US4359226A — Board game with interrelated cards and chips

Claim 1

Independent Claim 398 words

A game involving the concepts of Karma for the entertainment of two or more persons comprising: currency, a set of dice, a marker for each person, a board having a closed circuit made up of a plurality of adjacent, indicia-bearing spaces arranged seriatim, said closed circuit being divided into two or more sections, each section including a portion of the spaces and indicia to represent a span of life, and ending with a barrier space and beginning with a return space and including intermediate spaces with indicia defining a Karma space corresponding to Karma collection cards and a payback space corresponding to Karma payback cards, a number of Good Karma chips, a number of Bad Karma chips, two sets of Karma collection cards, one set of Bad Karma cards bearing indicia correlated to currency and a Bad Karma chip and the other set of Good Karma cards bearing indicia correlated to currency and a Good Karma chip, two sets of Karma payback cards, one set of Bad Karma payback cards bearing indicia correlated to currency and the other set of Good Karma payback cards bearing indicia correlated to currency, said barrier space bearing indicia of an amount of currency and the associated return space, said game being played by a process in which each player in turn throws the dice and moves his marker from space to space on the closed circuit the number of spaces corresponding to the number on the dice after each throw, follows indicia on the space where his marker comes to rest and, if the space is a Karma space, chooses either a Good Karma card or a Bad Karma card and, if the space is a payback space, chooses either a Good Karma payback card or a Bad Karma payback card, expends Good or Bad Karma chips and either receives or expends currency in compliance with the indicia provided on each space on which his marker comes to rest or on the Good and Bad Karma cards or the Good and Bad Karma payback cards, and stops at each barrier space, expending the amount of currency required at each barrier, if possible, before proceeding on and if not possible, returning his token to the return space, the game involving a race between the players to complete a number of transits of the closed circuit and to dispose of all Bad Karma chips.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 398 words

A game involving the concepts of Karma for the entertainment of two or more persons comprising: currency, a set of dice, a marker for each person, a board having a closed circuit made up of a plurality of adjacent, indicia-bearing spaces arranged seriatim, said closed circuit being divided into two or more sections, each section including a portion of the spaces and indicia to represent a span of life, and ending with a barrier space and beginning with a return space and including intermediate spaces with indicia defining a Karma space corresponding to Karma collection cards and a payback space corresponding to Karma payback cards, a number of Good Karma chips, a number of Bad Karma chips, two sets of Karma collection cards, one set of Bad Karma cards bearing indicia correlated to currency and a Bad Karma chip and the other set of Good Karma cards bearing indicia correlated to currency and a Good Karma chip, two sets of Karma payback cards, one set of Bad Karma payback cards bearing indicia correlated to currency and the other set of Good Karma payback cards bearing indicia correlated to currency, said barrier space bearing indicia of an amount of currency and the associated return space, said game being played by a process in which each player in turn throws the dice and moves his marker from space to space on the closed circuit the number of spaces corresponding to the number on the dice after each throw, follows indicia on the space where his marker comes to rest and, if the space is a Karma space, chooses either a Good Karma card or a Bad Karma card and, if the space is a payback space, chooses either a Good Karma payback card or a Bad Karma payback card, expends Good or Bad Karma chips and either receives or expends currency in compliance with the indicia provided on each space on which his marker comes to rest or on the Good and Bad Karma cards or the Good and Bad Karma payback cards, and stops at each barrier space, expending the amount of currency required at each barrier, if possible, before proceeding on and if not possible, returning his token to the return space, the game involving a race between the players to complete a number of transits of the closed circuit and to dispose of all Bad Karma chips.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The game of claim 1 wherein it is favorable to retain Good Karma chips for use after the required number of transits of the closed circuit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 133 words

The game of claim 1 wherein the closed circuit is arranged about the edge of a square board, with forty-eight spaces in four sections, one section along each edge of the board, and with the corners of the board comprising spaces including a start-finish space and three barrier spaces, one at the end of each of the first three sections, and wherein the space next to each corner space is a return space, and the Karma spaces and payback spaces are located a number of spaces from the return space in each section such that the probability of the numbers obtainable in operation of the dice are such that a marker leaving the return space is more likely to come to rest at Karma and payback spaces than other spaces in the section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 239 words

