Forum Game: Codenames - Jiggles 1 Roon 1 Awww isn't that nice

Fed up talking videogames? Why?
User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostForum Game: Codenames - Jiggles 1 Roon 1 Awww isn't that nice
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:24 am

I'm bored so let's run a little game. It'll need people present for the workd day and ideal 6 plus

If we get enough will start at 11.

Codenames has an espionage setting, in which players in teams try to identify their own team's secret agents, based on their agents' code names. Codenames is a game of guessing which code names (words) in a set are related to a hint-word given by another player.[1]
Players split into two teams: red and blue. One player of each team is selected as the team's spymaster; the others are field operatives.

There are three stacks of cards: code name cards, map cards, and identity cards. These will all be described later. (These descriptive names are used in this article, and are not taken from any official game source.)
Twenty-five code name cards, each bearing a word, are laid out in a 5×5 rectangular grid, in random order. The words are understood to be the code names assigned to twenty-five people. A number of these words represent red agents, a number represent blue agents, one represents a deadly assassin, and the others represent innocent bystanders.

The teams' spymasters are given a randomly-dealt map card showing a 5×5 grid of 25 squares of various colors, each corresponding to one of the code name cards on the table. The map card's squares thus mark the grid-positions of the agents of each color (colored either red or blue), the innocent bystanders (colored tan), and the assassin (colored black). Only the spymasters know the location of these or see the map. A small plastic stand is provided to hold the map card upright, also preventing the map from being rotated accidentally, since the orientation of the map must remain consistent with the code name (word) cards throughout the game. Each map card also indicates which team plays first in the game in which it is used; whichever team plays first has one more agent to uncover than does the other team. (There are four small rectangles, one on each side of the map grid, in the color of the team which plays first.)

Teams take turns. On each turn, the appropriate spymaster gives a hint about their agents' identities by giving verbal hints about the words on the respective cards. Each hint may only consist of one single word and a number. The spymaster should give a hint that is related to as many of the words on his/her own agents' cards as possible, but not to any others -- lest they accidentally lead their team to choose a card representing an innocent bystander, an opposing agent, or the assassin.

The hint's word can be chosen freely, as long as it is not (and does not contain) any of the words on the code name cards still showing at that time. (Code name cards will be covered as guesses are made; and covered words may be used as hints.) If the teams agree, two words that act as one might be permissible -- such as "Taj Mahal" or "Sean Connery" or "New York" -- but if a spymaster has any question about a hint they might give or about the meaning of any of the code name cards' words, they should simply ask the rival spymaster for a ruling, out of earshot of the field operatives.

The hint's number tells the field operatives how many words in the grid are related to the word of the clue. It also determines the maximum number of guesses the field operatives may make on that turn, which is the hint's number plus one. (This allows the field operatives, potentially, to find each of the hinted-at agents and then make one more guess, perhaps to follow up on a previous missed hint or take a desperate chance on a random guess.) Field operatives must make at least one guess per turn, risking a wrong guess and its consequences. They may also end their turn voluntarily at any point thereafter, since incorrect guesses have additional, worse consequences than simply ending the turn.

After a spymaster gives the hint with its word and number, their field operatives make guesses about which code name cards bear words related to the hint and point them out, one at a time. When a code name card is pointed out, the spymaster covers that card with an appropriate identity card -- a blue agent card, a red agent card, an innocent bystander card, or the assassin card -- as indicated on the spymasters' map of the grid. If the assassin is pointed out, the game ends immediately, with the team who identified him losing. If an agent of the other team is pointed out, the turn ends immediately, and that other team is also one agent closer to winning. If an innocent bystander is pointed out, the turn simply ends; but note that this also eliminates one more potential wrong guess that the other team might have made, right before their turn. If an agent of the playing team is pointed out, the team may point out another card if they have guesses left. Again, the maximum number of guesses in any turn is the hint's number plus one.

It is very important that the spymasters cover the code name cards with an identity card without giving any other clues, verbal or non-verbal, as to the field operatives' success in correctly using any hints. As much as possible, even emotional cues should be avoided. The field operatives should only know the identity uncovered each time. In particular, they should not know whether an uncovered agent of their own color was one that their spymaster meant to lead them to with that particular turn's hint or not. Such information really can affect later guesses and turns. (For instance, given a hint of "example 3", and identifying three of their agents but being told that one of them hadn't been one of those hinted at by "example 3", the players will naturally look for another code name related to the word "example" on that or a future turn. And if they are told that all three of their guesses were the ones hinted at, they won't possibly waste effort on looking for more related to that hint. The uncertainty and possible carry-over of hints between turns is part of the play.) Similarly, spymasters should avoid looking too closely at their own team's code name cards as the field operatives guess, and field operatives should avoid looking at the spymaster's eyes for hints.

The game ends when all of one team's agents are identified (winning the game for that team), or when one team has identified the assassin (losing the game). There is no "final turn to catch up"; the team which plays first already has to identify one more agent than the other team.


Put simply posted publically will be a list like this (no colours in live Game)

Image

The two team captains will get something that looks like this. This is secret and just for them

Image

And then take it in turns to post HERE to try and tell their teams words to guess.

One word to link words, and a number of words it links.

E.g. The Red Captain says "Water, 2" (trying to link Tide and Boat)

The Red team Guesses (one at a time).

The Red Team guess "Tide" - gets it correct - flips it Red

The Red Team guessed "Atlantis" though - gets it wrong - flips it Blue.

The teams take it in turns, first to flip all their colours wins. You get to guess the number of cards your leader gave you, and one extra. If at any time you hit a "neutral" card, or an enemy team card, your turn end and it passes to the other team.

You can choose to try and pick cards previously given clues for on your turn (if you mucked up) or randomly guess and hope you get lucky

Because of the tool I'm using Red will have 9 to guess and go first, Blue 8.

