GB2179865A - Board game simulating firefighting - Google Patents

Abstract

Game apparatus comprises a playing surface (1) having four "operational" areas, (3, 4, 5, 6) each divided into sections representing a fire station (3a, 4a, 5a, 6a), roadways (3b, 4b, 5b, 6b), and building and/or other fire hazards (3c, 4c, 5c, 6c); means such as grid references (7) for identifying locations within the areas (3-6); at least one area representing an administration path (2) divided into movement spaces (2a, 2b) at least one of which (2a) designates a fire situation indicating that play in the areas (3, 4, 5, 6) may take place, and others (2b) of which represent fire service career etc. situations; at least one playing piece representing a fire fighting appliance for movement along said roadways; at least one playing token for movement along said path; chance cards or the like to be associated with said fire situation spaces (2a); one or more further groups of chance cards or the like with each group etc. to be associated with said fire service career etc. spaces (2b) and representing various practical situations; random number selection means; and fire indicting members locatable on said areas representing buildings and/or other fire hazards. The latter members may be unit area sized "fire spread" squares each displaying four differently coded segments for use in conjunction with similarly coded dice to determine possible juxtaposition of such squares having adjacent order with the same code. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing a game simulating fire fighting procedures and is primarily intended to be embodied as a board game although may equally well be embodied and represented in other forms.

According to the present invention, apparatus for playing a game simulating fire fighting comprises a playing surface having at least one area representing an operational area divided into a plurality of areas or sections representing at least a fire station, roadways divided into movement sections, and buildings and/or other fire hazards; means for identifying locations within the operational area; at least one area representing an administration or control path divided into a plurality of sequentially arranged movement spaces at least one of which is designated to represent a fire situation which, in use, indicates play in the operational area may take place, and other spaces of which represent fire service career and/or professional service considerations and/or other relevant situations; at least one playing piece representing a fire fighting appliance for movement along said roadways; at least one playing token for movement along said control path; a plurality of chance cards or other random selection means to be associated with said fire situation spaces; one or more groups of chance cards or other random selection means each group or means to be associated with said fire service career and/or professional service consideration and/or other relevant situation spaces and representing various practical situations; random number selection means; and fire indicating members locatable on said area representing buildings and/or other fire hazards.

Preferably the playing surface will be in the form of a game board and, preferably, the administration or control path will be provided in an outer or circumferential region with said at least one and, preferably, four operational area, being located within the area defined by said control path. Where a plurality of operational area, are provided, at least some of the roadways will preferably run into adjacent operational areas.

The roadways will be divided or otherwise delimited or defined into movement areas or sections and will, of course, communicate with said area representing a fire station. Preferably the whole playing surface will be divided into sections since movement of a playing piece on to areas other than roadways, e.g. on to sections representing fields or other open spaces or the like.

The means for identifying locations within each operational area will preferably comprise a grid reference provided in a region outwardly of the operational area and, preferably, each operational area will be provided with its own grid reference or adjacent areas may share common grid references.

The administration or control path which is divided into a plurality of sequentially arranged spaces will, in addition to being designated to represent fire situations, will preferably also represent a fire service career situation such as "Promotion" and, preferably, also represent professional fire service considerations such as "Brigade Orders". Of course, other or additional situations may be represented in the spaces of the control path and would have appropriately identified chance cards associated therewith. Preferably the control path will also contain at least one space designated as "headquarters" and where a plurality and preferably four operational areas are provided, one for each player, four headquarter indications will be provided within the control path.

Whilst in respect of relevant situations spaces reference has been made to other random selection means, for the sake of clarity and simplicity subsequent reference will be made to chance cards although such should not be considered restricted to cards.

In the above indicated preferred situation, the chance cards will be ranged in packs, one pack representing fire situations, one pack representing promotion situations and one pack representing the brigade orders. The pack of chance cards representing the Fire Situation will have location identification means thereon-preferably grid references-and will preferably have an indication of the nature of the fire and preferably also carry an indication of a merit award such as points designation. The pack of chance cards representing "Promotion" will indicate the rank attained and, preferably, also bear a merit indication such as a points designation. The pack of chance cards representing "Brigade Orders" will indicate commands which might emanate from brigade headquarters and may include points.