A game for the entertainment of two or more persons comprising: a medium of exchange, a pair of dice, a marker for each person, first and second decks of indicia-bearing collection cards, third and fourth decks of indicia-bearing payback cards, and a board having a closed circuit made up of a plurality of adjacent spaces arranged seriatim and including decision spaces of two different kinds, the first decision spaces bearing indicia correlated to both the first and the second decks of cards, and the second decision spaces bearing indicia correlated to both the third and fourth decks of cards, the closed circuit being arranged about the edge of a square board, with forty-eight spaces in four sections, one section along each edge of the board, and with the corners of the board comprising spaces bearing indicia defining a start-finish space and three barrier spaces, one at the end of each of the first three sections, and with the space next to each corner space at the beginning of each section defining a return space, the first two sections including first decision spaces located seven spaces and ten spaces from the return space and including second decision spaces located six spaces and nine spaces from the return space, the third section including first decision spaces located seven spaces and nine spaces from the return space and including second decision spaces located six spaces and ten spaces from the return space.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 239 words

A game for the entertainment of two or more persons comprising: a medium of exchange, a pair of dice, a marker for each person, first and second decks of indicia-bearing collection cards, third and fourth decks of indicia-bearing payback cards, and a board having a closed circuit made up of a plurality of adjacent spaces arranged seriatim and including decision spaces of two different kinds, the first decision spaces bearing indicia correlated to both the first and the second decks of cards, and the second decision spaces bearing indicia correlated to both the third and fourth decks of cards, the closed circuit being arranged about the edge of a square board, with forty-eight spaces in four sections, one section along each edge of the board, and with the corners of the board comprising spaces bearing indicia defining a start-finish space and three barrier spaces, one at the end of each of the first three sections, and with the space next to each corner space at the beginning of each section defining a return space, the first two sections including first decision spaces located seven spaces and ten spaces from the return space and including second decision spaces located six spaces and nine spaces from the return space, the third section including first decision spaces located seven spaces and nine spaces from the return space and including second decision spaces located six spaces and ten spaces from the return space.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 80 words

The game of claim 4 including: said medium of exchange being currency, a number of good future counters, a number of bad future counters, the first deck of collection cards including indicia correlated to currency and a bad future counter, and the second deck of collection cards including indicia correlated to currency and a good future counter, the third deck of payback cards including indicia correlated to currency, and the fourth deck of payback cards including indicia correlated to currency.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 227 words

A game for the entertainment of two or more players comprising: a medium of exchange, a controlled probability random number generator, a marker for each player, two sets of future collection cards, two sets of future payback cards, a board having a closed circuit made up of a plurality of adjacent spaces arranged seriatim, said closed circuit being divided into two or more sections, each section including a portion of the spaces, and ending with a barrier space and beginning with a return space and with the spaces between the return space and barrier space being correlated to the medium of exchange and the four cards, said barrier spaces having indicia corresponding to an amount of medium of exchange and the return space at the beginning of that section, each section having two different decision spaces, the first decision space bearing indicia correlated to the sets of future collection cards and the second decision space bearing indicia correlated to the sets of future payback cards, the location of the first decision space and second decision space from the return space in each section and the probability of the numbers obtainable in operation of the controlled probability number generator being such that a marker leaving a return space is more likely to come to rest at first decision and second decision spaces than other spaces in the section.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 227 words

A game for the entertainment of two or more players comprising: a medium of exchange, a controlled probability random number generator, a marker for each player, two sets of future collection cards, two sets of future payback cards, a board having a closed circuit made up of a plurality of adjacent spaces arranged seriatim, said closed circuit being divided into two or more sections, each section including a portion of the spaces, and ending with a barrier space and beginning with a return space and with the spaces between the return space and barrier space being correlated to the medium of exchange and the four cards, said barrier spaces having indicia corresponding to an amount of medium of exchange and the return space at the beginning of that section, each section having two different decision spaces, the first decision space bearing indicia correlated to the sets of future collection cards and the second decision space bearing indicia correlated to the sets of future payback cards, the location of the first decision space and second decision space from the return space in each section and the probability of the numbers obtainable in operation of the controlled probability number generator being such that a marker leaving a return space is more likely to come to rest at first decision and second decision spaces than other spaces in the section.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 156 words

The game of claim 6 in which the closed circuit is arranged about the edge of a square board, with forty-eight spaces in four sections, one along each edge of the board, and with the corners of the board comprising spaces including a start-finish space and three barrier spaces, one at the end of each of the first three sections, and the space next to each corner space is a return space; in which the controlled probability random number generator is a pair of dice; and in which the first two sections include first decision spaces located seven spaces and ten spaces from the return space and include second decision spaces located six spaces and nine spaces from the return space and in which the third section includes first decision spaces located seven spaces and nine spaces from the return space and includes second decision spaces located six spaces and ten spaces from the return space.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 106 words

