Abstract:
An interactive board game with a mystical appearance is disclosed and a method of playing the same. The interactive board game includes a game board with an internal mechanism, a plurality of position indicating markers for moving along a three dimensional path, a plurality of randomly selectable instruction cards, and a plurality of randomly selectable indicia. Players accumulate weapons, charms, and points throughout the game while attempting to slay a dragon.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/637,561 filed Apr. 24, 2012. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The patent owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention pertains generally to an interactive board game, and more particularly to a three dimensional fantasy board game having a mystical appearance and a method of playing the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Most new games being developed today are in a digital format and are played on computers, phones, and gaming consoles. These types of games tend to create an anti-social environment and do not always allow for group play. It is not easy for families to find activities where everyone can participate simultaneously. When individuals get together in a group setting, it is difficult to find a game that involves the entire group. Additionally, electronic games either require batteries or an external power supply. If the batteries fail, or if the player does not want to be tethered to an electrical outlet, the game becomes unplayable. 
         [0005]    Consequently, there exists a need for an interactive entertaining non-electronic game designed to bring family and friends together for a fun and exciting activity enjoyable by individuals of all ages. The present invention discloses a new interactive board game designed to engage family and friends in a fun and exciting activity. The game has an ever changing outcome and a mystical appearance. The design does not require batteries or electricity and is a refreshing alternative to digital media. Individuals of all ages will appreciate engaging in a game that encourages social interaction between people of any age. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0007]    The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises an interactive board game with a mystical appearance and a method of playing the same. The interactive board game comprises a game board, a plurality of position indicating markers, a plurality of randomly selectable indicia, and at least one randomly operable indicia. The game board is configured so that an enclosed portion houses a mechanism for moving the plurality of position indicating markers along an external playing surface. The external playing surface comprises a path with three dimensional elements that the plurality of position indicating markers move along when either the mechanism or a player moves one of the plurality of position indicating markers. A game is complete when a player obtains enough points to slay a dragon, or when a player&#39;s opponents all perish. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the external playing surface resembles a three dimensional mythical scene with a dragon, a mountain pass, and a volcano. The mechanism comprises a plurality of gears and a plurality of levers with magnetic elements that rotate when a movable element is manipulated by a player. The plurality of position indicating markers each comprise a magnetic component attractable to the magnetic elements. The plurality of position indicating markers also move along the path as directed by four sets of cards having player instructions, a roll of dice, and as indicated by two spinning wheels having player instructions. Each player tries to amass enough treasure gaining points to slay a dragon and thereby win the game. 
         [0009]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an interactive board game in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an overhead view of the interactive board game in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates an internal mechanism of the interactive board game in accordance with the disclosed architecture 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A-D  illustrates four sets of cards from the interactive board game in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a score sheet from the interactive board game in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. The invention relates generally to an interactive board game that does not require batteries or electricity to play. 
         [0016]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an interactive board game  100 . The interactive board game  100  comprises a game board  102 , a plurality of position indicating markers  132 , a plurality of randomly selective indicia  136 , and at least one randomly operable indicia  150 . The game board  102  is configured with a mystical appearance and comprises an enclosed portion  104  and an external playing surface  122 . 
         [0017]    The enclosed portion  104  comprises a bottom layer  106  and four sides  110 . The enclosed portion  104  further comprises a mechanism  112  substantially encapsulated or sandwiched between the bottom layer  106  and the external playing surface  122 . The enclosed portion  104  is essentially a framework of wood, plastic, and the like, or of any other rigid material as is known in the art. The framework provides stability to keep the interactive board game  100  assembled and rigid. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the external playing surface  122  is essentially a planar surface comprising a three dimensional path  124 . The external playing surface  122  is approximately two feet by three feet in dimension, however, this is not meant as a limitation as the external playing surface  122  may be smaller or larger as desired. The external playing surface  122  generally depicts a mystical scene involving a dragon, a mountain, and a volcano. The three dimensional path  124  comprises raised elements  130  such as a mountain and a volcano. 
