Method and apparatus for playing a game on a playing surface

Abstract

A method for tracking multiple durations in a game without the need for any accounting is provided. The invention readily scales from tracking just a few durations to tracking many durations without slowing the game down. Furthermore, the method provides an opportunity for all players to verify the results, making it suitable for a competitive environment. The method can be applied to any kind of game in which there is a need to track durations over several rounds of play.

1 . A method for playing a game among two or more players, said method comprising: 
 Providing (a) a playing surface, (b) a plurality of miniatures, wherein each miniature has a points statistic, (c) a plurality of cards, wherein at least one of said cards has instructions printed on the card, and (d) rules for playing said game;    Each player creating a team of miniatures by selecting one or more miniatures from said plurality of miniatures, wherein the sum of the points statistic of each selected miniature is less than or equal to a predetermined points total in accordance with said rules;    Each player taking a turn during a round of play, wherein at least one of said turns comprises a player playing a card by following the instructions printed on the card.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of a player playing a card by following the instructions printed on the card further comprises the steps of: 
 (a) reading the instructions printed on the card,    (b) selecting a target miniature,    (c) associating the card with said target miniature.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said miniatures has an attack statistic, wherein at least one of said miniatures has a defense statistic, wherein at least one of said turns further comprises the steps of: 
 (a) rolling a die to generate a random number,    (b) adding said attach statistic to said random number to generate an adjusted result,    (c) comparing the adjusted result to the defense statistic, and    (d) if the adjusted result is greater than or equal to the defense statistic, removing the miniature having said defense statistic from the playing surface.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each said miniature is shaped to represent a creature in the game and has a base that supports the miniature on said playing surface.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said playing surface is a map.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said map is ruled with a grid.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least two miniatures are positioned within the spaces formed by said grid of said map.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said instructions describe a game effect, wherein said step of playing a card further comprises: 
 (a) reading the instructions on the card,    (b) selecting a target miniature for the game effect described by the card, and    (c) applying the game effect described by the card.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each miniature has a life statistic, wherein a miniature is removed from the game when said life statistic is reduced to 0 or less.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing games among two or more players, said method comprising: 
 (a) providing rules of the said game;    (b) providing a plurality of game components, wherein each said game component has a set of numbers printed thereon;    (c) generating a random number;    (d) comparing said random number to said set of numbers of each said game component;    (e) altering the state of each said game component having a number in said set of numbers that said random number matches in accordance with said rules of the game,    wherein at least one game component has more than one number in said set of numbers, whereby a game component having more than one number in said set of numbers will thereby have a probability of having its state altered differing from the probability of generating said random number.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said set of numbers is printed as a numerical interval on said game component.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said set of numbers is printed as a list of numbers on said game component.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said random number is an integer.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of generating a random number includes the step of rolling a die and reading the value of the die.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said die has 20 sides or 100 sides.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of altering the state of each said game component includes the step of moving a card.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said step of moving a card includes either the step of drawing a card or the step of discarding a card.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a map.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said map is ruled with a grid, whereby the map represents a battlefield.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said game components are miniatures.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said step of altering the state of each said game component includes the step of removing a said miniature from said map.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each said miniature has a card associated with it, said card having numerical statistics.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said game components are collected by a player of the game from a larger set of all game components available for said game, whereby the game is a collectible game.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said game is played in rounds, wherein during a round each player of said game takes a turn, wherein steps (c), (d), and (e) occur during a said turn.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for playing a game among two or more players, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a playing surface;    (b) rules for playing said game;    (c) a plurality of game components on said playing surface, wherein each said game component has printed thereon a set of two or more designations, said designations selected from the group consisting of numbers, symbols, and colors;    (d) a die, wherein said die has printed on each face a designation drawn from the set of all designations printed on said game components,    wherein said game components are selected from the group consisting of cards, miniatures, and a mix of cards and miniatures.