GB2136697A - Space game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a board marked with ten spiral tracks 2 and 3, each track being divided into areas defined by contra-spiral lines 4, and markings indicating Repair docks 8, fuel collection points 6, supply points 7 and shooting stars 9. Playing pieces, two icosahedral dice, "fuel cell" and other supply cards are provided. The object of the game is for each player to fly round the galaxy collecting pieces for a battle station and return to base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game This invention relates to an apparatus for playing a game.

According to this invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a game comprising a board having a surface marked with a plurality of outwardly progressing spiral tracks each divided along its length into a number of contiguous areas for placement thereon of playing pieces to be moved in accordance with a set of rules according to the throw of a die or dice or any other chance device, adjacent spiral tracks having areas in alignment for movement of playing pieces from one track to another.

Preferably the areas from one adjacent track to the next are in alignment and lie along a spiral or circular path progressing in direction of rotation opposite the tracks.

Ten spiral tracks may be provided with the areas lying on ten spiral paths. In one arrangement each spiral track is divided into twelve areas.

The novel feature of this design for a Board Game is the use of a spiral to create an optical distortion of distances on the board. The "Moves" or "Steps" counted for a game are marked out either with a reversed spiral (or concentric circles).

Two icosahedron dice are used to move about the board. Each spiral arm is numbered (1 to 10) - one of the dice (also numbered 1 to 10) indicates which spiral arm to move on, the other dice gives the number of steps to be taken along that arm.

In order to explain the apparatus and game more fully reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a plan view of the board.

Figure 2 shows part of the board to illustrate the moves, and Figure 3 shows supply cards and fuel cells as used in playing the game.

The following rules describe one method of play. Other modes of play may be adopted using the board described.

The object of the game is to build a space battle station on a designated base position, the first person to do so being the winner. Each battle station comprises a model which is divided into four quadrants.

Each alien must collect all 4 Quadrants of his Battle Station and return to Base. Then he has won. But he may run out of Fuel, or be attacked on his travels. He may be shot with a Laser Bolt, or actually captured by a marauding opponent landing on him. Then he must pay a ransom for each Battle Station Quadrant he has collected, before being forced into the Black Hole. If he survives all this and still reaches Base - he wins. This Galactic struggle is overseen by the Universal Watcher - who holds the stock of Fuel Cells and Supply Cards.

He also runs Repair Docks for Rockets at a cost of 5 or 10 Fuel Cells - this fee includes immunity from attack by other passing space ships.

The Game consist of: A Board (The Galaxy) 60 Fuel Cell Pieces 5 Rockets 1 D.l.C.E.

5 Space Stations 1 Deca Dice 56 Supply Cards The Board (Figure 1) represents a Spiral Galaxy with 5 white arms 2 and 5 blue arms 3 - 10 spiral arms in all and numbered 1 to 10. There is also drawn on the Board in black lines a reverse 'Counter' spiral 4 which indicates the 'steps' for counting moves. Players move up or down and across the spiral arms. At the centre of the Galaxy is a Black Hole.

Colour Spots 5 show where the Battle Station Quadrants are placed.

Fuel Stops 6 A player collects 10 Fuel Cells for landing here.

Supply Spots7 A player picks up one card from the supply pack Repair Docks 8 A player landing on a Repair Dock must pay 5 or 10 Fuel Cells fee to the Watcher, who grants that Player immunity from attack.

Rocket/battle station Each Player chooses a colour set of Base, Rocket and Battle Station made up of 4 Quadrants. At the beginning of the game each Quadrant is placed on a spot of the same colour.

Supply cards (Figure 3) There are 9 different types of Supply Card, making up a pack of 56 cards. There are 10 Supply Card Pick-Up Spots on the Board.

Fuel cells xl (White), x5 (Blue) and x20 (Black). Fuel is paid to, and paid out by the Watcher. For example, if an 8 is thrown on the Deca Dice - then 8 steps are taken across the Galaxy and the fuel bill of 8 Fuel Cells must be paid to the Watcher. 10 Fuel Cells are collected from the Watcher when a player lands on a Fuel Stop.

