US 6,189,887 B1Granted

Board game with multiple regions and stackable pieces

OwnerDaniel A. Dommaschinventor

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Abstract

A game with a playing area made up of multiple playing regions, with each region made up of multiple playing spaces. The entire playing area can be created on one essentially flat surface. The game can be played by two or more players. Each player has a plurality of stackable playing pieces distinguishable from those of other players. Stacks can be formed from the pieces of one or more players. The player whose piece is on top of a stack controls that entire stack, and thus any underlying pieces belonging to other players are captured. Pieces can be stacked and unstacked during the course of play. If a previously captured piece is uncovered by unstacking, that piece is released and reintroduced into play. Movement of pieces or stacks is allowed both within a region and to other regions. A multi-step unstacking move is included to provide greater reach. The game is won by capturing in stacks all the pieces belonging to opponents. Limits both on the size of stacks and on the number of pieces that can be moved in a step can be imposed.

A method of playing a game for at least two players comprising

a) providing
i) a plurality of playing pieces, each of said pieces having a means for being associated with one of said players,
ii) a playing area, said area comprising at least one playing region, each of said regions comprising at least one playing space,
iii) each of said spaces having some number of links, each of said links being a means for associating said space to other spaces in the playing area,
iv) each of said spaces having a means for holding a stack, said stack comprising a number of said pieces, said number being at least one,
v) each of said stacks having a top piece, said top piece being the only piece if the stack comprises one piece,
b) enabling each of said players to make moves in turn, each of said moves by said player comprising at least one step
i) the first of said steps comprising
(a) selecting an origination space from one of the spaces holding a stack in which the top piece of the stack on said origination space is associated with said player,
(b) selecting a destination space from one of the spaces to which the origination space has a link,
(c) selecting a number of pieces to transfer, said number being at least one,
(d) transferring said number of pieces from the top of the stack on the origination space to the destination space, placing said pieces on top of any stack already on the destination space,
ii) each of the remainder of said steps comprising
(a) defining an origination space as the destination space of the last step,
(b) selecting a destination space from one of the spaces to which the origination space has a link,
(c) selecting a number of pieces to transfer, said number being at least one and less than the number of pieces transferred on the last step,
(d) transferring said number of pieces from the top of the stack on the origination space to the destination space, placing said pieces on top of any stack already on the destination space,
c) declaring a winner, said winner being the final player for which it is possible to make a move.

15 more elements

Abstract

Claims7