BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system and method for placing game pieces at varying elevations above a game board.
Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) and similar board games typically use a game board showing a map of the imagined physical landscape or field of play. Avatars in the form of game pieces, figures, or figurines are used to represent the players and other characters or entities. Often the game board is laid out on a grid for convenience in describing or directing movement using grid coordinates. The players might be in different locations and might maintain separate individual game boards which are manually coordinated by implementing the verbal descriptions of movements. The game board is usually flat or substantially flat. Many of the imagined fields of play contain high mountains, tall towers, and other elevated places. The ability to fly is a popular attribute for players' characters. Although a grid coordinate system can be extended to include an elevation or Z coordinate above the ground plane's X and Y coordinates, and such three-dimensional coordinates can be verbally communicated easily, there is great difficulty in representing the elevation or Z coordinate on a substantially flat game board. The reason that game pieces are arranged and moved about on a game board is to aid the players' comprehension and literally their visualization of the physical or spatial layout of the state of play. But the limitations of the substantially flat game boards do not adequately provide for visualization and full comprehension of elevation information.
When considering information about elevation of a game piece representing a player taking an action, an aspect of the elevation data which is particularly hard to visualize and to represent on a game board is the angle of orientation, descending or ascending, left-facing or right-facing, of the game piece. Although such coordinate information can be transmitted with some added complexity, the added information is even that much more difficult to represent on a game board using present methods.
What is needed is an elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system and method for placing game pieces at varying elevations above a game board.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,167,313 for a “Game Board with Altitude Standards and Simulated Aircraft Mounted Thereon with Means for Varying Altitude and Attitude,” issued on Jan. 26, 1965 to inventors Kent J. Davenport et al., provides for a board game for simulating aerial combat, where a board, which is marked with squares, simulates terrain and aircraft models coupled by slidable clips to upstanding shafts, which are marked with lines to simulate altitude, on the board in such squares can simulate the aerial combat between the aircraft models under game rules.
US Publication No. 2012/0007309 for an “Apparatus and Method for Strategy Games,” published on Jan. 12, 2012 by inventor John F. Stanoch, discloses a flight stand apparatus for use in playing an airplane combat game including a deck having a first attachment device and a deck top surface, a base having a first opening, and an altitude pole having a first end and an opposing second end. The altitude pole and the base may be configured so that the first end of the altitude pole is adapted to be inserted into the first opening of the base, and the altitude pole is thereby temporarily fixed to the base so that the altitude pole is substantially at a right angle with respect to the base. The first attachment device of the deck is configured to temporarily fix the deck on the altitude pole between the first end and the second end of the altitude pole, so that the deck top surface is substantially at a right angle with respect to the altitude pole and substantially parallel to the base.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,093,427 for a “Game Apparatus,” issued on Sep. 21, 1937 to inventors Harry Eckstein et al., provides for a game for simulating naval combat involving submarine warfare tactics. The game comprises of two fields of operation, consisting of an upper board representing a surface of a sea and a plurality of perforations, which allow for placement of a ship game piece, and the upper board is arranged above a lower board representing a floor of the sea and is lined off into squares, which allow for positioning a submarine game piece vertically adjustable on an upright rod marked with lines to simulate depth. The game also includes screens for concealing moves made by a player on one board from another player on another board. The placement and positioning of the game pieces can simulate the naval combat under game rules.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,567 for a “Board Game with Chance Device Playing Piece,” issued on Aug. 13, 1985 to assignee Marvin Glass & Associates, provides for a board game in which a horizontal playing surface is defined by an array of hexagonal spaces, each space abutting the adjacent space, and a number of vertical walls disposed along lines formed by adjacent hexagonal spaces. Player start spaces are provided and a target is located on a site remote from the start spaces. Available paths of movement from space to space are limited by the walls but the player token has a marker movable parallel to the planar surface and transverse to the playing surface to pass over a wall. Both the player and the target may attack each other when they are on an aligned file of spaces, however, the target is further required to be facing the player token in order to attack. The playing spaces include defense zones armed by the presence of a defense playing piece in the form of a missile silo or cannon and activated by a chance drum borne by the target along with a number chance drum. The player's token is in the form of a plane or rocket and play is commenced with certain fuel allocations that may be increased by landing the token on fuel tanks on the playing surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,346 for a “Table War Game Apparatus,” issued on Oct. 25, 1977 to inventor Marcos Garcia-Kuenzli, provides for a game device for simulation of air warfare between nations in which strategic-tactical maneuvers and stratagems occurring in actual air combat are used to obtain victory over an opponent. The game device includes a game board in the form of a map having irregularly shaped, discrete areas delineated thereon by perimeter lines and certain of the areas are distinguishable by color with such areas including those areas normally found on maps, such as cities, mountain areas, and the like. Positionable on these areas of the game board and movable thereon are a plurality of simulated jet aircraft and supporting platforms therefor with the platforms being provided in groups of distinguishable colors indicating flight altitude of the jet aircraft supported by that particular platform. In determining the results of various plays, a measuring device, designated a missile vector, is employed to indicate the results of the maneuvers during each player's turn in accordance with predetermined rules of play.
