U.S. patent application number 11/504154 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for board game.
Invention is credited to Michael R. Brockman.
Application Number | 20080042351 11/504154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39100652 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080042351 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brockman; Michael R. |
February 21, 2008 |
Board game
Abstract
A board game simulating the sport of deer hunting comprising a
game board, a plurality of game tokens, and a plurality of target
tokens. Each player may possess up to three ammunition tokens. The
game board has a plurality of space playing positions forming a
plurality of paths along the game board. The space playing
positions bear indicia instructions. Each player moves their game
token along the paths. When a player lands his game token on a
first designated space playing position occupied by a target token,
the player can use his ammunition token to take possession of the
target token. The first player to return to a second designated
playing position while in possession of a target token wins.
Inventors: |
Brockman; Michael R.; (Orr,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH, SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
39100652 |
Appl. No.: |
11/504154 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/244 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/00145 20130101;
A63F 2003/00009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/244 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A board game wherein at least two players simulate the sport of
hunting comprising: a) a game board having a plurality of space
playing positions bearing indicia instructions, said space playing
positions forming a plurality of paths around said game board, said
game board further including a plurality of trails running between
non-consecutive space playing positions on the paths; b) a
plurality of generally circular game tokens sized to fit on said
space playing positions representing each player, wherein each
circular game token is of a different color and bearing different
images of a hunter; c) a die, when tossed, indicating how many
space playing positions to move each of said game tokens; d) a
plurality of ammunition tokens indicating a number of shots of
ammunition a hunter may take; e) a plurality of predator tokens
impeding movement of game tokens along the game board paths,
wherein a player may not move his game token past a predator token
along a path unless he expends a predefined number of ammunition
tokens on said predator token; f) a plurality of game warden tokens
wherein the game warden tokens may be positioned on the plurality
of paths to impede movement of circular game tokens along the game
board paths by prohibiting forward movement of the game token along
the path, further when a game warden token is placed on the same
space playing position occupied by one of said game tokens, the
player must move his or her circular game token to a starting space
playing position on one of the paths; g) a plurality of shack
challenge cards bearing additional indicia instructions wherein one
of said players draws one of said shack challenge cards when said
one of said players lands on said space playing position indicating
that said one of said players should draw one of said shack
challenge cards; h) a plurality of target tokens displaying the
image of a target of hunting, wherein when the player lands his
circular game token on the same space playing position occupied by
one of said target tokens, and said player possesses at least one
ammunition token the player may capture the target token, wherein
the first player to return to a designated space playing position
while in possession of a target disc wins the game.
2. The board game in claim 1 and further including a scope token,
wherein when the player is in possession of a scope token and at
least one ammunition token, and said player is within three space
playing positions of a target token, the player may capture the
target token.
3. The board game in claim 1 and further including a compass token,
wherein when a player is in possession of one of said compass
token, the player may use one of the trails to move the player's
circular game token between two non-consecutive space playing
positions connected by the trail.
4. The board game in claim 1 wherein the plurality of predator
tokens includes: a) a plurality of bear tokens wherein said players
may not move their circular game token on or through a space
playing position occupied by one of said bear tokens unless the
player has at least two ammunition tokens in his possession; and b)
a plurality of wolf tokens wherein said players may not move their
circular game token on or through a space playing position occupied
by one of said wolf tokens unless the player has at least one
ammunition disc in his possession.
5. The board game in claim 1 wherein the plurality of ammunition
tokens includes: a) a plurality of bullet tokens wherein each
bullet token represents a single bullet, further said players may
not possess greater than three bullet tokens each; b) at least one
clip token wherein when one of said players is in possession of
said clip token, said player may land on a space occupied by one of
the predator tokens and target tokens without expending
ammunition.
