GB2262242A - Board game based on fire-fighting. - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game is designed to reproduce fire suppression techniques, using strategic moves both within and outside buildings. The board is marked with a grid pattern and represents an aerial view of a town, showing man made and natural features. The buildings are shown in plan view, depicting the walls, doors and windows. Roads, rivers, railway lines and ships are included. The firefighters are represented by moveable characters. The fire, the smoke and the water are represented by interlocking counters of various colours. Game cards based on real life possibilities are also included. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME' IN ORDER TO ENSURE PROVISION FOR THE NAME OF THIS BOARD GAME, IT WILL BE KNOWN IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AS: "BEAT THE FLAME" OR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT TO THE NAME BY THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS SPECIFICATION.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNGWN AS (BEAT THE BLAME t DESCRIPTION The object of the game is to deploy Fire Service Resources in order to achieve overall control and extinguishment of a fire. This will involve tactical moves, based on real life firefighting techniques, there will also be an element of chance such as a flashover, or collapsed roof which may cause you to re-evaluate your attack plan.

In addition re-enforcing appliances arrive periodically throughout the game, so you will have to achieve what you can, in the early stages, with the man power and equipment at your disposal, THE BOARD The board will depict an aerial view of a portion of a town, which will show buildings, roads and water supplies such as hydrants and rivers. The buildings will be plan view of the ground floor, showing walls, doors and windows with writing describing the room or chamber i.eO office or lounge.

The whole board including the roads will be divided up into a 15 mm grid pattern, in order to stage the various game moves. In addition to the above the buildings will be different colours, so that they can be distinguished from one another.

There will be road markings, and some vehicles depicted, again with the overlaid grid pattern.

THIS SPECIFICATION IS TO INCLUDE ANY TOWN SCENARIO, AND INCLUDE RIVERS, AIRPORTS AND RAILWAY LINES. THIS IS TO ENABLE ADDITIONAL BOARDS TO BE PRODUCED WHICH IVSY ENLARGE THE GAIçEPLAN SCENARIO.

This board is specifically designed to reproduce realistic firefighting techniques, using strategic moves within and outside buildings, and also to simulate the spread of fire within buildings, across roads and open spaces to other structures.

Special features may include ships, airports, aircraft,dockyards, town centres, shopping malls, factories and hotels.

In addition streams, rivers, roads, motorways, woodland, marshland or rocky terrain.

IN ALL CASES TO BE OVERLAID WITH 15 mm GRID PATTERN, AND FOR USE WITH FIREFIGHTING AS ABOVE.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME' DESCRIPTION HE PIECES There will be four different coloured counters (see appendix 1).

Red - representing fire Brown - representing smoke Blue - representing nozzles-hose Black - roof collapse These counters will be capable of fitting in a 15 mm square and have a small handle in the middle to facilitate lifting from board. There will also be child safety holes drilled through. See Appendix 1.

Tfle figures will be represented by small moulded characters, which will be capable of interlocking with counters. These figures will be in the standing position, some will have air packs on and may be a different colour to those without air packs on, There will also be a number of figures representing members of the general public. The counters will also be capable of interlocking with one another.

GAME CARDS There will be cards, which will be available and will have the following information: Collapsed roof Injured firefighter Burst hose Double dice throw Flash over Smoke advancement Hydrant Fire advancement Escape Fire through wall Power Tool New fire Axe Fire 'Thermal air currents' Easy conditions These cards will have instructions to the players on what to do. They may be produced with a design or photograph to give a visual effect. These cards will be designed with the information on one side and the name of the product on the other. All these cards have been designed with firefighting in mind, and can be regarded as realistic possibilities when firefighting, thus adding an element of chance.

Refer to Appendix 2, S F--ECIFICATION i'OR BOARD GAKE kNOWN AS 'BEAT THE BLAtE DESCRIPTION THE RULES The Fire One or two players will be required to represent the spread of fire, and using every chance and tatic they can they will set out to destroy the entire building, trapping casualities, firemen, and attempting to spread the fire to adjacent buildings.

To Start The Game The fire will start after the role of a dice by those representing the fire and they will select a building.

To spread the fire you must role the dice once more, if you get 1,3 or 5 you may have the equivalent red counters and place them adjacent to one another within the fire building.

;ou will always get an equal number of brown counters which represent smoke, thus: 1 fire and smoke 3 fire and smoke 5 fire and smoke If you throw even numbers you will only get brown smoke counters.

It will now be the turn of the firefighters.

Spreading your Fire In order to spread your fire you must continue to throw 1, 3 or 5 on your next turn, If up to now you have only thrown 2,4 or 6 you only have heavy smoke spreading throughout your fire building, represented by brown counters.