U.S. Pat. No. 11,192,219 for a “Hand Held Magnetic Holder,” issued on Dec. 7, 2021 to inventor James Prinzivalli, provides for magnetic holder for painting and displaying toy vehicles. An upright T-shaped member fits in a receiving cup affixed to a horizontal plate. The top of the T-shaped member has at least one outwardly facing magnet that latches a corresponding magnet in a toy vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system and method for placing game pieces at varying elevations above a game board.
Elevation units provide a rod base and vertical rod. Platform units provide a platform and platform clamp. Platform units are mounted to either a vertical rod or another attached rod by the platform clamp, and can be moved along the length of the rod and rotationally around the axis of the rod. A platform can be rotated around the stud or post attachment to the platform clamp. A game piece or figurine is supported by the platform unit at an elevation above a position on the game board, and the elevation and position can be easily changed as the game progresses. The game piece can be temporarily secured to the platform, making use of recesses and protrusions provided in the platform for the purpose.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of embodiments of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention in use;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of embodiments of the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of embodiments of the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of use of a base stabilizer with an embodiment of the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of use of a base stabilizer with another embodiment of the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of use of another embodiment of the base stabilizer with the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of use of another embodiment of the base stabilizer with the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of use of another embodiment of the base stabilizer with the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of embodiments of the platform unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 11 is an upper perspective view of an embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 12 is an underside perspective view of an embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention having a base magnet;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention used as a measuring tool;
FIG. 14 is a top view of the full-motion base of a full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 15 is a side view of the full-motion base of a full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 16 is an underside perspective view of the full-motion base of a full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention having a base magnet;
FIG. 17 is an exploded view of a full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 18 is an assembled view of a full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the full-motion base of a full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of two embodiments of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention in use on a horizontal and a vertical surface;
FIG. 21 is an exploded view of additional embodiments of the elevation unit of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 22 is a top view of the multi-full-motion base of a multi-full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 23 is a side view of the multi-full-motion base of a multi-full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention;
FIG. 24 is an exploded view of a multi-full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention; and
FIG. 25 is an assembled view of a multi-full-motion unit embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system 10 and method provides for the stable, accurate, measured, moveable, angle-adjustable placement of platform units 30 for game pieces, figures, or figurines, on elevation units 20, above the board surface of a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) or board game. An elevation unit 20 can accommodate one or more than one platform unit 30 mounted to either an integrated rod 22 or a rod 24, as shown. An additional rod 24 can be mounted upon the elevation unit 20 through a rod-to-rod mount 33, and can also accommodate one or more platform units 30.
Referring to FIG. 2, various shapes or configurations of the platform 32 of the platform unit 30 are provided. A game piece or figurine is placed on a platform 32 and can be temporarily secured using elastic bands, as shown, or non-elastic bands, strings, wires, or temporary adhesive. Notches or protrusions or tabs are provided to hold the bands, strings, or wires in place, either by incorporating notches or tabs into the platform 32, as shown, or by the recesses and protrusions inherent in the shape of the platform 32, such as the leaf-shaped platform also shown.
Referring to FIG. 3, the various embodiments of the elevation unit 20 provide a rod base 21, which is meant to be placed on the grid of a game board surface. In embodiments having an integrated rod 22, the integrated rod 22 is permanently fixed to the rod base 21 either by molding or forming the rod and base as a single unit or by gluing or welding. In embodiments using a separate rod 24, the rod base 21 provides a rod mount 23 which can accommodate a variety of rods 24. Optionally, the integrated rod 22 and the rod 24 can provide rod markings 25 such as units of length, as shown. Typically the length unit of the grid of the game board would be the length unit of interest for the rod markings 25. With such rod markings 25 a rod mounted vertically would indicate the elevation above the board surface.
