Abstract:
Playing pieces are provided to each player for movement among the spaces in accordance with the roll of the die and indicia printed on selected spaces when a playing piece is moved to that location. The object of the game is for one player to cross a space designated state line, the crossing being determined by the number of points a player has accumulated during play and the number rolled on a die.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Description of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a board game which combines the excitement associated with a game with teachings related to earthquakes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A number of board games have been available in the prior art, particularly those which move players&#39; pieces to areas of the board in accordance with the call of a die and game instructions. For example, the game of Monopoly utilizes the movement of players&#39; pieces along sequential squares formed adjacent the edges of the board. U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,249 to Brady discloses a board game which utilizes game pieces, dice and a &#34;driving&#34; track around the center of the board, the game board providing education for players in defensive driving skills in traffic situations. 
     What is desired is to provide a board game which, while providing the excitement of a board game, also teaches the players about earthquakes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a board game comprising a playing board having a plurality of spaces thereon, playing pieces, a die and sets of cards. Playing pieces are provided to each player for movement among the spaces in the accordance with the roll of the die and indicia formed on selected spaces when a playing piece is moved to that space. The object of the game is for one player to &#34;cross&#34; the state line, thus escaping from an area prone to earthquakes. 
     The present invention thus provides a simple, inexpensive board game which combines the intellectual skills required in board games with the public interest in preparing for earthquakes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the surface of the playing board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the playing pieces utilized in the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a die used in the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the playing board 10 of the present invention is illustrated. The board comprises 174 spaces on which a playing piece can land, spaces 175, 176 and 177 whereat certain cards are positioned and various features 178-186 of a particular earthquake area from which the player is seeking to escape. In the example illustrated, the earthquake area is California, reference numeral 178 representing the Redwood National Park, numerals 179 and 184 representing mountains, 180 Mammoth Mountain, 181 Sacramento, 182 San Francisco, 183 the Big Sur, and 185 representing Los Angeles and 186 Mexico. 
     An example of a playing piece, or token, 12 is shown in FIG. 2. The playing piece (each player is given on such piece) comprises a base portion 14 and a vertical extending portion 16 having two recesses 18 (only one shown) to receive decorative inserts 20. The movement of each playing piece 12 by a player is determined by the roll of die 22 shown in FIG. 3. 
     The cards used on the board 10 are comprised of the following: 
     1. Quake Assistance Cards (&#34;QAC&#34;)--a player landing on a space labeled QAC receives 100 points and helps the player along the board route to the state line (these cards are positioned in space 176). 
     2. Quake Disaster Cards (&#34;QDC&#34;)--a player landing on a space labeled QDC is delayed from reaching the state line (these cards are placed in space 177). 
     3. Earthquake Question Cards (&#34;EQC&#34;)--each EQC contains questions regarding earthquake preparedness and corresponding answers. If the question is answered correctly, the player collects a certain number of points and is allowed to move his playing piece a certain number of spaces in the forward direction (these cards are placed in space 175). 
     To play, each player rolls the die in turn and moves that many spaces from the start space 1. Upon landing on a space as determined by the roll of the die, the player does what the indicia on the space says. For example, if the indicia says to move ahead five spaces or back five spaces, the playing piece is moved accordingly; no further action is taken until the next roll of the die (player does not do what the indicia on the space says to do when a player is penalized and moves backwards, the roll being over until the player&#39;s next turn) i.e, each player&#39;s turn involves the roll of the die, moving the number of spaces dictated by the die roll and the movement/action noted by the indicia on that space. 
     In order for a player to be declared the winner, the player must accumulate 1000 points and to roll 1 on the die to cross the state line indicated by reference numeral 190. All players must stop at state line 190 regardless what is rolled on the die. The player collects points along the game path by landing on the appropriate spaces or by answering the questions on the EQC cards correctly. If the player does not have at least 1000 points, the die can be rolled to get across state line 190. In particular, the player has to accumulate three (3) number 3&#39;s on the die during his/her turn at rolling the die (note that each player takes one turn, in sequence, in rolling the die). If, for example, a player is on space 173 and rolls a 4, he/she goes to the state line 190 only. Play then continues as set forth hereinabove. In other words, a player can not pass state line 190 regardless of the number rolled. In summary, a player crosses the state line 190 if he/she accumulates 1,000 points and shoots a roll of one (1) on the die. A player that does not have the necessary 1,000 points can also cross the state line by rolling a three (3) on the die three times; if not rolled in succession, the number of rolled threes can be saved until the required total has been accumulated. 
