Board game and method of play

Abstract

A board game having multiple sets of pieces, each set of pieces belonging to one player in the game, wherein at lest one set of pieces or their starting rules are not substantially similar to one other set of pieces or their starting rules.

1 . A board game comprising at least two sets of pieces wherein at least one set of pieces having at least two pieces that are different in value or function from each other, and these at least two pieces are both different in value or function from any of the pieces from at least one other set of pieces.  
   
   
       2 . The board game of  claim 1  further comprising a board having a set of jumping positions wherein at least one predetermined piece can jump directly among the set of jumping positions.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The board game of  claim 1  wherein the at least two sets of pieces are configured so that at the start of the game, at least one piece from one set of the pieces does not show its identity to the other players, and at least one piece from the other set of the pieces shows its identity to the other players.  
   
   
       5 . The board game of  claim 1  further comprising a board having at least two sets of starting positions which are configured so that at the start of the game, at least one set of starting positions allows two pieces of different value or function from one of the at least two sets of pieces to be placed at each other's starting position and at least the other set of starting positions does not allow two pieces of different value or function from another set of the at least two sets of pieces to be placed at each other's starting position.  
   
   
       6 . The board game of  claim 1  further comprising a board having at least one launching position wherein at least one predetermined piece can move from the launching position directly to any other positions on the board.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A board game comprising at lest two sets of pieces wherein the at least two sets of pieces are configured so that at the start of the game, at least one piece from one set of the pieces does not show its identity to the other players, and at least one piece from the other set of pieces shows its identity to the other players.  
   
   
       10 . The board game of  claim 9  further comprising a board having at least two sets of starting positions which are configured so that at the start of the game, at least one set of starting positions allows two pieces of different value or function from one of the at least two sets of pieces to be placed at each other's starting position, and at least one other set of starting positions does not allow two pieces of different value or function from another set of the at least two sets of pieces to be placed at each other's starting position.  
   
   
       11 . The board game of  claim 9  further comprising a board having a set of jumping positions wherein at lest one predetermined piece can jump directly among the set of jumping positions.  
   
   
       12 . The board game of  claim 9  further comprising at least one predetermined piece which can convert a piece of an opponent into a piece that opposes such opponent.  
   
   
       13 . The board game of  claim 9  further comprising a board having at least one launching position wherein at least one predetermined piece can move from the launching position directly to any other positions on the board.  
   
   
       14 . A board game comprising 
 (a) at least two sets of pieces, each set of pieces having at least two pieces that are different in value or function from each other; and    (b) a board having at least two sets of starting positions, wherein the two sets of starting positions are configured so that at the start of the game, at least one set of starting positions allows two pieces of different value or function from one of the at least two sets of pieces to be placed at each other's starting position, and at least the other set of starting positions does not allow two pieces of different value or function from another of the at least two sets of pieces to be placed at each other's starting position.    
   
   
       15 . The board game of  claim 14  wherein the board further comprising at least one launching position wherein at least one predetermined piece can move from the launching position directly to any other positions on the board.  
   
   
       16 . The board game of  claim 14  wherein the board further comprising a set of jumping positions wherein at lest one predetermined piece can jump directly among the set of jumping positions.  
   
   
       17 . A method of playing a board game having at least two sets of pieces for at least two players comprising a step wherein at least one player can use at least one predetermined piece from one of the two sets of pieces to convert a piece of an opponent into a piece that opposes such opponent.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a step wherein at the start of the game at least one player places at least two pieces of different function or value from its set of pieces in predetermined starting positions and at least one other player places at least two pieces of different function or value from its set of pieces in starting positions that are not predetermined.  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The board game of  claim 1  wherein at least one set of pieces having more than half of its pieces that are different in value or function from any of the pieces from at least one other set of pieces, and each of these at least two sets of pieces having at least two pieces that are different in value or function from each other.  
   
   
       22 . The board game of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the board or the set of pieces is presented in electronic form.  
   
   
       23 . The board game of  claim 1  further comprising at least one predetermined piece which can convert a piece of an opponent into a piece that opposes such opponent.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a step wherein at the start of the game at least one player exposes the identity of at least one of its pieces and at least one other player conceals the identity of at least one of its pieces. so that the other player(s) does not know the value or function of the concealed piece at the start of the game.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a step wherein at least one player can move at least one of its pieces to a launching position from where this piece can move directly to any other positions at the next step.