At least one and preferably two playing pieces representing a fire fighting appliance will be provided for each player and may be normally located on the fire station section and, in use, be movable along the divided area of the roadways and possibly on to other areas, as may be permitted in the rules.

A playing token will be provided for each player and is movable along the control path for as many spaces as may be indicated by the random number selection means which may be a numbered dice or other known means.

The fire indicating members which are locatable on sections representing buildings and/or other fire hazards will preferably be shaped and dimensioned to correspond to individual unit areas and in a preferred aspect of the invention the fire indicating members will have coded or differently identified portions so that similar corresponding portions of other fire indicating mem- bers might be associated therewith depending upon, in use, use of random selection means-which may be a random number selection means if the fire indicating members are numerically codified or referenced, or may be in the form of random colour selection means such as a dice having coloured faces.The random number and colour selection means may in fact be combined in concept so that the random number selection means when indicating a selected random number also indicates a random colour section. Thus, a numbered dice may be provided with differently coloured faces to act as combined random number and random colour selection means or two separate dice may be provided-one having variously numbered faces and the other having variously coloured faces. In use, the fire indicating members may be associated depending upon the random selection means so as to act as what is termed fire spread members or squares for use in the playing of the game.In a preferred embodiment, the fire indicating member which is to be used as a fire spread member comprises a unit area sized sheet member, preferably rectangular or square and being divided into four segments with each segment having a side adjacent an edge of the member and the segment being differently or variously coloured. The fire spread members are preferably identical and may, in use, according to the rules only be edgewise juxtaposed with the same colours adjacent.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the playing surface of a game board; Figure 2 is a plan view of an example of a single chance card taken from a pack of chance cards representing various fire situations; Figure 3 is a plan view of an example of a chance card taken from a pack of chance cards representing various fire service career promotion situations; Figure 4 in a plan view of an example of a playing card taken from a pack of chance cards representing professional fire service considerations; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a playing piece comprising a fire fighting appliance; Figure 6 is a plan view of a fire indicating member divided into coloured sections indicated as marked-yellow, orange, red or purple.

Figures 7 and 8 are detailed fragmentary enlargements of situations with a fire fighting appliance located on a roadway in a position where only one fire indicating member may be considered and wherein two such fire indicating members may be considered; Figures 9, 10 and ii indicate the possibilities for joining or association of fire indicating members so as to indicate "fire spread".

The apparatus for playing a game includes a board 1 having a playing surface as indicated in Fig. 1 and is intended for use by up to four players.

Around the periphery of the rectangular board there is provided an administrational or control path 2 which is divided into a plurality of movement spaces for one or more separately identifiable playing tokens (not shown) and said spaces are designated to represent a fire station space 2a, fire service career spaces 2b designated "Promotion", and professional fire service consideration spaces 2c designated as "Brigade Orders".

Inwardly of the circumferential control path 2, the playing surface is divided into four operational areas 3, 4, 5 and 6 with, in the example shown, each area being provided with means for identifying locations in the form of a grid reference with an alphabetical grid index 7-referenced A to M-being disposed adjacent a horizontal side of each operational area and a numerical grid index 8-numbered 1 to 16-being disposed adjacent a vertical side of each operational area 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Each operational area 3, 4, 5, 6 is divided into a plurality of sections-one of which 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a represents a fire station whilst roadways 3b, 4, 5b and 6b are provided respectively within each operational area 3, 4, 5 and 6-as will be readily apparent-and it will be appreciated that certain of the roadway sections join with the roadway sections of adjacent operational areas. Adjacent the roadway sections are buildings and/or other fire hazards 3c, 4c, Sc and 6c indicated in hatched lines.

