WO1991000129A1

WO1991000129A1 - Game

Info

Publication number: WO1991000129A1
Application number: PCT/GB1990/000983
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan John Fraser-Dackers; Maxwell Graham Gordon; Lester Wynne Jordon
Original assignee: Greystone Games Limited
Priority date: 1989-06-27
Filing date: 1990-06-25
Publication date: 1991-01-10
Also published as: DE69014632D1; GB8914759D0; AU5942290A; EP0481017B1; ATE114489T1; DE69014632T2; EP0481017A1

Abstract

A game comprising a triangular board (10) upon which are marked sixty equilateral triangular playing areas (12). A plurality (14) of the areas (12) are marked with a multiplying factor. A plurality of playing pieces (16) corresponding in size and shape to the areas (12) are provided. Each face of the pieces (16) is marked with three equal isosceles triangles (18), the sides of the pieces (16) each forming the base of one of the triangles (18). Each of the triangles (18) is marked with a particular colour. A circular central portion (20) of the pieces (16) is marked with a score. The pieces (16) are placed on the board (10) according to rules provided, with the sides of the pieces (16) being placed adjacent sides marked with a similar colour.

Description

Game

This invention relates to a board game of the type wherein one or more players has pieces for placing on the board in accordance with rules of the game.

According to the present invention there is provided a game comprising means for representing a board having there¬ on a plurality of defined areas in the form of adjoining polygons, and a plurality of playing pieces of corresponding shape, the sides of the playing pieces being provided with one of a number of markings, and rules being provided for the or each player to take turns to place the playing pieces on the defined areas such that adjacent sides of playing pieces on adjoining areas bear the same marking.

Preferably the defined areas and the playing pieces are triangular, and desirably the triangles are equilateral.

The sides of the playing pieces are preferably marked with one of a plurality of colours.

The playing pieces may be divided up into areas with each area adjoining a one of the playing piece's sides.

A points value may be marked on each playing piece. A number of the defined areas may be particularly marked to indicate an additional score when a playing piece is placed t hereon .

Preferably the number of playing pieces corresponds to the number of defined areas.

The playing pieces and/or board may be double sided.

The markings on one side of at least some of the playing pieces may be mirror images of the markings on the other side of the playing pieces.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a game board according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of three playing pieces usable with the game board of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view from below of one of the playing pieces of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows a triangular game board 10. The board 10 has marked thereon sixty equilateral triangular playing areas 12. The areas 2 are arranged in a regular pattern such that each area adjoins one, two, or three other areas along the whole length of a respective side or sides. The areas 12 cover all the board 10 except at the side edges and in a central triangular portion 11. A plurality 14 of the areas 12 are marked with a multiplying factor of either two, three or four. A similar pattern of areas 12 may be provided on the reverse side of the board 10 but with a different arrangement of marked areas 14.

Fig. 2 shows three playing pieces 16a,b,c usable with the board 10. Sixty playing pieces 16 are provided which also have an equilateral triangular shape and are of a size to fit each within a one of the areas 12. A face of each of the pieces 16 is marked with three equal isosceles triangles 18 with a one of the sides of the piece forming the base of each of the triangles 18. Each triangle 18 is coloured either red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black or white. On some of the pieces 16b,c two or three of the triangles 18 have the same colour.

A circular central portion 20 is provided on each of the pieces 16 bearing a score of between one and seven. Th pieces 16a having three triangles 18 of different colours but excluding white have a score of either one or two, thos 16b with two triangles 18 of the same colour but excluding white have a score of either three, four, five or six and those 16c with all three triangles 18 of the same colour have a score of seven. The pieces 16, except where one or more of the triangles 18 is white, are provided with a mirror image pattern on the other face. Fig. 3 shows the other face to that shown in Fig. 2 of the piece 16a. Four pieces 16 have one white triangle 18 on a first side and two white triangles 18 on the other side, and scores on respective sides of four and two.

One version of the game for two to six players is played in the following manner. The pieces 16 are placed in a bag or the like and each player takes a piece and the player with the highest scoring piece commences the game. These pieces are replaced in the bag and then each player takes five pieces which are placed on view to all the players. The player starting the game places one of his pieces on any of the areas 12 except those 14 bearing a multiplying factor. The player then enters his score for that turn and takes another piece from the bag. The players take successive turns and each time a subsequent piece is placed on the board it must be placed adjacent at least one other playing piece already on the board such that all adjacent sides of the pieces are marked with the same colour. In some instances a piece 16a with each triangle 18 a different colour, will have to be turned over to fit in a - 5 -

particular configuration on the board 10 such that its sides match the sides of adjacent pieces 16. White triangles 18 however, count as 'jokers' and may be placed with their sides adjacent sides of any colour.

If a player cannot take his turn as he cannot place a piece in such a way, he must miss a turn or, if a modified rule has been agreed, he must swop one of the pieces he already has for a fresh piece. Play continues in this manner until as many as possible of the sixty playing pieces have been placed on the eighty four areas on the board. The player with the highest score is then the winner.

Scores are calculated in the following manner. The score for each turn comprises the score marked on the portion 20 of the piece placed on the board. If this piece is placed on a one of the areas 14 its score is multiplied by the corresponding factor. If a piece is placed such tha it lies adjacent two pieces already on the board the score is doubled, and if placed adjacent three pieces already on the board the score is trebled. At the end of the game any pieces not used by a player are deducted from his total score.

The above describes a basic way of playing this game but a number of variations may be made to the game. For example each player may hold more or less than the five playing pieces, and if required these can be hidden from the other players until played. Players may play as partners and thus their scores are added. Two playing pieces could be placed (when possible) in each turn. The game may be played by a single pl yer with the aim of placing every playing piece on the board and extra rules may be provided to make this more difficult.

There is thus described a game which can be played by a wide variety of ages with differing levels of skill. A considerable amount of strategy can be used when playing this game in trying to maximize yours, and if applicable your partner's score, whilst minimizing the scores which the other players may obtain.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the board may be made a different shape and the playing areas may be arranged in a different pattern. The playing pieces and playing areas may be other than triangular, for example square or hexagonal. The playing pieces could be marked other than by coloured triangles. A different method of scoring could be used.

Claims

Cl aims :

1. A game comprising means for representing a board (10) having thereon a plurality of defined areas (12) in the form of adjoining polygons, characterised in that the game also comprises a plurality of playing pieces (16) of corresponding shape, the sides of the playing pieces (16) being provided with one of a number of markings, and rules being provided for the or each player to take turns to place the playing pieces (1 ) on the defined areas (12) such that adjacent sides of playing pieces (16) on adjoining areas (12) bear the same marking.

2. A game according to claim 1, characterised in that the defined areas (12) and the playing pieces (16) are triangular .

3. A game according to claim 2, characterised in that the triangles are equilat ral.

4. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sides of the playing pieces (16) are marked with one of a plurality of colours.

5. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the playing pieces (16) are divided up into areas (18) with each area (18) adjoining a one of the playing piece's sides.

6. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a points value (20) is marked on each playing piece (16).

7. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a number of the defined areas (14) are particularly marked to indicate an additional score when a playing piece (16) is placed thereon.

8. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the number of playing pieces (16) corresponds to the number of defined areas (12).

9. A game according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the playing pieces (16) are double sided.

10. A game according to claim 9, characterised in that the markings on one side of at least some of the playing pieces (16) are mirror images of the markings on the other side of the playing pieces (16).