The game of claim 6 including said medium of exchange being currency, one set of good future counters and one set of bad future counters, one set of future collection cards carrying indicia correlated to currency and a bad future counter and the other set of future collection cards carrying indicia correlated to currency and a good future counter, one set of future payback cards carrying indicia correlated to currency and the other set of future payback cards carrying indicia correlated to currency, and at least a portion of the spaces of the closed circuit bearing indicia corresponding to currency and the movement of a marker.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 198 words

A game and board having a playing area which has a plurality of adjacent marker positions for random number progression of a marker, comprising a starting position for beginning play; a plurality of intermediate play positions; a random number generator to provide for movement of a marker; one or more barrier positions past which a marker may not proceed unless certain conditions are met, and if said conditions are not met, the marker will be returned to a preceding position; a first deck of collection cards; a second deck of collection cards; a third deck of payback cards; a fourth deck of payback cards; a first indicia on a plurality of said intermediate play positions correlated to said first deck of cards and said second deck of cards; and a second indicia on a plurality of said intermediate play positions correlated to said third deck of cards and said fourth deck of cards; a set of first counters, said first counters being correlated to said first deck of cards, and said fourth deck of cards; and a set of second counters said second counters being correlated to said second deck of cards, and said third deck of cards.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 198 words

A game and board having a playing area which has a plurality of adjacent marker positions for random number progression of a marker, comprising a starting position for beginning play; a plurality of intermediate play positions; a random number generator to provide for movement of a marker; one or more barrier positions past which a marker may not proceed unless certain conditions are met, and if said conditions are not met, the marker will be returned to a preceding position; a first deck of collection cards; a second deck of collection cards; a third deck of payback cards; a fourth deck of payback cards; a first indicia on a plurality of said intermediate play positions correlated to said first deck of cards and said second deck of cards; and a second indicia on a plurality of said intermediate play positions correlated to said third deck of cards and said fourth deck of cards; a set of first counters, said first counters being correlated to said first deck of cards, and said fourth deck of cards; and a set of second counters said second counters being correlated to said second deck of cards, and said third deck of cards.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The game of claim 9 wherein each of said first deck of cards has indicia on its back correlated to the first counters and each of said second deck of cards has indicia on its back correlated to the second counters.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 193 words

A game, comprising a playing board having a closed circuit comprised of a starting position for beginning; a plurality of adjacent marker positions with varying indicia instructing player activity, the marker positions being accessible by means of a random number generator means; a first deck of collection cards; a second deck of collection cards; a third deck of payback cards; a fourth deck of payback cards; a first indicia on a plurality of said marker positions correlated to both said first deck of cards and said second deck of cards; a second indicia on a plurality of said marker positions correlated to both said third deck of cards and said fourth deck of cards; a set of first counters representing long-term advantage, said first counters being correlated to said first cards, and said fourth cards; a set of second counters representing long-term disadvantage, said second counters being correlated said second cards, and said third cards; currency, to be received and dispersed according to the varying indicia on said closed circuit and on said cards; and one or more of said marker positions constitutes a barrier position correlated to a prior associated marker position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 193 words

A game, comprising a playing board having a closed circuit comprised of a starting position for beginning; a plurality of adjacent marker positions with varying indicia instructing player activity, the marker positions being accessible by means of a random number generator means; a first deck of collection cards; a second deck of collection cards; a third deck of payback cards; a fourth deck of payback cards; a first indicia on a plurality of said marker positions correlated to both said first deck of cards and said second deck of cards; a second indicia on a plurality of said marker positions correlated to both said third deck of cards and said fourth deck of cards; a set of first counters representing long-term advantage, said first counters being correlated to said first cards, and said fourth cards; a set of second counters representing long-term disadvantage, said second counters being correlated said second cards, and said third cards; currency, to be received and dispersed according to the varying indicia on said closed circuit and on said cards; and one or more of said marker positions constitutes a barrier position correlated to a prior associated marker position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-11-15	1986-05-17	1986-11-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-11-15	1990-05-17	1990-11-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-11-15	1994-05-17	1994-11-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Board game with interrelated cards and chips

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