When you get a 1,3 or 5 you can exchange brown counters for red, and you are entitled to the equivalent number of brown counters for the red ones just laid.

You may spread your fire in any direction you choose, within the building, but you cannot burn through the walls, i.e.

you have to enter doors and other openings.

Your fire counters must be adjacent to one another at all times unless the firefighters have split your fire in two, then you may spread both of your fires, but you will only get 1,3 or 5 squares to burn as before, so you may if you get a 5 place 3 extra on one fire and 2 on another, don't forget your smoke.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME' DESCRIPTION THL RULES You may spread your smoke out a window and across the street into the window or door of another building. If the square in the door or window of the fire building is a fire square and the smoke has reached a square inside another building you may ignite two squares in the new building.

Re-ignition If a portion of your fire is extinguished you may reignite it on your next go, provided: a) You can spread an existing fire to that area.

b) It is out of reach of the firefighters.

How to trap firefighters or casualties (see appendix 3) In order to achieve this you have to surround the victim.

If the firefighter has no air mask on he can be eliminated by smoke alone. You may achieve this outside the building if you wish.

If the firefighter has an air pack, he can only be destroyed if surrounded in fire. Bear in mind that the firefibhters can escape through windows if they have an escape card, from the pack.

GOOD LUCK The Firefighters Before your go the fire would have started in one of the buildings. initially you will only have one appliance and one crew of five men). First decide the skill level 1, 2 or 3. Appliances arrive quicker in level 1 than 2 and 3. Also before each go you must take a fireground card. Check the time board to see how many turns must pass before your next fire engine and crew arrive.

Positioning Your Vehicle Park where you wish, near a way into the building is advised, Place your crew on top of the appliance, this will be their start positions. Only two of your crew will have air packs on.

This is the procedure for all responding appliances.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOiN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME' DESCRIPTION THE RULES How to Attack the Fire Before you throw the dice you must take a card from the pack, if the card has a red border then those representing the fire will act on the information. If the card has a blue border then you as the firefighters will act on the information.

You will then throw a dice and this gives you a number of moves for your firefighters. You can for example move one or all of your personnel, each being able to move the number of squares shown on the dice.

It is in your interest to despatch one man toward a hydrant, once he has reached the hydrant square you will collect a hydrant card, and that firefighter maybe used for other duties.

OTHERWISE YOU CAN ONLY EXTINGUISH TEN FIRE SQUARES You may enter via any of the doors and can only move the same number of squares as the dice has shown. You may only have one blue hose counter until you have your hydrant card. You may then have three blue counters from any one appliance.

The nominated firefighter will stand on the blue counter at all times and can be regarded as the man with the hose.

You may enter via any of the doors but not windows (unless you have an axe card). Your hose men can only put out fires in adjacent squares. (see appendix 4). On extinguishment you can cap the red counters with brown ones, indicating only smoke - beware of re-ignition.

If your personnel are trapped they may use their escape card, if they have one, this will allow them to pass through a window, once they have reached it. Once used this card is placed back into the pack.

Roof Collapse If you draw a roof collapse card, those representing the fire will decide where in the building the roof is to be collapsed.

Tne collapse must be in a smoke or fire area. The squares will be covered with black counters, to the number shown on the card. These will remain throughout the game and provide no access whatsoever for fire crews.

If the roof falls on fire service personnel they are eliminated, this will be the decision of those representing the fire.

The roof could collapse at an entrance, hindering fire crews, providing there is a fire or smoke there.

Your objectives are: 1. To save life. 2. To protect property.

You may have to protect property, to safely carry out your first objective.

REiKEi{BER, SURROUND, ATTACK AND DESTROY YOUR ENEMY OR HE WILL DESTROY YOU.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME' DESCRIPTION Rules - Game Cards 1. COLLAPSED ROOF - This card will have a red border and will give the number of black counters to be placed. Those representing the fire will decide their position and may if they wish place them over squares occupied by firefighters, thus destroying them. These black counters will remain over these squares for the duration of the game. No fire or firefighter can pass over a black square.

2. BURST HOSE - This card will have a blue border, and means for this go you cannot put out any fires with any of your hose.

3. FLASH-OVER - This card will have a red border, those representing the fire can spread the fire by the number of squares shown on the card and an equal amount of smoke squares. Any firefighters trapped at this point are to be removed from the board. You will not retain this card.

4. INJURED FIREFIGHTER - This card will have a blue border and you must remove any one firefighter from the board. You do not retain zhis card.

5. DOUBLE DICE THROW - This card will have a blue border and whatever number your dice lands on you may double. You do not retain this card.

