Hangman: The Forum Game, Edition XX

[Drogue]

drink

[Jonny]

Well, everyone's so not unselfish, so I'll guess too... prink.

[Ljube]

I think these are the only three words that fit, so no point in being "team-player".

[DrSpike]

The second two word guesses are not valid (rule 2). Please ignore them.

[Ljube]

Rule 2 defines conditions for an update, not validity of guesses. All three guesses are valid according to the current rules.

[snoopy369]

Rule 3 clearly states "letter guess", not "guess" or "letter or word guess". I rule in favor of Ljube's interpretation, as the only other rule indicates that you may guess a word at any time.

Originally posted by Drogue
drink

To you, sir.

[DrSpike]

It used to be the case that all word guesses were accepted when there were multiple guesses, but that is not how we've played it recently. Rule 2 says an update must occur after a word guess, and 3 says that any guesses after the conditions for an update are in place will be ignored.

However, rule 3 should say 'any letter or word guesses' to be more precise, as Snoopy says.

[snoopy369]

I disagree. There's no reason to require an update before a second word guess; it hurts the guesser not to have one, but if two people want to make word guesses, it slows the game down (perhaps unreasonably so) to require updates between them.

Anyway, I give the game to Drogue, when he wakes up.

[DrSpike]

The point is you have a constraint on the letter guesses, quite rightly, as otherwise people make lots of guesses when the setter isn't around. If the same doesn't apply you get the same carnage with word guesses, which is why the unwritten rule was introduced.

[Ljube]

I can recall at least two instances of a flood of word guesses (once it was 4 or 5 word guesses in a row if I remember correctly). It's not against the rules, and probably not even against unwritten rules. When word guesses are smart they ought to be made. When selfish and stupid, letter guesses are advised instead.

[joncha]

I agree with Spike.

[Drogue]

I believe that it's *far* to confusing to try to argue unwritten rules, as we seem to be getting a lot of them. Let's write the rules down, and then play by them. Pulling someone up for breaking a rule that isn't written in the rules is confusing and hardly helps others get involved in the game.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

10 guesses remaining

[Sparrowhawk]

A

[Ljube]

R


No need to change rules.

[Sparrowhawk]

Sure, why change the rules when we can debate them everytime there is confusion?

Unwritten rules are fine if everyone follows them (or at least all of the "regular" players). As there is disagreement even among the regulars, it seems clear that clarification is required to avoid the same problem in the future.

/me offers his 2 cents worth (1.5 cents Canadian)