As will be appreciated from the introduction, the playing pieces, such as a fire fighting appliance 9 illustrated in Fig. 5, move on the roadways 3b, 4b, 5b and 6b whilst the fire indicating members, one of which 10 is indicated in Fig. 6, are locatable on the building and/or fire hazard areas 3c, 4c, 5c, 6c in dependence upon the location given in any fire chance card which may be selected upon a playing token (not shown) landing upon a fire situation space 2 an example of such a chance card 11 being indicated in Fig. 2. An example of a chance card 12 taken from a pack representing various fire service career situations is shown in Fig. 3 and, in use, one is selected from the pack upon a playing token landing on a "Promotion" space 2e.Similarly, and example of a card 13 taken from a pack representing various profes sional fire service considerations is illustrated in Fig. 4 and such is, in use, selected upon a playing token landing upon a space 2cdesignating brigade orders.

In alternative embodiments the packs of chance cards may be different or have some the same or some different. The playing tokens, not shown, will be differently identifiable with each player.

In the previously described preferred embodiment, some of the areas 3c, 4c, Sc and 6c are identified as specific risk areas, in the example, 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d representing chemical processing works whilst 3e, 4e, 5e and 6e represent oil storage areas or companies.

Preferably the fire station, playing piece(s), marker and H.Q. of each player or playing area will be correspondingly coloured, e.g. blue, green, red and yellow or otherwise identified to avoid any confusion.

It will also be appreciated that the operational area of the playing surface is divided into quadrants which will be identified by suitable means, e.g. colouring or heavier line markings on the boundary regions.

The dispositions and considerations of Figs. 7 to 11 as related to situations of play will be more fully appreciated upon reading of the following rules given by way of example.

RULES OF THE GAME OF 'FIREFIGHTER' THE OBJECT OF THE GAME: Is to save life and property. This is achieved by each player controlling two Fire Appliances in his area. During the game he will collect cards which award points. These represent each Players Skill, courage and luck throughout the game.

CONTENTS: Playing Board, 8 Fire Appliance playing pieces, 4 Playing Tokens, 40çFire Cards, 30 Brigade Orders Cards, 6 Promotion Cards, 1 Numbered Dice, 1 coloured Dice, Sheet of Fire Spread Squares (144).

PREPARA TION: The Fire cards are shuffled and placed face down next to the board, the same is done with the Brigade Order cards. Keep the Promotion cards close to hand. Each Player is given two Fire Appliance playing pieces and one Playing Token of the same colour. The Appliances are placed in their respective Fire Stations and the Token on the appropriate HQ Square. Finally break the sheet of Fire Spread squares into separate pieces and give 36 to each player.

THE BOARD: Is divided into two playing areas, the outer and the inner. The former represents the administrational side of the Fire Brigade and the latter the operational side.

THE INNER GRIDDED AREA: This represents a typical urban area containing housing estates, factories parks and open land.

The Playing area is divided into Four Divisions; NE, NW, SE and SW. Each has it own Fire Station and is controlled by one Player.

THE OUTER CIRCUIT: Players, using the Dice, move around the board in a clockwise direction, taking cards and obeying instructions where necessary.

THE BASIC GAME FOR FOUR PLA VERBS: Initially movement will be around the outside of the board. The first Player throws the dice and moves his token the appropriate amount of squares. When his turn ends, play passes to the player on his left.

BRIGADE ORDERS SQUARES: If a Player lands on this square, he takes a card of the same name. Then according to instructions either returns or retains the card. You will note that some cards have a points value.

PROMOTION SQUARES: When landing on this square a Player is entitled to be promoted under certain conditions. (See Later; Promotion).

PROMOTION CARDS: There are six Promotion cards, Being 1 Chief Card, 2 Divisional Officer cards, and 3 Station Officer Cards. Use all these cards when four people are playing. Remove one Divisional Officer Card for two or three Players. When playing a solo game use one card from each Rank. Note; Each card has a points value.

