Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

 Gladiator Games

About this Challenge

◈ Starts on August 2, 2015 and runs for 8 weeks

◈ Each participant will be assigned to 1 of 16 gladiators.

◈ Each round will last 2 weeks

◈ At the end of each round the gladiator team with the highest score and lowest score will be teamed up for the following round.

◈ Books must be more than 160 pages in length. Children's books, Graphic Novels, Cookbooks and Poetry books cannot be used unless by word count they can be verified as more than 160 pages

◈ Only books read during the specified round can be used (“read date” is what counts, not the day you start.) Books cannot be “banked” from previous weeks to use later in the challenge

◈ Books must be started after the start date of the challenge to count towards the challenge

Challenge Rules

◈ The battles take place between each team at the end of the round.

◈ A gladiator may gain an advantage through two methods: attack and defense.

◈ Attack points are awarded for reading books. (Half a point of attack for books under 500 pages and 1 point of attack for books 500+ pages)

◈ Defense points are awarded for completing goals. (1 point of defense per goal)

◈ If a teams defense is higher than the attacker's attack power, the hit from the attacker will be 0.

◈ Books read towards defense goals also count towards attack points.

◈ There will be 3 defense goals active for each gladiator, when one is submitted on the spreadsheet, another will be automatically generated a short time after.

◈ Any book read during the current round may be used to complete goals.

◈ Books read in a previous round may not be used on new goals.

◈ Attack and defense points carry on into the next round and are added to your gladiator teams total point value.

◈ Ties in battle will result in both sides receiving a victory point.

Example

This example uses 4 teams instead of 16 and 2 rounds instead of 4

Team A Gameplay

Team A has 3 goals:
◈ Book title begins with X
◈ Cover has butterfly
◈ Page count is 150-200

A member from Team A reads The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon for the goal of "Cover has butterfly".
Team A is awarded 1 defense point and the new goal "Book author first name begins with Y" is added.

Team A has 3 goals:
◈ Book title begins with X
◈ Book author first name begins with Y
◈ Page count is 150-200

A member from Team A has already read Save Riley by Yolanda Olson this round (Round 1) and has not used it for a previous goal so it is submitted for the goal of "Book author first name begins with Y".
Team A is awarded 1 defense point and the new goal "Book title begins with A" is added.

Round 1 ends
Team A has read 16 books under 500 pages, 3 books over 500 pages and completed 6 goals.

16 books under 500 pages = 8 Attack
3 books 500 pages or more = 3 Attack
8 Attack + 3 Attack = 11 Total Attack

6 Goals completed = 6 Defense

Team A has 11 Attack and 6 Defense.

The Battle

Example Detailed Team A vs. Team B Battle
Team A: 11 Attack 6 Defense
Team B: 12 Attack 4 Defense

Team A attacks Team B with 11 Attack, Team B counters with 4 Defense for a hit from Team A of 7.
Team B attacks Team A with 12 Attack, Team A counters with 6 Defense for a hit from Team B of 6.
Team A beats Team B and scores a victory point!

All Other Battles
Team A: 11 Attack 6 Defense
Team B: 12 Attack 4 Defense
Team C: 15 Attack 9 Defense
Team D: 5 Attack 5 Defense

Team A vs. Team C: Team C wins
Team A vs. Team D: Team A wins
Team B vs. Team C: Team C wins
Team B vs. Team D: Team B wins
Team C vs. Team D: Team C wins

Victory Points

Team C: 3 Points
Team A: 2 Points
Team B: 1 Points
Team D: 0 Points

Round 2

Team D and C are paired as a gladiator team. (1st and 4th place)
Team A and B are paired as a gladiator team. (2nd and 3rd place)

Team A has the same 3 goals that they had not completed at the end of round 1. However, they may now contribute books read towards Team B's goals and Team B members may contribute towards Team A's goals. Each book may still be only used for one goal but can be assigned to any of the allies goal lists. Only books finished in the current round may be used for goals.

The battle at the end of round 2 will combine the attack and defense points for all members of each team.

Team D+C will pair off against Team A+B to find out the final winner.

Challenge requirements

IMPORTANT: To be a part of this challenge you need to be able to:
◈ Read at least one book per two weeks

◈ Create a special shelf for the challenge for the books you are reading

◈ Check-in on your team's discussion thread at least once per week

◈ Have fun!

