New Scaratings

I just noticed this, which means most of you probably already know. (I expect BO's known since sometime last year )

Buzztime's game page for Showdown now lists the category choices for the next Showdown game

This Tuesday, the choices will be Russian Culture, Science, Literary Prizes, Classic Films, National Foods, Classical Music

Anybody have any idea how long this has been going on?

Respectfully submitted by Pengwn, long-term BO fodder

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/°v°\ • Every time Linux boots, a penguin gets its wings
I'm a solipsistic conspiracy theorist. I'm sure I must be up to something, and I won't stop until I find out what
Why not downgrade Plutonium to a dwarf element?

August the 24th was the first time.

This has been going on for a month or so. (Brandyb's post came in before mine.)

I have mixed feelings about this, but I think it could add some interest in Showdown's second-lowest scoring round. It does not affect how I play Showdown, though.

-- RWM

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"...It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED...."

Been going on for two months actually. They asked me about it last year, I said I hated it, so naturally it was implemented.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1238

Wouldn't want to disappoint my loving haters.

Don't like that they do. I try to avoid looking at them but have found myself checking. Doesn't change how I play though.

Next time they ask your opinion, go the other way.

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"Serenity Now!"

About the only thing we're doing different is that we're discussing the options ahead of time, rather than having to find consensus in a few seconds.

Assuming they follow the usual pattern, this will be the matchup pattern this week:
1) Russian Culture vs. Science
2) Literary Prizes vs. Classic Films
3) National Foods vs. Classical Music
4) Classic Films vs. Russian Culture
5) Classical Music vs. Literary Prizes
6) Science vs. National Foods

--Rick Magnus

I like that they post them ahead of time. If there are people we know who aren't regular players but specialize in a category (i.e. wrote a thesis on it) we might ask them to join. It allows some time for cramming last minute facts (i.e. Dwarf Planets). Then again... it leads to some pain... the week the announced Stage Designers I studied up on them for HOURS... and still missed one.

"Famous Middle Names" was another "cramable" option.

I don't know if it helps to cram on topics like that... probably creates false-sense of security. But, hell, I've been a student most of my life so it feels good to have something to "study."

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RABBIT

I'm not bad -- I'm just drawn that way.

Rabbit (or anyone else), can you tell me what the "Dwarf Planets" questions were ? I failed to get my team to choose the category, even though there are only five easily memorizable dwarf planets, a limited number of moons, and only one distinguishing characteristic: Haumea is football shaped.
XT

1, Makemake takes _____ years to orbit the sun.

2, Dysnomia is the moon of what dwarf planet?

Not 100% about the 2nd question, just remember the answer and thought it was the only dwarf planet listed. Neither question was difficult given the choices and a bit of astronomic knowledge.

BO

Fuddle duddle

_________________
/°v°\ • Every time Linux boots, a penguin gets its wings
I'm a solipsistic conspiracy theorist. I'm sure I must be up to something, and I won't stop until I find out what
Why not downgrade Plutonium to a dwarf element?

Yup--none of the other choices were even dwarf planets.

And RABBIT is right, it has slightly altered the way we play, at least for the tournament. I think all things being equal before they started providing categories, we probably would have opted for "Spanish Poets" given the choice between that and "Dwarf Planets," but since the latter was discrete enough to be "studiable" in manageable, manner we went that way. For the most part, though, the main effect has been to build consensus on certain categories before the game rather than during the round.

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Anon
"He may seem like Mr. Rogers but a dark spirit lies beneath."

Can anyone tell me what the German Films questions were?

First one asked about a German film that had a pedophile as the main character.

Would that have been "M" ?

Yep.