6. A method of playing a board game simulating the sport of
hunting, said board game including a game board having a plurality
of space playing positions bearing indicia instructions, said space
playing positions forming a plurality of paths around said game
board, said game board further including a plurality of trails
running between non-consecutive space playing positions on the
paths, and circular spaces randomly disposed on the game board; a
plurality of generally circular game tokens sized to fit on said
space playing positions representing one of at least two players,
wherein each circular game token is of a different color and
bearing different images of a hunter; a plurality of ammunition
tokens indicating a number of shots of ammunition a hunter may
take; a plurality of predator tokens impeding movement of game
tokens along the paths, wherein a player may not move his game
token past a predator token unless he expends a quantity of
ammunition tokens on said predator token; a plurality of game
warden tokens wherein the game warden token may impede movement of
game tokens along the game board paths by prohibiting forward
movement of the game token along the path, further when a game
warden token is placed on the same space playing position of a
player the player must move the circular game token to a starting
space playing position on one of the paths; a plurality of target
tokens displaying the image of a target of hunting, wherein when
one of said players lands their circular game token on the same
space playing position occupied by one of said target tokens, and
the players posses at least one ammunition token the player may
capture the target token, wherein the first player to return to a
pre-designated space playing position while in possession of a
target token wins the game. Said method comprising: a) stacking all
discs on matching circular spaces on the game board; b)
distributing at least three ammunition tokens to each player; c)
choosing a generally circular game token for each player; d)
rolling a die to determine which player goes first, wherein the
player with the highest number goes first; e) moving circular game
token along the paths and following the instructions indicated on
each space playing position, moving the game warden token along the
paths an equal number of space playing position that the circular
game token has moved; f) continuing play of the game in a turn
fashion until a player has successfully captured possession of the
target token and returned their game token to the designated space
playing position.
7. The method of playing a game according to claim 6 and further
including the step of rolling the die to determine the number of
space playing positions to move the circular game token.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a board game and
more specifically to a board game that simulates the sport of deer
hunting. Hunting is a sport practiced throughout the United States
across every class or cultural line. While regulations vary widely
from state to state, hunting can only be enjoyed when the game is
in season. Likewise, for safety concerns it is necessary to limit
hunting to daylight hours. Therefore it is desirable to provide a
board game which provides the simulated experience of hunting deer
that can be played anywhere at any time of the year.
[0002] There are examples in the prior art of board games or card
games that simulate hunting. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,090,707; 4,567,259
and 878,334 are examples of such prior art. While these games are
suitable as far as they go, they lack the elements of strategy and
such that are intrinsic to deer hunting. It is an object of the
present invention to provide a portable board game that accurately
depicts the tracking, shooting and bagging of an animal in the
field that also involves the strategic decisions inherent in each
of those steps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A principle object of the present invention is to provide a
board game which accurately simulates outdoor deer hunting in which
the first player to bag a deer and return to a home base wins.
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
game board is provided simulating a wooded territory. The game
board includes a plurality of space positions bearing indicia
instructions. The space playing positions form a plurality of
intersecting paths around the game board.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a number
of game tokens are provided. The game tokens represent each player
and are sized to fit within each space position. When a player's
game token lands on a space position, he follows the indicia
instruction on the space.
[0006] In accordance with an important aspect of the invention
ammunition discs are provided. Each disc represents the amount of
ammunition each player possesses. Each player is given discs to
indicate that they have three bullets.
[0007] Predator discs are also provided. The predator discs
represent dangerous predators a hunter may encounter while hunting.
When a predator disc is placed along the trail, it impedes the
player's movement along the trail unless the player has sufficient
ammunition to kill the predator.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, game
warden discs represent regulatory authorities hunters have to deal
with while hunting. When a player's token lands on the same space
occupied by a game warden disc, the player must return his game
token to a starting position.
[0009] In accordance with still another aspect of the invention,
challenge discs are provided indicating different situations that
may be encountered by a hunter in the field.
[0010] The object of the game is to capture a target disc and
return to the starting space. A target disc displays the image of a
target for hunting. When a player lands his game token on the same
playing position occupied by a target disc, and the player has
sufficient ammunition left to shoot the target, the player has
captured the target.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one typical game token;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a die;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of one typical bullet token in
accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of one typical clip token;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of one typical bear game
token;
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of one typical wolf game
token;
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of one typical shack challenge
card;
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of one typical target
disc;
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of one typical scope game
token;
[0021] FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of one typical compass game
token; and
[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of one typical game warden
token.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Turning now to the drawings, similar reference numerals
denote similar elements throughout the several views. FIGS. 1 - 11
illustrate the equipment needed to play a board game simulating a
deer hunt. The equipment includes a game board 10 (FIG. 1), a
plurality of movable game tokens 12 (FIG. 2), a die 14 (FIG. 3),
bullet tokens 16 (FIG. 4), clip tokens 18 (FIG. 5), bear tokens 20
(FIG. 6), wolf token 22 (FIG. 7), shack challenge cards 24 (FIG.
