U.S. patent application number 11/141140 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for fantasy baseball board game.
Invention is credited to Jeffery Laporte.
Application Number | 20060261551 11/141140 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37447635 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060261551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Laporte; Jeffery |
November 23, 2006 |
Fantasy baseball board game
Abstract
A board game simulating fantasy baseball season is played by two
or more players according to the general rules of fantasy baseball.
The board game uses a game board with indicia thereon resembling a
baseball field. A game path is formed on the game board, the game
path being divided into spaces with instructions imprinted thereon
directing a player to advance or retract when moving a game piece
along the board according to chance means. The game uses several
decks of cards, which are provided separately from the board with
indicia thereon that represents actual players in actual teams,
that provide instructions to the game player of the manner of
progression along the board, that keep weekly and seasonal scores
for the teams.
Inventors: |
Laporte; Jeffery; (Slidell,
LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jeffrey Laporte;Ste 405
1000 Caruso Blvd.
Slidell
LA
70461
US
|
Family ID: |
37447635 |
Appl. No.: |
11/141140 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/244.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/045 20130101;
A63F 3/00031 20130101; A63F 2003/00018 20130101; A63F 2003/00034
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/244.1 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a simulated fantasy baseball season,
comprising the following steps: Providing a game board having
indicia thereon including instructions for advancing along A
designated path along a game board; Providing a first deck of cards
with indicia thereon representative of baseball players, Score
points achieved by the baseball players during a previous playing
season and baseball players' respective position in actual teams;
Providing a chance means for randomly determining an order of
selection of cards from the first deck of cards by two or more game
players; Providing a first plurality of deck of cards for recording
a game score, each of said plurality of the deck of cards being
representative of a weekly score during a playing season; Providing
a second plurality of deck of cards having indicia thereon
representative of instructions for advancing along the designated
path on the game board, which correspond to instructions on the
game board; Providing a plurality of game tokens representing team
numbers, weekly and season scores; Beginning a play by using the
chance means to select a first game player allowed picking cards
representative of baseball players to form a team; Using the chance
means until all game players selected football players for their
respective teams; Using the chance means to advance game players
along the game board, while following instructions for advancing
along the game board imprinted on the game board and the second
plurality of the deck of cards; Counting play points as simulated
scores for weekly and season plays and declaring a winner based on
the highest score achieved at the end of a playoffs week.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein instructions of the second
plurality of the deck of cards simulate conventional rules of the
game of baseball.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cards in the first deck of
cards represent actual players in different baseball teams.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said game board has a generally
planar top surface, with further indicia imprinted thereon which is
simulative of a baseball field.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing
game pieces for advancing a number of spaces along the designated
path according to said chance means.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein instructions on the game board
comprise indicia representing addition and deduction of score
points corresponding to the indicia contained in the second
plurality of deck of cards.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing a
plurality of score indicators for indicating the score and status
of the team during a playing season.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing a
set of rules for the game.
9. A board game that simulates a fantasy baseball season,
comprising: A game board having indicia thereon including
instructions for advancing along a designated path along a game
board; A first deck of cards with indicia thereon representative of
football players, score points achieved by the baseball players
during a previous playing season and baseball players' respective
position in actual teams; A chance means for randomly determining
an order of selection of cards from the first deck of cards by two
or more game players; A first plurality of deck of cards for
recording a game score, each of said plurality of the deck of cards
being representative of a weekly score during a playing season; A
second plurality of deck of cards having indicia thereon
representative of instructions for advancing along the designated
path on the game board, which correspond to instructions on the
game board.
10. The board game of claim 9, wherein said instructions contained
in the second plurality of the deck of cards simulate consequences
which affect the players of the board game
11. The board game of claim 9, wherein said indicia contained in
the first deck of cards represents actual players in different
baseball teams.
12. The board game of claim 9, wherein said game board has a
generally planar top surface, with further indicia imprinted
thereon which is simulative of a baseball field.
13. The board game of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
game pieces for advancing a number of spaces along the designated
path according to said chance means.