The rod base 21 and the integrated rod 22 or rod 24 can be made from a variety of materials. In general, materials which can be used with a 3D printer, such as plastics, metals, plastics with metal powders, or plastics with wood or wood-like characteristics will be suitable. A plastic material such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is suitable, especially for integrated rods 22 and rod bases 21 which can be molded or 3D-printed together. Polyurethane is also appropriate. Carved wood and cast resins are traditionally used for nice game sets, and are suitable here. The separate rods 24 can also be made of glass or of acrylic or similar hard plastic. The rods 24 and rod bases 21 can be made of opaque, translucent, or clear materials. Use of clear materials might be appropriate where minimal obscuring of the underlying game board is desired. The rod base 21, integrated rod 22, or rod 24 can also be made of a metal, which might be desired for aesthetic reasons or to provide extra stabilizing weight to the rod base 21 or extra strength to the rod 24.
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 21, the rod base 21 of the elevation unit 20 can be provided in a larger size to increase stability for top-heavy assemblies, but is usually provided in a size matching the grid size of the game board for convenience of placement and movement. Optionally, a rod-base magnet 27 can be provided in the rod base 21 and magnet-compatible material can be incorporated into or placed under the game board. Such magnet-compatible material could be a sheet of steel, a perforated sheet of steel providing material only at the centers of the grid spaces, or strips of steel. The rod-base magnet 27 can be a high-power magnet such as a neodymium magnet. The rod base 21 can be made in a variety of shapes, such as the gear shape illustrated. The integrated rod 22 or the rod mount 23 for the rod 24 can be placed in a position on the rod base 21 offset from the center of the rod base 21. If the integrated rod 22 or the rod mount 23 is offset from the center, it might be necessary to use a base stabilizer 26 or a rod-base magnet 27 to provide needed stability.
Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, optional base stabilizers 26 can be provided and can be used as needed for top-heavy or unbalanced configurations. The full-sized base stabilizer 26 increases the effective contact of the rod base 21 with the game board from one unit to nine units. As shown, the full-sized base stabilizer 26 forms a grid having an enclosed central cell, and eight extending arms forming eight open cells surrounding the enclosed central cell. The base stabilizers 26 can be made of substantially the same materials as the rods 24 or rod bases 21, including clear materials.
Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the optional base stabilizers 26 can also be provided with fewer than eight extending arms to allow adjacent placement of the base stabilizers 26 such that two or more elevation units 20 can be placed each immediately next to the other.
Referring to FIG. 9, the optional base stabilizers 26 can also be provided with extending arms which extend only one-half unit, such that placement of two such stabilizers forms a one-unit closed cell which can accommodate an elevation unit 20 placed immediately next to another.
Referring to FIG. 10, platform units 30 are provided for placement of game pieces or figurines. Platforms 32 are provided in a variety of shapes or configurations, and provided recesses and protrusions for securing the game piece or figurine, as treated above. The platform 32 is mounted upon the integrated rod 22 or rod 24 with a platform clamp 31. The platform clamp 31 is adjustably mounted to the platform 32 either upon a stud or post incorporated into the platform 32 or by a stud or post fastener mounted through a hole in the platform 32, as shown. The mounting of the platform clamp 31 and platform 32 allows rotational movement of the platform 32 around the axis of the stud or post, but provides enough friction to prevent unwanted rotational movement while allowing deliberate manual adjustment with the application of sufficient manual force. A proper amount of friction between the contacting faces of the platform clamp 31 and platform 32 can be provided by lines or fins of protruding material on a contacting face, as shown.
The platforms 32 can be made of substantially the same materials as the rods 24 or rod bases 21. The platform clamps 31 can be made of the materials having sufficient flexibility to avoid shattering and allow the clamping function. HDPE is a particularly suitable material.
Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in use, one or more platform units 30 are mounted upon the elevation unit 20, with the platform clamp 31 placed around the integrated rod 22 as shown or around the rod 24, and with the platform 32 mounted to the platform clamp 31. A controlled amount of friction holds the platform clamp 31 to the integrated rod 22 or rod 24, preventing unwanted slipping of the platform unit 30 down the rod or unwanted rotation of the platform unit 30 around the rod. A controlled amount of friction also prevents unwanted rotation of the platform 32 around the stud or post, as treated above. The platform unit can be moved vertically and can be rotated around the axes of the rod and the stud or post by application of sufficient manual force. As treated above, the stability of the elevation unit 20 can be increased by optionally providing a rod-base magnet 27 and a magnetic game board surface.