HEADQUARTERS SQUARES: When landing on this square, a Player may throw again if he outranks the Player whose HQ Square he has landed on. If a Player lands on his own HQ Square, he may move to any other square on the iboard.

FIRE SQUARES: When landing on this square, a Fire Card is taken and laid face down (Without reading it) in front of you. Subsequent turns for that Player will move to the Inner Board, where play will continue until the fire has been extinguished.

FIRE CARDS: When turned face up, the card informs a Player of two things; The type of incident he will be responding to, and exactly where the Fire has started. By using the map reference at the top of the card, trace an imaginary line across the board from the appropriate letter, doing the same down the board from the correct number . Where these lines meet will give you the location of the Fire. Place a Fire Spread Square (Fire Spread Unit) on the square. Note: Each card has a points value.

ORDER OF PLA Y: 1. Throw Dice to move around the outside of the board.

2. If landed on Fire Square, take Fire Card AND ON SUBSEQUENT TURNS: 3. Read off coordinates from Fire Card and place a Fire Spread Unit (FSU) on the correct square.

4. Throw Fire Spread Dice (FS Dice) and add FSU's as necessary.

5. Throw Dice and move Fire Appliance(s) (See Fire Appliance Movement).

6. Attack the Fire if in position. (See Attacking Fires).

7. If the Fire has not been extinguished, return to Step 4. If it has then remove all FSU's and either return or retain Fire Card (see After a Fire).

FIRE SPREAD: This is controlled by a throw of the F.S. Dice at the beginning of each turn. The four colours on the Dice correspond to the colours on an FSU.

EXAMPLE: Let us say that only the initial FSU has been laid. The dice is thrown and an orange comes up. Another FSU is now laid alongside the original with corresponding colours adjacent. i.e.

Orange to Orange.

Fire Spread for this turn is now ended. If on the next turn, both FSU's have not been extinguished, the FS Dice is thrown again. You will see from Fig. 9 that if a red was thrown, two further FSU's are added. See Fig. 10.

You will now see from Fig. 10 that, on a further turn a 'Yellow' was thrown, Four extra FSU's would be added to the Fire. See Fig. 11. You will also note that if a 'Red' was thrown, no spread could take place and no FSU's added. If not extinguished, a Fire may spread to a maximum of 36 FSU's.

FIRE MAY SPREAD INTO ANY SQUARE, EXCEPT: (a) Onto a Fire Station Square.

(b) Onto a Square containing a Fire Appliance.

(c) Over a Divisional Boundary.

(d) Any Square that has an extinguished FSU on it. (See Attacking Fire) MOVEMENT OF FIRE APPLIANCES: The numbered Dice is thrown one for each Appliance movement. The number thrown +1 is the maximum number of squares an Appliance can move. e.g. A throw of four would allow a player to move from Nil to Five Squares. Diagonal moves are not allowed. When two Fire Appliances are responding to the same fire, nominate which is to move first before throwing Dice. Overtaking is allowed but parking on the same square is not permitted.

FIRE APPLIANCES MA Y: (1) Travel on all Roadway Squares, except any square involved in Fire.

FIRE APPLIANCES MAY NOT: (1) Travel on open land or building squares.

(11) Move onto or through squares involved in Fire.

(Except certain conditions ---- See later).

ATTACKING THE FIRE: Upon reaching a Fire, The Appliance(s) must position itself adjacent but not diagonally to, any FSU's they are attempting to extinguish. More than one FSU can be attacked simultaneously, as long as they are adjacent to attacking Appliance-see Figs. 7 and 8.

In Fig. 7 you will see that an Appliance could attack only one FSU. (Square a).

In Fig. 8 you will see that an Appliance may attack two FSU's simultaneously (Squares a and c).

Once the Appliances are in position players must attempt to extinguish the FSU(s) by throwing the FS Dice (In this role it is used for extinguishment). If 'RED' is thrown the attempt has failed and the FSU(s) are left to burn. Any other colour thrown means a player has successfully extinguished the FSU(s) to which he was adjacent. These FSU(s) are turned over But not removed. On further turns Fire may not spread into these 'Burnt out' squares. Fire Appliances may also move onto these squares on subsequent turns to attack further FSU's.

