Inter-Guild Quiz Competition: Discussion Thread

[Aulë]

Once again, I have come up with a harebrained scheme to get some inter-Guild rivalry happening once more. Last time, it was the Debating Tournament which although it was a success, it went for a rather (very) long time. So whilst you Tolkien scholars recover your strength, I thought that a more lighthearted competition would be ideal- one that members don't need to have to memorise History of Middle Earth to do well in. :)

My idea: an IRC-based quiz competition.
The quiz would be played on IRC, where a triviabot would ask a series of Tolkien-related questions. To do well in this game, one would have to have a good mix of Tolkien-knowledge, and quick reflexes.

Example of quiz:
<TolkienBot> {MoxQuizz} The question no.*9*is:
<TolkienBot> ********(The Hobbit) Who did Bard kill?
<Aule> Bob
<Snaga> George
<Ancalagon> Smaug
<TolkienBot> {MoxQuizz} Ancalagon solved after 8 seconds and now has <3> points (+1) on rank 2.
<TolkienBot> * * * *The answer was: Smaug
Now, the Triviabot that I have access to (MoxQuizz) has not yet been given the ability to group players in teams, so there will have to be someone to overwatch the quiz (either myself or someone not from Australia). The question database will be made up from a list that Gil-Galad has offered to give me.

For those of you without IRC, do not fear: Webmaster is organising a web-based IRC client that will allow you to use IRC without having to download the IRC program. It should be ready by next week.

The Guildmasters of the 6 main Guilds (Periaur, Tolkienology, Eruhini, Scholars, Ost-in-Edhil and Outcasts) have agreed to participate in this, although a few are concerned with the difficulties resulting from differing timezones. Obviously, tackling this problem will be the #1 issue, so could each Guild please determine what time their players will available during a normal day in GMT time (each quiz would last for about 30 mins, depending on the amount of points needed for a team to win (probably 10 or 20)).

Since Webmaster and Beorn are putting a lot of effort into the web-based client and triviabot, I was planning on holding this competition every two months. For each competition, each Guild will play each ofther once (5 rounds), and I would hope to have the competition wrapped up within 2 weeks.

Discuss.

[Manveru]

Sounds like fun to me... "real-time" brain-squeezer, why not? (though I'm not deep into IRC thingy... ah, our guild has so many members--yeah, right;)).
It should really be more "lighthearted" than that pompous and sometimes nervous TTF DT :p.

:D

[Finduilas]

Sounds good...bring it on!:p:D

[Elbereth]

Here is a question for you:

Will you be posting the scores in the threads here in TTF....or do we have to be on IRC to know who wins?

And if there is a thread...where will you post it?

I would also be interested in how many member you will want from each guild to participate.

I'm sure this has all been thought of ...but let's rehash it here.

[Aulë]

Will you be posting the scores in the threads here in TTF....or do we have to be on IRC to know who wins?

And if there is a thread...where will you post it?
Well I was planning on quoting the quiz in full, so that everyone can see what went on. I would probably put it all in another 'Scoreboard' thread in Member Announcements.

I would also be interested in how many member you will want from each guild to participate.
That is a good question.
Obviously, the more people per team, the harder it will be to organize since there will be a greater variation in timezones. I was thinking of having teams of three.
What do you think?

[Elbereth]

Three is the magic number afterall...I say 3 is just the right amount....any objections?

[Aulë]

Here is the web-based IRC client link:
http://www.thetolkienforum.com/irc/

There is no TolkienBot there yet, but Scatha and WM should have it sorted out by Monday. Therefore, I'd like for the competition to be running mid-week.

[Aulë]

Since it is taking so long to get the TriviaBot organized, I shall manually ask the questions until Scatha and Webmaster get the bot working.
Each round lasts for 3 days, as so there is a bit of flexibility for the two Guilds to find their ideal time to play each other. Depending on the time the two Guilds agree on, either myself or a chosen replacement shall ask the questions (until the QuizBot gets going).
Each team shall consist of up to 3 players. The quiz shall be a first to 15 game. Whever gets 15 points first wins the game. The quiz should take about 30 minutes to complete.