14. The board game of claim 9, wherein instructions on the game
board comprise indicia representing addition and deduction of score
points corresponding to the indicia contained in the second
plurality of deck of cards.
15. The game board of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of
score indicators for indicating the score and status of the team
during a playing season.
16. The board game of claim 9, wherein the decks of cards, game
pieces and tokens are positioned separately from the game board.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to board games that have
its origins in sporting events, such as professional baseball
games. More particularly, the present invention relates to a board
game, which has a rolling dice, a plurality of playing pieces with
indicia thereon, as well as score cards.
[0002] There are numerous sport board games, which correspond to
sporting events, such as football, basketball, and the like. Some
board games are played by 2 persons, while others are more
regularly played by three or more persons. Many board games employ
a playing board in combination with playing cards, with a board
defining a path along which a player moves upon rolling of the
dice. The players are required to draw cards from a deck of
randomly arranged cards and move a playing piece according to the
instructions of the space wherein the player's playing piece has
landed. It is noted that games give a player an opportunity to
exhibit the player's knowledge of the game, while other games are
purely games of chance, which little or no skill required to win
the game.
[0003] The present invention contemplates a provision of a board
game that has its basis in and utilizes terminology of professional
baseball. The present invention seeks to capitalize on a rapidly
growing industry called "Fantasy Baseball" in which people pay to
join leagues over the internet. Each of the leagues members draft
National Baseball League players to be on their team and receive
points based on their drafted player's performance each week of the
season.
[0004] I have invented a board game titled "Fantasy Baseball Board
Game" in which people draft National Baseball League players from a
deck of baseball playing cards with statistics from their pervious
season or from a deck of cards projecting what their stats will be
in their next season (this deck will be purchased separately). They
can then play through an entire baseball season in one sitting
rather that having to follow the actual season one week at a time
as they do in the internet leagues.
[0005] This game involves some features of a game of chance with
some features of a skill game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is, therefore, and object of the present invention to
provide a board game that can be played by two or more people using
the decks of specially imprinted cards corresponding to the
terminology of American baseball.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
board game, which can be played by rolling to the die for advancing
the playing piece of the player around the board game.
[0008] These and other objects of the present invention are
achieved through a provision of a board game, which simulates the
game of fantasy baseball. According to the rules of the game, a
first deck of cards is provided with indicia thereon representative
of actual baseball players and their respective scores during a
previous playing season. The indicia also includes the indication
of the actual player's position in a team, such as a first baseman,
an outfielder, a shortstop, a batter, and a pitcher. A chance
means, such as dice, is provided for selecting the first game
player that is afforded a chance to compose the game player's team
by drafting desired players from the first deck of cards. As a
result, the first player has an opportunity to choose his or her
"dream team" with the highest score, which will be added to the
score during the game.
[0009] Once all the game players built their team, the game is
progressed according to the instructions on the game board and
corresponding first plurality of playing cards. The game board has
indicia thereon resembling a baseball field and a designated path
divided into a plurality of spaces, each containing instructions
for advancing along the designated path. The instructions contain
indicia stimulating real situations in a football game, such as
"You May Switch 1 Player with Free Agency Pile," "Propose a Trade,"
and the like. Some of the spaces have indicia directing a game
player to "Pick Pile" which will cause the game player to pick a
card from the first plurality of the Pick Pile deck of cards. The
points can be added or lost as the player follows the game board
and the playing card instructions. The game is played simulating
the weekly games progressing to playoffs, with the player securing
the highest score advancing to the finals.
[0010] The board game further comprises a second plurality of decks
of cards, which are used for recording the score during the
"weekly" plays. The score is kept for every team and each week. The
board game further comprises a plurality of tokens, which,
depending on the roll of the dice, direct the players to add or
subtract points during the progression of the game. Some of the
instructions on the game board and the instruction cards instruct a
particular baseball player to be excluded from the game due to an
imaginary injury. The missing players cause the game player to lose
a designated number of points. The board game may be played by two
or more players, repeating weekly plays and season plays
indefinitely.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like
parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein
[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the board game in accordance with
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the playing board with directions
for moving a playing piece around the board.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the individual score sheet for the
season issued to each player
[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the individual score sheets and
weekly rosters to be filled in by an individual player for every
week for Weeks 1 through 7.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the individual score sheets and
weekly rosters for playing during Weeks 8 through 14.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a playoff score sheet for Week
#15.