Note: When two Fire Appliances attend the same Fire, each will throw the dice separately to attack the Fire.

AFTER THE FIRE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED: When all FSU's have been overturned, the fire has now been completely extinguished, and they can be removed from the board. But before this is done, a close examination will ascertain what damage has been done. This will determine whether the Fire Card in question can be retained (for its Points value) A FIRE CARD MAY BE RETAINED IF: A Fire that started in, or spread to a Building was extinguished before the Fire totally engulfed the building. In other words there must be at least one square within the building (Whatever the size) which was untouched by Fire. Note: Extinguished do not count as untouched squares.

A FIRE CARD MAY NOT BE RETAINED IF: A Fire spreads to every square in one building, or if it spreads to two or more buildings. (This applies, even if only one square of a second building is involved in Fire).

The player now retains or discards the Fire Card. DO NOT RETURN THE CARD TO THE PACK.

This is now the end of the turn. On the next turn the Player may elect to return to moving around the outside of the board, or continue movement on the inner board, returning the appliances to station for instance. Note: Fire Appliances need not be at the Fire Station before receiving further Fire Cards.

PROMOTION: All Players at the outset are given the Rank of Sub Officer. By his own efforts and luck each Player is given the opportunity to advance through the Ranks. The Ranks structure being; SUB OFFICER STATION OFFICER DIVISIONAL OFFICER CHIEF OFFICER To qualify Promotion the following conditions must be met; 1. A Player must first land on a Promotion Square 2. He must hold the correct amount of Fire Cards for the appropriate Rank (See table below) 3. There is a correct Promotion Card available in the pack.

Players may only be Promoted one Rank at a time. ALWAYS RETURN TO THE PACK ANY OTHER PROMOTION CARDS HELD. (You must hold only one card at any given time).

FIRE CARDS NEEDED FOR PROMOTION STATION OFFICER 1 DIVISIONAL OFFICER 2 CHIEF OFFICER 4 END OF THE GAME: The game finishes when all the Fire Cards have been used. Each Player now counts the amount of points collected from the Fire. Brigade Order and Promotion-Cards. The highest being the Winner.

THE GAME FOR 2 OR 3 PLAYERS: With three Players, choose one Division each leaving the fourth unused Two Players may leave two Divisions unused or may elect to control two Divisions each. The first Player, NW and SE and the second player NE and SW.

THE SOLO GAME: The Player controls any Two Divisions. The game is said to be won if the Player can score 45 Points, whilst holding the Rank of Chief Officer.

THE ADVANCED GAME: Once you have mastered the basic game you may wish to incorporate the following rules for added excitement.

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE: It may occur occasionally that a Fire in a particular Division is nearer to a neighbouring Fire Station. In this case the host player may ask assistance of an adjacent Division. This Division may send one or two Appliances to the Fire, AS LONG AS HE IS NOT FIGHTING A FIRE OF HIS OWN. Fire Appliance movement and Fire Attacking will take place in the assisting players turn But FIRE SPREAD will only take place at the start of the player in which the Fire orginated. A successfully won Fire Card will go to the Highest Ranking Player involved.

DEMOTION: If the Fire expands to 36 FSU's, the Player concerned must be Demoted. If the correct Rank is not available then the next lowest Rank must be accepted.

SPECIAL RISKS: You will notice in each Division there is an OIL STORAGE COMPANY and a CHEMICAL COMPANY. If at any time Fire spreads to every square in one of these buildings, there is an explosion and the Player involved is out of the game.

FIRE SPREAD: Fire may spread across Divisional Boundaries. The original Player is always responsible to extinguish the Fire but may ask for assistance (See Mutual Assistance).

