Modular Board Game
A board game is provided that includes a game board, game board enhancement pieces, game pieces and a rule set. The game board has a plurality of similarly shaped pieces configurable for connection to construct a variety of game playing surfaces. The game board enhancement pieces are configured to alter the game board through rule modifications or changes, physical barriers, elevated surfaces, depressed surfaces, or a combination thereof. The game pieces rest on the playing surface. The rule set is supplied either in print or via digital application or internet connection, and is modular to alter the game board and/or play of the board game.
This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/857,280 filed on ______. The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/857,280 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a method of board game rules wherein the rules are modular and the game can be played with different rule subsets that result in different complexities of the game. The invention can be used in any combination of rule subsets such that the age range of the game (based on complexity) can be adjusted or manipulated with the addition or subtraction of rule subsets. Additionally, the modularity of the board game rules extends to the modularity of the board itself. The board game tiles can be used in any quantity and can be set in any formation desired so long as the board shapes along the edges are matched in any direction. Furthermore this invention intends to link both the physical board game rule set to malleable requirements in the rule set through the Internet. The variability allows for further malleability of experience when playing a physical board game by supplementing the physical board game experience with a flexible rule set provided through an online experience. This invention is applicable to board games, online board games, and digital board games.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional board games with modular boards require a prescribed board formation or a relationship between the number of board tiles to the number of players. While many game boards are fixed there are some game boards that have a low level of modularity, however the modularity of the boards is directly related to the rule set. While this board modularity offers some variability in game play it does not offer the ability to alter the way the game is played nor does it offer the ability to change the scope of the game being played.
In addition to the conventional fixed game boards and conventional modular game boards, the rules of conventional board games have rule sets that are fixed or may have slight variations however the variations are based on the initial rule set. These variations add some flexibility to the rules and functionality of the game but retain the foundations of the functionality of the game throughout play. While these variations do allow for some flexibility of age range they do not allow the flexibility of a modular rule set.
It is an object of the present invention to utilize a modular board only peripherally related to the rule set and utilize a modular rule set (comprised of multiple rule subsets) to extend the life of a board game as well as extend the age range that can play the board game. It is also an object of this invention to leverage the modular rule set to allow a multitude of game play experiences that will allow the complexity and depth of experience to be regulated. Additionally, the final object of this invention is to leverage the flexibility of digital content to continually evolve the nuances on the rule sets to keep the board game ever changing so that, if desired, no two games played shall ever have the same rules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe method and the system of this invention center around modularity, with both the board and the rule sets, and malleability of the rule sets through the use of digital updates provided through an online connection to revised rule sets.
In this particular system example, I have chosen seven tiles to create the board though more, or less, can be used. This speaks to the modularity and versatility of the use of tiles for board construction. Depending on how the players want to play the game, and the desired duration, the players can add, remove, or position tiles so they can maximize or minimize game playing space. One unique feature about this is that the board size and shape are unrelated to the rule sets meaning that any size or shape of board can be used with any of the rule sets listed in the overall game rules.
The next component that has a shared modularity is the overall game rules. For this particular system example I have 8 rule sets, which can be used for game play in any combination. Additionally, these rule sets are complimentary to each other but do not build upon each other meaning that the game can be played with any or all of the rule subsets or the rule subsets can be combined in any fashion to create the overall game rules. Further to this, the rule set can be changed each time before the game is played which allows for a different gaming experience each time the game is played.
To further enhance the modularity of the game an online interaction can be used to supplement the various rule sets. This allows subtle modifications to the rules once the game has been created, purchased, and has been played. These rule modifications can be slight changes to the objectives within each rule subset, or they can be additional rule subsets. This feature not only allows for post production updates to the board game but can also link the board game to real world changes (such as in the example system used in this application) and lends a more dynamic feel to otherwise static physical games.
While not all components of this invention are applicable to all board games there are elements here that can be utilized on almost any board game to advance the sophistication of board games. The present invention being claimed advances the static nature of board games to make them more dynamic. Further to this it allows for a previously non-existent flexibility within the game so that rule sets can be included or excluded based on the knowledge and sophistication of the players. This brings a longevity previously unavailable to physical games and allows them to leverage the power of digital online updates in the same way that many computer and video games do currently.