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To join, we are using a Google Form to collect the below data. Click this link to complete the form:

★Name
★Goodreads User ID (see under spoiler for how to find this)
(view spoiler)[To find your Goodreads User ID, click on your name (or go to your profile page). In the URL bar you will see something like ....reads.com/user/show/5674827-kelly. In this example, your User Name is 5674827-kelly) (hide spoiler)]
★Approximate number of books read
★Your continent (so we can try and match time zones)
★Your shelf name (for books read during the challenge)
★ Do you prefer a "chatty" team? (NOTE: If yes, it would be expected that you will check in to your team thread daily)
★ If you are willing to be a team captain or co-captain

About Team Captains
* submit goal books as soon as possible to the team spreadsheet
* inform other partner teams when you have a book they can use for their goal
* check that the books are posted within the right time frame (Books will be due end of each round every other Sunday at noon, Australian Eastern Standard Time - convert this to your timezone here)

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Countdown til Start of Gladiator Games

Countdown til end of Round 1

Countdown til end of Round 2

Countdown til end of Round 3

Countdown til end of Round 4

The Gods Have Spoken

The Mars the god of War has been pleased with the Gladiator Games. He has granted each gladiator a boon to be able to wish away one goal that has festered and turned sour. Gladiators wishing to use this boon must only mention their wish for a goal to be gone and speak to the gods mere mortal representatives (also known as "The Mods"... The Mortal Operations Delegation Squad).

One additional boon will be granted for each Gladiator upon the start of Round 2, Round 3 and Round 4. Additional boons may be acquired through sacrificing 3 books to the gods. Sacrificed books may not be used for attack or defense points of a gladiator. If a boon is not used it may be carried over into the next round.

All Hail Mars!

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Woo Hoo here we go!

Yes! I just signed up!

Yah! I'm on my way to sign up!

Signed up as well! I think this will fit in with my other challenges well!

Signed up!!! When will we know what team we are on?

Marguerite wrote: "Signed up!!! When will we know what team we are on?"

Challenge starts in a month, so it'll take a while. :)

(psssssssttttttttttt Tea.. you forgot to add the spoiler on message 5)

signed up! =D

and now i feel ashamed of myself :( i can't stay away from team challenges T_T i swear i can stop at any time!!!

Just signed up! I love team challenges! :D

Me too. I've signed up as well.

All signed up :)

Signed up!

Absolutely so excited for this! :)

Woot! All signed up and excited for this to start. Time to raid my shelves and plan.

Yay! Everyone's so excited :P

Just signed up

So confusing... at least the times are Australian ones, yay! How do I find the Goodreads User ID?

Nup it's cool, got it.

Is a chatty team one that talks a lot?

MB wrote: "Is a chatty team one that talks a lot?"

Yup. We introduced that last team challenge to try to pair people together who like to chat or those or are more quiet so everyone enjoys things better.

cool

This looks fun, confusing, but fun! I'll sign up in a Bit!

Don't worry Berit. We have magic spreadsheets to help :)

I've been waiting for this one. So exciting!

I agree with the confusing, but looks fun part of this. I signed up as well. :)

Just signed up, looking forward to starting!

I could not resist!

I too have been waiting for this one a lot! So thrilled and looking forward to starting :)

Just signed up. Sounds fun :)

Signed up - just can't help myself :)

Yes!

I've signed up too. We're all addicts...

NancyHelen wrote: "I've signed up too. We're all addicts..."

It's a good thing, really, since we spend a LOT of time feeding that addiction *giggles*

Okay, ready to battle!

NancyHelen wrote: "I've signed up too. We're all addicts..."

Such the truth.

Hi Mods - I got SO excited to sign up for the challenge, but then looking at my calendar I had to make the sad decision that I REALLY wouldn't have time do to it. So sorry for the confusion, but please disregard my sign up form :(

RebeccaS wrote: "Hi Mods - I got SO excited to sign up for the challenge, but then looking at my calendar I had to make the sad decision that I REALLY wouldn't have time do to it. So sorry for the confusion, but p..."

Awwwwwwwwwww

I must consult the Oracle of Capua to see if it pleases the gods

Ezinwanyi~the Impish Angel wrote: "I must consult the Oracle of Capua to see if it pleases the gods"

Some of the gladiators were kidnapped and turned into slaves... I have no qualms in doing that...

RebeccaS wrote: "Hi Mods - I got SO excited to sign up for the challenge, but then looking at my calendar I had to make the sad decision that I REALLY wouldn't have time do to it. So sorry for the confusion, but p..."

1 Book every 2 weeks! Surely your friends, family and others wouldn't hold that against you :P

Gladiators are gods of the arena, not mere slaves for roman sport