Referring to FIG. 13, some embodiments of the elevation unit 20 can also be used for measuring distances in three dimensions, to determine the distances among objects already in place or to determine where objects should be placed. As shown, two rods 24 having rod markings 25 are used. A first rod 24 is mounted in the rod mount 23 of the rod base 21. A second rod 24 is mounted to the first rod 24 using a rod-to-rod mount 33 which provides for adjustable positioning about two axes, axial and transverse to the first rod, and for adjustable extension of the second rod away from the first rod.
Referring to FIG. 17, FIG. 18, and FIG. 19, a full-motion unit 40 embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system 10 is also provided. Referring additionally to FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16, a full-motion base 41 is provided. A central column has the form of concentric cylinders having segments of varying circumference such that the topmost segment has a circumference greater than the lesser circumference of the next segment down, and then the third segment down has a circumference substantially equal to the topmost segment, forming a column having a circumferential groove, as shown. In a preferred embodiment a base magnet 45 is also provided. A ring clamp 42 has a central cylindrical opening having segments of greater circumference at top and bottom and a segment of lesser circumference in the middle. The protruding middle segment of the ring clamp 42 substantially matches the circumferential groove of the full-motion base 41 and engages the circumferential groove such that the protruding segment of the ring clamp 42 fits into the circumferential groove of the full-motion base 41 and provides stability against tangential forces encountered during use. The ring clamp 42 is placed around the central column of the full-motion base 41. An adjustable rod mount 43 is placed around the open portion of the ring clamp 42 and is attached with an adjustable fastener, such as a bolt, as shown. A rod 24 is mounted to the adjustable rod mount 43. The rod 24 can be used for mounting platform units 30 or for measuring, as treated above. When the ring clamp 42 and adjustable rod mount 43 are loosened the ring clamp 42 can be rotated 360 degrees around the axis of the central column of the full-motion base 41 and the rod 24 mounted in the adjustable rod mount 43 can be set at an angle from substantially parallel to substantially perpendicular to the game board surface. When the ring clamp 42 and adjustable rod mount 43 are tightened the position becomes substantially fixed. The ring-clamp protrusion and circumferential groove provide added stability against the increased or leveraged force which might be applied by a long rod 24.
Referring to FIG. 20, the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system 10 and method can be used with game boards mounted in orientations other than horizontal, such as the combined horizontal and vertical game boards shown, where the game boards are mounted at a right angle and define a three-dimensional common space. Use on a vertical game board will likely require the use of rod-base magnets 27 and base magnets 45.
Referring to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, a multi-full-motion unit 50 embodiment of the elevated movement for TTRPG board game pieces system 10 is also provided. Referring additionally to FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, a multi-full-motion base 51 is provided. A central column has the form of concentric cylinders having alternating segments of varying circumference such that every other segment has a circumference greater than the lesser circumference of the next segments up and down, forming a column having multiple circumferential grooves, as shown. In a preferred embodiment a base magnet 55 is also provided. Multi-ring clamps 52 each have a central cylindrical opening having segments of greater circumference at top and bottom and a segment of lesser circumference in the middle. The protruding middle segment of the multi-ring clamp 52 substantially matches the circumferential grooves of the multi-full-motion base 51 and engages a circumferential groove such that the protruding segment of the multi-ring clamp 52 fits into a circumferential groove of the multi-full-motion base 51 and provides stability against tangential forces encountered during use. A multi-ring clamp 52 is placed around the central column of the multi-full-motion base 41. A multi-adjustable rod mount 53 is placed around the open portion of the multi-ring clamp 52 and is attached with an adjustable fastener, such as a bolt, as shown. A rod 24 is mounted to the multi-adjustable rod mount 53. The rod 24 can be used for mounting platform units 30 or for measuring, as treated above. When the multi-ring clamp 52 and multi-adjustable rod mount 53 are loosened the multi-ring clamp 52 can be rotated 360 degrees around the axis of the central column of the multi-full-motion base 51 and the rod 24 mounted in the multi-adjustable rod mount 53 can be set at an angle from substantially parallel to substantially perpendicular to the game board surface. When the multi-ring clamp 52 and multi-adjustable rod mount 53 are tightened the position becomes substantially fixed. The ring-clamp protrusion and circumferential groove provide added stability against the increased or leveraged force which might be applied by a long rod 24. Multiple multi-ring clamps 52, multi-adjustable rod mounts 53, and rods 24 can be mounted on the multi-full-motion base 51 in a variety of positions.
Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20240252911
