Strategy board games with concurrent play

Abstract

A method for playing a game by first and second players includes assigning first type characters and second type characters to the first and second players. At a first turn, random numbers relating to each of the first type characters are used to concurrently or simultaneously position the first type characters on a game board. Similarly, at a second turn, random numbers relating to each of the second type characters are used to concurrently or simultaneously position the second type characters on the game board. A game play event, such as a battle or contest, may be initiated between the first and second players based on the relative positioning of the first and second players at the game board. In other examples, the first characters may have attributes or resources that can be developed and used in game play events, or in achieving an end goal of the game.

1 . A method of playing a game, comprising:
 generating first numbers corresponding to individual movements of first playing pieces on a game board, wherein individual first playing pieces are associated with individual players of the game;   concurrently positioning the first playing pieces on the game board based on the first numbers;   generating second numbers corresponding to individual movements of second playing pieces on the game board, wherein individual second playing pieces are also associated with the individual players of the game; and   concurrently positioning the second playing pieces on the game board based on the second numbers, wherein the first playing pieces remain generally stationary at the game board while the second playing pieces are being concurrently positioned.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at an initial phase in the game, concurrently positioning the first playing pieces further comprises:
 positioning an individual first playing piece on the game board at a location associated with a game objective; and   providing a resource component and/or an attribute component to an individual player associated with the individual first playing piece at the location associated with the game objective, the resource component and/or attribute component being employable during the initial phase of the game and/or at a final phase of the game.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at a final phase in the game, concurrently positioning the first playing pieces further comprises:
 progressively moving an individual first playing piece on the game board towards one or more locations associated with an end goal of the game amongst the individual players; and   wherein progressively moving the individual first playing piece further includes employing a resource component and/or an attribute component attained in an initial phase of the game.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at a final phase in the game, the method includes:
 concurrently positioning the first playing pieces by progressively moving an individual first playing piece on the game board towards a location associated with an end goal of the game amongst the individual players; and   concurrently positioning the second playing pieces by moving an individual second piece on the game board to impede the individual first playing piece en route to the location associated with the end goal.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the concurrent positioning of the first playing pieces and/or second playing pieces is carried out in a manner that includes positioning the first playing pieces or second playing pieces at the game board generally at the same time or within a time frame associated with a turn of the game, wherein the first playing pieces or second playing pieces are positioned at the game board in an arbitrary manner that is influenced by the discretion of the individual players. 
   
   
       6 . An article of manufacture associated with published rules of play, comprising:
 a game board;   first game pieces positionable at the game board;   second game pieces positionable at the game board;   number generating objects that generate numbers indicative of a relative positioning of the first game pieces and the second game pieces at the game board, wherein individual number generating objects are associated with individual first game pieces or individual second game pieces;   one or more attribute cards comprising text, symbols, or colors that are representative of a number of available number generating objects associated with individual first game pieces and/or individual second game pieces; and   wherein the number of available number generating objects is based on concurrent or simultaneous game play of:
 (1) the first games pieces while the second game pieces are not in play; or 
 (2) the second game pieces while the first game pieces are not in play. 
   
   
   
       7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6  wherein the game board comprises:
 one or more first game play positions associated with an end goal of the game amongst individual players; and   one or more second game play positions associated with one or more objectives related to the individual first game pieces and/or the individual second game pieces.   
   
   
       8 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6  wherein the number generating objects include one or more compass dies, the compass dies having text, symbols, or colors representative of one or more cardinal directions, wherein the cardinal directions correspond to game board movements of the first game pieces and/or the second game pieces at the game board. 
   
   
       9 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6  wherein the one or more attributes cards further comprise text, symbols, or colors associated with tasks to be completed at the game board and a corresponding reward for completing an individual task. 
   
   
       10 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6  wherein the one or more attribute cards further comprise text, symbols, or colors associated with tasks to be completed at the game board, the tasks having varying degrees of difficulty and being allocated to individual first playing pieces and/or second playing pieces based on an ability associated with the individual first playing pieces and/or second playing pieces. 
   
   
       11 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6  wherein the one or more attribute cards further comprise text, symbols, or colors associated with tasks to be completed at the game board, wherein individual tasks have a difficulty that is correlative with the number of available number generating objects associated with the individual first playing pieces and/or second playing pieces. 
   
   
       12 . A game system, comprising:
 a game board;   a first playing piece of a protagonist type associated with one or more first dies for generating a random value;   a second playing piece of the protagonist type associated with one or more second dies for generating a random value;   a third playing piece of an antagonist type associated with one or more third dies for generating a random value;   a fourth playing piece of the antagonist type associated with one or more fourth dies for generating a random value; and   a set of game rules having first instructions regarding simultaneous game play of the first and second playing pieces at the game board using the first and second dies, the game rules also having second instructions regarding simultaneous game play of the third and fourth playing pieces at the game board using the third and fourth dies.   
   
