and,   
       wherein a team or teams will continue to take a turn in the predetermined order of play; and, 
       wherein a team or teams will alternate taking turns until a winner is declared, or until only one playing character or the playing characters of only one team remains in play. 
     
     
         17 . The method as specified in  claim 16 , wherein at least one playing card is positive, and at least one playing card is negative; wherein a team that selects a positive playing card may receive a benefit; and, wherein a team that selects a negative playing card may be damaged; wherein a team must fulfill a negative playing card upon drawing it, and a team may fulfill a positive playing card upon drawing it, or during a subsequent turn. 
     
     
         18 . The method as specified in  claim 16 , wherein the game is further comprised of at least one non-player character; and wherein every non-player character is included in drops of any playing character(s); and, wherein a non-player character may interact with a playing character or a non-player character and harm or benefit a team or multiple teams. 
     
     
         19 . A method of playing a game on a frustum board having a plurality of attachment nodes; a plurality of playing currency; at least one set of playing characters; and a means of chance, wherein the means of chance determines an order of play; wherein a team assembles the frustum board to include or omit a projection, or multiple projections; and, wherein a projection is comprised of at least one attachment node; wherein a team also assembles the frustum board to include or omit an accessory, or multiple accessories; wherein an accessory is comprised of at least one attachment node; and, wherein an attachment node of the frustum board, of a projection, and of an accessory permits their mutual connection; wherein a team selects at least one set of playing characters and executes a first turn, and any subsequent turns, as follows:
 (a) the team collects all playing characters that are in play and drops said playing characters onto the frustum board; if a playing character comes to rest on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (b) if a team assembled the frustum board to include an accessory, or a plurality of accessories, and if a playing character comes to rest on an accessory or on a plurality of accessories located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character on an accessory or on a plurality of accessories located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (c) if a team assembled the frustum board to include a projection, or a plurality of projections, and if a playing character comes to rest on a projection or on a plurality of projections located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play; if a playing character comes to rest on another playing character on a projection or on a plurality of projections located on the frustum board, then said playing character remains in play;   (d) if a playing character comes to rest on or in contact with a surface or an object other than the frustum board, a projection on the frustum board, an accessory on the frustum board, or on another playing character located on either the frustum board, a projection on the frustum board, or an accessory on the frustum board, or any combination thereof, then said playing character is removed from play; and,   
       wherein a team or teams will continue to take a turn in the predetermined order of play; when only one playing character, or multiple playing characters of only one team, remain(s) in play, the team of said playing character or of said playing characters will earn a predetermined amount of playing currency; then, the team or teams begin a new round by gathering all of the playing characters and executing a first turn, and any subsequent turns, as described in (a) through (d); wherein the team or teams continue to play until a team earns a predetermined number of coins or a winner is declared. 
     
     
         20 . The method as specified in  claim 19 , wherein the game is further comprised of at least one non-player character; and wherein every non-player character is included in drops of any playing character(s); and, wherein a non-player character may interact with a playing character or a non-player character and harm or benefit a team or multiple teams.