Claims (29)

1. Apparatus for playing a game simulating fire fighting comprises a playing surface having at least one area representing an operational area divided into a plurality of areas or sections representing at least a fire station, roadways divided into movement sections, and buildings and/or other fire hazards; means for identifying locations within the operational area; at least one area representing an administration or control path divided into a plurality of sequentially arranged movement spaces at least one of which is designated to represent a fire situation which, in use, indicate play in the operational area may take place, and other spaces of which represent fire service career and/or professional service considerations and/or other relevant situations; at least one playing piece representing a fire fighting appliance for movement along said roadways; at least one playing token for movement along said control path; a plurality of chance cards or other random selection means to be associated with said fire situation spaces; one or more groups of chance cards or other random selection means with each group or means to be associated with said fire service career and/or professional service consideration and/or other relevant situation spaces and representing various practical situations; random number selection means; and fire indicating members locatable on said areas representing buildings and/or other fire hazards.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the playing surface is in the form of a game board.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the administration or control path is provided in an outer or circumferential region of the playing surface with said at least one and, preferably, four operational areas being located within the area defined by said control path.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which a plurality of operational areas are provided and at least some of the roadways runs into adjacent operational areas.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the roadways are divided or otherwise delimited or defined into movement areas or sections and communcitate with said area(s) representing fire station(s).

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the whole playing surface is divided into sections to permit movement of a playing piece on to areas other than roadways, such as, on to sections representing fields or other open spaces or the like.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the means for identifying locations within each operational area comprise a grid reference provided in a region outwardly of the operational area.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which each operational area is provided with its own grid reference, or in which adjacent areas may share common grid references.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the administration or control path is divided into a plurality of sequentially arranged spaces and in addition to being designated to represent fire situations also represents a fire service career situation such as " Promotion".

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the career situation is represented as "Promotion" and in which the spaces also represent professional fire service considerations and are designated by, for example, "Brigade Orders" or other or additional situations and represented in the spaces of the control path and have appropriately identified chance cards associated therewith.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the control path contains at least one space designated as "headquarters".

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which a plurality and preferably four operational areas are provided, one for each player, a plurality and preferably four "headquarters" indications will be provided within the control path.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which, the chance cards are arranged in packs, one pack representing fire situations, one pack representing promotion situations and one pack representing the brigade orders.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the pack of chance cards representing the "Fire Situation" have location identification means thereon-preferably grid references.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which said chance cards have an indication of the nature of the fire and, preferably, also carry an indication of a merit award such as points designation.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the pack of chance cards representing "Promotion" indicate the rank attained and, preferably, also bear a merit indication such as a points designation.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the pack of chance cards representing "Brigade Orders" indicate commands which might emanate from brigade headquarters and may include points.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, in which at least one and preferably two playing pieces representing a fire fighting appliance are provided for each player.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, in which a playing token is provided for each player and is movable along the control path for as many spaces as may be indicated by the random number selection means.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19, in which the random number selection means is a numbered dice or other known means.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20, in which the fire indicating members which are locatable on sections representing buildings and/or other fire hazards are shaped and dimensioned to correspond to individual unit areas.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21, in which the fire indicating members have coded or differently identified portions so that similar corresponding portions of other fire indicating members might be associated therewith depending upon, in use, use of random selection means.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, in which the random selection means is a random number selection means if the fire indicating members are numerically codified or referenced, or is the form of random colour selection means such as a dice having coloured faces.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the random number and colour selection means is combined in concept so that the random number selection means when indicating a selected random number also indicates a random colour selection.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24, in which the random selection means is a numbered dice provided with differently coloured faces to act as combined random number and random colour selection means, or two separate dice are provided-one having variously numbered faces and the other having variously coloured faces.

26. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25, in which the fire indicating member which is to be used as a fire spread member comprises a unit area sized sheet member.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, in which the sheet is rectangular or square and is divided into four segments with each segment having a side adjacent an edge of the member and the segment being differently or variously coloured.

28. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 27, in which fire spread members are identical.

29. Apparatus for playing a game substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.