Claims
- 1) A Role-Playing Game involving a plurality of players, having rules for play that explain how to select, utilize, manipulate, activate, and inactivate a plurality of game pieces; said game comprised of
a) Each of said plurality of players assuming an imaginary role as a character in a storyline; b) A rulebook presented for the summary of gaming guidelines and management of tasks and conflicts of said character in said storyline; c) One of said plurality of players assuming a role as a referee to facilitate play and adherence to said rulebook; d) A reservoir of multiple copies of said plurality of game pieces which represent the attributes, demographics advantages, disadvantages, skills, abilities, powers, tools, and technology of said plurality of characters; e) A method for specifying a modification to said rulebook or said plurality of game pieces, comprised of other instances of said plurality of game pieces with text that clarifies, specifies, alters, suspends, or adds said modification; f) A means of chance based on random number generation for determining outcomes and probabilities; g) A nonzero-sum game design where said plurality of players are, not necessarily placed in direct competition to achieve a plurality of gaming goals; h) Said plurality of gaming goals being defined by said plurality of players; and i) A narrative of said storyline being created as a by-product of playing said game
- 2) The game of claim 1 where the method of play comprises:
a) Intervals of narrative wherein:
i) Said referee expresses verbally and/or graphically the circumstances, options and limitations of said plurality of characters in said storyline; ii) Each of said plurality of players express verbally and/or graphically the responses to circumstances choices, and attempts at tasks of said character; b) Intervals of conflict resolution wherein said plurality of players take turns serially, with a turn comprised of a plurality of phases, and each of said plurality of phases comprised of a plurality of tasks; further where said turn is comprised of:
i) A Maintenance Phase wherein all applicable tasks of a plurality of maintenance tasks are executed, where said plurality of maintenance tasks are comprised of:
(1) Adjusting a plurality of turn counters to reflect the passing of said turn; (2) Adjusting an opportunity counter to represent the number of opportunity points available to spend on said character actions by:
(a) Determining maximum and recovered opportunity points in accordance with said rulebook; (b) Beginning with current opportunity points equal to maximum opportunity points; (c) Recovering in said maintenance phase a number of opportunity points equal to the recovered opportunity points, but not exceeding the maximum opportunity points; (3) Complying with and paying opportunity point costs of game circumstances and effects which apply in ii) A Preparation Phase wherein only one task of a plurality of preparation tasks may be executed, where said plurality of preparation tasks are comprised of:
(1) Entering a gaming card into play in accordance with said rulebook by placing said gaming card either:
(a) Face-up on a playing surface; or (b) Into a card-receiving port of another of said plurality of game pieces; (2) Alter the settings of interactive aspects of said plurality of game nieces in accordance with said rulebook; iii) An Action Phase wherein all tasks of a plurality of action phase tasks may be electively executed in order, where said plurality of action phase tasks are comprised of:
(1) Said character executing non-physical actions in the setting of said storyline in accordance with abilities as represented by said plurality of game pieces constituting said character; (2) Said character executing physical actions in the setting of said storyline in accordance with abilities as represented by said plurality of game pieces constituting said character; iv) A Free Phase wherein any constituent tasks of a plurality of free phase tasks may be electively executed at any time; irrespective of said plurality of phases; or said plurality of tasks; where said plurality of free phase tasks are comprised of said character:
(1) Executing verbal communication; (2) Executing a defense against an attack in accordance with said rulebook; (3) Executing the effect of a magical spell in accordance with said rulebook; and (4) Inactivating or withdrawing from play any of said plurality of game pieces already in play.
- 3) The game of claim 1 with a method of random number generation the method comprising:
a) Generation of a random number by either:
i) Rolling a single die or a plurality of polyhedron dice; or ii) Using electronic devices capable of random number generation; b) Generation of said random number from zero to positive or negative infinity, where said character generally has a greater likelihood of success with higher numerical values; c) Assignment of a predetermined outcome in accordance with said rulebook in instances where the same numeral holds all places in said random number, thus permitting said predetermined outcomes over a wide range of numerical values; and d) Utilization of the entire value of said random number to determine a first outcome, and optional utilization of constituent digit values to determine a further or independent outcome.
