The Soosbury Rules

Format

For friendly games, the format is L L L N L L L N C, where L = Letters round, N = Numbers round and C = Conundrum. Picker alternates except rounds 4 and 5 which are picked by the same player.

For defences of Overlordship, L L L L L L N L L L L L L N Cis the adopted routine, with alternating selection throughout.

Letters Rounds

A standard game of online Countdown would go a little something like this...

Stitchwank says: CCCVVVC
Host says: R L T E A I N
Stitchwank says: C
Host says: R L T E A I N S
Stitchwank says: V
Host says: R L T E A I N S O

... in order to gain a selection. However, in Goatdown, the situation is slightly different. After the first 8 letters are selected, the selecter can choose whichever letter they like as the ninth. Like so...

Stitchwank says: CCCVVVC
Host says: R L T E A I N
Stitchwank says: C
Host says: R L T E A I N S
Stitchwank says: O
Host says: R L T E A I N S O

This adds another dimension to the game - bluffing could be involved, and in turn double and triple, quadruple and quintuple bluffing, until nobody even knows what they're called any more.

It also encourages the learning of 'Goats'. For example, if the first eight letters revealed are G A N I S T E R somebody who knew the V goat for GANISTER could exert their greater knowledge of Goats, and choose a V to give VINTAGERS.

Additionally, Soosan thinks it would lead to some fwisky statistics, which, explicably, can be seen on the statistics page, you wanker.

Note that Goatdown Dictionary Corner tends to be more permissive of mass noun plurals than Susie Dent would be. We go by "Fell rules", in which any noun can be pluralised unless it is patently ridiculous to do so; e.g. GRANITES fine, GUNFIRES not fine.

Numbers Round

The numbers round is unchanged from standard Countdown.

Conundrum

The conundrums, specially devised by Soo and Jono beforehand, have eight letters, and the objective is to find the only nine that can be made from these eight. For example:

B I T E J O N O

... The extra letter required is C, and the answer is OBJECTION.

As these are more difficult than standard conundrums, players get 45 seconds in which to solve them. If they are unsolved after this time, the final letter is revealed by the host, and a final 15 seconds is available to solve the conundrum.

Miscellaneous

10 points may be deducted from Stitcher at any time, because he is Stitchwank and it is funny to see his reaction.