[0018] FIG. 6a is a plan view of a playoff score sheet for
Championship Round Week #16.
[0019] FIG. 6b is a plan view of a player score sheet of the
Consolation Round Week #16.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a plan view of "Injured Players" tables to be
filled in by the board game players.
[0021] FIG. 8a is a plan view of the playing tokens for teams 1
through 12.
[0022] FIG. 8b is a plan view of weekly point tokens.
[0023] FIG. 8c is a plan view of season point tokens.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the "pick pile" cards.
[0025] FIG. 10a is a plan view of a plurality of the top side of
the pick pile cards
[0026] FIG. 10b is a plan view of a playing piece with a particular
player name to be used on the card.
[0027] FIG. 10c is a plan view of additional pick pile cards.
[0028] FIG. 11a is a plan view of a weekly schedule formula for a
number of playing teams.
[0029] FIG. 11b is a plan view of exemplary score keeping cards
when playing the board game of the present invention based on the
weekly schedule formula.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10
designates a board game of the present invention with indicia
imprinted thereon. The board game has a top planar surface, which
simulates a baseball playing field. The central area 12 of the
board game 10 simulates a baseball field with a baseball diamond
schematically shown on the board. An area surrounding the central
area 12 of the game board 10 has indicia thereon representing
"stadium seats" occupied by spectators schematically designed by
numeral 20 in the drawings. The spectators hold up a plurality of
signs, or game playing spaces, which form a game path for moving
along the board 10.
[0031] Some of the instructions on the playing spaces allow a
player to proceed a designated number of spaces, other instructions
require the players to pick a card from the pile, still others
instruct the player to "Roll Again," "You May Switch One Player
with the Free Agency Pile," "Play Ball", and the like.
[0032] The board game is played between two or more opponents,
using the below described rules. To start, the team tokens are
sorted to correspond to the number of players in the game. The
tokens are placed face down and then selected by each player. The
number a player receives in the draft order (if using serpentine
draft) becomes the order of the first roll. In the serpentine
draft, the player drafts from the smallest number to the largest
number for odd number draft rounds and from largest number to the
smallest number for even number rounds. For instance, round one is
number 1-12, the number 12 player would then draft first in the
second round and then go into the descending order until number one
player drafts. In round three, number one player would go first
again.
[0033] The game is then played starting with week number one. In
the first week, each player, starting with team number one rolls
the dice and follows the directions on the board. The other team
follows along the board path. Week one is considered over when the
first person lands or crosses the "Play Ball" square schematically
illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated by numeral 22.
[0034] The subsequent weeks 2-14 are played substantially
identically, that is the first person that crosses the "Play Ball"
square 22 of week 1 and every week thereafter, starts first during
the next week, followed by team numbers in sequence. The playoff
weeks number 14 and 15 each start with the lowest number team left
and follow in sequence of team numbers. The progress of the play is
documented and recorded on the score sheets shown in FIG. 2 for
each individual team.
[0035] At the start of each week, each team must select their
starting roster for that week and fill it in on the individual
score/team roster sheet before the first person rolls the dice. At
the end of each week, starting with the first weeks and ending with
week 14, the players collect weekly chips and use them to adjust
the weekly score. The weekly number is written in the box next to
the weekly chip count for the corresponding week on the individual
score/roster sheet (FIG. 2). At the same time, a score is kept for
the player's cards for the corresponding week, wherein the points
for each player are written next to the name of the individual
score/team roster sheet shown in FIG. 3. All players add their
score based on the individual players; they also keep the score,
with the total score point being printed next to the weekly total
line. In the individual score sheets and weekly rosters, a score is
kept for each player for the week.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, an exemplary card 24 contains several
columns: the first column 26 corresponds to a position of the
player; the central column 28 corresponds to the particular player,
while the third column 30 corresponds to the points earned by the
player during that week. Additionally, the position of the player
is designated in abbreviated fashion, common to professional team
players' position. More specifically, "1B" corresponds to first
baseman, "2B" corresponds to second baseman, "3B" corresponds to
third baseman, "C" corresponds to center, "SS" corresponds to short
stop, "SP" corresponds to starting pitcher, "CP" corresponds to
closing pitcher, "RP" corresponds to relief pitcher, "DH"
corresponds to designated hitter, "RF" corresponds to right field,
"CF" corresponds to center field, and "LF" corresponds to left
field. The total of the points is entered in column 3, added with
the weekly chip count and the weekly total, and the resultant score
is transferred to the week points score card shown in FIG. 2. The
individual score cards of FIG. 2 also contain three columns. The
first column corresponds to a particular week/league score.
