Patent Application
20090261529
The present invention relates to a board game and more particularly, is designed to emulate the game of baseball.
Board games are a widely practiced recreational activity and many such board games exist. These board games range from those that exist as a “stand alone” game which does not relate to any particular field of endeavour. There are also those board games which are designed to emulate other activities such as a sport including golf, football, baseball, etc. While the above board games may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, the present board game is designed to very closely emulate, including actual percentages, the sport of baseball.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a board game wherein dice are rolled and used to represent actions on a baseball field.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for playing a board game of baseball wherein dice may be rolled to indicate certain actions which will occur on a baseball field.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a board game comprising a game board, a pair of six-sided dice, each die side having a designation representing one of the numbers 1 to 6, a six-sided game die having three sides with a first designation and three sides with a second designation, and a six-sided defence die having a first pair of sides with a first designation, a second pair of sides with a second designation, and third pair of sides with a third designation.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a board game, the method comprising the method of playing a baseball board game comprising the steps of supplying a game board, a pair of numbered dice each having six sides with numbers 1 to 6, a six-sided game die having a first set of three sides substantially identical and a second set of three sides substantially identical, and a six-sided defence die having three pairs of two sides each substantially identical, rolling the numbered dice wherein each combined number designates an action for the batter, permitting the offensive or defensive teams to roll a supplemental die for a further action, the supplemental die being rolled depending upon the original number obtained from the numbered dice.
The board game of the present invention, as above mentioned, comprises a plurality of dice and a board which can be depicted in different manners. Preferably, the board will have a depiction of a baseball stadium and more preferably, has the depiction of a baseball stadium in the area in which the game is sold or distributed.
Naturally, the depiction would include the interior of a baseball stadium with base paths along with first, second, third and home plates.
The board game may also include representations of the players on the opposing teams as is well known in the art. Any suitable type of token or design may be utilized with their being at least four such tokens for each team.
The board game includes a pair of conventional six-sided dice, with each side representing a numerical value of one to six. These dice are conventional in many board games and gambling games. The depiction of the number is conventionally the number of dots on the side of the die; other depictions may also be utilized.
In addition to the conventional dice, the board game of the present invention uses two supplemental dice, one of which will be designated as a game die and the other as a defence die for reasons which will become apparent herein below. Preferably, the game die has three sides carrying a first designation and three sides carrying a second designation. In a preferred embodiment, the designation is the colour of the die.
For the defensive die, there are preferably three sets of designations, each designation covering two sides. Again, the purpose will be explained hereinbelow.
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Referring to the drawing in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a board generally designated by reference numeral 10 and which board 10 depicts a baseball field 12.
Baseball field 12 also depicts a home plate 14, first base 16, second base 18, third base 20 and a pitchers mound 21. A plurality of runners or players are generally designated by reference numeral 22 and preferably include five on each side. For ease of use, the two sides can conveniently be designated by colours red and blue.
A pair of dice 24 are utilized. Each die 24 has, in a conventional manner, numbers 1 to 6 thereon. There is also provided a game die 26 which has three blue sides and three red sides. A defence die 28 has two option sides, two error sides and two double play sides.
The goal, as in actual baseball, is to advance your players along the base path to score the most possible points in a game which may be nine innings as is conventional. Naturally, other game lengths could be agreed on between the players. The following provides an outline of how the game may be played and is the preferred embodiment thereof. It is understood that adjustments can be made if agreed on between the players.
The game is started by the players each rolling a die, the highest score then picking the game card. If the game card is blue, then it is considered home game for the blue team meaning that the red team would then be first at bat.
During the course of the game, the players must keep track of runs scored and the number of outs. As in baseball, an inning is over after three outs have been registered with the game, as aforementioned, normally being nine complete innings. In case of a tie, as in baseball, the players would then go into extra innings until a winner can be declared.
In rolling the die, the following actions are taken.
A roll of a total of two signifies that the batter has flied out to center field and the batter is retired. However, the batter can try for a sacrifice fly using the extra die as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.
A roll of a total of three is recorded as a strike out and no other options are available.
A roll of a total of four designates a walk and the batter advances to first base. Any batter on first base will then advance to second base and likewise if there are other runners on the bases, they will advance as is conventional in baseball. The team at bat may also try for a stolen base or a wild pitch by using the game die. This will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow.
A roll of a total of five designates that the batter is retired by the first baseman. If there is a runner on third base, one can try a squeeze play by using the game die as will be discussed hereinbelow. If the offensive team choses to not try the squeeze play, the defensive team can use the defence die.
A roll of a total of six designates that the batter is retired by the second baseman; the defensive team can use the defence die as discussed hereinbelow.
If the dice total is seven, the batter is retired by the third baseman. If there is a runner on third base, a squeeze play can be tried using the game die. If it is chosen not to try the squeeze play, the opponent can use the defence die.
A dice total of eight designates that the batter is retired by the shortstop. The defensive team may chose to use the defence die as discussed hereinbelow.
A dice total of nine designates a single. The offense can try for a stolen base or a wild pitch (if there is a runner on third base) by using the game die.
A dice total of ten on the numbered dice designates a double and the offence can also opt to try for a stolen base or a wild pitch as described hereinbelow.
A dice total of eleven designates a triple for the batter and the offence can try for a wild pitch by using the game die. Naturally, any other runners which are on base score on the triple.
A dice total of twelve designates a home run with all runners on the bases scoring.
The game die can be used by the offensive team. If the dice turns up the colour of your team, you are successful while naturally the opponents colour designates an unsuccessful try. The game dice may be used only twice in a row between two presences at bat.
For a stolen base, if the offensive team rolls its own colour, each runner advances to the next base. If unsuccessful, the most advanced runner will be retired while the other runner remains on his base.
For a squeeze play, it is necessary that there be a runner at third base. A squeeze play may be used only when a five or seven is rolled and a roll of the game die is performed. If the offensive team obtains its colour, the batter advances to first base and the runner at third scores. If the team colour is not obtained, the runner at third base is retired along with the batter. If there are other runners on the bases, they may each advance one base. The squeeze play can be tried even if the roll of the five or seven represents the third out.
For a sacrifice fly, the tactic can only be tried when a two is rolled on the regular dice. Again, the game die is rolled; a successful roll means that any runners advance one base each. If the defensive team colour is rolled, the most advanced runner is retired along with the batter while any other runners advance one base each.
A wild pitch can be tried if there is a runner on third base. Again, the extra die is rolled and if the offensive team colour turns up, the runners each advance one base. Naturally, the runner from third scores. If the defence colour shows up, the runner is retired along with one other runner (the most advanced).
The defence die may be used by the defence only when outs are recorded. Thus it may only be used when the offense rolls a five, six, seven or eight.
If the defence dice falls on the double play side, the batter and the runner most advanced on the bases are retired. If it falls on the option or fielders choice, the runner who is the most advanced on the bases is retired while the batter is safe at first. If it falls on the error side of the dice, each runner advances one base while the batter is safe at first.
It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,629,558 | Apr 2008 | CA | national |