If anyone flips the "Black" word (guitar here) that team instant loses.

Teams (not leaders) can chat about thoughts in the thread, but please make it clear when yoU GUESS a card

Last edited by Hexx on Fri Aug 04, 2017 1:14 pm, edited 13 times in total.
User avatar
jiggles
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: I'm bored. Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need players by 11am
by jiggles » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:31 am

What's to stop one leader just PMing the the answers to their their teammates?

(I've thought about running a Codenames forum game before and this was what stopped me)

User avatar
Drumstick
Member ♥
Joined in 2008
AKA: Vampbuster

PostRe: I'm bored. Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need players by 11am
by Drumstick » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:37 am

If I dont have a great deal of time today is it best I don't play? I can be around but I do have quite a bit to be getting on with...

Check out my YouTube channel!
One man should not have this much power in this game. Luckily I'm not an ordinary man.
Image Image Image
User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: I'm bored. Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:39 am

jiggles wrote:What's to stop one leader just PMing the the answers to their their teammates?

(I've thought about running a Codenames forum game before and this was what stopped me)


Honour?
It would ruin the game.

Basically it relies on people not PMing, and the leader keeping quiet in the thread

Having all sorts of fun trying to copy/paste Excel tables into the fourm

User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: I'm bored. Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:39 am

Drumstick wrote:If I dont have a great deal of time today is it best I don't play? I can be around but I do have quite a bit to be getting on with...


You can play - but probably best you aren't a leader :)

User avatar
Drumstick
Member ♥
Joined in 2008
AKA: Vampbuster

PostRe: I'm bored. Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need players by 11am
by Drumstick » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:40 am

Ok, in

Check out my YouTube channel!
One man should not have this much power in this game. Luckily I'm not an ordinary man.
Image Image Image
User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: I'm bored. Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 9:45 am

Drumstick wrote:Ok, in


Yey!
You're my first!
And only :P
If you want we can play just you and me - but it will put ALOT of pressure on you :)
And me.

User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need 6 players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:57 am

Been called to a meeting at 11 - but looks like not a great deal of interest
Will see when back and/or if Jiggles/Drummy want a One team game with me as leader (so they can confer if they want)

Drumstick wrote:.


jiggles wrote:.

User avatar
Drumstick
Member ♥
Joined in 2008
AKA: Vampbuster

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need 6 players by 11am
by Drumstick » Mon Jul 31, 2017 11:13 am

Pass.

Check out my YouTube channel!
One man should not have this much power in this game. Luckily I'm not an ordinary man.
Image Image Image
User avatar
Moggy
"Special"
Joined in 2008
AKA: Moggy

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need 6 players by 11am
by Moggy » Mon Jul 31, 2017 11:20 am

If I was at work today I'd probably play, but I'm home with a one year old, no chance of being able to concentrate on a game!

User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need 6 players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 11:23 am

Boooooo Drummy sucks
Boooooo Moggy Jr sucks

:(

I might try again another time :)

User avatar
abcd
Emeritus
Joined in 2008
AKA: abcd

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need 6 players by 11am
by abcd » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:15 pm

Is the game called Codemanes or Codenames?

Image
User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codemanes. Need 6 players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:16 pm

abcd wrote:Is the game called Codemanes or Codenames?


:lol:

:shifty:

Everyone sucks though :(

User avatar
That
Dr. Nyaaa~!
Dr. Nyaaa~!
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codenames. Need 6 players by 11am
by That » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:39 pm

You want to plan games like this a few days in advance rather than trying to drum up 6 players in a couple hours. :P

Image
User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codenames. Need 6 players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:40 pm

Karl wrote:You want to plan games like this a few days in advance rather than trying to drum up 6 players in a couple hours. :P


Pfft. It was only a single dayer distraction.

Also how the hell do you make a table here?

User avatar
That
Dr. Nyaaa~!
Dr. Nyaaa~!
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codenames. Need 6 players by 11am
by That » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:41 pm

You can't make tables, this is a forum not Microsoft Office.

Image
User avatar
Hexx
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game today : Codenames. Need 6 players by 11am
by Hexx » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:45 pm

Karl wrote:You can't make tables, this is a forum not Microsoft Office.



I just wanted some nicely laid out words - but it kept auto formatting to buggery :(

User avatar
Hypes
Member
Joined in 2009
Location: Beyond the wall

PostRe: Forum Game NOT today : Codenames. Might try again another time if interest
by Hypes » Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:20 pm

In

User avatar
Roonmastor
Member
Joined in 2008

PostRe: Forum Game NOT today : Codenames. Might try again another time if interest
by Roonmastor » Tue Aug 01, 2017 9:07 pm

I didnt read the OP but it seemed like a lot of words to say how Codenames works. I'll help you out.

Codenames is competitive Minesweeper with words, by conveying clues through word association. Clues are given in the format "number of words, word" eg. "Two, dog". You can't give any other clues or pre-amble. Your team then need to guess. If they guess incorrectly, your turn is over. If they pick the black assassin it's game over! First team to find all their words wins.

User avatar
Qikz
#420BlazeIt ♥
Joined in 2011

PostRe: Forum Game NOT today : Codenames. Might try again another time if interest
by Qikz » Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:26 am

In

Codenames is competitive Minesweeper with words, by conveying clues through word association. Clues are given in the format "number of words, word" eg. "Two, dog". You can't give any other clues or pre-amble. Your team then need to guess. If they guess incorrectly, your turn is over. If they pick the black assassin it's game over! First team to find all their words wins.


This is easier to understand. Thanks

The Watching Artist wrote:I feel so inept next to Qikz...

Return to “Stuff”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: floydfreak, Garth, Lime, Met, Nook29, poshrule_uk and 371 guests