Ship battle game

Abstract

A ship battle game includes an environment. Each playing piece is non-descript, so that opposing players are unable to visually identify the type of ship the playing piece represents. A non-descript identifier is provided for each playing piece. Game information is provided on different types of ships and the fighting capability of each ship which is fully accessible by all players. A hidden legend is provided for each player indicating the type of ship that each playing piece identified by each non-descript identifier represents. The object of the game is for each player to engage ships of opposing players in battle, while strategically using the hidden knowledge of the fighting capability of each of their playing pieces.

1 . A ship battle game, comprising:
 an environment in one of a game board format or a computer game format, the environment including one of an area of water or outer space;   playing pieces for each player, each playing piece representing a ship and being sufficiently non-descript that while the opposing players are able to view the playing piece as it navigates the environment, the opposing players are unable to visually identify the type of ship the playing piece represents and are, therefore, unable to identify in advance the fighting capability of the ship;   a non-descript identifier for each playing piece which is fully viewable by the opposing players;   game information on different types of ships and the fighting capability of each ship which is fully accessible by all players;   a legend for each player indicating the type of ship that each playing piece identified by each non-descript identifier represents, the legend being kept hidden from the opposing players;   the object of the game being for each player to engage ships of opposing players in battle, while strategically using the hidden knowledge of the fighting capability of each of their playing pieces.   
   
   
       2 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each player is required to reveal the type of ship one of their playing pieces represents when such playing piece is one of engaged in battle with or in close proximity to a playing piece of one of the opposing players. 
   
   
       3 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein some playing pieces represent ships that there are penalties for firing upon, thereby preventing indiscriminate firing upon one of the opposing players pieces. 
   
   
       4 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each player has a homeport and the non-descript identifier for each playing piece can be changed at homeport, thereby enabling the player to hide the fighting capability of a playing piece which has previously been identified as being a particular type of ship. 
   
   
       5 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fighting capability includes weaponry and different types of ships have different weaponry. 
   
   
       6 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fighting capability includes speed and different types of ships have different speeds. 
   
   
       7 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fighting capability includes an ability to withstand enemy fire and different ships can withstand different amounts of enemy fire before sinking. 
   
   
       8 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the game is a naval battle game. 
   
   
       9 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the environment includes areas of shallow water and the fighting capability includes an indication as to whether the type of ship is capable of navigating in the areas of shallow water. 
   
   
       10 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 4 , wherein each player has a homeport and each playing piece returning to homeport becomes “repaired”, so it leaves homeport without any damage from previous battle engagements with playing pieces of the opposing players. 
   
   
       11 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each player has at least one “disguised” ship, and when asked about the type of ship in accordance with the rules, the player can misrepresent the type of ship. 
   
   
       12 . The ship battle game as defined in  claim 1 , wherein provision is made for ramming of other ships.