There is always one person designated as the answerer. That person thinks of something (nothing *too *obscure!) and play begins. People start asking yes-or-no questions and the answerer (who should keep a list of what’s been answered so far) informs the group whether the answer is yes or no. There’s no hard limit to how often you can question the answerer but if your constant questioning is inhibiting others from playing you will be booed down and smited (your questions will be ignored). Pointless and repeat questions will beignored (“Is it a plant?” will be ignored if “Is it alive?” has already been answered in the negative, for example).
Once 20 questions have been asked and answered no further questions may be asked. The others now have 3 guesses. Whoever correctly guesses what the answerer has in mind either becomes the next answerer and play begins anew. If you guess correctly but don’t want to be the answerer you can choose someone to take the title. If the group fails to guess what the answerer had in mind that answerer can pick who to pass his title to.
Sample play:
[spoiler]Player A: OK, I’m the answerer. Go ahead and start guessing.
Player B: Is what you’re thinking of alive?
Player A: Nope.
1: It is not alive.
Player C: Would you find it in a kitchen?
Player A: Nope.
1: It is not alive.
2: You would not find it in a kitchen.
Player D: Is it a conflict diamond?
Player A: No.
1: It is not alive.
2: You would not find it in a kitchen.
3: It is not a conflict diamond.
Player E: Is it Alexander Haig, former United States Secretary of State?
Player A: Yes![/spoiler]
I’ll be the first answerer. Hopefully people are up to playing. Go ahead and start asking questions if you’d like to play.
Yes or no questions only. I’ll pretend you asked “Would you normally encounter this unknown item inside?”
Yes (iffy).
1: It is not an animal.
2: It is not a person.
3: It is not typically found in a house (iffy).
4: It is not bigger than a microwave.
5: It is something you’d normally encounter inside (iffy).
1: It is not an animal.
2: It is not a person.
3: It is not typically found in a house (iffy).
4: It is not bigger than a microwave.
5: It is something you’d normally encounter inside (iffy).
6: It doesn’t have moving parts.
1: It is not an animal.
2: It is not a person.
3: It is not typically found in a house (iffy).
4: It is not bigger than a microwave.
5: It is something you’d normally encounter inside (iffy).
6: It doesn’t have moving parts.
7: It isn’t a tool.
1: It is not an animal.
2: It is not a person.
3: It is not typically found in a house (iffy).
4: It is not bigger than a microwave.
5: It is something you’d normally encounter inside (iffy).
6: It doesn’t have moving parts.
7: It isn’t a tool.
8: It isn’t used for recreation.
Nope.
1: It is not an animal.
2: It is not a person.
3: It is not typically found in a house (iffy).
4: It is not bigger than a microwave.
5: It is something you’d normally encounter inside (iffy).
6: It doesn’t have moving parts.
7: It isn’t a tool.
8: It isn’t used for recreation.
9: Most people don’t have it.