December's Daily Duels

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:44 pm

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:50 pm

Exciting!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:17 am

Ooohhh...does that mean tomorrow we get 2?

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:19 pm

I think there will be alot of people in joint 1st place today

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:10 pm

I accidentally posted my comment in November's DD, but I'll repeat it: is it meant to be a time challenge or something?

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:13 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I accidentally posted my comment in November's DD, but I'll repeat it: is it meant to be a time challenge or something?

Nope (I was hoping it was as well

). Read Charlie's post above

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:35 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

I'm pretty sure 26th December is the first day of Christmas.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:41 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
I'm pretty sure 26th December is the first day of Christmas.

It is and after 12 days it's January 6th and that's when you're supposed to take the christmas decorations down etc. I'm sure Charlie was aware of this but it was just a nice line to slip in.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:48 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I accidentally posted my comment in November's DD, but I'll repeat it: is it meant to be a time challenge or something?

Nope. I will do that at some point but you have to warn players in advance if buzz time is going to matter.

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:14 pm

Hmm... Didn't know a conundrum was allowed to have multiple solutions...

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:21 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
I'm pretty sure 26th December is the first day of Christmas.
It is and after 12 days it's January 6th and that's when you're supposed to take the christmas decorations down etc. I'm sure Charlie was aware of this but it was just a nice line to slip in.

Poor 25th - it's Christmas Day and yet not a day of Christmas! Is this really the case? I always knew that having 12 days of Christmas didn't add up if you started on the 25th, but thought that maybe someone in history couldn't count.

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:40 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: Poor 25th - it's Christmas Day and yet not a day of Christmas! Is this really the case? I always knew that having 12 days of Christmas didn't add up if you started on the 25th, but thought that maybe someone in history couldn't count.

Wiki has this, i.e. first day of Christmas starts on the evening of Christmas Day, so is mostly on Boxing Day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas

"The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day (December 25) through the morning of Epiphany (January 6). The associated evenings of the twelve days begin on the evening before the specified day. Thus, the first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6. This period is also known as Christmastide."

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:46 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:It is and after 12 days it's January 6th and that's when you're supposed to take the christmas decorations down etc.

No! Christmas decorations, trees, etc. should be taken down December 27th, so my b-day does not look like another Christmas...

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:00 pm

Was just going to ask if today's was timed as well (I had that annoying squashed challenge), otherwise it's a pretty annoying duel. Unless there's 2 rounds tomorrow, 3 on Weds etc, in which case all is forgiven. I trust something good is going to happen anyway

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:45 pm

Frank Rodolf wrote:Hmm... Didn't know a conundrum was allowed to have multiple solutions...

They're not, really. I have no idea how today's conundrum slipped the net. Serious apologies to anyone who went for the wrong answer. I'll do a thorough revalidation of the whole lot.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:09 am

Charlie Reams wrote: Serious apologies to anyone who went for the wrong answer. I'll do a thorough revalidation of the whole lot.

Lucky you - nobody went for the wrong answer.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:56 pm

Frank Rodolf wrote:Hmm... Didn't know a conundrum was allowed to have multiple solutions...

Is DEINSTALL a word or is it something else? Am I talking about the right one?

Charlie Reams wrote:They're not, really. I have no idea how today's conundrum slipped the net. Serious apologies to anyone who went for the wrong answer. I'll do a thorough revalidation of the whole lot.

It wouldn't allow all valid solutions then?

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:15 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Frank Rodolf wrote:Hmm... Didn't know a conundrum was allowed to have multiple solutions...
Is DEINSTALL a word or is it something else? Am I talking about the right one?

DEINSTALL was indeed the other possible answer.

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:They're not, really. I have no idea how today's conundrum slipped the net. Serious apologies to anyone who went for the wrong answer. I'll do a thorough revalidation of the whole lot.
It wouldn't allow all valid solutions then?

I could imagine the conundrum round is set up to only check for the one word expected - that would save some time.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:22 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Frank Rodolf wrote:Hmm... Didn't know a conundrum was allowed to have multiple solutions...
They're not, really. I have no idea how today's conundrum slipped the net. Serious apologies to anyone who went for the wrong answer. I'll do a thorough revalidation of the whole lot.

I was thinking that if both DEINSTALL and INSTALLED are in the conundrums list, then if someone said DEINSTALL instead of INSTALLED, then it would've accepted it, as DEINSTALL is in the conundrums list.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:28 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:I was thinking that if both DEINSTALL and INSTALLED are in the conundrums list, then if someone said DEINSTALL instead of INSTALLED, then it would've accepted it, as DEINSTALL is in the conundrums list.

That's because you're not a programmer. Why double check that the answer given is a) an anagram of the conundrum given and b) in the conundrums list, when you already retrieved it in the first place to shuffle it?

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:45 pm

Ah I get what's happening now. Bit annoyed that everyday is going to be concluded (almost) by two numbers games for a while, but at least that's a couple out of the way on a relatively low number

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:50 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:I was thinking that if both DEINSTALL and INSTALLED are in the conundrums list, then if someone said DEINSTALL instead of INSTALLED, then it would've accepted it, as DEINSTALL is in the conundrums list.
That's because you're not a programmer. Why double check that the answer given is a) an anagram of the conundrum given and b) in the conundrums list, when you already retrieved it in the first place to shuffle it?

