Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

~ Scrabble: A Team Challenge ~

Scrabble® was originally made by Mattel (view spoiler)[and they still have the trademark outside the U.S. & Canada (hide spoiler)]. We will be using the current official Scrabble gameboard design by Hasbro, as follows:

Key:
2×LS = Double letter score
3×LS= Triple letter score
2×WS / ★ = Double word score
3×WS = Triple word score

Tiles & Points

We are going to try this as a beta run first, so we are limiting the number of players allowed. We are hoping to have six Teams. Each Team will have four players, but might go to five players per Team; however, we will keep a Replacement Player List, starting with those who could be the 5th player.

SIGN-UPS: The official Sign-Up thread is HERE! and closes August 1st 12 Noon PST (International Clock Link).

PLEASE TELL US YOUR TIME ZONE WHEN SIGNING UP! We are still discussing post times. An International Countdown Clock Link like the one above showing when sign-ups close, will be provided indicating the time to post the “finished” word every Saturday.

Teams will be assigned (EDIT) July 16th, if not sooner, and anyone who has NOT checked into their Secret Group by (EDIT) August 1st will be REPLACED immediately.

RULES: This is a Team Challenge, lasting six weeks, starting August 2nd and ending September 13th or 20th.

• Each participant should plan on reading one book a week equal to or greater than 160 pages.

• The first Team posts at _____ PST, the second Team will post 20 MINUTES later at _____ PST., the third Team will post 20 MINUTES after the second Team at _____, and so forth. If a Team is late posting, the next Team in line may place their tiles at their designated time. The late Team will incur a penalty, although we’re not sure what that will be, yet. Maybe a percent of points, reduced. {Times will be added later.} A Team Captain may designate another player to post for them, if necessary.

• We will be using Is Your Word Official? Hasbro Scrabble to verify words.

• The Mods will place the first word on the board, which will cover center square (H8); it is the word B.O.O.K.

• A play is indicated in the format rows and columns, where the the numbers along the side denotes the row and the letters across the top designate the column where the word begins.

• Which Team places their tiles down first will be on a rotating bases, with each Team going first one time.

• Every week a Team will be given a new rack of tiles to use, which the Mods will retrieve randomly from Merriam-Webster Scrabble on-line. A rack will look something like this:

          

• Your Team’s rack will be placed under your Secret Teams photo section each week.

• A Team may request one replacement tile/letter per week, and may choose to keep their original letter or use the new one. They have until the “finished” posting time to decide.

★KEY POINT: Using titles, authors’ names (first or last), series titles, characters’ names (first or last), on a weekly rotation spell out your Team’s words. You may ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, and, the). We may have weeks were there is more than one option.

★KEY POINT: A Team determines each week what they will spell by: titles, authors’ names (first or last), series titles, characters’ names (first or last), rotating through all of them, with one “Mix ‘N Match” and one duplicate, so choose wisely.

Example of Team 1 - using only titles:

G (2) Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - read by Gigi 7/18
L (1) Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase - read by Elishia 7/17
I (1) In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks - read by Jan 7/18
B (3) Bared to You by Sylvia Day - read by Lana 7/19 (2L)



PLACEMENT: Row 5, Column F, going down.
“L” is 3XLS = 3
Total = 9 points TOTAL

Afterwards, gameboard will look like this.

• “Hooking” a word(s) means a Team adding to an existing word, e.g. STORE to BOOK, then later another Team hooks on S to make (BOOKSTORE)S.

Afterwards, gameboard will look like this.

• Premium squares apply only when newly placed tiles cover them. Any subsequent plays do not count those premium squares. However, the regular worth of the tiles used will count. So the Team making BOOKSTORES would earn 48 points, with the S making it a Triple Word Score.

• Double and triple letter scores are counted first. Then the word value is doubled or tripled.

• The letters “X” and “Z” may be found anywhere in the title, etc.

• The value of each tile is indicated on the tile, and blank tiles—the game's equivalent of a wild card—are worth zero points. Once a Team plays a blank tile and designates which letter it is, the Scrabble Queen will show the font in purple on the weekly update gameboard. That tile will be considered to be that letter for the remainder of the challenge.

          

Example of Team using a Blank Tile, Hooking, and Playing Perpendicular - assuming play as progressed, and OVERLAY already appears on the board.

