NOTE: This is a NEW change for 2018. Themed Death Pool Lists will be posted and tracked in a separate thread. If you are looking for the 2019 Celebrity Death Pool thread, click here
phungi (aka: the Death Shroom) checking in as your 2019 Death Pool chaperone. Baker (aka: the Death Mistress) has returned for the "regular"pool, but it remains an honor to lead you in this important off-shoot.
In case anyone is new to this game, the rules are outlined below. There are a few new rules so read carefully.
The Rules:
[ol]You pick 13 celebrities (plus 3 alternates) that you predict will die in the year 2018. If any of your celebrities dies, you score 100 points minus their age at death. Whoever has the most points at the end of the year…wins. It’s rather simple.
Please check the spelling if your celebrity’s names, as editing takes hours. Also, please do not put spaces between abbreviated letters.
For example: “George H.W. Bush” instead of George H. W. Bush"
[li]Players may submit lists to both the “regular” and “themed” pools. However, those posting a Themed list should explain the theme.[/li][li]All picks must be made by December 31st, 2018, at 11:59PM, CENTRAL TIME. Late entries (i.e., ANY time after midnight of Jan 1st) will be turned away. [/li][li]Valid picks CANNOT be: [/li]
a. already dead
b. fictional
d. under age 18
e. a registered member of the SDMB
f. hostages held by terrorist organizations
g. famous solely as a result of their illness or the events surrounding their death (see #14 below)
[li]If you have any questions about who is or is not a celebrity, feel free to post to the thread or PM me. This is why we include 3 alternates, so if a pick is designated to be invalid, your first alternate will be elevated to your list.[/li][li]If we are uncertain about the celebrity’s age at death, we will go by the higher age (lower score). [/li][li]Prisoners held on death row count only if they die by means other than official execution.[/li][li]If you kill anyone on your list to try to get ahead or cheat, then you’re automatically disqualified. [/li][li]Editing your choices: You can change the people on your list as many times as you wish before the deadline above, just make sure that your FINAL list is known, otherwise I’m going to take the first 13 of yours I see listed.[/li][li]Alternates are important, in the case of a pick being invalid, or a pick dying prior to January 1st.[/li][li]If a player changes their username at some point, post this news on the thread, or PM me, so I know who you are. [/li][li]Tracking celebrity deaths is the job of each individual player. Wiki maintains a page of deaths each month, and is an excellent reference.[/li][li]I create and share a Scorekeeper in the form of an Excel Spreadsheet. I am happy to share this with any and all participants. I generally post to a DropBox folder, and update it after every death. If you do not have DropBox, sign up (it is free).[/li][li]Determination of who is a celebrity will remain a subjective matter, but generally defined as “the person has some known presence in the form of a Wikipedia Page and/or notoriety in the news or such” and their fame or celebrity cannot be based solely on their having a terminal illness". Sole possession of a Wikipedia page will not constitute “celebrity”. If questioned, the person who posted that individual may be required provide such evidence.[/li]
Questions may be raised about the appropriateness of a pick at any point after a list is posted, even after 1/1/19. Alternates picks play an important role, as “questionable” picks may be disqualified post-posting.
[li]Themed lists will be submitted and tracked through a separate thread/pool, linked here.[/li][li]There is no exchange of money, that would be in poor taste. Rather, each year, we share the following awards:[/li]The “Opening Kickoff” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the first listed celebrity to die in 2019.
The “Quantity Not Quality” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the greatest number of celebrities who died, regardless of their actual point value.
The “Grim Reaper” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who had the most unique picks that died.
The “Robbing the Cradle” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the youngest celebrity to die in 2019, but see rule 3d.
The “Final Hours” Award: awarded to the poster or posters who pick the last listed celebrity to die in 2019.
[li]You need to submit a clean list, with no explanations, dates of birth, titles, etc. If you want to add commentary, include this below your clean list.[/li]For example:
Theme: Brady Bunch
Clean list:
Robert Reed
Florence Henderson
Ann B. Davis
Barry Williams
Maureen McCormick
Christopher Knight
Eve Plumb
Mike Lookinland
Susan Olsen
Allan Melvin
Jack Collins
Robbie Rist
Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Annotated list:
Robert Reed as Mike Brady
Florence Henderson as Carol Brady
Ann B. Davis as Alice Nelson
Barry Williams as Greg Brady
Maureen McCormick as Marcia Brady
Christopher Knight as Peter Brady
Eve Plumb as Jan Brady
Mike Lookinland as Bobby Brady
Susan Olsen as Cindy Brady
Allan Melvin as Sam Franklin
Jack Collins as Mr. Phillips
Robbie Rist as Cousin Oliver
Desi Arnaz, Jr. as himself
[li]Scoring: When a celebrity dies, you get their age at death subtracted from 100. All celebrities who are 100 or over count, but you get “0” Points for their death, contributing to the “Quantity not Quality” award.[/li]
[/ol]
If anyone has any questions, post to the thread, or PM me.
Have fun, everyone. Good luck!