To be fair though, I didn't actually say I was a programmer, It's just the way I thought it might've worked, because it might've known that both were anagrams and both allowed.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:15 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:I was thinking that if both DEINSTALL and INSTALLED are in the conundrums list, then if someone said DEINSTALL instead of INSTALLED, then it would've accepted it, as DEINSTALL is in the conundrums list.
That's because you're not a programmer. Why double check that the answer given is a) an anagram of the conundrum given and b) in the conundrums list, when you already retrieved it in the first place to shuffle it?
To be fair though, I didn't actually say I was a programmer, It's just the way I thought it might've worked, because it might've known that both were anagrams and both allowed.

I didn't say you said you did.

Your way would be the method if multi-answer conundrums were allowed.

Debbi Flack · Post by **Debbi Flack** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:53 am

Frank Rodolf wrote: No! Christmas decorations, trees, etc. should be taken down December 27th, so my b-day does not look like another Christmas...

My birthday is 24th December, so in our house we have to suspend Christmas for a day. The girls don't seem to mind too much.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:15 am

Well done to everyone who got LINEARITY in yesterdays duel. I thought that was a tough conundrum.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:35 pm

DebbiF wrote:My birthday is 24th December, so in our house we have to suspend Christmas for a day. The girls don't seem to mind too much.

Why does that mean you have to suspend Christmas?

Debbi Flack · Post by **Debbi Flack** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:56 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:
DebbiF wrote:My birthday is 24th December, so in our house we have to suspend Christmas for a day. The girls don't seem to mind too much.
Why does that mean you have to suspend Christmas?

So that I can enjoy my birthday as my birthday, not as the day before Christmas.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:21 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

...a conundrum in a pear tree?

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:21 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
...a conundrum in a pear tree?

so TARREDPIG, then?

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:14 pm

DebbiF wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:
DebbiF wrote:My birthday is 24th December, so in our house we have to suspend Christmas for a day. The girls don't seem to mind too much.
Why does that mean you have to suspend Christmas?
So that I can enjoy my birthday as my birthday, not as the day before Christmas.

That's a bit weird. I could understand a bit more if it was on Christmas day itself (but it would still be weird) but to move Christmas so your birthday isn't the day before Christmas is plain barking! It would still be the day before the day before Christmas, so that must annoy you.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:22 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:That's a bit weird. I could understand a bit more if it was on Christmas day itself (but it would still be weird) but to move Christmas so your birthday isn't the day before Christmas is plain barking!

Who said they move Christmas? Suspending an event isn't the same as moving it.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:13 am

I assume it was just coincidence, but I liked how all yesterday's conundrums had a computer sciency theme.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:15 am

Paul Howe wrote:I assume it was just coincidence, but I liked how all yesterday's conundrums had a computer sciency theme.

Haha, I didn't even notice, but yes. Coincidence indeed.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:46 pm

Did anyone else struggle with today's duel (especially the number rounds)?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:08 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:Did anyone else struggle with today's duel (especially the number rounds)?

Nope, I loved it. I got 50 on the numbers, and quite a decent score on the others.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:25 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Gavin Chipper wrote:That's a bit weird. I could understand a bit more if it was on Christmas day itself (but it would still be weird) but to move Christmas so your birthday isn't the day before Christmas is plain barking!
Who said they move Christmas? Suspending an event isn't the same as moving it.

They suspend Christmas for a day. That sounds to me like they have it on the 26th, or "move" it to the 26th. What's your explanation?

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:36 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:Did anyone else struggle with today's duel (especially the number rounds)?

Nah. I maxed the numbers (7/7) - just bottled a conundrum and a letters round. Not sure if this gives too much away but hey.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:18 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:Suspending an event isn't the same as moving it.
They suspend Christmas for a day. That sounds to me like they have it on the 26th, or "move" it to the 26th. What's your explanation?

It was clear from the context that Debbie was using "Christmas" in the broad sense of the festive season as a whole and the preparations involved, not just Christmas Day itself (or, for the real pedants, the 12-night period commencing on the evening of the 25th). Most people have thoughts of little but Christmas by December 24th. In Debbie's house, the festive preparations are suspended (as in: put aside; temporarily halted) on that day to allow her birthday to be properly celebrated.

I'm pretty sure you knew all that and were just trying to make a pedantic point about the fact that December 24th isn't Christmas.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:28 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:I'm pretty sure you knew all that and were just trying to make a pedantic point about the fact that December 24th isn't Christmas.

I think it's more to do with Gevin's inexplicable need to have an opinion on absolutely everything, no matter how irrelevant or trivial.

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:41 pm

Wonder how long Charlie will be extending the Daily Duel - even if it stops after 12 days, it will already have 78 rounds.

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:42 pm

Frank Rodolf wrote:Wonder how long Charlie will be extending the Daily Duel - even if it stops after 12 days, it will already have 78 rounds.

