GB2210275A - Board game - Google Patents

Abstract

The game which as specifically described represents space travel has a board 10 with two discrete segmented pathways 12, 18 for movement therealong respectively of playing pieces (26, 36) movement of a first playing piece (26, Figure 2) on the first pathway 12 being for collection of points or tokens 30 up to a desired number when the second player piece (36, Figure 4) is to be moved along the second pathway 18, the winner being the first to reach the end of the second pathway 18. Dice are utilised and, as described, tokens (30, Figure 3) or points representative of 5 craft, 5 crew, 5 rocket and 5 laser points are collected by movement of piece (26) and according to markings on segments 14 of pathway 12 or on instruction cards. When a player has acquired the 20 tokens/points he takes second playing piece (36) in form of spacecraft and proceeds forward on pathway 18 by means of movement of his first playing piece on the first pathway and by moving the second piece (36) in accordance with the instructions on the first pathway, the second pathway including segments marked with instructions. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Board Game DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a-board game.

The object of the present invention is to provide a board game representative of a space race.

According to the present invention there is provided a board game comprising a board having marked out thereon two discrete segmented pathways for movement therealong of playing pieces each player having a first and a second playing piece, movement of the first playing piece on one pathway being for collection of points or tokens upto a desired number when the second playing piece can be moved along the other pathway to a finish.

The first pathway, which is preferably around the perimeter of the board, may have segments that indicate receipt of points or tokens and loss of points or tokens. Other segments may be neutral and some may indicate that an instruction card should be taken. The instruction cards may instruct receipt or loss of points or tokens or movement of a playing piece.

Movement of playing pieces around the first pathway will probably be governed by numbers as shown by random number indicating means, such as dice. It is preferred that the first pathway has a different start point for each playing piece. For example, for a rectangular, typically square, pathway the start points will be at the corner segments thereof.

As each playing piece is moved around the first pathway the object is to collect tokens or points upto a certain number when the second playing piece can be moved along the second pathway. The tokens or points preferably fall into different categories and a set number of each category must be collected to make up the total desired number.

The second pathway peferably has one start segment and one finish segment and is preferably in the form of a spiral each segment representing a planet, moon or star the finish segment being generally central of the board. Movement of the second playing pieces along the second pathway can be governed by random number indicating means directly or indirectly.

Preferably the first playing pieces will continue to be moved along the first pathway in accordance with say numbers indicated by dice in order to land upon segments of the first pathway that instruct movement of the second playing pieces along the second pathway.

The second pathway preferably includes segments marked with favourable or unfavourable instructions.

The second playing pieces are preferably in the form of space ships, especially space shuttles.

The winner of the game will usually be the first player who gets his second playing piece to the finish segment of the second pathway but if time does not permit the winner may be the player who is closest to the finish sement or who has collected the most points or tokens.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a board; Figure 2 shows a first playing piece; Figure 3 shows tokens; Figure 4 shows a second playing piece; Figure 5 shows an instruction card; and Figure 6 shows dice.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the components for a board game representing space travel comprise a board 10. The board 10 has a first pathway 12 made up of adjacent segments 14 that runs around the perimeter of the board. There are four start segments 16 at the corners of the board representing U.S.A., U.S.S.R., Europe and the Rest of the World as the four players. The other segments are either neutral (marked with a space ship), indicate collection of points or tokens (marked +1 and +2), indicate selection of an instruction card (marked "policy", "technology", "mystery" or "option") or indicate hazards (marked as "Black Hole" or "Force Field").

The board 10 has a second pathway 18 in the form of a spiral of planets 20 as its segments. Its start 22 is marked as the planet earth and its finish 24 is the largest planet central of the board.

Playing pieces 26 for the first pathway (see Figure 2) are marked as representing U.S.A., U.S.S.R., Europe and The Rest of the World and will start from their corresponding corner segment 16 of the first pathway. As the first playing pieces 26 are moved around the pathway 12 in accordance with numbers thrown on dice 28 (Figure 6), tokens 30 (Figure 3) are collected or lost in accordance with instructions on the segments landed on the playing pieces at the end of each move, the object being to collect five tokens of each type illustrated.

When a first playing piece lands on a segment requiring the selection of an instruction card 32 (Figure 5) the instruction on the card, which may be favourable or unfavourable, must be followed if at all possible. The instructions cards are also marked so as to denote whether they are applicable to playing piece movements for the first and/or second pathways.

When the desired number of tokens have been collected, these are exchanged for a second playing piece 36 (Figure 4) which is moved along the second pathway 18 in accordance with points collected by the first playing piece as it moves along the first pathway.

More detailed exemplary rules are now given for playing the illustrated game.

The object of the game is for each player to get hs spacecraft, i.e. second playing piece built, equipped and manned and to land it on the furthest star or planet in the centre of the board named 'STAR ZERO'.

Each player has a playing counter with the symbol of the country or area that he represents e.g. U.S.S.R.

Each counter is placed in the corner of the board before play starts showing the country symbol and is continuously moved around the board during play. The game is suitable for 2, 3 or 4 players.

To start the game, each player, has one throw of the dice and the highest thrown will start, play proceeding in a clockwise direction. Any player who throws a double will have an extra throw of the dice.

