Card game

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method of playing a card game. The apparatus comprises at least one type of card, the card comprising an identification symbol that identifies the card, a resource cost symbol that indicates the resource cost for playing the card, a resource gain symbol that indicates the resource gain from playing the card, and an action symbol that indicate an event arising from playing the card. A player plays a card to accumulate resource equivalent to resource gain symbol of that card, and then may play card(s) having a resource cost symbol, the card having a resource cost less or equal to the accumulated resource.

1 . A card game for two or more players comprising a plurality of cards, each card comprising:
 an identification symbol that identifies the card,   resource gain symbol that indicates the resource gain from playing the card,   a resource cost symbol that indicates the resource cost for playing the card, and   an action symbol that indicate an event arising from playing the card.   
     
     
         2 . The card game of  claim 1  for two or more players comprising at least two decks of cards, each deck comprising a plurality of cards. 
     
     
         3 . The card game of  claim 1  comprising a hero card, the hero card comprising one or more identification symbols that identifies the hero card and:
 i) a hand size symbol that identifies the number of cards that a player can have in their hand as active cards, or 
 ii) a life symbol that indicates the life points of the of hero, or 
 iii) both (i) and (ii). 
 
     
     
         4 . The card game of  claim 3  wherein the hero card comprises one or more symbols that identify a special attribute of the hero card. 
     
     
         5 . The card game of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more equipment cards, the one or more equipment cards comprising:
 an identification symbol that identifies the card, and   an action symbol that identifies an action when said equipment card is played.   
     
     
         6 . The card game of  claim 5  wherein the equipment cards are selected from any one or more of:
 a weapon card, the identification symbol of said cards indicating the type of weapon, 
 an armour card, the identification symbol of said cards indicating the type of armour, and 
 an item card, the identification symbol of said cards indicating the type of item. 
 
     
     
         7 . The card game of  claim 1 , comprising a game board, said game board comprising one or more card zones, the card zones selected from:
 a) a hero card zone, for placement of hero cards,   b) a pitch zone, for placement of cards comprising a resource gain symbol,   c) a discard card zone, for placement of discarded cards,   d) one or more equipment card zone, for placement of equipment cards,   e) one or more item card zone, for placement of item cards,   f) a weapon card zone, for placement of weapon cards,   g) one or more armour card zone, for placement of armour cards,   h) one or more card temporary storage zones,   i) a card deck zone, for placement of the card deck,   j) an active card zone, for placement of cards in play,   k) a card banishment zone, for placement of banished cards, and   l) any combination of one or more of (a) to (k) above.   
     
     
         8 . The card game of  claim 7  wherein the game board comprises at least two game player zones, the at least two game player zones comprising said card zones. 
     
     
         9 . The card game of  claim 1  wherein the cards comprise a defence symbol that indicates a defence value of the card. 
     
     
         10 . The card game of  claim 1  wherein the symbol is selected from a picture, diagram, geometric shape, writing or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a card game involving two or more players, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing one or more packs of cards, each pack comprising a plurality of cards, each card comprising:
 an identification symbol that identifies the card, 
 a resource cost symbol that indicates the resource cost for playing the card, 
 a resource gain symbol that indicates the resource gain from playing the card, and 
 an action symbol that indicate an event arising from playing the card; 
   b) providing rules of play in which each player has a quantum of life, and
 at least a first player draws one or more cards into their hand, 
 said first player plays at least one card to accumulate resource equivalent to resource gain symbol of said card, 
 said first player plays at least one card having a resource cost symbol, the card having a resource cost less or equal to the accumulated resource, such that playing of the card activates the action of the played card to reduce the quantum of life of another player, 
 the card played to accumulate resource is returned to the players pack of cards, and the card played to activate an action is discarded from play, 
 a second or subsequent player draws one or more cards into their hand, 
 said second or subsequent player plays at least one card to accumulate resource equivalent to resource gain symbol of said card, 
 said second or subsequent player plays at least one card having a resource cost symbol, the card having a resource cost less or equal to the accumulated resource, such that playing of the card activates the action of the played card to reduce the quantum of life of another player, 
 the card played to accumulate resource is returned to the players pack of cards, and the card played to activate an action is discarded from play, and 
   c) play is continued until a players quantum of life is reduced to a pre-set value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising an initial step whereby each player draws a predetermined number of cards into their hand. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the card game comprises a hero card, the hero card comprising one or more identification symbols that identifies the hero card and:
 i) a hand size symbol that identifies the number of cards that a player can hold in their hand as active cards, or 
 ii) a life symbol that indicates the life points of the of hero, or 
 iii) both (i) and (ii). 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the hero card comprises an attribute that modifies at least one of the cards played by that player. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  comprising an equipment card, each equipment card comprising:
 an identification symbol that identifies the card, and 
 an action symbol that identifies an action when said equipment card is played, and wherein 
 
       the equipment card is played to:
 i) modify the action effect of another player's card when played, 
 ii) reduce the quantum of life of another player, 
 iii) modify the action effect of a card played by that same player, or 
 iv) any combination of (i) to (iii). 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the method comprises the step such that when a player plays a card to activate an action, the target player of that action may play a card in their hand to modify the action value of the played card. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the game card has a defence value symbol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the defence value of the card played by the targeted player modifies the action value of the card to activate the action.