In terms of timeline it would be easy to keep track I guess.
Like just say either every game we cycle an assigned "Time Keeper" or we can make it the job each round of the Clue Givers.... but essentially, whenever a phase starts we just come up with a template and it goes into the thread. Something like:
- Deadline for Clues to be posted in thread are due by someday at sometime FT.
- Deadline for Interception guesses to be posted in thread are due by someday at sometime FT.
or even just super generic: Next deadline is Someday at Sometime FT.
more just because I think it would be nice to have the handy reference point in the thread updated and all so no one accidentally misses.
Speaking of which we would have to decide how serious we want the rules to be:
- What happens if someone misses deadline? Do they just lose the opportunity to guess that round? Do they get a token? Should we implement a time token?
- Also, just my two cents, I think that at the start of any given round... if someone is the clue giver and they know they are VLA coming up or just super busy... I think extensions should kind of be given upon request, as long as they don't get carried away.
Yeah it's tricky. I think for no-downside guesses (I.e. interception attempts) there's no penalty for failing to guess other than losing your chance to intercept. But for same-team guesses where a wrong guess would earn you a token, failing to guess should count as a wrong guess. I would love to give one warning, but the problem is then teams could start using their warning strategically to skip a guess when they aren't sure.
So I would suggest this: For guessing the other team's clue, no penalty for failing to guess. For guessing your own team's clue, the first time you get an automatic 24-hour extension with a warning. After that it counts as a wrong guess. That seems fair and generous.
I think for simplicity sake there should be one 48-hour deadline for both guesses. And I agree that extensions asked for IN ADVANCE should be honored on request.
When exactly does the clock for submitting guesses start?
An example (assuming this is round 2)
Day 1: 00:01: Round starts, 48 hour timer for clue giving ends Day 3 00:01
Day 1: 12:30: Team 1gives their clue
Day 2: 11:30: Team 2 gives their clue
Option 1: 48 hour timer for clue guessing ends Day 5 00:01 (starts when clue giving timer ends)
Option 2: 48 hour timer for clue guessing ends Day 4 11:30 (starts when both clues are given)
Option 3: 48 hour timers for clue guessing ends Day 3 12:30 / Day 4: 11:30 (starts individually for when each clue is given)
I think we can rule out 3 as too complicated. But I could see arguments for both 1 and 2.
One thing about the window the same for both clues is that you really shouldn't post your clue for your team until the other team guesses first. So we may actually need a separate timer after that posts. Not critical as I don't think of any of us are into shenanigans, but say you wait until the end of the 48 hours, that shouldn't make you default on your team's guess. (or feel you have to post it first.
So I would stick with the two separate. 48 hours timer for intercept clues, then 24 hours additional for your team's clues.
^^^ this would be an argument for windows starting ASAP, i.e. when both clues are given or when both intercepts are given, etc.