h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Answers to your Quanderies.

1) I like the idea of "first in, best dressed". Maybe have a sign on your page for a couple a days before the sign up, and then see.

2) You get no points for moving bases. You get 1 point for answering a question without it being challenged SUCCESSFULLY (ie if you say the wrong answer and someone else challenges and gives the right answer. NOTE: if someone challenges you without giving the RIGHT answer, OR if someone challenges a correct answer, the challenge is unsuccessfull. Understand? I'm not sure I do.)To the second part of your question, the answer is: Yes.

3)Yes, you still get that point. That's the point of challenging.

4)I like that idea. Taken on board.

5)That's why it should be in a chat environment, like a Yahoo! club, or maybe ICQ chat. Maybe we should have a Misfit refferendum to decide this.

6) If the day was on the Weekend, say sat. night.. more chance of people having no commitments. Get my drift?

ALSO, some more features I was thinking about: Say a question was answered wrong (what's the capital of the US? New York!) and a challenge has been made, but with the wrong answer again (Challenge! It's Cleveland!), another challenge is not possible. This'll stop people repetedly challenging until they get it right.
And, say a challenge is made on a right answer, do you think that should either give the batters a point, or lose the pitchers one?

And again, if there is anythiong you have a question about, suggestion for, or just dont plain understand, ask away.

Lance.

Another idea: because there is no way to stop a player getting 'home' after he/she gets to 2nd base, how about when the person gets to home, to earn that extra 3 points they have to answer a question given to them (and made up on the spot) by the catcher, but on the same subject as their original question was, ie if they got "in what country/s is the tiger indidgenous to" at the plate, maybe for the 3 points the catcher could ask "what was the name of the tiger in Kipling's The Jungle Book - the answer being Shere Khan. Yes/No?

Also, do you reckon there is a market for me starting a H2G2 Fiction page? Know anyone who'd contribute?

More good thoughts Lance - I think this might be starting to take shape. Here's some more options:

1) Batter answers correct, no challenge: batter to 1st, one point, anyone on base also moves up one base
2) Batter answers correct, challenge is incorrect: batter to 2nd, two points, and anyone is on base also advances 2 bases
3) Batter answers incorrect, no challenge: batter records a "normal out" (see #8)
4) Batter answers incorrect, challenge is correct: batter loses turn, batter records a "serious out" (see #8)
5) Batter answers incorrect, challenge is incorrect: batter is "out"
6) Once batter is on 1st, they cannot be removed by the other team.
7) Batter reaching home (4th) scores 3 points
8) Teams switch when they have totaled 3 "serious outs" or every member has one "normal out" each

I think that it could get too confusing to ask a question each time someone reaches home - especially if the question has to be made up on the spot. I also left out the bit about how you can get out even if you are on 1st - I didn't understand that part.

The normal out/serious out system will encourge people to challenge, but doesn't require you to challenge. You can just wait for every person to miss a question. But let's say I'm a super genius and never miss. My team's turn would keep going until you successfully challenge three times. On the other hand, if I answer right and you challenge, I go direct to 2nd and everyone moves up two bases. If runners are on 2nd and 3rd when this happens, my team gets 8 points (2 for me going to 2nd, and 3 each for the two runners scoring)

Thoughts on format: Referee would send list of questions to pitcher, pitcher picks question and "throws it" to batter. As soon as batter answers, other team may challenge. Only one challenge allowed - first fielder to post "challenge" will be the challenger. Fielder must wait for referee to recognize the challenge before giving the answer.

The toughest job will be the referee, who will have to pick many many fair questions. Perhaps they can be taken from internet quiz sites? Or quiz games like trivial pursuit/you don't know jack etc.?

I will mention this forum in the newsletter again, to try and draw more interest. In the meantime Lance, do you want to start working on a page that summarizes the rules? Obviously it will keep changing until we finalize it, but it would be easier than this forum for keeping track of the best ideas........

Ok I messed something up. #3-#5 should read like this:

3) Batter answers incorrect, no challenge: batter records a "normal out" (see #8)
4) Batter answers incorrect, challenge is correct: batter records a "serious out" (see #8)
5) Batter answers incorrect, challenge is incorrect: batter records a "normal out" but anyone on base moves up a base

As far as your question about h2g2 fiction, there is a similar project in progress:
http://www.h2g2.com/A23211
It seems geared more specifically towards humor.......

-TVF

I've made a page for the rules - it's just got our thoughts on it at the moment, i'll update it soonish. For the time, the page is at http://www.h2g2.com/P213292 . Add yer comments there, cause that's where I'll accept suggestions from. Also, the points you gave me:

1)Yep, sure.
2)Do you mean if you go to second the person there goes to third or home?
3)I think this should be the same as if the person got the question right. This encourages people to challenge. Remember, the only person who REALLY knows if it is is the referee. Nobody else (should) have the answers.
4) I think the idea of Normal and Serious outs complicates matters. If the batter is successfully challenged, he/she is OUT. three of these babies kills the team. Simple.
5) I think this should be, again, the same as 1) and 3). This urges people to challenge only if they have the right answer, and if they get it wrong, their team berates them. Just like in real sport .
6)Sure.
7)Yep
8)Teams switch when they have 3 outs.

Yeah, you're right about the Home Base Question part. It's just that once you get to first, you HAVE to get home. Unless the whole team is dismissed.

RE the Super Genius thing. You personally don't have to be challenged successfully three times - you don't need to be challenged at all. Your team mates can get three outs on their own, and you'll still be dismissed. Once you get a question right, you leave the plate.

Yep. I agree totally with the next part.

I think the referee should be able to get his questions from wherever he pleases. BTW the reason for him sending the questions (and not the answers) to the pitcher is so that the pitcher dosent challenge successfully every wrong answer. Also, so he can't give em to his team mates.

Keep on questioning/adding to this. The more questions I get, the more answers I think of, if you get my drift. But post em to the NEW forum on the Rules page.

Lance.

Whoops, that's the wrong link for that page. The link is: http://www.h2g2.com/A213337

This is looking good guys!! I knew Frink would come up with something (given time of course) and cheers to Lance as well! You guys seem to really be onto something here. Don't forget to give Peta a shout when things get a bit more formalized. Maybe one of TPTB or our new Lady Mayor could be the referee(umpire!!)? Though Fenny might want to play as she is a big baseball fan...

I'll keep reading and not commenting on things so you two can carry on!

- X

Thanks Jimi - don't hesitate to bring up any ideas you might have. Incidentally, I thought Lance might end up being the ump/ref, at least the first time round. After all, the concept was his to begin with

I was going to suggest I do that as well, but my *ahem* modesty *ahem* stopped me. So thanks for the invitation.

All this modesty is overpowering!!
LOL!!

It does smell a bit..

whew!

I'll just open a window... sorry about that.

*peeks in* Is it clear yet?