   
       13 . The game system of  claim 12  wherein the game rules further comprise third instructions regarding a first phase of game play and a second phase of game play,
 wherein the first phase of game play involves character development of the protagonist type playing pieces; and   wherein the second phase of game play involves:
 (1) a race to a location on the game board amongst the protagonist type playing pieces; and 
 (2) battles with the protagonist type playing pieces and the antagonist type playing pieces to impede the progress of the protagonist type playing pieces. 
   
   
   
       14 . The game system of  claim 12  wherein the game rules further comprise third instructions and fourth instructions, the third instructions regarding a first phase of game play and a second phase of game play, the fourth instructions regarding attributes of at least one of the first and second playing pieces,
 wherein the first playing pieces and/or second playing pieces have a first type of attribute in the first phase of game play and a second type of attribute in the second phase of game play.   
   
   
       15 . The game system of  claim 12  wherein the game rules further comprise third instructions regarding attributes of at least the first and second playing pieces,
 tasks,   wherein the first playing piece has attributes corresponding to a first speed, strength, and/or power, and a first task to be completed in the game via the first playing piece;   wherein the second playing piece has attributes corresponding to a second speed, strength, and/or power, and a second task to be completed in the game via the second playing piece; and   wherein the first speed, strength, and/or power is greater than the second speed, strength, and/or power, and wherein the first task is longer, harder, and/or more difficult than the second task to compensate for the disparate speed, strength, and/or power between the first and second playing pieces.   
   
   
       16 . The game system of  claim 12  wherein the game rules further comprise third instructions regarding the resolution or outcome of a scenario in which the first and second playing pieces simultaneously reach a common destination at the game board. 
   
   
       17 . A game process, comprising:
 game piece means comprising at least two game pieces of a first type and at least two game pieces of a second type;   rule means for defining an end goal, one or more objectives, and a series of actions of play for achieving the objectives and the end goal between two or more players each employing a game piece of the first type and a game piece of the second type;   game board means for providing discrete game play positions associated with the end goal, the objectives, and intermediary locations between the end goal and the objectives;   means for generating a random value regarding each of the game pieces of the first type and each of the game pieces of the second type; and   wherein the game process includes:
 during a first turn, generating first random numbers regarding individual game pieces of the first type and positioning the individual game pieces of the first type at one or more of the discrete game play positions based on the first random numbers; and 
 during a second turn, generating second random numbers regarding individual game pieces of the second type and positioning the individual game pieces of the second type at one or more of the discrete game play positions based on the second random numbers. 
   
   
   
       18 . The game process of  claim 17  wherein generating random numbers regarding individual game pieces of the first type includes rolling a number of dies commensurate with the abilities of individual game pieces of the first type, and/or inversely commensurate with the length and/or difficulty of the end goal, objectives, or series of actions of play for achieving the objectives and the end goal. 
   
   
       19 . The game process of  claim 17  wherein the game play positions associated with the objectives correspond to upgrades awardable to individual game pieces of the first type. 
   
   
       20 . The game process of  claim 17  wherein positioning the individual game pieces of the first type and/or second type includes using the first random numbers and/or second random numbers as an upper ceiling of a number of available moves of individual game pieces of the first type or individual game pieces of the second type. 
   
   
       21 . The game process of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 during an initial phase of the game, upgrading individual game pieces of the first type as they are positioned at game play positions associated with the objectives; and   during a final phase of the game, using the game pieces of the second type to impede the progress of individual game pieces of the first type en route to the game play position associated with the end goal.   
   
   
       22 . A method of playing a game by at least first and second players, the method comprising:
 assigning first type characters to the first and second players;   assigning second type characters to the first and second players;   initiating individual positioning events corresponding to individual first type characters, wherein at least a portion of the individual positioning events are based on chance;   simultaneously or concurrently positioning the first type characters at a game board based on the individual positioning events; and   initiating a game play event between one or more first type characters and one or more second type characters based, at least, on the positioning of the first type characters on the game board with respect to a positioning of the second type characters on the game board.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the game play event includes a battle or a contest. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the game play event is carried out with an individual first type character associated with the first player and an individual second type character associated with the second player. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein at least a portion of the method is carried out using electronic media including at least one of an electronic game board, an electronic device for generating random numbers, and a networked computer having a processor and a memory storing processing instructions for managing positioning and game play events.