[0037] After the player scores and points have been added and
entered into the total box, the player looks at the weekly schedule
sheet to see which players will participate in the next week's
plays. If the score of the player number 1 is higher than the team
that player number I will be facing, the first player gets a win
for the week. The score is entered and the total of the individual
score for the season sheet is generated based on the scores of the
cards shown in FIG. 2. At the end of weeks 1-14, the players
collect their season point chips.
[0038] At the end of week 14, the season points of the individual
score sheets for the season are added up, then the season point
sheets are added and placed in the corresponding box on one of the
cards shown in FIG. 2. The top four teams advance to the playoffs.
The total points in the playoffs are only used to break ties.
[0039] At the end of playoff week number 15, the weekly sheets do
not count. The lowest team number throws the dice first and then is
followed in sequence of team numbers. A playoff score sheet for
weeks number 15, shown in FIG. 5, is sued to keep the scores. As
can be seen in FIG. 5, the scorecard is divided into three columns
for each seed team number. The first column corresponds to the
player position, the central column corresponds to the player, and
the last column corresponds to the points earned during the game.
Two winning teams play for championship, and two losing teams play
for the 3.sup.rd and 4th place.
[0040] The scorecards for week 16 are schematically shown in FIG.
6a wherein the winner of game 1 for week number 15 and the winner
of game 2 for week 15 are played against each other. The scorecard
for the championship week number 16 is similarly divided into three
columns designating the position, the player, and the points earned
by each particular player on the team. The total numbers are
calculated and entered into the scorecards 40 and 42. The winner of
the championship game during week 16 is the champion and the loser
receives second place in the game. The winner of the consolation
game is third place and the loser takes forth place. The
consolation round week is played at the end of playoff week 16 and
the score is tabulated in the cards 44 and 46. The final placement
of the teams is entered in the card 48 shown in FIG. 6b.
[0041] While the game is played, a number of playing pieces are
used for advancing the players around the game board. Season chips
are used to adjust season total scores after week 14 has ended.
These chips are not used during playoff weeks. Weekly chips are
used to adjust the score at the end of each week. A free agent pile
corresponds to the players left after the draft or players that are
dropped by the game player during the season. The season point
tokens or season chips are schematically shown in FIG. 8c. These
chips allow adding or subtracting between 5 and 10 season points.
The weekly points chips or tokens are schematically shown in FIG.
8b. These tokens allow to adjust the score between adding or
subtracting 2 and 10 points. The player tokens for team 1 through
12 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 8a. The playing tokens
have indicia thereon corresponding to the team numbers.
[0042] The board game o the present invention further provides for
the use of "Pick Pile" deck of cards shown in FIGS. 9 and 10c in
the drawings. The cards of FIGS. 9, designated and the cards of
FIG. 10c are part of the "Pick Pile" deck of cards. These cards are
shuffled and placed face down. They are shuffled each time the last
card is taken. The player progresses along the game board following
the directions on the card, such as "Pick Pile," "Add 10 season
points," and "Add 30 season points".
[0043] According to the rules of the game, the game player may
switch the "Free Agent" pile. If the game player playing piece
lands on the space, in FIG. 1, the game player may chose a player
from the team of players and switch with one from the "Free Agent"
pile. If the game player lands on one of the spaces in FIG. 1, the
game player is allowed to trade with another team. This step may
involve multiple players or just one player. If the trade is
accepted, it must be approved by at least two other game players,
if there are four or more players in the game. If there are three
persons playing the game, the trade must be approved by the third
game player.