The Universal Watcher is a fictitious character represented by the Supply Card Pack, and the box holding the Fuel Cells.

Dice There are two icosahedron shaped dice each numbered 1 to 10 (the O is the 10). The black dice is the D.I.C.E. (Direction Indicator for Cosmic Excursions). This is only used for going into Hyper Space (getting out of the Black Hole). e.g. If a 3 is thrown on the black dice the Player leaves the Black Hole along the spiral arm marked 3. The other (blue) dice is the Deca Dice which gives the number of space steps to be taken on each and every move.

The object of the game is for a Player taking the part of an alien to fly a Rocket around the Galaxy and collect all 4 Quadrants of his Battle Station, and then return to his Base to win. The Player may attack any opponents in order to weaken them and slow them down, he may also have to run from attack himseif. To reach home, after travelling the Galaxy and collecting a whole Battle Station, a Player will almost certainly have to stop for fuel giving opportunity for his enemies to combine and attack. Great care and strategy are needed to survive.

Setting-up the game Each Player chooses a colour set of Base/Rocket/Battle Station. The Quadrants of each Battle Station are placed on their spots.

Each Player is dealt 5 Supply Cards, the pack is then placed face-down at the side of the Board for Players to draw from during the game. Each Player is given 50 fuel Cells made up by five xl (white), five x5 (blue) and one x20 (black).

Throwing a dice, the Player with the highest throw starts the game, then Players take turns in clockwise rotation. Each Player starts in the Black Hole and enters the Galaxy through Hyper Space, by throwing both dice.

Rules 1. To Start - throw both the black D.l.C.E. and the blue Deca Dice. Then move out from the Black Hole along the apiral arm numbered on the black D.I.C.E. (staying on that arm), forthe number of steps indicated on the Deca Dice. The step next to the Black Hole is counted as one. If a player throws a 1 on the Deca Dice his Rocket has not got beyond the pull of the Black Hole so goes back into the middle - but he can collect his Quadrant if one is there (re: Rule 4), and he also picks up 10 fuel Cells and a Supply Card taken from the pack (re: Rule 7).

2. Subsequent moves are taken by throwing the Deca Dice only - up to 10 steps in any direction. A Warp Drive Card can be used to increase the number of steps by 1,2 or 3 (shown as the Factor on the Card) - these extra steps cost double fuel. A Player can change direction, crossing to another spiral arm, then along and back again, during one move. But he must NOT double back. Every move requires Fuel Cells to be paid to the Watcher (placed in the Fuel Cell Box by the board).

3. Each step along a white or blue spiral arm costs one fuel Cell. Each move across these arms (along the 'counter' spiral) requires more energy so counts as 2 steps, and so costs 2 fuel Cells. You must cross in front of the comets/shooting stars 9.

Example: Moving 3 'Space Steps' is shown in Figure 2. This diagram shows the different 'Space Steps' in which a rocket can move art a cost of 3 Fuel Cells.

4. When a Player lands on a Quadrant of his Battle Station the Quadrant is taken and placed on his Base. If he lands on an opponents Quadrant then it must be offered for sale to that opponent for 10 Fuel Cells.

5. An opponent is attacked by 'capturing' (landing your Rocket on the space occupied by his Rocket) or by firing a Laser Bolt (playing a Laser Bolt Card) from the specific distance away (a Power 2 Laser bolt will hit an opponents Rocket 2 space steps away). Laser Bolts are useless against Defence Shields, so if the Player being attacked drops a Defence Shield Card - the attack has failed. A successful attack forces a Player into the Black Hole where he must miss one turn (unless playing a Hyper Space Passport Card, re: Rule 7) then he must throw both the D.l.C.E. and the Deca Dice to escape the Black Hole through Hyper Space. If the attacked Player has Battle Station Quadrants at his Base, he must pay his attacker a ransom of 5 Fuel Cells for each Quadrant.