PLACEMENT: Row 15, Column L, going across
“S” is 2XLS = 2, plus it hooks onto OVERLAY(S), so 1+4+1+1+1+1+4, Subtotal = 15
SEXY = 11
Then word ends on 3XWS = 33 points
TOTAL would be 48 points

S (1) Stone-Cold Lover by by Mel Teshco - read by ShoSho 7/20
E (1) Empty Net by Toni Aleo - read by Pat 7/20
X (8) XBestia by Melissa Conway - read by Alex 7/20
Y (0) Yours to Keep - read by Yvonne 7/20

• Teams may play off letters already on board WITHOUT having to read a book for that letter.

Example of Team 3 - using only series names & assuming Teams 1 & 2 posted on time (Team 3 goes the third hour).

PLACEMENT: Row 13, Column N, going down.
Subtotal of all letters = 13
“A” is 2XWS = 26
TOTAL = 26 points

W (4) - Wife Lottery #2 - When a Texan Gambles by Jodi Thomas - read by KarenP 7/18
A  (1) - Amelia Peabody #9 - Seeing a Large Cat by Elizabeth Peters - read by Dot 7/19
X (8) - Already on board.

★KEY POINT: If a Team doesn’t use all their members’ books, they may “bank” their book(s). For example, say a Team of four only posts a three-letter word; they may “bank” the remaining book for later use, following these guidelines:

Banking a Unused Book
• When “banking” unused books for a week, the Captain needs to clearly declare which book is to be used at the time of “banking” or “withdrawing from bank.”
• An unused book read by a member may be “banked” for any tile that a Team acquires in a future week. (Remember, you get new tiles every week.)
• However, there might be an exception to this last rule, in exchange for puzzles completed.
• A Team has until the end of the challenge to use these “banked” books.

Interesting & Helpful Sites

- Internet Scrabble Club
- Is Your Word Official? Hasbro Scrabble - Site we are using to verify.
- Merrian Webster Scrabble
- PSD File of Fonts
- Scrabble Rules per Wiki
- Wordfinder for Scrabble
- Scrabble Fonts
- www.word-buff.com (How to Win at Scrabble)
- Solver

Only one addition to the Rules: Doing puzzles will earn you cupcakes. There will be at least one puzzle enthusiast on each team. A certain number of puzzles done each week will earn you the privilege of keeping one of your designated letters for a future week.

More on Cupcakes explained HERE.

#1Q - Can we spell out one of the names of our book characters?
#1A - No. Sorry. There are no proper nouns in Scrabble.

#2Q - What if we only use two letters, like in the example for Team 3. Can we can "bank" both unused books?
#2A - Yes, you may!

#3Q - What if, after another Team posts their word, we see a better word to spell than the one we planned? Can we switch?
#3A - Sure, as long as you haven't yet posted in the final submission thread. Once you have submitted your word, you may NOT change it, even if you still have time remaining before the end of your hour to post.

#Q4 - Since this is romance group, is this romance only books?
#A4 - Nope. Any genre is alright, as long as the book is greater than 160 pages and not graphic novel or “coffee table” picture book.

#Q5 - Is the team going first random, or will there be a set schedule? This could make a huge difference in what letters are read if we can add to other words on the board.
#A5 - The Team to go first the first time will be decided by an undisclosed factor. So will second, third, fourth, etc. However, in fairness, every Team will rotate through each position with the start of a new week.

#Q6 - In my opinion, that Team playing first the first week still has serious disadvantage.
#A6 - True. Because of that, we’ll let them choose their position for the next week. However, only that very first Team that very first week. This is just a “beta test” of our first try at this; in a future round we will most likely have multiple gameboards in play, with people going in different order.

Q#7 - Can we use “banked books” for 5 or more letter words?
A#7 - Certainly.

Q#8: May we re-read books for this challenge or something?

A#8: As long has it has been more than six months since you've read it and you don't skim, re-reads are allowed.

Q#9: I'm wondering, can team members read a second book to get the extra letters?

A#9: Yes, they may.

Please Note: We are distinguishing between "banking" and "carrying over" a tile/letter.

You may "bank" a book that is read and not used for any given week, if no other book has been read by that Team Member.

However, if you cash in your cupcakes to "carry over" a tile/letter you may want to use for a future week, you may not use the book that was read when your members 'doubled up' on their reading to cover all possible tiles/letters.

Does that make sense? Or do you need further explanation?

Q#10: "Just checking since I couldn't find the info - for character names, do the characters have to be main or supporting or can it be some minor character also?"