6. SMOKE ADVANCEMENT - This card will have a red border, those representing the fire can place brown smoke counters to the number shown on the card. You do not retain this card.

7. FIRE ADVANCEMENT - This card will have a red border, those representing the fire can place red counters to the numbers shown on the card and equal amount of brown counters. You do not retain this card.

8. FIRE THROUGH WALLS - This card will have a red border, those representing the fire may pass their fire through a wall of their choice, on their next go, and only on their next go. You do not retain this card.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAiE' DESCRIPTION Rules - Game Cards 9o NEW FIRE - This card will have a red border.

Those representing the fire may start a new fire anywhere on the board in any buildin or structure placing red fire counters and smoke counters to the number shown on the card. You do not retain this card.

10. FIRE 'THERiAL AIR CURRENTS' - This card will have a red border. Those representing the fire may ignite part of the fire building by placing red fire counters at a set distance from the original fire.

The distance the fire has jumped will be shown on the card.

11. EASY uONDITIONS - This card will have a blue border. Firefighters with air packs may travel at twice the amount shown on the dice for this go. You do not retain this card.

12. HYDRANT - This card will have a blue border. When one of your firefighters is standing on a hydrant square you will receive a hydrant card. This will allow you to have up to 3 blue hose counters with unlimited supply of water. You will retain this card.

15. ESCAPE - This card will have a blue border. After receiving this card you must retain it until it is required. If your firefighters become trapped but can reach a window they may pass through this window.

After using this card it must be placed back in the pack.

14. AXE - This card will have a blue border. After receiving this card you must retain it until it is required. If you wish to gain entry through a window you will show this card and you may only use it once after which it will be placed in the pack. You will not leave the building by this window, unless you have an escape card.

15. POiR TOOL - This card will have a blue border.

After receiving this card you must retain it until it is required, if you wish to gain entry through a roller shutter or a wall or any other obstacle forming part of a structure you will show this card, after which it will be placed back in the pack. You must not leave by this route.

SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAME KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME' DESCRIPTION Rules - Same Cards 16. PERSONS REPORTED - This card will have a red border. Those representing the will place the number of casualties asked for any where in the fire building, but at least 10 squares from any fire counter.

Claims (1)

1. SPECIFICATION FOR BOARD GAZE KNOWN AS 'BEAT THE FLAME'

   CLAIMS CLAIM 1 - The board game Beat the Flame is based on tactical firefighting.

   CLAIM 2 - As claimed in claim 1, but also there are pieces representing firefighters, smoke, water and fire.

   CLAIM 3 - The board shows an aerial view of a portion of a town, depicting natural and man-made features.

   CLAIM 4 - As claimed in claim 3, but also with an over laid 15 mm grid pattern.

   CLAIM 5 - The game has got a set of cards depicting various situations a firefighter can be faced with, which are used during the game, CLAIM 6 - As claimed in claim 2, but the pieces are various colours and interlock with one another0 CLAIM 7 - This game is for use for ages 12-adult, having

   2-8 players.

   CLAIM 8 - As claimed in claim 3 and 4, but will also have fire hydrants marked on the board.

   CuAIM 9 - As claimed in claims 3, 4 and 8, but also with various buildings, showing the internal layout of rooms and chambers.

   CLAIM 10 - As claimed in claim 9, but also showing windows, doors and roller shutters, CLAIM 11 - As claimed in claims 3,4,8 and 9 but may include rivers, airports, motorways, woodland, marsh land or rocky terrain.

   CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAI 1 The board game 'FLASHOVER' is based on tactical firefighting.

   CLAIM 2 As claimed in claim 1, but also there are pieces representing firefighters, smoke, water and fire which interlock.

   CLAIM 3 The board shows an aerial view of a town, depicting natural and man-made features.

   CLAIM 4 As claimed in claim 3, but also designed to be placed along side other boards to enlarge the scenario.

   CLAIM 5 As claimed in claims 3 and 4 but also with an over laid 15 mm grid pattern0 CLAIM 6 This game is for use for ages 12 - adult, having

   2-8 players.

   CLAIM 7 As claimed in claim 3, but will also show fire hydrants0 CLAIM 8 As claimed in claims 3,4 and 5, but also with various buildings, showing the internal layout of rooms and chambers.

   CLAIM 9 As claimed in claim 9, but also showing windows, doors and roller shutters.

   CLAIM 10 As claimed in claims 5,4,5 and 9 but may include RIVERS, AIRPORTS, MOTORWAYS, WOOLLAND, MARSH 1AND, ROCKY-TERRAIN, DOCKYARDS AND SHIPS.