Backdated entry

[rabidsamfan]

Key to The Game
spoilers for that...











The game they are playing has to do with rules. All of the examples given follow a pattern which Pippin decided upon before starting up the game. Anything which fits the pattern "is"; anything which does not fit the pattern "is not".

So if the pattern Pippin had picked were "words beginning with c" he'd have given clues like:

It's a game of cat, but not dog. It's a game of chilly but not freezing. It's a game of can't but not won't.

The second word is important because it helps to indicate which homonym the first word is. And because it helps confuse the casual listener.

"It'a a game of cue, but not hint" is a better clue for our example than "Cue but not line" because a line can also be a queue.

Now, can you figure out Pippin's specific game? If not, look below...



























Pippin's pattern is words spelled with only one vowel. Once Boromir guesses it, he'll be the one to start the next game. (Unless he defers to someone else.)

BTW, I learned this game sitting in a laundromat on vacation listening to a group of teenagers play it as they did their laundry and not once did anyone explain it to me. Then I took it back to my family reunion and drove everyone nuts...

Comments

ARGH!!

[serai1.livejournal.com]

You are evil.

Thank you for this. I shall endeavor to drive people crazy with it in my turn.

Just out of curiosity, what was it Frodo was about to say to Legolas when the other hobbits shushed him?

Re: ARGH!!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

"Not if you're spelling it right", meaning the word "Elves" with two E's as opposed to the sometimes seen "elfs" -- which makes me crazy with wanting to correct it! But that would have been too clear a hint for the others.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Now that I understand it I have to test it on my RL friends and family I think. Thanks for giving us the clue.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

In Norwegian you could use the pattern of feminine or masculine too, couldn't you? Depending on which version of "the" the noun took, I mean. Not an option in English! Start with a very easy pattern though, like beginning letters, so that you can gain allies quickly.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

How did you know that? I haven`t thought of it but yes we could. Oh wait. You have some Norwegian anscestors don`t you?

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Ayuh. And I took Norwegian in college -- although that was many years ago and most of it has leaked out of my brain from lack of use now.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Betyr det at du forstår hva jeg sier når jeg svarer på norsk? :)

[perepip.livejournal.com]

I was right! *grins*

This is definately a game to bug my family and friends with. Although my mom is good at that kind of thing...she always beats everyone at Hinky-Pinky and the Name Game...

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

If your family plays games like Hinky Pinky you should definitely try this one on them. They'll appreciate it. (And that's probably why you figured it out without looking at the key! Congratulations!)