No! Don't end it at 12, I'm totally looking forward to playing the 325-round spectacular on Christmas Day!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:41 pm

jimbentley wrote:
Frank Rodolf wrote:Wonder how long Charlie will be extending the Daily Duel - even if it stops after 12 days, it will already have 78 rounds.
No! Don't end it at 12, I'm totally looking forward to playing the 325-round spectacular on Christmas Day!

But what about on New Years Eve? 496 magic rounds of Countdown. At 30 seconds a round, that's over 4 hours of Countdown magic. Make sure you start the duel before 8pm on New Years Eve else you may not get your result to count....

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:25 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
jimbentley wrote:
Frank Rodolf wrote:Wonder how long Charlie will be extending the Daily Duel - even if it stops after 12 days, it will already have 78 rounds.
No! Don't end it at 12, I'm totally looking forward to playing the 325-round spectacular on Christmas Day!
But what about on New Years Eve? 496 magic rounds of Countdown. At 30 seconds a round, that's over 4 hours of Countdown magic. Make sure you start the duel before 8pm on New Years Eve else you may not get your result to count....

I better start making oliebollen now - with duels like that I won't have time to do that after Christmas...

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:34 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:I'm pretty sure you knew all that and were just trying to make a pedantic point about the fact that December 24th isn't Christmas.
I think it's more to do with Gevin's inexplicable need to have an opinion on absolutely everything, no matter how irrelevant or trivial.

No, I just didn't really get what she meant but thanks for the explanation.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:50 am

Today's duel was so evil it makes Zef look like St. Frigging Francis of Frigging Assisi. That is all.

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:30 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:Today's duel was so evil it makes Zef look like St. Frigging Francis of Frigging Assisi. That is all.

I thought it would be worse than it was actually, although I didn't score that much either...

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:39 pm

Ian Volante wrote:
Ben Wilson wrote:Today's duel was so evil it makes Zef look like St. Frigging Francis of Frigging Assisi. That is all.
I thought it would be worse than it was actually, although I didn't score that much either...

I scored a lot higher than I thought I would (had not expected anything over about 5), but I still think it was evil!

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:37 pm

Amazing Duel. I started OK but then had a spectacular run of eleven rounds without scoring a point, which was pretty brutal, but in the end scored more than I thought I would (although still not very much). My main problem with Blind is that if I don't see something straight away, I generally realise after about ten seconds that I've completely forgotten what letters appeared in the first place, which makes me not very good at it. Thank God for the numbers games!

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:46 pm

Blind, 20 seconds per round, nooooo way am I attempting this one!

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:59 pm

Julie T wrote:Blind, 20 seconds per round, nooooo way am I attempting this one!

Aww... Come on... Most of the conundrums are doable and the numbers rounds are not blind...

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:20 pm

It's getting a bit mental isn't it. 8 more numbers rounds tomorrow if the pattern holds, having done some calculations there'll be more numbers than letters rounds over the entire 12 days unless something changes, tipping the balance a touch too far IMNSHO.

And I've just realised I'm not going to be here for the 12th day, what a pisser

Lee Simmonds · Post by **Lee Simmonds** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:23 pm

Glad I came here first today, I keep getting the slightly annoying squashed duel challenge but coming here allowed me to get some blind practice in beforehand!

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:10 pm

Interesting results from yesterday's Duel...really well done to Paul as the only one to get FAIRLEAD (round 23) and PROLIX (25), and to Frank as the sole spotter of the 836 in round 17. No-one scored anything in rounds 13 and 14, which must be some sort of first!

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:59 pm

If it's any consolation Jim I buggered today's up royally.

I suppose Charlie's at the CofC, but was just wondering what happens if it's impossible to get within 10 on the numbers in a max only game. Would you always get a point? I'm sure Gevin's had several sleepless nights tormenting himself with this.

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:07 pm

I think it's a set zero.

Interesting that only a handful of people got yesterday's numbers when it was one away - did people just give up?

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:11 pm

Ian Volante wrote:I think it's a set zero.

Interesting that only a handful of people got yesterday's numbers when it was one away - did people just give up?

I think in a max only game the temptation is to aim at the target and not consider anything else, especially when you only have 20 secs. That's what I did anyway.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:53 am

Has today's duel crashed on anyone else so far?

I got up to round 22, before the 'play next round' button stopped working (as in I have pressed it but nothings come up).

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:19 am

Joseph Bolas wrote:Has today's duel crashed on anyone else so far?

I got up to round 22, before the 'play next round' button stopped working (as in I have pressed it but nothings come up).

Maybe The Duelist has popped for a fag break.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:21 am

Ben Hunter wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:Has today's duel crashed on anyone else so far?

I got up to round 22, before the 'play next round' button stopped working (as in I have pressed it but nothings come up).
Maybe The Duellist has popped for a fag break.

I hope not

, it's been at least 30 minutes since it stopped working.

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:50 am

Joseph Bolas wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:Has today's duel crashed on anyone else so far?

I got up to round 22, before the 'play next round' button stopped working (as in I have pressed it but nothings come up).
Maybe The Duellist has popped for a fag break.
I hope not , it's been at least 30 minutes since it stopped working.

It worked for me... Every sane part of my mind (no need for comments

) wished it would break down though.