8), target tokens 26 (FIG. 9), scope tokens 28 (FIG. 10) and
compass tokens 30 (FIG. 11).
[0024] The game board 10 has a shack position 30 comprising the
image of a building on a central portion of the game board. The
game board also includes a plurality of adjacent space playing
positions 36 to 62 forming a plurality of paths 32 around the game
board. Each space playing position bears indicia instructions
directing the play when a player's game token 12 lands on a space
playing position. Further, a plurality of trails 34 run between
various non-consecutive space playing positions. There are also
representations of bodies of water 35 where some of the trails 34
traverse the body of water 35.
[0025] The game tokens 12 are sized to fit on the space playing
positions 36 to 62. Each game token 12 represents the movement of a
player along the paths on the game board 10. Typically the game
token 12 is a disc having an inner portion 64 and an outer ring 66
surrounds the inner portion 64. As seen in FIG. 2 each game token
12 has a different colored outer ring 66 and a different image of a
hunter 67.
[0026] In order to begin the game at least three bullet tokens 16
are distributed to each player. The bullet token 16 is a disc
bearing the image of a single bullet. When a player wishes to kill
a target or predator, the player must have a sufficient number of
bullet tokens 16 to take down the target or predator.
Alternatively, as will be explained shortly, a player may collect
during a game play a clip token 48. Possessing a clip token 48
allows a player to shoot targets or predators without using bullet
tokens 40.
[0027] Each player then rolls a die 14 to see which player goes
first. Preferably, the die 14 is a six-sided die where each side is
marked from with from one to six dots. The player who rolls the
highest number gets to go first. Then the first player moves his
game token 12 from the shack 30 and places it on any of the three
space playing positions marked "start" 36. The player then moves a
game warden token 33 (FIG. 12) on any of the twelve deer stand 60
space playing position. The player then rolls the die 14 and moves
his game token 12 the number of spaces shown on the die 14.
(Alternatively, the player can choose to move between one and three
positions at his discretion.) The first player then may move the
game warden token 33 from the deer stand 60 the same number of
spaces rolled on the die 14. (Again, alternatively, the first
player may move the game warden token 33 the equivalent number of
spaces the first player's game token 12 if no die is used.)
[0028] The game warden token 33 is a disc bearing an image of a law
enforcement officer 35 in the center of the token 33.
[0029] The next player in turn places his game token 12 on any of
the three playing positions marked "start" 36, and follows the same
steps as the first player.
[0030] When a player's game token 12 lands on a space playing
position, the player must follow the indicia instruction found on
the space playing position. The space playing positions on FIG. 1
are numbered and labeled as follows:
[0031] 36--Start
[0032] 37--Lose deer
[0033] 40--Found bullet
[0034] 42--Move wolf
[0035] 44--Draw disc
[0036] 46--Move bear
[0037] 48--Found clip
[0038] 50--To deer stand
[0039] 52--Lost
[0040] 54--Found scope
[0041] 56--Move deer
[0042] 58--Found canoe
[0043] 60--Deer stand
[0044] 62--Found compass
[0045] A bear token 20 may block movement of a player's game token
12 along the paths 32. Each bear token 20 is a flat disc having an
image of a black bear 21 in the center of the disc. A player's game
token 12 may not land on, or pass over a space playing position
that is occupied by a bear token 20 unless the player has enough
bullet tokens 16. At the 20 start of the game a plurality of bear
tokens 20 are stacked on a corresponding bear token space 68 on the
game board 10. When a player's game token lands on a "move bear"
space 46, the player may move a bear token 20 from the bear token
space 68 to any unoccupied space playing position on the board 10.
If there are no bear tokens 20 on the bear token space 68, then the
player must move one of the bear tokens 20 on the paths 32 25 to
another unoccupied space. In order to move on or over a space
playing position occupied by a bear token 20, the player must use
two of his bullet tokens 16. When a bear is "shot" (i.e. a player
uses two bullet tokens 16 to move on or over a space occupied by a
bear token 20), the bear token 20 is moved back to the bear token
space 68.
[0046] A wolf token 22 is like a bear token 20, except that a
player need only expend one bullet token 16 to move his game token
on or over the space playing position occupied by the wolf token
22. A wolf token 22 is preferably a flat disc bearing the image of
a wolf 23 proximate the center of the token 22. A plurality of wolf
tokens 22 are placed on a wolf token space 70 on the game board 10
at the start of the game. When a player's game token 12 lands on
one of the move wolf 42 space playing positions, that player may
move a wolf token 42 similar to how the bear token is moved as
described above.
