Abstract:
This invention relates to a role playing card game. Namely, it relates to a role playing card game whose concept merges a role playing game with playing and trading card games.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority to U.S. Application No. 61/880,593 filed on Sep. 20, 2013. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Card games, including trading card games, are well known in prior art. Generally, these games involve a deck or pack of cards, either a traditional deck or a game-specific deck, in which certain rules are followed in play until a winner has been declared. Other games involve simply trading cards to build a collection of cards that a user finds to be valuable. Some board games also use cards, but the difference between a board game and a card game is that a board game usually focuses on a player&#39;s position on the playing board and the cards serve a secondary position while in a card game, the cards are the primary focus. In a card game, the game is played with cards that are the same size and shape. Usually, the back sides of the cards are the same and the face sides of the cards vary. Some card faces may be unique while others may be the same. A value is associated with the face of the card that determines how a player will play or trade that particular card. 
         [0006]    One known playing card game is Mille Bornes. The players in this game are dealt a hand of cards that will serve as that players game pieces during the “race” of this game. Each card has a mile value and rules of play attached to it. A player must complete a car race of 1000 miles to be declared a winner. Once a player completes 1000 miles, they will either win the game or have the option to extend the game to 1200 miles. The game Grass is a known extension of Mille Bornes in that the game has been altered from car racing to cannabis dealing. Many of the face cards are used/played in the same way as in Mille Bornes. In this game instead of a race in miles, it is a race to earn money where the face cards are assigned a certain monetary value and have certain rules of play attached to them. 
         [0007]    Another card game simply involves trading cards. Typical trading cards utilize a formula to establish the rarity of a card to increase its value to a collector. As such, the value is actually a value perceived by the potential buyers and sellers. Sports collectible cards are commonly traded as they build perceived value over time depending on how a player has performed over the years. Other trading cards relate to fictional characters, such as those seen in Pokemon, a trading card game based off of a video game. TCG and CCG also include game play with rules and objectives. 
         [0008]    Role playing games include games where the players assume a particular character role in a fictional setting. Players are expected to act like that character and make decisions like that character would. Any decision or action that a player makes is governed by a set of guidelines that determines a player&#39;s success or failure. These games can take place in person or in electronic media. A game master will serve as the referee to determine how players perform and who will be declared the winner. 
         [0009]    One such popular role playing game is the game Dungeons &amp; Dragons. A player is assigned a character to play and they begin play in a fictional, fantasy world to solve problems (sometimes through battle). Characters gain points through experience and can become more powerful over time. A Dungeon Master oversees the game by using certain rules but can interpret the rules to his understanding in assigning points. Instead of cards, dice are used to resolve events in play. 
         [0010]    Another popular role playing game is World of Warcraft, which is an online role playing game. In order to be included in a game, a user must purchase a subscription or pre-paid game cards that allot a certain amount of playing time. Players then develop their character over time to gain more talent, skills, etc. The character completes certain tasks which allow them to gain more experience and be a more valuable player. Players generally work together at the end to complete the game. 
         [0011]    This invention is unique over known games in that it combines a playing card game, a trading card game, and a role playing card game, with expansion sets to extend and/or change rules and game play, and establishes a method for building and tracking the value of the cards. Expansion sets can also be combined for further rule and game play changes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    This invention relates to a role playing card game. Namely, it relates to a role playing card game whose concept merges a role playing game with playing and trading card games. This role playing card game comprises at least one deck of playing cards and at least one additional role playing game card that is part of an expansion deck; wherein the role playing game card(s) is assigned a value and rules by the game author. 
         [0013]    It is anticipated that this role playing game card is separate from the standard deck or pack of playing cards. Within a game, there may be more than one role playing game card played and this is the preferred manner of play. Each role playing game card may be unique or identical to other role playing game cards. The role playing game cards may have different or similar appearances, colors, titles, skills, etc. These attributes are assigned by the author/publisher and each will follow certain guidelines for play. Cards that begin the same may not remain the same as over play time a card may earn/loss valuable attributes that set that card apart from another card that may be the same. 
