Taters to Taters

[Boromir88]

I am sure most are familiar with the game "Apples to Apples" and it's become a staple of Barrow-Downer moots. I've been trying to think of a way to bring a Tolkien themed version of Apples to Apples to this site, and I believe this can work.

Set up

1. Now in Apples to Apples there are red cards and green cards. The red cards are people, places, or things, and the green cards are adjectives. For "Taters to Taters" it's going to be the same, but the red cards will just be a character, place, or thing from any Tolkien book. For the adjectives, I'm going to be using the green cards from A2A, and for each round just draw a random green card.

2. I will PM the players 7 "red cards" from the books. These could be characters, locations, or objects. I will be keeping track of who has what, but it would also be a lot easier if no one forgot/lost what their red cards were.

3. In this thread I will post a "green card," which would be the adjective for that round. And then each player, amongst their 7 red cards chooses which one they feel best fits the word. You will then PM your choice to me.

For example/
"Round 1
Green card: Cheerful"

And the red cards I've PMed wilwa are: "Sauron, Mindolluin, Gelion, Durin, Arkenstone, Ancalagon, Saeros"

-Wilwa will then pick which one she thinks fits best with "cheerful" and PM me her choice.

4. After I have all the players choices, I will post them in this thread, anonymously. (This part is important)

5. The Judge is selected, by me amongst the players each round. In A-2-A, it just passes around clockwise. For this, I'm simply going down the player list. Thus, Round 1, sally will be the Judge, Round 2 Nogrod...etc.
-The Judge does not play a red card in the round that they are judging (ie. I should not be getting any PMs from you if you are the judge of the round).
-After I've posted all the choices in this thread, it is the Judge's job to determine the choice the best fits the adjective (according to his/her own mind).
-If you are the judge, your decision is entirely up to you. There are no rules or restrictions on the judge, in his/her judgements. The only important thing to maintain is the judge does not know what players have played which "red card." It has to be completely anonymous (and which is why, everyond PMs their red card to me).

The judge, does not have to post their whole reasoning, why they eliminated some cards...etc. However, the judge must provide his/her reason for choosing the red card that won. So, when the judge determines the winner, post your decision in this thread. You must state your reasoning for the card that won the round. If you'd like to post more details of why you chose one card over another, or why you eliminated others, feel free. All that is required is to post your reasons in picking the winner.

6. After the judge posts the winner, I will know who played that card (and also the person who played it will know too ) and the player will receive 1 point.

7. We go to the next round, the next member on the list is the judge for the round, and we repeat this process.

Additional Housekeeping

-The first member to 4 points wins the game.

2 phases. 24-hours each. First phase is, in this thread, I will post the green card word, and the judge for the round. Players have 24 hours to PM me back one of their red cards they will play.
-2nd phase. The Judge phase, at the beginning of the DL, I will post the anonymous list of all the choices sent to me. The judge will have 24 hours to pick the winner, and post his/her reasoning. During this phase, players may also freely comment on all the choices. There is no posting requirement, this is just for fun and relaxed like the live A2A games. Before the judge has made his/her decision, players are not allowed to reveal which "card" was theirs. To do so, will result in your card being automatically disqualified for that round. After the judge has posted the winner, however, the winning player will be revealed (and given 1 point). Other players may then reveal what their "card" was, if they so wish, but players may also keep this information secret if they also wish. (Therefore, I will only reveal the person the judge picked as the winner. And if anyone else wants to reveal what they sent me at this time, they may, but it is not required).

-This can move fairly quickly depending on how fast we keep the PMs rolling. However, there will be a maximum of 24 hours allowed for each "phase." When I post the green card, players will have 24 hours from that post to PM their red card. (If I have ALL of them, before the 24 hours, I will post them all in this thread). The judge will then have 24 hours to post his/her decision from that moment.

-And before I forget. I've put the "red cards" in a word document, and just have a completely randomized list. Once a player PMs me their red card choice for the round, I PM back the next red card on my list. So, everyone should always have 7 options in their hand to begin each round. And my list, again, has been randomized.

*Any other questions? Essentially, this is going to run the same as Apples to Apples, but I'm serving as the "Mod" to disperse all the cards and keep everything anonymous.

----

Unfortunately, for this time, I'm going to have to set a cap, unless we can figure out a more econimical way of running it, because too many PMs would become quite unmanageable. So, for now, the cap is 16, and it's going to be first come first serve type deal.

3 though have been reserved for their assistance in the idea. And wilwa for coming up with the creative Tolkien-theme name. Originally, I was going with "Apples to Apples (Tolkien edition), but "Taters to Taters" is kind of perfect.

Players

sally
Nogrod
wilwa
Galadriel55
MCRmyGirl4eva
the phantom
Lottie
Menel
Kitanna
Gwath
Kath
Lhuna

[Galadriel55]

I'd be glad to join. My days are kind of crazy and unpredictable now, but I think that if I can manage WW DLs I can manage this one.

[Boromir88]

Awesome. This will also have much less commitment from the players.

And after additional thought, I think it would be better, and more fair for all, just to have one set deadline time. So we can discuss good DL times, although, this isn't a game where there is any given advantage in getting your choice in at the very end, or not.

[Nogrod]

As I discussed with Boro on the FB, I think the chatting over the different choices people send in is kind of the funniest part of the game, so I think people should feel free to comment on the different choices the "judge" has - or to rant after the decisions are made.

The one thing that is important though is that no one should in any way reveal which was the "card" they sent in themselves.

In the number of games I have played Apples to Apples people have at times commented also on their own cards on the table but have not given any indication it is their own card they are discussing...