[0047] The plurality of shack challenge cards 24 are stacked on a
shack challenge space 72. When a player's game token 12 lands on a
draw disc 44 space playing position, the player draws a shack
challenge card 24 from the stack of shack challenge cards 24 and
follows the instructions on the shack challenge card 24.
[0048] In order to shoot a target token 26 a player must move his
game token 12 to a deer stand 60 space playing position occupied by
a target token 26. Preferably, a target token 26 is a flat circular
shaped disc with the image of a deer 27 on the center of the token
26. Of course there are any number of game that can be hunted, such
as tigers, lions and bears. A plurality of target tokens 26 are
stacked on a circular target token space 74 at the start of the
game. When a player's game token 12 lands on one of the move deer
56 space playing positions, that player may move a target token 26
from the circular target token space 74 to any unoccupied deer
stand 60 space playing position. If all the target tokens 26 have
been moved from the circular target token space 74 when a player
lands on a move deer 56 space playing position, then the player
moves the target token from one deer stand 60 to another.
[0049] When a player's game token 12 lands on a deer stand 60
occupied by a target token 26 and the player has at least one
bullet token 16 or a clip token 18, then the player may capture the
target token 26. Once a player is in possession of a target token
26, then the player must move his game token 12 along the path 32
until he is able to return to the shack 30. The first player who
returns to the shack 30 while in possession of a target token 26
wins the game.
[0050] However, a player may lose possession of the target token 26
in one of three ways. First, if a second player lands his game
token on a space playing position occupied by the first player,
then the second player takes possession of the target token from
the first player. Second, if a second player draws a shack
challenge card 24 which reads "steal deer", that player may take
possession of the target token 26 from the first player. Third, if
a player in possession of a target token 26 lands on a lose deer 38
space playing position, then the player must place the target token
26 on the circular target token space 74. Similarly, if a player in
possession of a target token 26 draws a shack challenge card 24
that reads "lose deer", then that player places the target token 26
on the circular target token space 74.
[0051] The game warden token 33 can block a space playing position
or move a player's game token 12 back to the shack 30. If a game
warden token 33 lands on a space playing position occupied by a
player's game token 12, the player must move his game token 12 to
the shack 30 and loses all items in his possession.
[0052] Players may replenish their bullet tokens 16 when their game
token 12 lands on a found bullet 40 space playing position or by
drawing a shack challenge card 24 that reads "found bullet".
However, if a player already possesses three bullet tokens 16, then
he may not take additional bullet tokens 16. Additional bullet
tokens 16 are stacked on a circular bullet token space 76 on the
game board 10.
[0053] A player may also collect clip tokens 18 during the course
of the game. The clip tokens 18 are stacked on the game board 10 on
the circular clip token space 80. When a player's game token 12
lands on one of the Found Clip 48 space playing positions or draws
a "found clip" shack challenge card 24, the player gains possession
of a clip token 18.
[0054] The game also provides a number of scope tokens 28 which are
stacked on the game board 10 at the circular scope token space 82.
A scope token 28 is a flat generally disc bearing the image of a
typical rifle scope 28b. When a player's game token 12 lands on one
of the Found Scope 54 space playing positions, then the player may
take possession of the scope token 28. As discussed above,
ordinarily a player must land on the same space as a target token
26 or a wolf token 22 or a bear token 20 in order to shoot the
target. However, if a player possesses the scope token 28 the
player can shoot the object from up to three space playing
positions away.
[0055] If a player lands his game token 12 on the Found Compass 62
space playing position, then the player can collect a compass token
29. When in possession of the compass token 29, a player may use
the trails 34. However, a player may not use the trails if he does
not possess the compass token 29. If a player lands on the Found
Canoe 58 space playing position, the player may move his game token
12 to any of the other Found Canoe 58. A compass token 29 is not
necessary to move from a first Found Canoe space playing position
to another.
[0056] When a player's game token 12 lands on the To Deer Stand 50
that player may move his or her game token 12 to the designated
deer stand 60 space playing position.
[0057] This invention has been described herein in considerable
detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide
those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the
novel principles and to construct and play the board game embodied
in the invention. It is understood that the invention can be
carried out by specifically different equipment. Various modes of
carrying out the invention can be accomplished without departing
from the scope of the invention itself.
* * * * *