Multi-player board game

Abstract

A multi-player board game includes six sets of 16 indexed playing elements or disks in each set, a board having six sectors, three regular dice, and one rule die. Each disk is flat at one side and has a certain sign on one side, common to all the indexed disks. Each sector includes six sequential sites for the indexed disks. Each of the regular dice has 1-6 numerals on their respective faces. The numerals determine a site for receiving an indexed disk, or a number of moves of an indexed disk between sites. The rule die cube has a data item on five of its faces. The data items are different from each other, and three of them include no numerals. Each data item communicates a certain playing rule. Each sector has a designated site for establishing a certain playing rule for playing disks received in the designated site. Each regular dice cube has 1-6 numerals. The game includes six indexed bags, and respective colors index the playing elements and the indexed bags. The invention includes both a box version and a computerized network version. In the network version, a server communicates with smartphones operated by the players.

1 . A game apparatus for a multi-player board game, comprising:
 a. at least three sets of indexed playing elements, each set including at least three playing elements having the same index, each playing element of said at least three playing elements being substantially flat at one side and having a certain sign on one side, the certain sign being substantially the same for a majority of all said indexed playing elements;   b. a game board having at least six sectors arranged sequentially, each sector including at least six sequential sites configured for receiving one or more of said indexed playing elements, the sites and elements being configured to enable moving from a first site to a second site;   c. at least three dice, each having 1-6 numerals on their respective faces, the numerals determining a site for receiving an indexed playing element or a number of moves of an indexed playing element between sites; and   d. at least one rule dice cube having a data item on at least five of its faces, and at least two of the data items including no numerals, wherein a data item communicating at least one playing rule.   
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each sector has one or two sites designated the same in most of the sectors, the designation communicates a certain playing rule for playing elements received in the designated site. 
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus of  claim 2  wherein five consecutive sites separate two adjacent designated sites. 
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes six sets of indexed playing elements. 
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus of  claim 4  wherein each of said six sets set includes 16 playing elements having the same index, each playing element of said 16 playing elements is substantially flat at one side and has said certain sign on one side, the certain sign being substantially the same for all said indexed playing elements. 
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the board includes six sectors each having six sites. 
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes three dice cubes having 1-6 numerals. 
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein three dice of said at least three dice having 1-6 dots on respective faces. 
     
     
         9 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the data items of said at least one rule die cube are different from each other, and three or more data items include no numerals. 
     
     
         10 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes at least six indexed containers corresponding to said at least six sets of indexed playing elements, the containers are selected from a list which includes bags, boxes, baskets, and bowls. 
     
     
         11 . The game apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least six colors index said playing elements and said indexed bags. 
     
     
         12 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said indexed playing elements are disks, and each disk has said certain sign on one of its faces. 
     
     
         13 . A method for a computerized server controlling a multi-player board game played by a plurality of players using a respective plurality of computerized devices communicating with the server, said board game including at least three sets of indexed playing elements, a board having at least six sectors arranged sequentially, at least three sites at each sector for receiving the indexed playing elements, at least three regular dice, and at least one rule die having at least five data items on its faces, the data items determining respective playing rules, the method comprising:
 a. inviting the players to use their devices to negotiate certain parameters of a planned game session, said certain parameters including at least a number of indexed playing elements allocated to a player in the beginning of said planned game session;   b. interacting with the devices for controlling the negotiation between the players;   c. storing and updating a status of an active game session, and sharing at least part of content of said status with the devices;   d. signaling to a device that an associated player being invited to play in turn;   e. receiving data on one or more player actions from a device associated with the player;   f. checking legality of said one or more player actions in accordance with score of the three regular dice, in accordance with a data item obtained by a raffle of said at least one rule die, and in accordance with playing rules compatible with the negotiated parameters;   g. updating status of the active game session in accordance with legal actions; and   h. measuring elapsed time since said signaling of a device and controlling the active game session according to the measured elapsed time.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the method includes controlling communications with said computerized devices, identifying lack of communications with a certain device and declaring a player associated with a disconnected device to be out of play in accordance with pre-determined rules. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the method includes applying a dice score algorithm and a rule die raffle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the method includes receiving dice score and a data item of a rule die from a device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the method includes storing said parameters of said planned game session as determined in said negotiation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the method includes notifying devices on illegality of said one or more player actions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein one of said certain parameters is a moving direction on the board. 
     
     
         20 . A method of a computerized device operated by a player of a multi-player board game, the device communicating with a central computerized server and having a screen for presenting a board having at least six sectors arranged sequentially, at least three sites at each sector for receiving indexed playing elements, and at least one item selected from a list of items including:
 i. at least three sets of indexed playing elements;   ii. at least three regular dice; and   iii. at least one rule die having at least five data items on its faces, the data items determining respective playing rule,   the method comprising:   a. negotiating certain parameters of a planned game session, said certain parameters including at least a number of indexed playing elements allocated to each player in the beginning of said planned game session;   b. receiving a signal from the server to play in turn;   c. receiving an update of a status from the server and updating the screen to exhibit said status;   d. sensing one or more player actions, and submitting data associated with the sensed one or more player actions to the server; and   e. getting server notification regarding illegal player actions and presenting an appropriate notification to the player.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the method includes applying a dice score algorithm and a rule die raffle and delivering results to the server. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the method includes receiving dice score and a rule die raffle result from the server. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein upon sensing player actions, checking their legality, and interacting with the player in case they found illegal.