         [0019]    The plurality of position indicating markers  132  are typically wooden statue game pieces for indicating a position of a specific player on the external playing surface  122 , however, they may be plastic, metal, and the like as well. Each of the plurality of position indicating markers  132  comprise a magnetic component. The magnetic component is typically a magnetic metal insert that may be located within each of the plurality of position indicating markers  132 . For example, a bottom of each of the wooden statue game pieces may be hollowed out for receiving the magnetic metal insert and covered over with felt, cloth, cardboard, or similar material. 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the mechanism  112  comprises a plurality of gears  114 , a plurality of levers  116 , a plurality of magnets  118 , and a moveable element  120 . Typically the plurality of gears  114  comprises two approximately  12  inch diameter cogs and one approximately three inch diameter cog all moveably connected, however, any combination of different diameter cogs may be used as well. The moveable element  120  is a rotatable disk that partially penetrates one of the four sides  110  of the enclosed portion  104  and is moveably connected to one of the plurality of gears  114 . A player rotates the rotatable disk thereby turning the plurality of gears  114 . The plurality of levers  116  are attached to the plurality of gears  114  and move as the plurality of gears  114  rotate. Some of the plurality of gears  114  and the plurality of levers  116  have the plurality of magnets  118  attached at various positions. As the plurality of gears  114  and the plurality of levers  116  rotate, the plurality of magnets  118  move so as to attract the magnetic component  134  in the plurality of position indicating markers  132  moving the plurality of position indicating markers  132  in an elongated pattern on the external playing surface  122 . 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-D , the plurality of randomly selective indicia  136  comprises four sets of cards. The four sets of cards comprise: a set of charm cards  140 , a set of fate cards  142 , a set of spell cards  144 , and a set of quest cards  146 . As a player lands on a position on the external playing surface  122  indicating selection of one of the four sets of cards, an appropriate card is randomly selected. The set of fate cards  142  direct the player to a different position on the external playing surface  122 . The set of quest cards  146  provide information as to the type of journey the player is on. The set of charm cards  140  typically indicate the type of treasure to seek. The set of spell cards  144  add to the information from the set of charm cards  140  to provide a mystical element to the game. Furthermore, the four sets of cards control the pace and the skill level of the game by adding or decreasing a total number of the plurality of randomly selective indicia  136 . 
         [0022]    The at least one randomly operable indicia  136  comprises one or more dice  154 . The player moves his wooden statue game piece a number of spaces along the three dimensional path  124  as indicated by a number from a roll of the dice. The at least one randomly operable indicia  136  may further comprise two spinning elements  152 . The two spinning elements  152  are spin wheels attached to the game board  102  along two of the four sides  110 , and provide further directions for moving the wooden statue game pieces to a different position on the three dimensional path  124  or to select from one of the four sets of cards for further instructions. Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the interactive board game  100  further comprises a score sheet  156  for keeping track of the players&#39; progress throughout the game. 
         [0023]    In order to better understand the disclosed invention, a version of the rules is presented along with a method for playing the interactive board game  100 . It is to be understood that the rules and the method may be modified or changed within the scope of the game disclosure. The object of the game of DRAGONART is for one to four players to strategically fulfill a quest while competing against each other. The players compete for treasures such as coins, weapons, points, and the like, while trying to elude deadly traps controlled by the DRAGONART game. As the players travel along the external playing surface  122 , they encounter the treasures to advance their journey, they may steal an opponent&#39;s treasures, and they may encounter obstacles as well. A game ends when a player slays a dragon or all of his opponents perish. Additionally, the game may be stopped at any time and the score sheet  156  is used to record where the game left off for future play. 
         [0024]    Play is initiated by a player&#39;s roll of the dice  154  and moving his wooden statue game piece a number of spaces along the three dimensional path  124  as indicated by a number from a roll of the dice. Next, all of the other players complete this step as well. After all players have completed their turn, one of the players rotates the moveable element  120  activating the mechanism  112 . As the mechanism  112  is cycled, the plurality of magnets  118  may or may not attract the magnetic component  134  of some of the wooden game statues depending on their proximity. If any of the magnets attract a wooden game statue, the wooden game statue will be moved to a different position along the three dimensional path  124 . If a player lands on a position indicating the selection of one of the four sets of cards, the appropriate card is selected and the player follows the directions on the card. If the player lands on a position indicating one of the two spinning elements  152 , the appropriate spin wheel is spun and the player follows the directions on the section of the spin wheel indicated. This completes one turn and the process is started over. As the players collect treasures such as coins, weapons, points, and the like, progress is tracked on the score sheet  156  until one of the players wins the game. The game pace and skill level will change by decreasing the total number of the plurality of randomly selective indicia  136 . 
         [0025]    In an alternative embodiment of the interactive board game  100 , a plurality of game boards (not shown) may be joined together to create a larger playing area capable of accommodating more than four players. The game boards may be joined side to side with the two spinning elements  152  removed. Two spinning elements may then be added along an outer perimeter of the larger playing area. The game then proceeds as described infra. 
         [0026]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0027]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0028]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.