Circular Checkered Game Board and Method of Play

Abstract

A circular checkered game board which can support a set of eighteen pieces controlled by opposing players on boards consisting of eight rings intersected by seven columns having a plurality of 56 multi-colored playing spaces per player which provides two battlefronts, and is based on an infinite modular formula with a minimum of fourteen columns to support two players, which can be increased to an unlimited number of players by adding a group of fourteen columns for every two additional players as such that four players require a board with 28 columns, and six players require a board of 42 columns; this formula can be replicated to accommodate an infinite number of players.

Claims

1. (canceled)

3. This invention provides a flat, two-dimensional game board apparatus for two or more players competing on two battlefronts comprising of a circular playing area bounded by an outermost periphery and a neutral central area bounded by the innermost periphery whereas the playing spaces are distinguishable into two quadrants of seven columns, formulated by eight rings intersecting seven columns to provide alternating colored spaces with two home bases placed on the fourth and fifth ring and in the first column for player one, which establishes the sequential replication of columns in a clockwise circular pattern to add an additional player's quadrant on the eighth column, containing the second set of two home bases on the fourth and fifth ring so by increasing this formula by incrementally inserting the fourteen column unit to the circular playing area will add two players and the pattern may continue infinitely.

2. (canceled)

4. The board as set forth in claim 3 wherein each player initially has 18 playing pieces of the same color set-up with the Us placed on the home bases in column one on rings four and five, surrounded by a specific formation of the other 16 pieces with the Ys adjacent to the Us in column one on rings three and six, the 4s adjacent to the Ys in column one on rings two and seven, the 2s adjacent to the 4s in columns two and fourteen on rings two and seven, the 3s adjacent to the Ys in columns two and fourteen on rings three and six, and the 1s adjacent to the Us in columns two and fourteen on rings four and five forming three columns of six vessels surrounding the home bases, and establishing two battlefronts.

5. All game pieces set forth in claim 5 are capable of individually resting on or within a single space on the playing surface, all pieces being characterized in that they are three dimensional in one color for each player with a visual indication to the maximum permitted number of spatial movement of that piece across in one direction at a time, without changing direction in the middle of a turn, and pieces cannot jump another piece but can capture a piece by landing on the same space occupied by an opponent's game piece and removing that piece from the playing board; the 1 pieces include a range of one space in a diagonal direction in a motion up, down, forward or backward and remaining on the same color; the 2 pieces include a range of up to two spaces in a vertical or horizontal direction in a motion up, down, forward or backward; the 3 pieces include a range of up to three spaces in a diagonal direction in a motion up, down, forward or backward and remaining on the same color; the 4 pieces include a range of up to four spaces in a vertical or horizontal direction in a motion up, down, forward or backward; the Y pieces include a range of up to three spaces with the first part of the movement vertical or horizontal one space in any direction followed by two spaces branching off in a diagonal direction, in any one direction and landing on a different color; the U pieces include an unlimited range of movement in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction in a motion up, down, forward or backward, unless blocked by another piece, remaining on the same color space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0021] FIG. 1. The two player game board consists of one hundred twelve spaces, distributed in a radial pattern, and having a round shape with eight concentric circular rows and fourteen intersecting columns to form black and white playing spaces with the middle round space left empty and non-playable. Two colored discs appear in each section of the board located on the fourth and fifth row for each player with a distance of six column spaces between each player.

[0022] FIG. 2. The four player board consists of two hundred twenty-four spaces, distributed in a radial pattern, and having a round shape with eight concentric circular rows and twenty-eight intersecting columns, seven per player, to form black and white playing spaces with the middle round space left empty and non-playable. Two colored discs appear in each section of the board located on the fourth and fifth row with a distance of six column spaces between each player. A total of four home bases, each set matching the color of the player's game pieces.

[0023] FIG. 3. The six player board consists of three hundred thirty-six spaces, distributed in a radial pattern, and having a round shape with eight concentric circular rows and forty-two intersecting columns, seven per player, to form black and white playing spaces with the middle round space left empty and non-playable. Two colored discs appear in each section of the board located on the fourth and fifth row with a distance of six column spaces between each player. A total of six home bases, each set matching the color of the player's game pieces.

[0024] FIG. 4. The starting pattern for the eighteen game pieces, a specific color for each player, with two each of the 4, Y and U and four each of the 1, 3 and 2. The two Us are placed on the colored discs with the balance of the pieces placed around the Us in a specific pattern.

[0025] FIG. 5. The designated direction of movement of each game piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[Game Pieces]

[0026] A plurality of three-dimensional game pieces are adapted by having a flat base surface for being placed on the game board each within one space, and further are adapted by having a flat top surface indicating the category which enables the game pieces to move in a pattern, and the total number of designated spaces of movement. Necessarily, the game pieces are comprised of sets or fleets, each of the sets corresponding to the same color disc or home base on the game board and consisting of eighteen game pieces for each player of at least two and up to six players. Each game piece within a set is visually distinguishable by the shape, size and the number or letter on top of the game piece. This set is visually distinguishable from another player's set by the color.