         [0014]    Each role playing game card is issued with a serial number, preferably printed on the card. The serial number can be tracked by the author/publisher of the card when it is registered to the author/publisher. Registration preferably occurs online through electronic media using a desktop application, web browser, mobile application or other similar device application. One skilled in the art will recognize that this list is not exhaustive of the manners in which registration may occur. Further, in cases where electronic media is not available, registration may occur by mail, facsimile, phone, or in person during live in person tournaments. 
         [0015]    Once a card is registered, tracking of a role playing game cards value occurs under sanctioned activities by the publisher. Such activities include, but are not limited to, online tournaments or on premise table top tournaments. The publisher follows official rules for scoring to determine card value and eventually a winner of the game. This tracking occurs through a system monitored by the publisher or author of a game. 
         [0016]    As a player plays the game, the player makes decisions about certain cards based on guidelines allowable. Good decisions will further play and enhance attributes while poor decisions may cause the player to lose ground or attributes during play. 
         [0017]    The role playing game card is anticipated to be progressive in nature. This may include various cards being issued in the same class of role playing game card. When a player of a particular role playing game card reaches a certain level or threshold during play, a new role playing game card may be requested from the publisher a and the new printed card now has all of these new attributes embedded within the card. The role playing card becomes a series of cards which may or may not be limited in scope. A publisher may choose to print a limited number in a set by stating there are only so many levels to reach, or may make limited by the life of the game and or company. The tracking system keeps track of this progressive nature during sanctioned game play and will trigger a notice to a player of this possibility of a new card being issued and any customizations which may be offered in the level up process. 
         [0018]    Typically, role playing game cards will be obtained through the purchase or other type of acquisition of an expansion deck or pack. Expansion decks are decks of cards that expand the standard deck of playing cards by introducing new cards as well as new rules and game play guidelines. Expansion decks or sets offer an optional turn based rule set for actions that are not part of the base game. It is also anticipated that role playing game cards may be obtained by a player through trading with other players. 
         [0019]    In game play, it is anticipated that the deck of playing cards will include hooks that allow for play with expansion decks (having the role playing game cards). A role playing game card may also include hooks allowing for additional expansion decks to be introduced. A game&#39;s author/publisher will dictate how expansion decks are to be used and each deck may have separate rules. 
         [0020]    An expansion deck introduces a new character, such as that one seen in a role playing game card, new settings, new pieces, or other new aspects to the card game. In certain settings, it is anticipated that the expansion deck could be used for game play without the deck of playing cards. 
         [0021]    A hook may be a symbol, graphic, or other depiction indicating expanded usage is allowed during the game. There may be rules or guidelines associated with a hook. Such rules are set by the game author/publisher. 
         [0022]    There are circumstances in which a player may wish to trade role playing game cards. This is often desired to help build a player&#39;s strategy by adding skill sets that may not be included in the player&#39;s cards. Further, some cards may be rarer than other cards so a player may wish to acquire a rare role playing game card. The role playing game card of this invention may be associated with a value build trading card system that tracks the registered play of a card to associate a value to that role playing card. As mentioned earlier, the role playing game card is associated with a serial number that is registered to an official tracking site. As a player uses a particular role playing card, points may be added or deducted from a card depending on play. Value builds over time to determine a cards value. So while two cards may be identical upon issuance, one card may be worth more over time depending on how a player has played that card. Instead of a perceived value, this role playing game card will now have a real trading card value that is measurable in relation to the game. If a user wishes to trade a card, the system will allow for an auction board where cards may be purchased, traded, or sold. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  depicts a deck of cards. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2A  depicts a hook card with a symbol on the back. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2B  depicts a hook card with the card name/card type. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2C  depicts a hook card with special die cutting. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts a card combination comprising two cards. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  depicts the back side of a card with varying information relevant to game play as laid out on the card. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  depicts a value based card with one skill associated with it. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  depicts a vale based card with an additional skill (increased value) associated with it 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  depicts a value based card extended by the publisher as a unique card with a unique history (further increased value). 