A clear understanding of the key features of the invention summarized above may be had by reference to the appended drawings, which illustrate the method and system of the example invention, although it will be understood that such drawings depict particular embodiments of the invention and, therefore, are not to be considered as limiting its scope with regard to other embodiments which the invention is capable of contemplating. Accordingly:
In a preferred embodiment of this invention all modular components (rules and board) would be used as well as the integration of digital rule manipulation, however it is important to note that any one of these components could be used to further enhance traditional board games. The present invention defines multiple ways in which the invention can change and adapt to players age, experience level, time allowed to play, real world conditions, or any other need or whim, but with the common thread that this board game and its components are dynamic not static as many other board games on the market currently are.
While the present invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, in both summarized and detailed forms, it is not intended that these descriptions in any way limit its scope to any such embodiments and applications, and it will be understood that many substitutions, changes and variations in the described embodiments, applications and details of the method and system illustrated herein and of their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.
Claims
1. A board game comprising:
- a game board having a plurality of similarly shaped pieces configurable for connection to construct a variety of game playing surfaces;
- a plurality of game board enhancement pieces configured to alter the game board through rule modifications or changes, physical barriers, elevated surfaces, depressed surfaces, or a combination thereof; a plurality of game pieces for resting on the playing surface;
- a rule set supplied either in print or via digital application or internet connection, the rule set being modular to alter the game board and/or play of the board game.
2. A board game comprising:
- a game board having a plurality of similarly shaped pieces configurable for connection to construct a variety of game playing surfaces;
- a plurality of game board enhancement pieces configured to alter the game board through rule modifications or changes, physical barriers, elevated surfaces, depressed surfaces, or a combination thereof;
- a plurality of first game pieces for resting on the playing surface;
- a plurality of second game pieces for resting on the playing surface and for acting as protagonist or antagonist within the board game;
- a rule set supplied either in print or via digital application or internet connection, the rule set being modular to alter the game board and/or play of the board game.
3. A board game comprising:
- a game board having a plurality of similarly shaped pieces configurable for connection to construct a variety of game playing surfaces;
- a plurality of game board enhancement pieces configured to alter the game board through rule modifications or changes, physical barriers, elevated surfaces, depressed surfaces, or a combination thereof;
- a plurality of first game pieces for resting on the playing surface;
- a plurality of second game pieces for resting on the playing surface and for acting as protagonist or antagonist within the board game;
- a rule set having rules configured to be modified to fit the first and/or second game pieces, the rules being applied to meanings of a game board space, game board enhancement pieces, first or second game pieces, antagonist game pieces and/or protagonist game pieces, the rules being supplied either in print or via digital application or internet connection.
4. The board game of claim 3, further comprising:
- a plurality of supplemental cards that provide temporary or permanent rule modifications wherein resulting rule changes are a result of chance from revealing the card.
5. The board game of claim 1, wherein the connection includes magnets, clips, or placement in close proximity.
6. The board game of claim 1, wherein the game board enhancement pieces attach using magnets, clips, posts or similar attachment means.
7. The board game of claim 1, wherein the resting of the game pieces include attachment using one or more of magnets, clips or posts.
8. The board game of claim 2, wherein the connection includes magnets, clips, or placement in close proximity.
9. The board game of claim 2, wherein the game board enhancement pieces attach using magnets, clips, posts or similar attachment means.
10. The board game of claim 2, wherein the resting of the first game pieces include attachment using one or more of magnets, clips or posts.
11. The board game of claim 2, wherein the resting of the second game pieces include attachment using one or more of magnets, clips or posts.
12. The board game of claim 3, wherein the connection includes magnets, clips, or placement in close proximity.
13. The board game of claim 3, wherein the game board enhancement pieces attach using magnets, clips, posts or similar attachment means.
14. The board game of claim 3, wherein the resting of the first game pieces include attachment using one or more of magnets, clips or posts.
15. The board game of claim 3, wherein the resting of the second game pieces include attachment using one or more of magnets, clips or posts.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 29, 2015
Inventor: Christopher Brian Schroeck (Westchester, IL)
Application Number: 14/332,273
International Classification: A63F 3/00 (20060101);