A#10: They may be a supporting character. That's fine. As long as they have more than a "walk on" role. By this we mean, for example, a maid who is mentioned once would NOT count.

Nicknames are fine, as long as they are mentioned/used in the book, not one you associate with that character's name.

Reserved.

Reserved.

If one team member reads say 3 books in one week, would only 1 of those books count or could they all count?

Just one.

Okay, thanks I just wanted to make sure.

I'm so proud of myself, I actually read all the rules! And mostly understood them!

**chuckles** I'm proud of you, too, ~Leslie~. A little something for you:

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Only one addition to the Rules: Doing puzzles will earn you cupcakes. There will be at least one puzzle enthusiast on each team. A certain number of puzzles done each week will earn you the privilege of keeping one of your designated letters for a future week.

More on Cupcakes explained HERE.

Another site added above:

- www.word-buff.com (How to Win at Scrabble)

Thanks, LK!! I got all sorts of warm fuzzies from my sparklers!!

One more thing. At the start of any Scrabble game, the first word "MUST" start on the star on the middle part of the board and each word "MUST" be formed on any existing word. The first example above would be an illegal move because the word "GLIB" does not start on the middle star. If I am wrong, then I am sorry but I have played Scrabble both in person and online @ Facebook and Hasbro sites and this is the rule there. I am interested in playing.

--DREW

Sounds good to me, Drew. I'll tell the first Team.

OMG, puzzles can be done even if we aren't playing Scrabble!!!!!!!!! So excited!!! *subscribes to Cupcake thread when it goes live*

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "OMG, puzzles can be done even if we aren't playing Scrabble!!!!!!!!! So excited!!! *subscribes to Cupcake thread when it goes live*"

Just let me know you're not part of the team. It'll save me time looking for you ☺

Copy that! *cupcake salute*

Is there a thread where a picture of the gameboard will be posted each week?

Turtlecollector wrote: "Is there a thread where a picture of the gameboard will be posted each week?"

Yes, there will, T. We Mods are still debating whether or not to post the first word ourselves. ...and if we do, what that word will be. We should have a decision soon, and will start the thread and post the starting gameboard.

Scrabble Queen wrote: "Sounds good to me, Drew. I'll tell the first Team."

Does this mean we are always adding to what is on the board, just like in RL Scrabble instead of what is in the examples where we could put a word anywhere>

Also, is the initial order of teams for the first week what is listed in the spreadsheet?

Turtlecollector wrote: "Does this mean we are always adding to what is on the board, just like in RL Scrabble instead of what is in the examples where we could put a word anywhere..."

Yes, still working out the kinks, T, as this is a "beta test" of this game. We Mods are still debating this. But looks like we are going to more closely follow the RL Scrabble rules and have Teams add - or intersect - with the existing words/letters.

If we do start on "Center Square," it looks like the Mods will post the first word - be it short.

Turtlecollector wrote: "Also, is the initial order of teams for the first week what is listed in the spreadsheet?"

No. We Mods are still discussing how we will determine which Team goes first. Probably a roll of the dice.

We'll give you plenty of warning of all of the above, when we come to any decisions.

However, we do know the first week Teams may spell a word using "Mix 'N Match" or "anything goes." Meaning, titles, authors, series names, characters names.

In the rules it says the teams are picking which category to use each week. Are the mods going to be picking after all? Or is this part of the more than one option clause?

Sorry for all the questions now, but wanted to make sure before the game actually starts.

Turtlecollector wrote: "In the rules it says the teams are picking which category to use each week. Are the mods going to be picking after all? Or is this part of the more than one option clause?"

My sincere apologies. You are correct. Teams will decide which category to use each week.

EDIT: Category Options

- titles
- authors’ names (first or last)
- series titles
- characters’ names (first or last)
- “Mix ‘N Match”
- one duplicate of your Team's choice

Edited Post #23.

So we can do puzzles even if we haven't heard from our team yet? Will they count for our team if we do them before hand?

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "So we can do puzzles even if we haven't heard from our team yet? Will they count for our team if we do them before hand?"

If you know what team you are in, sure. ☺

After the first week will we know the order we post in as soon as we have our letters? It could make a difference in what gets read for the week if we are close the beginning and pretty sure we will able to spell what we want, or if we come later and may need to have as many options as possible.

Turtlecollector wrote: "After the first week will we know the order we post in as soon as we have our letters?"

Sure. Remind me, if I forget.

I have a couple of questions.