           [0033]      FIG. 8 . depicts game interactions (game play). 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart detailing the steps in a value based trading system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Turning now to the figures, multiple cards  2  form a deck of cards  4 . Each card  2  may contain varying information on the front side  3  or back side  5 . As seen in  FIG. 2A and 2B , the front side  3  of the cards  2  may include a symbol or a description of the card name and/or card type.  FIG. 2C . depicts a card  2  with die cuts which can relay certain information to game players about that particular card  2 . In some circumstances, two cards  2   a,    2   b  can be combined to form a combination card  8  which incorporates details of both cards  2   a,    2   b  into the combination card  8 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  relates to the back side  5  of a card  2 . The back side  5  of a card  2  typically includes information relevant to game play such as the title  10  of the card  2 , imagery  12  of the card  2 , and rules, skills, or attributes  14  that the card  2  may hold. Further, it is anticipated that each card  2  will be marked with a unique serial number  16 . The manner in which each card  2  displays information will vary from card to card and will be determined by a card publisher. In a game with value based play, a value based card  2  is assigned a serial number  16  that associates that cards unique qualities. 
         [0037]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5-7 , these cards  2   c,    2   d,  and  2   e  all depict cards  2  of varying value. A base card  2   c  is a card that has a base title  10   c,  image  12   c,  and skill set  14   c  associated with it. A serial number  16   c  will allow this card to be registered and tracked for play while maintaining the base title  10   c,  image  12   c,  and skill set  14   c  associated with that card  2   c.  As a player plays the base card  2   c,  points can be earned on that card  2   c . The points are tracked and assigned to that card  2   c.  When that base card  2   c  achieves a prescribed amount of points, it will evolve into a new version of itself and a new card  2   d  will be printed to indicate any new title  10   d,  images  12   d,  or skills  14   d  that now may associated. Further the serial number  16   d  associated with the evolved card  2   d  will also associate the new value associated with this card  2   d.  An evolved card  2   d  can continue to be extended as prescribed by a publisher into new cards  2   e.    FIG. 7  simply depicts an extended version of the card  2   e  with further additional titles  10   e,  images  12   e,  and skills  14   e  associated with that card. 
         [0038]    To begin game play, as seen in  FIG. 8 , all players  20  start by using a single deck  4  of playing cards  2 . During play, players  20  may agree to use expansion decks  18 . These expansion decks  18  allow for enhanced interaction  22  between players  20  during game play. These interactions  22  may include standard play, hooks, rule changes  24 , and/or other specialized play. It is further anticipated that expansions decks  18  may allow for interaction  22  with other cards  2  that a player  20  may have in his or her own hand or within another players&#39;  20  hand. In some cases, it may be anticipated that expansion decks may be played as a game without the single deck  4  of playing cards  2 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  depicts the value based trading system  26 . In this system,  26  a player  20  first acquires a card  2  (step  1 ,  26   a ). A card  2  is typically acquired through purchase (such as in an initial base card) but may be acquired during a trade as well. This card  2  is then registered to the system  26  (step  2 ,  26   b ). The player can register the card  2  to the system  26  by manual, scanning, or other means of reading the serial number  16 . The player  20  then begins play in a sanctioned game (step  3 ,  26   c ). Points are earned and applied to a card  2  during game play (step  4 ,  26   d ). Game play and outcome determines the number of points a card  2  may earn. After game play, points earned are calculated per card (step  5 ,  26   e ) to determine card value. Value can be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to the rarity of a card in circulation, points for the card, offers on the cards, and uniqueness of a card. From time to time, a card may be assessed for an upgrade to a new printed card (step  6 ,  26   f ). Upgrades may occur automatically or upon request of a player. In situations where an upgrade is made, the upgraded card is then sent to the player  20  (step  7 ,  26   g ). In the last step  26   h  (step  8 ), a card may be traded or sold to other players who have interest in acquiring the card. It is anticipated that and of the steps  1 - 8 ,  26   a - 26   h  may be repeated as often as necessary and each individual step may be repeated as needed before moving on to another step. 
         [0040]    Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word “comprise” and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.