Before a player can put his spacecraft onto the second pathway at Earth Start and continue in orbit they must collet 20 tokens or points which are split up into 4 units of 5 counters, 5 craft, 5 crew, 5 rocket and 5 laser points. To gain them a player has to land his playing counter, after a throw of dice, on either spheres on the board marked +2 or +1, land on his own country corner symbol which will give him 2 points or hope an opposing player lands on his country symbol, which will give him 1 point (his opponent will lose 1 point) or hope for a favourable instruction card. The instructions cards are Mystery and Policy/Technoloogy cards and if a player lands his playing counter on one of these segments, the card must be picked up and read out. A card might read collect 3 points or Craft, Crew, Laser or Rocket points etc. If a player gains points they must state what unit they are going for first i.e. either Craft, Crew, Laser or Rockets. Also on the board are Options on which a player has the choice of picking either Mystery, Policy Technology cards. Unlike other areas on the board where cards, points or movement in orbit must be made, with options a player has the choice of refusing to pick and play will continue with the next player. A player picking up a card can not only affect themselves but also an opponent whether it be a good or bad card e.g. the Soviet Union player could pick up a card mentioning the United States, that card will apply to and affect the United States. Also on the board are Black Hole and Force Field segments. If a player lands on a Black Hole square he picks up a Black counter, which you can also collect from an instruction card.Once a player collects 5 Black Hole counters he loses all unit counters and Black hole counters and has to start again. If a player lands on the Force Field square, he has to get 8 or more on the throw of dice to continue moving his playing piece around the board.

When a player has acquired 20 points he puts back all his tokens including Black Hole tokens, and takes his spacecraft (second playing piece) places it on Earth Start in orbit and proceeds forward by landing his playing counter on either the 2+, 1+ points spheres on the board, turning up good cards landing his playing counter on his own country symbol (Home Base) to give him the choice of moving 1 or 2 places in orbit. If an opponent lands on his country symbol he has the choice of moving just 1 place in orbit only if he wishes to, the opponent loses 1 point whether on the board or in orbit and requires points to continue will lose that point. If a player is stuck on a segment in orbit i.e.

because he has picked up a card that stated 3 points required to continue, he would choose points unless stated and keep the card until points are gained, then returns card to bottom of pack and returns points and continues as normal.

If a player is stuck on a bad star in orbit e.g.

Magnetic Force Field and a stated amount of points is required to continue etc as soon as a player gains the points the player will return the counters and move automatically 1 place forward from the bad star. When a player is stuck on a bad segment in orbit, other cards do not affect you whether they be favourable or unfavourable. The only way to gain points to continue, is in the normal way of landing your playing token on the 2+ and 1+ segments on the board, landing on own country symbol, or your opponent doing so. Black holes and Force Field areas operate as usual, but when in orbit and you collect 5 Black Hole Counters, you move your craft back to Earth Start. Mercury is the first place in orbit, 2 places behind Earth Start and no player can move back futher.

To win the game, a player must land his craft one place before 'STAR ZERO', throw in any Black Holes he may have collected and then has to get 3 points of his choice counters and throw 1 double of dice from 3 consecutive throws. If a player fails he loses 2 points from the 3 counter points and must make up the 3 points then try again. At this stage instruction cards no longer apply, although Black Hole and Force Field segments still apply.

Claims (17)

1. A board game comprising a board having marked out thereon two discrete segmented pathways for moving therealong of playing pieces, each player having a first and a second playing piece, movement of the first playing piece on one pathway being for collection of points or tokens up to a desired number when the second playing piece can be moved along the other pathway to a finish.

2. A board game as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pathway is around the perimeter of the board.

3. A board game as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein said first pathway has segments that indicate receipt of points or tokens and loss of points or tokens.

4. A board game as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said pathway also has segments which are neutral and segments which indicate that an instruction card should be taken.

5. A board game as claimed in claim 4, wherein instruction cards instruct receipt or loss of points or tokens or movement of a playing piece.

6. A board game as claimed in any previous claim, wherein movement of playing pieces is governed by numbers as shown by random number indicating means.

7. A board game as claimed in claim 6, wherein said random number indicating means is one or more dice.

8. A board game as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said first pathway has a different start point for each playing piece.

9. A board game as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first pathway is square and said start points are at each corner thereof.

10. A board game as claimed in any previous claim, wherein collection tokens or points up to a certain number permits the second playing piece to be moved along the second pathway.

11. A board game as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tokens or points fall into different categories and a set number of each category must be collected to make up the total desired number.

12. A board game as claimed in any previous claim wherein said second pathway has one start segment and one finish segment and is in the form of a spiral, each segment representing a planet, moon or star, the finish segment being generally central to the board.

13. A board game as claimed in any previous claim wherein movement of the second playing piece along the second pathway is governed by random number indicating means either directly or indirectly.

14. A board game as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the first playing piece is continued to be moved along the first pathway in accordance with numbers indicated by the dice in order to land upon segments of the first pathway that instruct movement of the second playing piece along the second pathway.

15. A board game as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the second pathway includes segments marked with favourable or unfavourable instructions.

16. A board game as claimed in any previous claim wherein the second playing pieces are in the shape of space ships.

17. A board game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.