This site needs a new feature like it needs a hole in the head, but I’ve been promising some former players for some time now that I’d figure out a way to run a game with Survivor challenges that eliminates the strategic scheming facet of the game. I’m not sure I understand why people would want to eliminate the beauty of the double-cross from this thing, but here we are (seriously, though, I think this could be a ton of fun, and fairly quick).
The Creative Writing Marathon would combine Andrew M’s desire to play a game solely based on writing chops with Beau’s Turbo format (sort of) and AMR’s wishes to read a lot of the more “random short challenges.”
I’d run it this way:
*Twice a week (due Monday and Thursday, I think) there will be writing challenges that will probably not exceed 300 words. Nobody will be eliminated, but at the end of the season, the four highest scorers will be admitted into the playoffs for the championship.
*The judges – and frankly, it might just have to be me since I’m the only person who’s obsessive enough to do this every day – would hand out scores on the medal system. At the end of the day, the person with the fewest points would be eliminated, with, of course, non-submissions superseding low scores. I realize running challenges every day would make it tough on some, so I might have a bank of points that people can use (like, if they’re going to miss a day, they can say “I’ll use ten of my banked points for today.”
*I guess I don’t need a third bullet point. It would run until there were two people left, and after the last challenge, the person with more total points is the winner.
The nice thing about this is that I could run several a year without it getting too taxing on me, given the short challenges, and AMR’s short attention span would be sated with all the short challenges. And, though challenges would be due the day they’re announced, the Turbo site wouldn’t be utilized because any issues would seriously screw up the flow of the game. I’d just make a post with the challenge every day.
Comment on the format and join the game here if you like. Survivor XI doesn’t start until August 15th, so I would love to start a game on Monday if a lot of people are interested.
Now to get Werewolf together. Man, these days off make me think I’ve got all the time in the world…
Probable Players
Shawn Ashley
Peter Bruzek
Dean Carlson
Matthew Gilman
Sarah Johnson
David Larson
Brooks Maki
Andrew M
Matt Novak
Ian Pratt
Joseph Rakstad
Eric Schapp
Erik Sundberg
Catherine Wells
Colin Woolston
57 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm
hungry joe
i like it. everyday would be pretty rough though, i think.
July 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm
spookymilk
Remember, the vast majority of these would be very short. But this, for sure, is the feedback I need and I hope others comment on it.
Also, two-day challenges would most likely make it easier for me to find a second judge that’s willing to take on the season, so there’s that.
I’d totally be up for saying “You have two days to finish this, but remember if everyone does it today we can speed things up.” That would be worthless, though, since many players will wait until the last second no matter when that second occurs.
Another thing: there should probably be about three challenges before the first elimination. People who consistently have “off days” will be the ones who get eliminated eventually, but I’m not big on the idea of people getting eliminated because their first challenge is an off day.
July 26, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Andrew
I’m not sure I understand why people would want to eliminate the beauty of the double-cross from this thing
I have a very low tolerance for BS. Either I’m a better writer than you and you lose, or you’re a better writer than me and I lose. I find the idea that one becomes more likely to be voted off because they are writing very well to be asinine. I’d rather focus my efforts on creating a high-quality submission than worry about who’s trying to fuck me.
July 26, 2012 at 2:46 pm
spookymilk
Twas a joak, Mags. I easily see the draw of a game like this.
As for Survivor, whether the challenges are writing, strategic or otherwise, they’re just a way to play the actual game. Spookymilk Survivor isn’t a writing competition, no matter how much it looks like one. I mean, it obviously has a large bearing on the game, but it isn’t meant to be the main part of the game.
This game is specifically created so that is the main draw of the game. I’m honestly sorry I didn’t put it together sooner.
July 26, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Andrew
I understand that Survivor and Werewolf are strategy games, which is why I’ve avoided them. However, the one Survivor I did play I enjoyed the challenges. Thanks for putting this version together.
July 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm
spookymilk
Thanks for (partially unintentionally) getting the idea clear in my head!
July 26, 2012 at 4:04 pm
infantsquirrel
Amen, brother. I’m so in!
July 26, 2012 at 2:46 pm
punmanbowler
I like the idea of a long term writing challenge that evaluates the writer over the long course of a season. Think the baseball season, but with writing. Really, why would you even need to do eliminations. Even if it weren’t every day but every week.
Also, I’ve done a Battle of the Bands style contest where everyone submits a song, and everyone evaluates everyone else. Let’s say 12 people submit, everyone has 12 points to allocate among the songs, with no more than 4 for a single song and you may vote for no fewer than 8 songs (to keep from allocating 1 to each). We also allowed non-submitters to vote. Now, with writing there may be the trouble that we recognize each other’s writing style, but to be honest, everyone in the Band contest recognized everyone’s music style.