6. A Player can invade an opponents Base to put just one Battle Station Quadrant (one quadrant per opponent each game) into the Black Hole so its owner must enter the Black Hole to retrieve it. But the attacker may be repelled from that Base, deemed captured and sent into the Black Hole himself if the owner returns, or playes an Early warning Sattelite Card.

7. A Player's Rocket is placed in the Black Hole: (a) if the player chooses to land on a step adjacent to the Black Hole (no Player can step into the Black Hole); (b) if the Player uses a Hyper Space Passport (playing the Passport Card) for a jump into Hyper Space; (c) if a Player is captured or shot with a Laser Bolt. Any Player who goes into the Black Hole of his own choosing picks up a Supply Card and 10 Fuel Cells - if forced into the Black Hole by an attack he only picks up a Supply Card, and misses a go (unless he plays a Hyper Space Passport). The Player leaves the Black Hole in the usual way through Hyper Space (by throwing the D.l.C.E./Deca Dice).

8. The Watcher charges 5 or 10 Fuel Cells for a Rocket to use one of his Repair Docks. While in the Repair dock, a Rocket may be joined by another but is completely safe from capture, or attack by Laser Bolt.

9. Travelling around the Galaxy takes a lot of Fuel Cells. A Player who runs out of fuel is DEAD. There are Fuel Stops around the Galaxy, and also places to pick up Supply Cards. Fuel is paid to the Watcher at the rate of 1 Fuel Cell for each space step taken. A Player who forgets to pay his Fuel Bill immediately after he has moved, if challenged by an opponent - must pay interest on his debt to the Watcher - the amount is Doubled.

But if no opponent reminds the Watcher to collect before that Player has thrown the dice for his next move he has got away with it! If he remembers, the Player can pay the usual amount before a demand to pay double is issued.

10. Supply Cards. Each Player can pick up a card: (a) each time he enters the Black Hole; (b) each time he lands on a Supply Card Spot.

If two Players require a Card at the same time, e.g. an attacker lands on a Supply Spot and shoots an opponent at the same time - the victim goes into the Black Hole and takes a Card first, then the attacker takes a Card. Cards (except the Space Sploj) can be sold to the Watcher for 5 Fuel Cells. A Supply Card is 'played' by being placed face-up on a 'discard' pile next to the Pack. Should the Supply Pack be used up - then the discard pile is shuffled and placed face down to become the new Supply Pack.

Additional card rule Auctions- regular Players of G1 may, if agreed before the start of a game, auction valuable Supply Cards to other Players for Fuel Cells. This can bring in extra Fuel, and allow Players to 'collaborate' to stop another Player on his home run to Base.

Claims (9)

1. An apparatus for playing a game comprising a board having a surface marked with a plurality of outwardly progressing spiral trcks each divided along its length into a number of contiguous areas for placement thereon of playing pieces to be moved in accordance with a set of rules according to he throw of a die or dice, adjacent spiral tracks having areas in alignment for movement of playing pieces from one track to another.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein, the areas from one adjacent track to the next are in alignment and lie along a spiral or circular path progressing in direction of rotation opposite the tracks.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein ten spiral tracks are provided, the areas in alignment on adjacent tracks being defined by ten contra-spiral paths.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein the contra-spiral paths are arranged to divide each track into twelve areas.

5. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claims, in combination with one or more icosahedron dice.

6. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claims, in combination with a plurality of pieces to be distributed on the board to be collected and assembled together at a specified location.

7. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, in combination with a set of cards defining further moves, a card being picked-up as defined by an associated area marked on the board.

8. An Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim comprising: i) the playing board, ii) a set of dice, iii) a set of playing pieces, iv) a plurality of pieces to be assembled together to form a model space station, v) a set of cards having printed instructions thereon, and vi) a set of rules defining a method of moving the pieces and of playing a game.

9. An apparatus for playing a game substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings and the rules of play.