GB2249966A

GB2249966A - A board game

Info

Publication number: GB2249966A
Application number: GB9025553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Mottram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-23
Filing date: 1990-11-23
Publication date: 1992-05-27
Also published as: GB9025553D0

Abstract

Board game apparatus comprises a board laid out with individual word grids 11 and a generator of random letters 10. The board may be of plastics material and the identity of the letters may be written in the grids in an erasable manner. The board may also have score display means 12. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a board game.

Board games are a well known form of entertainment usually comprised of a playing board and various playing pieces. It is played to a set of rules.

According to the present invention there is a board which has a clear plastic playing surface. There are four areas on the board known as Word Grids. There are four Scoring squares and a Letter Spinner which is divided into two circular sections, representing consonant and vowel letters.

The other components of the board game consist of a cloth and a pencil that is capable of writing onto plastic. A Word Grid comprises six rows of nine squares. The Letter Spinner consists of two circles. The inner circle is divided into un equal segments and allows one segment for each of the twenty one consonant letters of the alphabet. There are also three segments representing any consonant letter. The outer circle is divided into equal segments and allows one segment for each of the five vowel letters of the alphabet. There is also one segment which represents any vowel letter.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example of the rules and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which; Figure 1 ... shows in perspective, the playing surface of the board including the relevant position of each area of the board.

Referring to the drawing of the board game, the Letter Spinner 10 is located at the centre of the board. The Word Grids 11 are located at each of the four corners of the board, and the four Scoring Squares 12 are located toward the centre of the board between the Letter Spinner and each of the Word Grids.

The object of the game is to build up words using the letters given throughout the game. Points are scored by completing words. One point being scored for each letter of the complete word. The winner of the game is the first player to reach 100 points. At the start of the game, a player is elected to spin the Letter Spinner six times. He first calls out three vowels followed by three consonants. These are written onto the centre square of each row of each player's Word Grid, in the order that they are spun. All of the players now have the same letters to begin the game. For each subsequent turn, the player must state which section of the Letter Spinner he is playing. Should the Letter Spinner indicate ANY, the player can call any letter relevent to the section to which he is playing.Should the Letter Spinner land on an empty space when the vowel section has been called, the player must pass his turn to the next player.

Each player, on his turn, spins the Letter Spinner. He firstly calls the section he is playing for. The letter indicated is then placed onto his Word Grid adjacent to any letter already on his Word Grid. If a word is completed the player scores the corresponding number of points (a 2 letter word scores 2 points, a 3 letter word scores 3 points). If a word cannot be completed, the letter is still placed adjacent to any letter on the Word Grid, but the player must suggest a possible word that could be placed onto the Word Grid using the letters in the order shown.

All letters spun must be placed adjacent to a letter already on a Word Grid. The only exception being if a letter is placed on the centre row square of any row on the player's Word Grid.

A player at any time can use the letter spun to play another player's Word Grid. He can only use the letter if he is able to complete another player's word. This does not score points.

If the player cannot place his letter anywhere on the board or if the player so chooses, he can erase any row which has at least three letters. The letter which has been spun is then placed onto the centre square of the row. This row can now be used again. One point is deducted from the player's score.

A bonus double score is gained if a letter is placed onto one of the two end squares of a row and a word is completed.

Example of scoring.

TURN 1 TURN 2 TURN 3 TURN 4 TURN 5 TURN 6 TURN 7 TURN 8

T TO TOR STOR STORE STORED ESTORED RESTORED points 2 points 3 points 0 points but suggest STORY 5 points 12 points (6 points & bonus 6 points) 0 points but suggest RESTORED 3 points

Claims

CLAIMS I A board game based on the use of words comprising a clear plastic playing surface, a cloth and a pencil which is capable of writing on plastic. The board game is played according to the rules pertaining to the game.