Just a couple ideas to throw out there.
July 26, 2012 at 2:50 pm
spookymilk
I worry a lot about the players being allowed to vote. There would almost certainly be players with agendas, and that would be impossible to police if it got out of hand.
I’m willing to at least think about a non-elimination version of the game. I was going to allow eliminated players to continue playing, but here’s another idea:
The players are separated into “leagues” and at the end of the season, four players (or eight, depending upon number of entrants) are allowed into the playoffs. Their seeding determines their playoff opponent, and the winners face off in the World Series.
July 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm
eahnpurato
I would definitely do this.
July 26, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Grey
I’d do a m-w-f schedule.
everyday I think opens the door for too many non submits…
I’d also be willing to judge.
July 26, 2012 at 2:57 pm
spookymilk
If I do the “league” idea, I’d probably do one or two challenges a week, at most.
I also think I’d cap it at 16 players, just to keep it manageable.
July 26, 2012 at 2:58 pm
nibbish
I’d occasionally play, and be willing to judge if you needed. I like the “league” idea better, if there’s going to be no strategy involved.
July 26, 2012 at 3:09 pm
spookymilk
I’m pretty well sold on the league idea as well as a 16-person cap. I’d probably do two challenges a week for eight weeks.
July 26, 2012 at 3:22 pm
mbnovak
I’m loving the league idea. I also think the 2-day writing period would be important for me, what with the kids and all. But given those things, I’d be game.
July 26, 2012 at 3:25 pm
spookymilk
Considering I’m thinking of a 16-person field, judging would be a hell of a thing if I did more than two a week. Don’t expect more than that.
How long should this run? Sixteen challengers, sixteen challenges, two a week for eight weeks, then playoffs? Sounds decent to me, and we could easily do a few a year.
July 26, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Andrew
I’m liking the leagues idea. It’ll let those who have consistently done well to rise to the top, and mitigate a bad entry or two completely screwing someone.
The 16-16-8 plan sounds good too. Brisk, but not too fast.
July 26, 2012 at 3:41 pm
mbnovak
I’d maybe even go a little shorter… 12 challenges and then playoffs? Especially since there’ll be an actual, longer writing survivor again someday.
July 26, 2012 at 3:24 pm
daneekasghost
I like writing. I’m in for this.
July 26, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Andrew
Well shit. We’re all boned.
July 26, 2012 at 5:30 pm
daneekasghost
Nah, didn’t you read the last season? I’m all strategy now.
July 26, 2012 at 4:04 pm
infantsquirrel
CHEETAH SQUIRREL! CAW-CAWSOME!!!!
July 26, 2012 at 3:50 pm
uberminz
I enjoy being constantly judged. Put my name in the hopper.
July 26, 2012 at 3:55 pm
spookymilk
I’ve got twelve already, I think, and plan to cap it at 16.
Also, and perhaps this is obvious, once this next Werewolf game is over I probably won’t run or play anything here in a while. Between this and Survivor XI, I’ll have plenty going on.
If others want to play/run Diplomacy, Werewolf, and whatever, I of course will still allow my site to be a hub for such things.
July 26, 2012 at 4:57 pm
The Dread Pirate
If others want to play/run Diplomacy, Werewolf, and whatever, I of course will still allow my site to be a hub for such things.
With all these games going on, is there ever going to be interest in a bunch of people getting together and playing a historical baseball game like Out of the Park? I’m in 2 online leagues (one is in 1948 and the other 1977) and they’re ridiculously fun. I could try to figure out how to be a commissioner if a bunch of people were interested (of course, OOTP costs money to buy but there’s no cost once it’s installed rather than season-to-season like other games).
/End highjack
July 26, 2012 at 10:53 pm
nibbish
I’ve got X installed on my PC. I’m game if we can get some folk together.
July 26, 2012 at 11:43 pm
adobery
Hit up TDO. I know he owns it.
August 2, 2012 at 8:01 am
TDO
Hell yeah I’d play! I host 2 OOTP leagues right now. One started back in 1903 the other is current day. I have OOTP12 and OOTP13.
July 26, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Rhubarb_Runner
Two a week? Yeah, I could handle that.
July 26, 2012 at 4:05 pm
infantsquirrel
I’m super excited! HIGH FIVING JOHN’S FACE WITH MY FISTS!!!!!
July 26, 2012 at 4:24 pm
uberminz
No domestic abuse until AFTER the wedding, silly.
July 27, 2012 at 1:13 pm
infantsquirrel
Oh, hell. I’ve never been a traditional gal!
July 26, 2012 at 4:12 pm
kg2005
Finally! Something I don’t have to participate in!
July 26, 2012 at 5:37 pm
yickit
In especially if its not M-F. Boom.
