just what i always wanted
next time you're bored, consider playing a version of scrabble. three kinds are summarized here, without going into too much detail about the rules. if they sound interesting to you, you can do the necessary research on the actual mechanics of playing yourself. sorry, its not a how-to, just an intro--
scrabble--can be played with two or more participants, the players attempt to make words with scored letter tiles on a two-dimensional, gridded, square board. the as the game develops, players challenge each others' more bizarre entries, consulting an agreed upon dictionary, and the board begins to resemble a crossword puzzle. the words' assigned values are tallied up and the winner is the player with the highest total score at the end of the game. the game ends when one player runs out of tiles. scrabble has ruined many relationships, and started many others. it giveth and it taketh away. some folks are down-right obsessed with this game, and pride themselves on their knowledge of obscure two-letter words.
speed scrabble--to be played with multiple people, the more who are included, the more chaotic and exciting the game. speed scrabble is played on a flat surface without a board. the players all simultaneously begin making their own words right away, and can re-arrange them during play as much as they need to. when a player has used all their letters, they draw from the tiles, and command that the other players do so as well, thus developing a lead. the game ends when someone runs out of tiles--this person is the winner, and their score is measured by the amounts of tiles their opponents have left. its a good way to have a hilarious old time.
hard scrabble--can be played alone, with a partner, or with some very close friends. it is played out on several hundred acres of unforgiving, austerely beautiful western land. it involves purchasing said acreage, moving there, and trying to eke out a living from its soil, all the while attempting to maintain or restore balance and fertility to its ravaged ecology. the stakes are high, the likelihood of success relatively uncertain, and the penalties for failure great. the rewards for 'winning' (if it can be called that--for the game will take the better part of your life) are hard to measure but arguably equally as great.
scrabble--can be played with two or more participants, the players attempt to make words with scored letter tiles on a two-dimensional, gridded, square board. the as the game develops, players challenge each others' more bizarre entries, consulting an agreed upon dictionary, and the board begins to resemble a crossword puzzle. the words' assigned values are tallied up and the winner is the player with the highest total score at the end of the game. the game ends when one player runs out of tiles. scrabble has ruined many relationships, and started many others. it giveth and it taketh away. some folks are down-right obsessed with this game, and pride themselves on their knowledge of obscure two-letter words.
speed scrabble--to be played with multiple people, the more who are included, the more chaotic and exciting the game. speed scrabble is played on a flat surface without a board. the players all simultaneously begin making their own words right away, and can re-arrange them during play as much as they need to. when a player has used all their letters, they draw from the tiles, and command that the other players do so as well, thus developing a lead. the game ends when someone runs out of tiles--this person is the winner, and their score is measured by the amounts of tiles their opponents have left. its a good way to have a hilarious old time.
hard scrabble--can be played alone, with a partner, or with some very close friends. it is played out on several hundred acres of unforgiving, austerely beautiful western land. it involves purchasing said acreage, moving there, and trying to eke out a living from its soil, all the while attempting to maintain or restore balance and fertility to its ravaged ecology. the stakes are high, the likelihood of success relatively uncertain, and the penalties for failure great. the rewards for 'winning' (if it can be called that--for the game will take the better part of your life) are hard to measure but arguably equally as great.