GB2268414A - Board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A ludo-type board game can be played on alternative board layouts (Fig 1, Fig 2) by two three or four players. The board layout may comprise "safe" squares. The game is played with two conventional dice and four pieces per player. <IMAGE>

Description

A BOARD GAME This invention relates to a board game.

The game is designed for 2, 3, or 4 players, and is suitable for children over seven years old to adulthood. Unlike many games it contains no violence, but has a high entertainment and excitement value produced by swift changes that can occur in a player's position on the board. A suitable name for the game is "Cacheesi" (derived from and rhyming with "Catch Easy") since the aim is to move counters from base to home, catching opponents on the way and sending them back to base where they must start again.

The game comprises two board layouts of particular configuration, and a set of rules which include scoring details. It requires two conventionally dotted dice, and sixteen counters divided into four sets distinguished by four different colours. The counters can be any shape desired, but the four different colours should be consistent with four different colours on the board.

The game is distinguished from any other board game by means of: 1. The layout and configuration of the boards 2. The game rules and system of scoring A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the board design and layout for two or four players.

Figure 2 shows the board design and layout for three players.

The design and layout of the two or four player board Figure 1: The size of the board is not crucial, but it should be large enough for players to sit around and to adjust counters comfortably. It should also be in proportion to the size of the counters; two counters must be able to fit onto one space.

The board is divided into four differently coloured sections.

Figure 1 shows that each section comprises of two rows of eight white spaces 12, a base triangle 13, a home triangle 14, a coloured path of eight spaces 15, two white circles 16 and 17, and one coloured start circle 18.

The circles are strategically placed. Figure 1 shows a circle 16 is placed at the beginning of a coloured path 15, and circles 17 and 18 are placed either side of the coloured path 15 on the fifth space up from the edge of the board 19. Start circle 18 is coloured the same as the base triangle 13 nearest to it.

The design and layout of the three player board Figure 2: Essentially this is the same as for four players, except that only three differently coloured sections are used. Like the four player board, each section contains two rows of eight spaces 12, a base triangle 13, a home triangle 14, a coloured path of eight spaces 15, two plain circles 16 and 17, and one coloured start circle 18, strategically placed.

A three player board is considered necessary, since three players using the four player board would allow an unfair advantage to the person with no opponent immediately behind.

The game rules and system of scoring: Each player places four counters on base triangle 13, ensuring the counters are the same colour as the base. Counters come out of base via start circle 18 and move anti-clockwise from space to space around the board, then along the coloured path 15 leading to home 14. The first player with his four counters home is the winner.

Two dice are rolled together and counters move forward one space for every dot on the dice. One counter can be moved according to the sum of the dice, or two counters moved according to each separate die, as the player desires.

1. STARTING: Any player can begin by rolling the dice.

A counter moves out from base onto the coloured circle 18 only on the roll of FIVE:

If a FIVE and for example a FOUR are rolled, a counter moves out from base onto start circle 18, then forward FOUR spaces.

Where double FIVES are rolled

two counters move out, provided start circle 18 is unoccupied. For rolling a double the player gets another throw of the dice.

As long as there are counters on base, they must come out on the roll of FIVE, except when start circle 18 is occupied by an opponent's counter or by two of the players own counters neither of which can be moved forward.

When a player rolls a five, but cannot move out of base, if he has other counters already out of base he can move one of them forward five spaces.

2. SAFETY: Every space with a circle 16, 17, 18 is safe. An opponent cannot land on a circle occupied by another player's counter.

A player who puts two of his counters side by side on any one space forms a block, and his two counters are safe. No one can land on that space, and no one (including the player who formed the block) can pass the block.

3. DOUBLES: The player throwing a double reads only the top numbers of the dice if he has one or more counters on base. But when all his counters are out of base, both the top and bottom numbers of the dice are valid (making a total of fourteen): Example:

Counters can be moved in any sequence: one counter can be moved fourteen spaces, or several counters moved according to the numbers, or sum of the numbers, on one or both dice.

Rolling a double entitles the player to another throw, but if a third consecutive double is thrown, the player's counter nearest home returns to base and the throw is forfeited.

4. SENDING OPPONENTS BACK TO BASE: Landing on an occupied open space (no circle and no block) means the opponents counter is returned to its base. The player achieving this wins a bonus by moving any one of his counters forward twenty spaces.

5. HOME: 5. IIOME: To reach home the exact number of spaces including the home triangle must be rolled on either or both dice. When a counter reaches home the player wins a bonus, moving another of his counters forward by ten spaces.

6. GAME FOR TWO OR THREE PLAYERS: Two persons should play opposite each other on the four player board. A interesting variation can be made by each player using six or eight counters each.

Three persons should play on the three player board.

Claims (4)

1 A board game comprising two board layouts, a set of rules for play and scoring, two conventionally dotted dice, and sixteen counters.

2 A board game as claimed in Claim 1 wherein board layouts of particular configuration and of differently coloured sections are used as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

3 A board game as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein game rules and a scoring system are used as described herein.

4. A board game substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.