July 26, 2012 at 5:39 pm
spookymilk
I suspect that Monday and Thursday will be the due dates.
Also, no matter what days I settle on, it’ll always be at the same time of day (I’m thinking 7pm Central). It’s just easier to keep track of.
July 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
spookymilk
So, yeah. Monday and Thursday challenges, two a week for eight weeks. Since no voting period will occur, I’ll just post the next challenge at the end of every results post.
Hopefully, players who don’t look like they’ll be winning the division still stay engaged.
I would gladly have started today if we’d gotten to 16 people (we’re at 13, and most likely, one of them will be judging), but we’ll probably announce the first one on Monday.
Other things to consider:
a) Colin and Pete have both expressed interest in judging this if they don’t play. Beezy has also talked about judging sometime, though I don’t think she’s even seen this post yet. Any feelings on that? (If so, please answer via email rather than here in public)
b) How should I determine who’s in which league? Or, a la Barclays Premier League, should I just have a single Table and the top four go to the championship tournament?
July 26, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Andrew
I’d think an EPL-style table might more accurately reflect the top 4 entrants. Take a look at the convoluted MLS playoff system for an argument against divisions.
Just an idea, but what about 4 pods of 4? What we do at rugby tournaments is then 4 playoffs – the winners of each pool in one bracket, all the 2nds in one bracket, and so on. It’s more judging, but if people are finishing 13-16th, they still might be inclined to stay active to at least win their bracket.
July 26, 2012 at 7:10 pm
mbnovak
That’s a fantastic idea.
Also, I totally want to see Colin and Pete as judges, so either way works for me.
July 26, 2012 at 10:28 pm
mbnovak
I’ve decided that Colin needs to be a judge, so that Pete can stand a chance at winning again, and close the gap on Brooks.
July 26, 2012 at 10:33 pm
spookymilk
I appreciate the thought, but these records will be completely separate from the Survivor records.
July 26, 2012 at 10:35 pm
mbnovak
Well forget everything I said then. They’re both good.
July 26, 2012 at 9:39 pm
spookymilk
I don’t dislike the Pod idea, but I’m also not in love with passing eight of sixteen players through to the playoffs. I’m open, but I’m more into the idea of the top four.
The other twelve could still fight it out for position during the playoffs, I suppose.
So far, not much commentary on the question of judging, other than “I’m cool with whoever.” I’ll just flip a (random.org) coin to decide if that’s where we stay.
Anyway, we need four more writers.
July 26, 2012 at 10:27 pm
mbnovak
I guess I just liked the idea of the consolation brackets.
July 26, 2012 at 10:31 pm
spookymilk
I sort of do too, but I’m not sure anyone who finishes 13-16 will care about the third consolation tournament.
July 26, 2012 at 10:36 pm
mbnovak
Oh who are we kidding? 9 – 16 are gonna be nonsubs in submission periods 1 – 8 anyway.
July 26, 2012 at 10:38 pm
spookymilk
I’m pretty worried about nonsubs in this one, but I sincerely hope that having fun, creating something and getting better is the star here, and the competition is just something to tie it all together. I really hope people who fall behind don’t stop showing up.
July 26, 2012 at 9:50 pm
freealonzo
O.k.what the fuck. Sign me up. But I’m going to try to run a set of rotating themes for all my submissions:
1. Anal Sex
2. Van Halen
3. Matt Novak is mean
4. meta
I’m sure I can blow out 300 words on each of those topics for at least a few rounds until the judges get sick of me.
July 26, 2012 at 10:25 pm
kg2005
I would give three of these very high scores.
July 26, 2012 at 10:30 pm
spookymilk
Me too. I fuckin’ hate meta.
July 26, 2012 at 10:36 pm
mbnovak
At least he doesn’t hate Matt-a.
July 26, 2012 at 11:46 pm
adobery
I’m gonna cue up some Paramore for us.
July 26, 2012 at 10:27 pm
mbnovak
Hey now! I’m a really nice guy. Not that you’d ever be able to recognize it you stupid jerkface.
July 26, 2012 at 10:56 pm
nibbish
It’s true. If I’d met him before the X finale I probably would’ve never made that Novak voodoo doll and stuck him with the “never win a final challenge” pin.
July 26, 2012 at 10:58 pm
mbnovak
Wait, you’ve got a voodoo doll? Time to find another pigeon I see…
July 26, 2012 at 11:00 pm
nibbish
…hmm….let me check my notes….
July 27, 2012 at 1:00 am
AMR
Spooky, I really liked your first entry, but by the third it looked like you ran out of steam.
July 27, 2012 at 1:00 am
AMR
Wait, there was a Turbo Site? No wonder the submitters lost to damned much!