The Quiz takes place at this link: http://www.thetolkienforum.com/irc/

SCHEDULE
ROUND 1 (23rd - 25th February)
Scholars - Bye
Tolkienology vs. Ost-in-Edhil
Periaur vs. Outcasts

ROUND 2 (26th - 28th February)
Outcasts vs. Tolkienology
Ost-in-Edhil - Bye
Scholars vs. Periaur

ROUND 3 (29th Feb - 2nd March)
Scholars vs. Tolkienology
Periaur - Bye
Outcasts vs. Ost-in-Edhil

ROUND 4 (3rd March - 5th March)
Tolkienology vs. Periaur
Ost-in-Edhil vs. Scholars
Outcasts - Bye

ROUND 5 (6th - 8th March)
Outcasts vs. Scholars
Ost-in-Edhil vs. Periaur
Tolkienology - Bye

[Scatha]

Firstly: Where did you get these times that I would be available from? You never even asked, plus they are wrong. 0300 am (GMT) would be 4 am my time, at which point I am comfortably in bed during the week. In my weekends I mostly get online far after 2100 pm. (GMT)

The times available for Beth are also way off, as she hardly is around for 12 hrs straight. Plus the fact that she had already declined to organise a team to you.

Secondly: Sorry to rain on your parade, Aule, but you have placed the name of the Eruhini on this list, without consent that we would participate. As we have nobody interested in it, kindly remove the Eruhini from this schedule.

[Aulë]

Firstly: Where did you get these times that I would be available from? You never even asked, plus they are wrong. 0300 am (GMT) would be 4 am my time, at which point I am comfortably in bed during the week. In my weekends I mostly get online far after 2100 pm. (GMT)

The times available for Beth are also way off, as she hardly is around for 12 hrs straight. Plus the fact that she had already declined to organise a team to you.

Secondly: Sorry to rain on your parade, Aule, but you have placed the name of the Eruhini on this list, without consent that we would participate. As we have nobody interested in it, kindly remove the Eruhini from this schedule.I got those times from Beth, so back off! :mad:

Eruhini have been removed.

[Scatha]

Back off? I wasn't the one that placed the Eruhini on the list of participants without consent, that was your own mishap, Aule. You should have checked first.

[Aulë]

I did check, and you didn't give me a definate answer. I wasn't going to wait around for a month for you to get back to me. You have a habit of delaying things when I have to rely on you. Anyway, your Guild is off the schedule now, so you don't need to post here anymore.


Back to the quiz:

Quiz Rules
1). If no members of a Guild are present within 10 minutes of the scheduled starting time, then their Guild shall forfeit the round.
2). Members are to use their TTF name (if possible) on IRC.
3). Contestants are not to dispute the Quizmaster's decision.
4). All non-contestants shall not communicate with the competitors during the quiz.
5). TTF and IRC rules apply.

Scoring Rules
1). If two guilds do not put any effort towards finding a suitable timeslot for their quiz, then both shall recieve 0 points. If one Guild does so, and the other does not, then the Guild that did so will receive full points (3), and the other shall recieve none.
2). A win (first team to 15 points) shall be worth 3 points.
3). A loss shall be worth 1 point.

I'm sure there are plenty of things to add to that, but I'll have to think them over for a bit.

btw, the first round quiz between the Periaur and the Outcasts looks like it shall be taking place at 1800GMT on Tuesday. If anyone wishes to watch the quiz, they are most welcome to do so.

[Scatha]

1800 GMT tomorrow, would be 1900 my time, correct? (GMT=Greenwich main time?)

I can set up the room to moderated mode during the quiz for you, Aule, if you would prefer. Drop me a PM with the exact hour and i'll prepare it for you.

[Rhiannon]

Bad news, Aule darling...I now I said I could, but a fit of familial sponteneity has hit, and I can't be online at any time Tuesday. Wednesday, maybe, though an hour earlier would be better for me. Thursday is wide open, and, at a stretch, Friday morning is as well.

[Aulë]

Has anything been organized for the Tolkienology vs. Ost-in-Edhil quiz? If nothing is done by Thursday, I'll have to give both of you 0 points for the round.

Rhi: check the Outcast Quiz thread.

Scatha: I'll inform you as soon as I know when the Quiz will be.

[Scatha]

Ok Aule, I'll await the PM. :)

[Aulë]

OK, the 1st round quiz between the Periaur and the Outcasts shall take place in 40 minutes time. :)
Feel free to join http://www.thetolkienforum.com/irc/ and watch the quiz if you feel like it. :)

The teams should be:
Periaur
-Aule
-Fechin
-Aragorn21

Outcasts
-Gandalf White
-Rhiannon
-The Elf Herself




GoT v OiE: if neither of you have organized anything by Thursday, both of you will receive 0 points.

[Aulë]

Here's the thread for the transcripts, schedule and scorecard: http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?t=15163 :)

[Aulë]

Round 2 has now started.

Periaur are up against the Scholars.
The Outcasts are against the Tolkienologists.
And the Oldies get to rest their aging bones. ;)