Timetables should not be a problem as anyone can just react as soon as they come online. Unlike in Werewolf or Arda Cup you don't need to read a lot, deduct, specualte, plot... anything like that. Like in the original card game you have a set of chances and you pick one - in the live game that is like five to twenty seconds...

The fun thing with the online Tolkien version though is that if you get a name of a place or person you don't know already you have to do some researching - and that will help you learn more of the Tolkien universe!

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

The fun thing with the online Tolkien version though is that if you get a name of a place or person you don't know already you have to do some researching - and that will help you learn more of the Tolkien universe!

Am I already contradicting myself while saying on the other hand you can make snap-decisions and then on the other say you need to do some research?

Partly yes, I'm afraid.

But if we have 24-hour turns there should be ample time for everyone to either just make reaction-based decisions like in the live-game, check out any facts they need, add banter or comment on others etc. as much as they wish.

I myself at least hope this would be as a relaxed game there is - as Apples to Apples is...

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

I myself at least hope this would be as a relaxed game there is - as Apples to Apples is...

I hope Boro will not be overworking though... so many PMs at once!

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

I myself at least hope this would be as a relaxed game there is - as Apples to Apples is...

Same here.

And as Nog said, in the live Apples to Apples, the commenting while the judge is going through the choices is part of the fun.

So, to start the Judge's phase, I will post the anonymous list of the choices at the DL. The judge will have 24-hours to pick the winner and give his/her reasoning. But also during this time, the players can comment on the choices the judge has. It is by no means required, but feel free to do so, the only addendum being you can never reveal what your card is. To do so would result in your card being disqualified from judging in that round.

Edit: D'aww thanks G55, I've got the major work done, by setting up the list of red cards already. And so I can do and move all the PMings relatively quickly. You send me your choice for the round and I reply back with your replacement "card." It will just be, making sure my PM box stays not full.

[Boromir88]

ROUND 1

Green card: Honest (trustworthy, truthful)
Judge: sally

*Deadline Noon tomorrow.

[satansaloser2005]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

ROUND 1

Green card: Honest (trustworthy, truthful)
Judge: sally

*Deadline Noon tomorrow.

Given the last WW game, especially this post, I find this rather appropriate.


Also, yay!

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

*Deadline Noon tomorrow.

Boro: regarding the time-stamp on your post, is the noon EST half an hour earlier or later, or more, to either direction? I mean yes the EST is -5 from the UTC/GMT and that's a nice guideline to Lhûna and us Europeans, but the Daylight Savings kind of make it messy as some areas have the and some do not.

Haha, looking forwards to this!

*and PMing my choice in a minute...*

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Boro: regarding the time-stamp on your post, is the noon EST half an hour earlier or later, or more, to either direction? I mean yes the EST is -5 from the UTC/GMT and that's a nice guideline to Lhûna and us Europeans, but the Daylight Savings kind of make it messy as some areas have the and some do not.

Haha, looking forwards to this!

*and PMing my choice in a minute...*

Ran a bit late watching the start of the Premier League. 30 minutes before the time stamp on my Round 1 post.

[Nogrod]

Just a question: are we going in the order of the names in your first post as who is the judge at any given round?

I mean Sally begins, then it would be me, wilwa next, then Galadriel...

I mean in the live game you know the order of the judges, and this looks like it, but just to be sure of it...

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Boro: regarding the time-stamp on your post, is the noon EST half an hour earlier or later, or more, to either direction? I mean yes the EST is -5 from the UTC/GMT and that's a nice guideline to Lhûna and us Europeans, but the Daylight Savings kind of make it messy as some areas have the and some do not.

Thanks, Noggie. No more counting for me! Glorious, glorious 12-hour difference.

[Boromir88]

Last I was able to see, Kath was having laptop/internet issues. But the good thing about this is, no mod-firings. It's easy to jump right in if there are problems and you happen to miss a day. It just means you would have missed a chance to win the round.

Ok, so Round 1, sally...these are your "Honest" red taters. Pick the winner and give your reasons for picking the winner. You may of course explain your decision as detailed as you'd like, but just make sure you give your reasons for the winner.

Theoden
Frodo Baggins
The Witch-King
The Shire
Fangorn Forest
Samwise Gamgee
Tol-in-Gaurhoth
Huan
Wargs
Feanor

The rest may, at this time, discuss anything about the selections/dynamics. No one can reveal what they sent me, before sally has chosen a winner. After her judgement though, fair game.

[Nogrod]

Okay. Some starters...

Well, you surely can't pick Frodo or Sam as they're both liars - and the Shire itself is a swarming bed of lies. Frodo lied about his intentions even to his closest friends, went around with a false name etc., while Sam at least lied Frodo about their food supplies later on the road... and think of all those hobbits smiling at their mathoms and telling you from between their teeth how they loved them!

Nor Huan! He betrayed his master! Now a good dog doesn't turn against it's master even if there is a nice girl nearby who scratches it the right way...

Maybe you should pick Fëanor, I mean whatever else he did, he was honest to the bone...

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Maybe you should pick Fëanor, I mean whatever else he did, he was honest to the bone...

I was going to say the Witch-King for much the same. Because he was always honest with his plans for Frodo and his duty to his master.

[Boromir88]

*heh gleefully smiles...big glee*

[Meneltarmacil]

To state the obvious, Tol-in-Gaurhoth is the worst possible choice if you're looking for honesty.

[Lhunardawen]

My internet is spotty and I have to retire early, so I'll cast my vote hours ahead of the deadline.

I imagine Draugluin and Gorbag to be a tad leathery, for some reason. burrahobbit is a fitting choice especially in the context it was mentioned in the book, and would have won had not ++Túna made me chuckle out loud.