     The non-card spaces on the board 10 fall into one of the following categories: 
     1. Freeway Space is worth 50 points--if a player lands on this space, he/she has the option of rolling a 6 on the die. If successful, the player goes to the start of the freeway (space 147) and collect 500 points. If the die is not rolled, the player keeps the 50 points and continues to play the game. If any number other than 6 is rolled, the player goes back 20 spaces and loses his/her next turn. 
     Red Cross Space is worth 200 points--a player will receive a token, or chip, that can be used for any encounter, such as leaving any negative space landed on, or it can be held until the player reaches the start of the freeway and use it to double the player&#39;s points. 
     Fault Zone--if a player lands on this space, the player rolls the die again. If a 1, 2 or 3 is rolled, the penalty is two lost turns; if a 4, 5 or 6 is rolled, the player moves backwards 15 spaces. 
     Safety--75 points 
     Fire Department--100 points 
     Police Department--100 points 
     City Maintenance--100 points 
     Good Samaritan--100 points 
     National Guard--100 points 
     A player is chosen to be the distributor of points and tokens. The person to the left of the die roller is responsible for asking the quake preparedness questions. 
     The spaces on board 10 are as follows: 
     1--Start 
     2,3--Blank 
     4--QAC 
     5--Safety Zone 
     6--Blank 
     7--Back 3 spaces 
     8--QAC 
     9--Blank 
     10--QDC 
     11--Forward 4 spaces 
     12--EQC 
     13--Fault Zone 
     14,15--Blank 
     16--Start Over 
     17--Blank 
     18--Lose 1 turn 
     19--Red Cross 
     20--EQC 
     21--QDC 
     22--Blank 
     23--Freeway 
     24--QAC 
     25--Back 7 spaces 
     26--EQC 
     27--Fault Zone 
     28--Move back 4 spaces 
     29--Blank 
     30--Red Cross 
     31--Blank 
     32--QDC 
     33--Blank 
     34--Back 8 spaces 
     35--EQC 
     36--QAC 
     37--Blank 
     38--Fault Zone 
     39--Blank 
     40--Fire Department 
     41--Blank 
     42--Red Cross 
     43--Blank 
     44--Freeway 
     45--Lose 2 turns 
     46--QAC 
     47--Safety Zone 
     48,49--Blank 
     50--Fault Zone 
     51--Blank 
     52--EQC 
     53--Lose 1 turn 
     54--Blank 
     55--Red Cross 
     56--Freeway 
     57--Blank 
     58--QAC 
     59--Safety Zone 
     60--Back 13 spaces 
     61--Blank 
     62--Back 10 spaces 
     63--Police Department 
     64--Red Cross 
     65--Blank 
     66--Freeway 
     67--EQC 
     68--Fault Zone 
     69--QAC 
     70--Blank 
     71--Lose 1 turn 
     72,73--Blank 
     74--Safety Zone 
     75--Red Cross 
     76--Back 12 spaces 
     77--QAC 
     78--EQC 
     79--Fault Zone 
     80--Lose 1 turn 
     81--Blank 
     82--QAC 
     83--Blank 
     84--Back 6 spaces 
     85--Fault Zone 
     86,87--Blank 
     88--National Guard 
     89--Blank 
     90--Freeway 
     91--EQC 
     92--Blank 
     93--Safety Zone 
     94--EQC 
     95--QDC 
     96--Red Cross 
     97--Blank 
     98--QAC 
     99--Lose 2 turns 
     100-102--Blank 
     103--QDC 
     104--City Maintenance 
     105--Blank 
     106--Back 8 spaces 
     107--QAC 
     108--Blank 
     109--Freeway 
     110--EQC 
     111--Fault Zone 
     112--Blank 
     113--Safety Zone 
     114--QDC 
     115-117--Blank 
     118--QAC 
     119--Blank 
     120--EQC 
     121--QDC 
     122-123--Blank 
     124--Back 11 spaces 
     125--Blank 
     126--Red Cross 
     127--EQC 
     129--Blank 
     130--Good Samaritan 
     131--Fault Zone 
     132--QDC 
     133--Back 6 spaces 
     134-136--Blank 
     137--Back 8 spaces 
     138--Blank 
     139--Lose 2 turns 
     140--Blank 
     141--QDC 
     142--QAC 
     143,144--Blank 
     145--Lose 1 turn 
     146--EQC 
     147--Freeway Start 
     148--Blank 
     149--Back 9 spaces 
     150-157--Blank 
     158--Lose 2 turns 
     159--Back 10 spaces 
     160,161--Blank 
     162--EQC 
     163-165--Blank 
     166--Lose 1 turn 
     167-171--Blank 
     172--Back 8 spaces 
     173,174--Blank 
     Although the spaces set forth hereinabove have specific instructions associated therewith, it should be clear that the instructions can be rearranged so that they appear in different sequences and locations. 
     While the invention has been described with a reference to its preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.