- 4) The game of claim 1 with a method for interrelating said characters' points of life and respective potency of a plurality of attributes and a plurality of traits characterized by:
a) Life points divided between a plurality attributes, each with a plurality of subordinate traits, comprised of:
i) A physical attribute with a predetermined number of subordinate physical traits; ii) A mental attribute with a predetermined number of subordinate mental traits; iii) A spiritual attribute with a predetermined number of subordinate spiritual traits; b) Life point values
i) With a potential maximum corresponding to said character's race, gender, and tendencies in accordance with said rulebook; ii) With an initial value greater than zero but less than or equal to the potential maximum; iii) Such that any of said plurality of attributes which becomes equal to or less than zero renders said character unconscious; iv) Such that any of said plurality of attributes less than zero with an absolute value greater than the base value renders said character dead; v) That are lost or gained in minimum significant intervals specific to the race of said character; vi) That are lost and recovered in a manner specific to each of said plurality of attributes, race, and gender, but unless otherwise noted in said rulebook or on the gaming components themselves, are by default such that life points of:
(1) Said physical attribute are lost by physical injury and gained through time healing; (2) Said mental attribute are lost by wakefulness and gained by sleeping; (3) Said spiritual attribute are lost by spell-casting and emotional stress and recovered through meditation or prayer; c) Life point correlations with said plurality of subordinate traits where:
i) Life point values rise aged fall by fixed intervals in a linear manner; ii) Trait point values corresponding to the life points rise and fall by intervals which are not necessarily fixed or linear; iii) The numerical curves generated by the traits points relative to the life points are dependent upon said character's race and gender in accordance with said rulebook;
- 5) The method of claim 4 utilizing an attribute slide rule for displaying said characters' life points and trait points, said attribute slide rule comprised of:
a) A plurality of sliding tables for each of the plurality of attributes, indexed with life points in the left column and the subordinate trait points in a series of columns to the right of the life point column, and with corresponding life points and trait points lining up on horizontal rows; b) An attribute sheath for each of said plurality of attributes which receives said plurality of sliding tables interchangeably, comprised of:
i) An attribute sheath front cover having formed therein a viewing aperture for revealing a single row with one life point value and the corresponding trait point values, representing the current status of said character; ii) An attribute sheath back cover having printed information relevant to interpretation of said plurality of attributes and said plurality of traits; and iii) An attribute sheath side pocket into which said gaming pieces may be inserted for storage and easy access.
- 6) The game of claim 1 with a method for limiting the quantity and extent of said character actions wherein said character has a predetermined quantity of opportunity points to spend on actions in accordance with said rulebook, further characterized by:
a) Having a predetermined quantity of maximum opportunity points; b) Having a predetermined quantity of opportunity points recovered by said character each turn, but not exceeding maximum opportunity points; and c) Having a predetermined quantity of opportunity points currently available to said character equal to the maximum opportunity points less the opportunity points spent plus the opportunity points recovered.
- 7) The method of claim 6 utilizing said opportunity counter to represent quantities of opportunity points of said character, said opportunity counter comprised of:
a) A plurality of rotating opportunity disks denoting:
i) Maximum opportunity points; ii) covered opportunity points; iii) Current opportunity points; b) An opportunity counter front cover having formed therein a plurality of viewing apertures for revealing data on of said plurality of rotating opportunity disks; and c) An opportunity counter back cover having printed information relevant to said rulebook pertaining to opportunity points.
- 8) The game of claim 1 with a method for specifying the magical powers of said character wherein said character has a predetermined quantity of psyche points to spend on aspects of casting magic in accordance with said rulebook, further characterized by:
a) Having a predetermined quantity of psyche points derived from measures of the immortality and skill with magic of said character; and b) Having a plurality of aspects of magic into which said character may allocate psyche points, thereby varying the potency of each aspect.
- 9) The method of claim 8 utilizing a psyche counter to represent the quantity of psyche points allocated to said aspects of casting magic, said psyche counter comprised of:
a) A plurality of rotation psyche, disks denoting:
i) a spell-casting bonus; ii) a magic range; iii) a cost buffer; b) A psyche counter front cover having formed therein a plurality of viewing apertures for revealing the values and resultants on each of said plurality of rotating psyche disks; and c) A psyche counter back cover having printed information pertaining to magic in accordance with said rulebook.
- 10) The game of claim 1 with a plurality of locution cards, where:
a) Each of said plurality of locution cards represents a magic word, magic phrase, or magic sentence; b) Each of said plurality of locution cards indicates an image, title, part of speech, cost, and effect in accordance with said rulebook; and c) Each of said plurality of locution cards has a perimeter with combinations of colors, icons, and text.