[0027] The small triangular piece with a number one (1) on the top moves diagonally, one space at a time, in one direction, per turn. Each set begins with four (1) game pieces having a range of four potential moves on a turn.

[0028] The small rectangular piece with a number two (2) on the top moves in a straight direction, either horizontally or vertically, up to two spaces, in one direction, per turn; it can move one or two spaces. Each set begins with four (2) game pieces having a range of eight potential moves on a turn.

[0029] The large triangular piece with a number three (3) on the top moves diagonally, up to three spaces at a time in one direction, per turn; it can move one, two or three spaces. Each set begins with four (3) game pieces having a range of twelve potential moves on a turn.

[0030] The large square piece with a number four (4) on the top moves up to four spaces horizontally or vertically in one direction, per turn; it can move one, two, three or four spaces. Each set begins with two (4) game pieces having a range of sixteen potential moves on a turn.

[0031] The boomerang-shaped piece with the letter (Y) on the top moves in a Y-shaped pattern; first one space in a horizontal or vertical direction, then up to two more spaces in a diagonal direction; it can move one, two or three spaces per turn. Each set begins with two (Y) game pieces having a range of twenty potential moves on a turn.

[0032] The round piece with the letter (U) on the top moves in any directionhorizontal, vertical or diagonalin one direction, per turn, for an unlimited number of spaces. This game piece has no range restrictions, allowing it to circle the board in a single turn; however, the (U) must stay on the same color space that it originated from, can pass over the other color, but not land on it, and cannot jump other pieces. Starting on the home base disc, each set begins with two (U) game pieces having an unlimited range of potential moves on a turn.

[0033] The (U) may change the color space it operates on by doing a color change maneuver as the player's turn; the (U) moves one space vertically toward the center or outer edge of the board, from black to white or white to black, during one turn. During this process, the (U) may capture an opponent's game piece or home base.

[General Play]

[0034] At start of game, pieces are set on the board as illustrated in FIG. 4. Players control a system consisting of a home base, which is the two colored discs on the game board along with eighteen game pieces of the same color as their home base.

[0035] The game starts with the red player choosing any one game piece to move first, and play continues in a clockwise direction. Each turn consists of moving any one game piece within its movement range, which is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0036] No game piece may jump over another game piece. If a game piece is in a player's path, that particular movement is blocked.

[0037] Any game piece can capture any opponent's game piece within its specific movement capability by moving his game piece onto a space occupied by an opponent's game piece, and removing that game piece from that space and off the game board; the captured game piece may not be used again during the course of the game. No player may capture his own game piece; if a player's own game piece is blocking his movement, that player will have to use a turn to move that game piece out of his way. A game piece does not have to be attacked, even if the situation presents itself.

[0038] When a player has moved a game piece in to position as to threaten an opponent's home base, a verbal warning must occur to allow the opponent to defend or block the move.

[0039] A player's turn ends when a game piece is moved to another space, and the player removes his hand from the game piece.

[0040] Players may not move a game piece if it will leave that player's home base open to a direct attack or capture.

[0041] Players with multiple fleets may move only one game piece, from any fleet under his control, in any order, during his turn.

[Advanced Play]

[0042] When a player conquers an opponent's home base, the defeated player is out of the game and the conquering player takes control of the defeated player's remaining game pieces, or fleet. This move is called Dethroning. The conquering player may now move any of these game pieces as part of his fleet, and those home bases no longer have to be defended. This sequence occurs until only one player or team remains.

[0043] When a players home base is threatened and it is not his turn next, but the targeted player is able to defend his home base, play is extended back to the targeted player. The targeted player must immediately respond to the threat by either blocking or capturing the threatening game piece. Once targeted player defends his home base, play resumes in a clockwise direction. This move is called Reactive Movement.

[0044] When a player has positioned two of his game pieces in such a way that when one is in range to attack an opponent's home base, but the other one of his pieces blocks that move, upon moving that blocking piece, both game pieces now threaten an opponent's home base; this move is called Double Kill. This player has performed a maneuver that will threaten one or two home bases simultaneously of an opponent from two different directions with no way for the targeted player to defend both attacks. If it is not the targeted player's turn next, the targeted player gets to block ONLY one attack, then play reverts back in a clockwise direction.

[0045] In games where players control more than one system at the beginning of the game, players may choose to extend the game play by conquering each system separately as opposed to conquering all systems as one; as a player conquers an opponent's home base, the defeated player is not out of the game if he still has another system under his control. The conquering player takes control of the remaining game pieces, or fleet, of the single conquered system only; those home bases no longer have to be defended.

[Winning the Game]

[0046] The game is won when a player moves a game piece on to a space containing an opponent's home base. Game will end when this action is accomplished.

[0047] For team play, the game is won when either teammate moves a game piece on to a space containing one of the other team's home bases. Game will end when this action is accomplished.

[0048] For games with multiple strategies, the winner is determined by the last man standing; players are eliminated as their home base is captured. When a player captures an opposing player's home base, that player takes control of that player's remaining fleet(s). Those defeated home bases no longer have to be defended.