If/can we use longer words and have players read more than 1 book for that week, as long as everyone reads at least one? Say we have an 8 letter word. One letter being played from the tiles, that still leaves 7 letters and only 5 team members. What if we don't have banked books to use? I'm thinking of the first week or so. Are we limited to 5 or 6 letter words until we have banked books to fill in with?

Second question, can nicknames or shortened versions of names be used? For example, in Darkhouse you have Declan Forray, but he goes by Dex. Or in Rosemary and Rue you have October Daye, but she goes by Toby.

Good question, Nicole!

Nichole wrote: "If/can we use longer words and have players read more than 1 book for that week, as long as everyone reads at least one?"

Only one book read per week may count. You'll just have to spell a shorter word, or play off some other Team's tiles.

Nichole wrote: "Are we limited to 5 or 6 letter words until we have banked books to fill in with?"

I would say yes, except maybe you'll be able to do a longer word based off other tiles Teams have put down. I'm talking prefix and suffix here...

Nichole wrote: "...can nicknames or shortened versions of names be used? For example, in Darkhouse you have Declan Forray, but he goes by Dex."

I'm assuming you are talking about when you spell by character names - and NOT placing a character name on the board (since there are no proper nouns in Scrabble). YES, you may use a character's nickname, as long as it is used in the book read and not one you made up.

Thanks!

There seems to be some question on which comes first: playing the tile or reading the book. For the tile/letter you are planning on using, read the book.

Probable Order of Events/Decisions
-SQ gives Team their tiles/letters on a rack
-Team decides which word(s) they are going to spell (best to have back-ups!)
-Team Members (TM) figure out what category they are going to do (titles, authors, characters, series names), at least for the first week.
-TM decide who is going to read which letter
-TM READ their books (we'll let you know the official START DATE, when it okay to start reading)
-TC verifies TM have 'tagged' their books as "read" as they finish them
-Friday (Is Saturday better? Let us know.) comes around and TC post their words, adjusting as necessary to other Teams words placed on gameboard
-SQ verifies words and points

Game On! (Posting Thread) posted... Also shows order that Teams play. And the first word the Mods played is "B.O.O.K."

I'm still a little confused as to when we start reading for this.

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I'm still a little confused as to when we start reading for this."

We Mods are still discussing it, Mary: HD♥S. However, we will probably change to this:

May Start Reading: Saturday, August 9th
First Word Posted: Saturday, August 16th

Wow that's a long way away. I can't plan what to read that far ahead.

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "Wow that's a long way away. I can't plan what to read that far ahead."

I could put up a poll asking if everyone wants to start reading Saturday, August 2nd, but everyone who signed up would have to agree. Should I start one? If anyone wants to eMail me, please feel free to do so.

Poll for whether or not to start early is posted. IF there are no naysayers to starting early, then we will have a run-off on the last two.

Well, no naysayers, yet. Yay!

Results of Poll

There is no reason to do a run-off poll, as there were no naysayers. We do have one member who has not joined their secret group, nor voted, despite repeated attempts to contact them. We aren't sure what we are going to do about this.

The winner, by one point is:

WINNER - If Teams are to post on the 9th of August, then you need to start reading on the 2nd. 12 votes 52.2%

- If Teams are to post on the 2nd of August, then you need to start reading on the 26th (of July). 11 votes 47.8%

Is the person who has not joined Rosina, because she is on one of my other team challenges and she is on vacation and out of internet connection until this Saturday.

Turtlecollector wrote: "Is the person who has not joined Rosina, because she is on one of my other team challenges and she is on vacation and out of internet connection until this Saturday."

Yes. Thanks for the update, T.

More explanations on Rules have been added, as well as example pictures updated to reflect Mods starting off using BOOK.

Pay particular attention to what we say about "hooking."

If you see any errors, or have any questions, please let me know.

Lisa Kay wrote: "Turtlecollector wrote: "Is the person who has not joined Rosina, because she is on one of my other team challenges and she is on vacation and out of internet connection until this Saturday."

Yes. ..."

I'm sure she'll join as soon as she gets back.

So hooking is allowed or not?

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "So hooking is allowed or not?"

Hooking is allowed.

Im back ladies sorry for being mia. Thanks TC for letting everyone know my situation.

Hello Rosina. My name is DREW and I live in SW Michigan. It is nice to meet you!!

--DREW
Team Lexicologists

Hi drew
I live in canada near calgary Alberta. Nice to meet you. Looks like a fun game!