Game modification

Abstract

Familiar games are enhanced by modification equipment and/or rule changes which add strategic possibilities, player interactions, and twists not found in original game rules. Games suitable for pairing with modification equipment include board games, card games, dice games, tile games, and parlor games, for example. Game modification instructions function to alter one or more of: hand size, discards, draws, seating, turn count, turn order, rounds, scores, winning conditions, item ownership, item visibility, item possession, team membership, equipment in play, action targets, and other categories. Multiple games may be yoked together. Instructions modifying play may be followed at specified times, even after an original game ends, to determine an ultimate winner. Instructions may be embodied in cards, spinners, and/or software. Modification instructions may apply to all turn-based games, or to games in a particular category, or to a particular branded familiar game, for example.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A deck comprising:
 at least six cards, each card embodying at least one game modification instruction, the cards being collectively functional via the game modification instructions to provide a modified game play experience by modifying game play of each of a plurality of games that includes a checkers game, a chess game, a Chinese checkers game, a tile game, and a dice game;   wherein the game modification instructions collectively modify functionality of each of the original games by adding at least two of the following game play mechanisms which are not present in the unmodified original game:
 during game play returning an item of original game equipment to a location and a status which the item had at the beginning of game play; 
 merging two teams into one team during game play, each team containing at least one player before the merging occurs; 
 letting one player view and use items of original game equipment of another player for one turn during game play; 
 changing player turn order during game play; 
 during game play having two players swap all items of original game equipment which they possess or control; 
 letting one player take a turn in the original game in place of another player's turn; 
 taking an item of original game equipment out of play; 
 preventing a player from being an ultimate winner of modified game play even though the player won the original game; 
 limiting game play to a final round prior to determination of a winner in the original game; 
 one player disclosing a hidden item of original game equipment to at least one other player; 
 players trading seats without also exchanging possession or control of items of original game equipment; 
 allowing a player to hold in their hand at last one extra item of original game equipment; or 
 allowing a player to draw at least one extra item of original game equipment from a draw pile. 
   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The deck of  claim 1 , wherein the cards collectively modify functionality of original game equipment of an original board game by adding at least four game play mechanisms that are not present in the original board game, and wherein the original board game equipment includes a token for each player and a set of cards bearing indicia which function to direct player actions during game play. 
     
     
         7 . The deck of  claim 1 , wherein the cards collectively embody game modification instructions in at least three of the following categories: Item Ownership, Full Swap, Temporary Possession, Reveal/Hide, Time Jump, Turn Order, Winning Condition, Final Round, Item Count, Draw Pile, Hidden Hand, Hand Size, Scored Turns, or Sayings Card instructions. 
     
     
         8 . The deck of  claim 1 , wherein the game modification instructions modify functionality of original game equipment by adding at least one of the following game play mechanisms which are not present in the unmodified original game:
 merging two teams into one team during game play, each team containing at least one player before the merging occurs;   letting one player view and use items of original game equipment of another player for one turn during game play;   during game play having two players swap all items of original game equipment which they possess or control;   preventing a player from being an ultimate winner of modified game play even though the player won the original game; or   players trading seats without also exchanging possession or control of items of original game equipment.   
     
     
         9 . The deck of  claim 1 , wherein the game modification instructions which modify functionality of the original game equipment de-se by adding at least one of the following game play mechanisms which are not present in the unmodified original game:
 during game play returning an item of original game equipment to a location and a status which the item had at the beginning of game play;   letting one player take a turn in the original game in place of another player's turn;   taking an item of original game equipment out of play; or   limiting game play to a final round prior to determination of a winner in the original game.   
     
     
         10 . A deck comprising:
 at least eighteen cards, each card embodying at least one game modification instruction, the cards being collectively functional via the game modification instructions to provide a modified game play experience by modifying game play of each of a plurality of original games;   wherein the plurality of original games includes a checkers game, a chess game, a Chinese checkers game, a dice game, and a multiplayer property trading game having original game equipment which includes a board with spaces marked with property names and also includes dice and play money bills and property title cards and player tokens and event cards;   wherein the game modification instructions collectively modify functionality by adding at least four of the following game play mechanisms which are not present in the unmodified original game:   during game play returning an item of original game equipment to a location and a status which the item had at the beginning of game play;   merging two teams into one team during game play, each team containing at least one player before the merging occurs;   letting one player view and use items of original game equipment of another player for one turn during game play;   changing player turn order during game play;   during game play having two players swap all items of original game equipment which they possess or control;   letting one player take a turn in the original game in place of another player's turn;   taking an item of original game equipment out of play;   preventing a player from being an ultimate winner of modified game play even though the player won the original game;   limiting game play to a final round prior to determination of a winner in the original game;   one player disclosing a hidden item of original game equipment to at least one other player;   players trading seats without also exchanging possession or control of items of original game equipment;   reflecting an action by an action originator back at the action originator;   allowing a player to hold in their hand at last one extra item of original game equipment; or   allowing a player to draw at least one extra item of original game equipment from a draw pile.   
     
     
         11 . The deck of  claim 10 , wherein game modification instructions modify functionality by adding at least four game play mechanisms that are not present in the original dice game. 
     
     
         12 . The deck of  claim 10 , wherein the cards collectively embody game modification instructions in at least four of the following categories: Item Ownership, Full Swap, Temporary Possession, Reveal/Hide, Time Jump, In/Out of Play, Turn Order, Winning Condition, Final Round, Merge Team, Seating, Item Count, Draw Pile, Hidden Hand, Hand Size, Scored Turns, 3+ Teams, or Yoked Game instructions. 
     
     
         13 . The deck of  claim 10 , wherein game modification instructions are collectively characterized by at least two of the following time segments: Now, Later, or Anytime. 
     
     
         14 . The deck of  claim 10 , wherein game modification instructions modify functionality by adding at least one of the following game play mechanisms which are not present in the unmodified original game:
 changing player turn order during game play;   letting a player take an extra turn in the original game;   one player disclosing a hidden item of original game equipment to at least one other player;   allowing a player to hold in their hand at last one extra item of original game equipment; or   allowing a player to draw at least one extra item of original game equipment from a draw pile.   
     
     
         15 . The deck of  claim 10 , wherein a game modification instruction identifies an item of original game equipment which is part of the multiplayer property trading game's equipment and is not part of the original game equipment of any of the other listed original games. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)