- 11) The plurality of locution cards of claim 10 with a method for expressing the magical powers of said character, said method comprising:
a) Said character possessing a predetermined quantity of said plurality of locution cards; b) Each of said plurality of locution cards being, modular and capable of many interacting combinations, where a few of said plurality of locution cards can form many complex linguistic structures; c) Each of said plurality of locution cards being able to be combined to form more complex linguistic structures by placing them adjacent to one another on a flat gaming surface; d) Each of said plurality of locution cards indicating by a matching perimeter edge interactions that are allowed and mandatory in accordance with said rulebook; e) Interaction of said plurality of locution cards which abides the rules of grammar, where the act of aligning edges of said perimeter with matching perimeter edges eliminates any need for said gamers to understand grammar to be able to play said plurality of locution cards in accordance with the rules of grammar; f) Said method allowing said character flexibility in deployment of magical powers; and g) Said method facilitating gamers learning grammar rules.
- 12) The game of claim 1 with a method for rating skills, abilities, or powers of said character on a scale of one to ten, wherein:
a) Said “Scale Of One To Ten” is abbreviated with the acronym “SOOTT”; b) Said SOOTT of higher values denotes greater skill; c) Said SOOTT may represent points to be allocated into said plurality of gaming pieces to affect the performance and function thereof; and d) Advancement and demotion of said SOOTT is achieved by acquiring or losing fractional points of said SOOTT in accordance with said rulebook.
- 13) The game of claim 1 with a method for rating the degree of immortality of said character on a continuum, wherein:
a) All beings within said storyline exist at some station upon said continuum; and b) Higher rank upon said continuum represents a greater degree of immortality and therewith greater supernatural powers in accordance with the gaming guidelines and said storyline.
- 14) The game of claim 1 with a plurality of gaming devices representing tools, weapons, and technologies, comprising:
a) A plurality of input variables which represent circumstances of said storyline and preferences of said character; b) A plurality of device slide rules representing a predetermined number of said plurality of input variables; c) A plurality of device rotating disks representing a predetermined number of said plurality of input variables; d) A plurality of ports within each of the said plurality of gaming devices capable of receiving said plurality of game cards; e) Variation in the number of said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, and said plurality of ports depending on the number of input variables necessary in accordance with said rulebook for the specific type of tool, weapon, or technology being represented; f) Each of the said plurality of ports within an adjustable component of said plurality of gaming devices become themselves adjustable therewith; g) A front device cover having formed therein a plurality of viewing apertures for revealing values or apertures on said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, and said plurality of game cards; h) A back device cover having formed therein a plurality of viewing apertures for revealing values on said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, and said plurality of game cards; i) Each of said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, and said plurality of ports with apertures for revealing predetermined zones on another of said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, and said plurality of game cards, permitting the information revealed in the aperture to be altered by adjustment of any component behind the aperture; j) Textual and numerical information displayed upon said plurality of gaming devices is changed by adjustment of said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, and said plurality of ports, thereby revealing a plurality of output data that is dependant on the plurality of input variables; and k) A separator interposed between said front device cover and said back device cover, creating a plurality of sheath-like compartments within each of said plurality of gaming device capable of housing said plurality of device slide rules, said plurality of device rotating disks, said plurality of ports, and said gaming cards such that movement is free from interference from movement of components within adjoining compartments.
- 15) The plurality of gaming devices of claim 14 with a method for determining the effects of damage done to each of said plurality of gaming devices in said storyline, comprising:
a) Indications upon said plurality of gaming devices of a potency value, a threshold value, and a predetermined quantity of durability points; b) Instances of conflict between two of said plurality of gaming devices in which durability points are lost by one of said plurality of gaming devices with a threshold value less than the potency value of opposing instance of said plurality of gaming devices; and c) Indications, by means of one of said plurality of rotating disks, of the effects upon the performance of each of said plurality of gaming devices when durability points are lost.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Utility Patent relates to prior submissions, namely materials associated with Provisional Patent No. 60/297,820 filed on Jun. 14, 2001, as well as Disclosure Document Number 475082 filed on Jun. 2, 2000. The names of the inventors in all instances are: Matthew Niedner, Bart Niedner, and Kelly Cope. The title of the invention in prior references is as above.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60297820 |
Jun 2001 |
US |