For every game, a total of eleven people will be needed. I'm not making signups go in any particular way; but please note that when you sign up, you should specify whether you want to fill a contestant spot or a celebrity spot; if it's the latter, please also specify which square you'd like to fill on the grid below. My only true rule is that you refrain from taking the same square two games in a row.
In the first game, the first player to sign up for a contestant spot will take X, and the second will take O; from the second game on, the champion will take X and the challenger O.
The player representing X starts the first round by picking a panelist. That panelist will be given a question. You can give a joke answer if you want, but please
If a panelist cannot come up with an answer for a question, the contestant can either answer the question themselves or pass on the question, in which case the answer is revealed and a new question given.
The first player to get three-in-a-row on the board (or capture five squares) wins the round, as well as some bonus money.
After the first round, the player trailing begins the next round, and the game continues in this fashion until time is called, at which point the player in the lead wins and advances to the bonus round. The other player keeps their cash, as well as any prizes won via the Secret Square. If there is a tie at the moment time is called, the contestant in control picks one more panelist and plays one more question for the current round's square value; a correct prediction wins the match, an incorrect prediction gives the match to the opponent.
The cash value of rounds increases as the game goes on, and regardless of who wins a round, both players earn money for each square captured. Round 1 is worth $1,000 PLUS $250 for each square won. Round 2 is worth $2,000 plus $250 for each square won, and the Secret Square is in play. Round 3 is also worth $2,000, but squares increase to $500. Round 4 and on, if time is available to play them are played for $4,000 and $1,000 a square.
In round 2, the secret square comes into play. At the start of every Secret Square round, a prize is added to an accumulating jackpot of prizes, and a panelist is designated as the Secret Square. If either player chooses that panelist, a normal question is played. If the contestant responds "Agree" or "Disagree" correctly, they win the jackpot (which does not count towards the score) and the jackpot is reset for the next match; should the prediction be incorrect, the jackpot is simply carried over to the next match.
At this point, each panelist is given an envelope. Each envelope contains various amounts of cash and prizes (ranging from about $5,000 to the top prize of $100,000). The winner chooses a panelist, whose envelope is revealed. The chosen panelist and the winner then play one Secret Square question; the winner MUST guess correctly to win the prize.
Whether or not a prize is won in the bonus round, the champion plays again in the next game, and can continue to do so until either they lose a match or win 5 matches.
After 48 hours without an action, a warning will be sent to the player/panelist in action; if 24 more hours pass without an action, one of the following will happen:
-If the player in action was supposed to pick a square, one will be chosen for them at random
-If a panelist times out answering a question, the question is deferred to the contestant, who has the option to pass and move to a new question.
-If a contestant times out agreeing or disagreeing, it is treated as if they responded incorrectly.
(Credit for graphics goes to Tony Lane; thanks, Tony)
WAITING LISTS:
Contestants:
RedCoyote (?)
TheIrishPope (?)
StrangerCoug
puzzledan
bubbajack8
Panelists:
CuddlyCaucasian (no preference)
bubbajack8
Yiley
chesskid3