Has it really been four years since the Botticelli threads? Funny, I’ve been thinking of starting one for months now, but never got to it. Anyway, I thought I’d post the rules Zeldar posted back then:
Wanna play Botticelli? was started Tuesday morning with one variation to the rules explained in the Wikipedia article Botticelli (game) – which you should read if the game is unfamiliar to you. Our variation was to use TWO initials instead of the ONE mentioned in the article.
In this iteration of the Wikipedia rules, we’ll try to follow these variations until they cause us problems we can’t solve:
Please label your Guess as either IQ (Indirect Question) or DQ (Direct Question) so that the Chooser (the Doper who has selected the name all others are trying to guess) can know the type of answer to be given to that guess.
The Chooser has these options for answers, depending on whether the Question is Indirect or Direct:
2-I1): If the Chooser knows someone for whom the Guesser’s initials apply – whether or not those initials might apply to the Chooser’s chosen Identity – the Chooser may answer: “No, I am not <the other person for whom the initials work>” and that particular Guesser remains in Indirect Mode.
2-I2): If the Chooser cannot identify someone – (including the Chooser’s chosen Identity ) – with the attributes provided by the Guesser, the Chooser may answer “No, and I don’t know who you mean.” which allows that particular Guesser ONE Direct Question. The Guesser should quote the Chooser’s response and label the Direct Question as such, so the Chooser will know the options available for the follow-up question.
2-I3): If the Guesser’s criteria match with the Chooser’s Identity – AND the Chooser is unable to name someone else with those same initials who also matches the criteria – The Chooser must answer “Yes, I am <Identity’s name>” thereby giving that Guesser a win of the game.
2-D): Legitimate answers are “Yes,” “No,” and “I don’t know.” Additional details are permissible but not required. Chooser gives extra information at his/her own risk. The “I don’t know” response allows that Guesser an additional DQ. Again, the Guesser should quote Chooser’s response and label the follow-up as DQ.
Whether in response to an IQ or a DQ (in both types of Guesses this will be legal for the Guesser) if the Guess is “Are you <some specific person with the initials in question>?” (as opposed to someone with defined characteristics) the Chooser’s answers must be either “Yes” or “No” and, if “Yes” then the Guesser wins the game.
The Chosen Identity – in this particular thread – must be an actual person, dead or alive, but someone who has actually lived.
The Indirect Question(s) may refer to real or fictional people, characters or personages in fictional works, but must be Proper Names. Example: if the Chooser’s Identity’s initials are RS, then “rolling stone” or “red snake” or “rotting spinach” would not be legal entities to which Guesser’s attributes apply.
Both Guesser and Chooser should quote the post to which he or she is responding. This should avoid much confusion!
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For other fine points not covered in the Wikipedia article, Zeldar will arbitrate any disputed issues in this thread . Those Dopers who wish to select other variations and/or other interpretations of the rules, are urged to start another thread.
I see that this thread uses a single initial, rather than the two-initial variant.