[0044] The players also accumulate points for their "bye" weeks.
After the game player reaches 5 rehab points, that game player can
trade the points in to get an injured player from the team off the
injured list. The rehab players' position is illustrated in FIG. 1.
Some of the positions allow to add 3 rehab points, while other
rehab positions allow to add 1 rehab point to the total score.
Rehab tokens in FIG. 8d are given to the player that lands on the
rehab positions.
[0045] Still another feature of the present invention is the
"injured player card". These cards illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7 of
the drawings. The injured player card in FIG. 1 show a number of
steps for the game players. For instance, if a game player No. 1,
who would be considered symbolically "injured." If team No. 1 picks
this card, the highest number team blindly picks the player who
would be considered "injured". The statue of the "injured" player
suspends the "injured" player for a period of time between a free
weeks to 12 weeks, depending on the particular card drawn by the
game player. The team with the "injured" player takes all the
players on its team at that position and holds them up, while
allowing the team with the next lowest score to pick a player. For
instance, a player may be designated as "injured" in week 3 and
will remain injured for 6 weeks if card number 72 is picked. The
"injured" player will become available in week 3 but not it weeks 4
through 9, making the "injured" player again available in week
number 10. If the "injured" player is dropped from the team, the
"injured" player becomes a "free" agent. However, the "injured"
player remains on the injured players' list until the injury period
as set on the play card 72 is over.
[0046] The cards of the present invention also allow the game
participants to choose players depending on the instructions given
on the card. Similarly, the game participant may change first
basemen, second basemen, and third basemen, depending on the
particular card drawn by the game participant. If the game
participant draws this card, the game player must switch with the
next lower numbered team. This step is conducted as a blind draw by
both teams. Each team holds all their players in that position up
and the other player draws. If team number one draws a card, they
switch with the highest numbered team. If the game participant
lands on game space 78, it allows the game participant to get the
injured player back. FIG. 11a illustrates the manner in which the
score is kept for 3 to 12 teams playing each week. According to the
rules of the board game, teams with "Bye weeks" still accumulate
points. The weekly schedule formula is recorded in the pay sheets
for weeks 1 through 14 and the cores are kept for every week, from
week 1 to week 14. At the end of week 14, the four teams with the
most points will go to the playoffs, as was described above. The
points are used to break a tie. If one or more teams in odd
numbered leagues (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) have played less games die to
having more "bye weeks" it presents no difference to the
progression of the game. Still the four teams that accumulated the
most score wins. For instance, a score of 7:5 becomes No. 2, score
of 7:4 becomes No. 5. Team No. 2 and team No. 5 would be tied and
would have to consider the earned points to break the tie. The team
with more "bye" weeks is at a disadvantage. Therefore, it is
preferred that the game is played with an even number of teams.
[0047] The present invention provides for the play tokens shown in
FIG. 8a to be shuffled and picked for draft order and playing the
game. The weekly point tokens shown in FIG. 8b are received by
landing on a corresponding space on the game board. The season
point tokens shown in FIG. 8c are received when picking a
corresponding card from the "Pick Pile". The "Pick Pile" contains a
deck of cards with different instructions for the game participants
reenacting progression of the player according to the instructions
on the card.
[0048] The player cards shown in FIG. 10b and designated by numeral
90 in the drawings correspond to current baseball players in their
previous season's statistics, broken down into 16 weeks with
corresponding points. It is envisioned that the player and the
player's name will be incorporated in the card 90. The player cards
may be based on the actual players participating in the National
Baseball League games, providing suitable agreements are reached
with the league--licensing agency.
[0049] It is envisioned that the game can be easily adapted for
playing other games, such as basketball, soccer, hockey, etc. The
instructions on the playing cards and the board can be changed to
stimulate rules of the respective games.
[0050] Many other changes and modifications may be made in the game
of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof.
I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *