Timeline: Inventions FINAL SCORES

[lexprod]

Let’s do the time warp again! I mean for the first time?

Timeline is a board game published by Asmodee games and designed by Frederic Henry. In the board game each player has their own hands of cards representing events, inventions, discoveries, and works of culture from the halls of known history. In the middle of the table is a mutual timeline where players must insert their own cards correctly in hopes of going out to win.

I decided to run a streamlined version for our for um. It’s meant to get as many people the chance to play on a relatively fair playing field, and to start and finish a game in roughly two weeks! That’s right, once this game’s rolling it’ll update daily for 15 days and BAM! Think of it as a mini-series, or if you wanna be accurate, think of it as a game that updates once a day 15 times. Also, like the game, this edition will focus on one “type” of event: inventions.

RULES

I: SETUP

I’ll be researching 20 inventions throughout history, anything from written language to the large hadron-collider. One will be chosen as the starting invention, and it will be place on the timeline with its year provided. The 19 others will be “shuffled” into a semi-random order before the game begins and form the “deck” of the game.

II: GAMEPLAY

On the first day of -christmas- the game I’ll post in this thread a new invention “card.” I’ll also display the timeline with empty slots before and after each invention. In the first round this will just be two slots, but as more items populate the timeline the number of slots will increase by one each round. All interested parties are then advised to PM me which slot they believe the invention of the day belongs on the timeline. Then the next day I will publish a new timeline displaying the invention in its proper place, revealing its specific year, and showing the next invention “card” to be placed.

III: SCORING

If your PM’d answer is correct, you score ONE point. In order to keep everyone invested in the game, I decided not to reveal the scoreboard until the end of all 15 rounds. Each day I will be updating my own scoreboard in a neat spreadsheet I’ll have at the end, but in the meantime I think it’ll be more entertaining if you don’t know whether that last point could win it, or if someone’s already locked a win. Obviously you’ll know your own result day by day, and I ask you not reveal your progress until the end, at least not in the GL forums.

The extra 4 events in the deck are there to serve as tie-breakers if multiple players have the top score after 15 rounds. Tiebreakers will be like normal rounds, only I’ll make sure to WAIT for all the tied players before moving on, and will be sudden death. If after 4 tiebreakers there is no clear winner it will be a joint victory, because yuletime.

IV: FAQ

When will the game update?

I'm "funemployed" at the moment so my schedule is a bit off-kilter. However, I'm typically awake at midnight PST (my local time) so that seems like a dandy time to update the game. The post opening the game will be at midnight on the 5th, giving you twenty-four hours to answer until it becomes the 6th of December. Those on the other side of the dateline, I have no idea what that means for you, ask the internet. The last round will be posted on the 19th, and scores on the 20th, hopefully well before any major welcoming of a certain prophet who shuts down the banks in the US, though this game will likely bump into the festival of lights. And other events.

How should I submit my answer?

PM or email if you like, send me both the title of the invention, and the letter of the slot you think it belongs. This will help me as my inbox fills with answers.

Do I need to play every day?

Nope, it’s just your perogative to play as many days as possible. I weighed the options of longer rounds, but I think a nice short game of this before the holidays get crazy would be a fun option, and a litmus test for if we can do more with this format, perhaps with categories like theatre, literature, music, or games. People seemed to dig times to remember, and this scratches a similar itch but with less math clouding it up.

Can my friend/dog/wife/daddy bear/Sim/field trip buddy/AA sponsor play?

Sure! Just send their answers the same way you send yours, I trust you! Or you can have them email me on their own, just use the link on my profile/posts.

What if the invention of the day shares the same year as one on the board?

All timeline cards in both the board game and this version simply have the year in question on them, so cards with the same year essentially “tie.” For example if the years on the timeline cards read 1843, 1920, and 1932, a card with the year 1920 could go before or after the 1920 card and still be correct. It would be incorrect if placed after the 1932 or before the 1843 card, as expected.

Why is there a FAQ in your rules, isn’t that weird?

My hovercraft is full of eels.

Oh, one last rule: NO OUTSIDE SOURCES OR RESEARCH. That includes google, wikipedia, encyclopedias, Ken Jennings, 20Q, Siri, HAL, Cortana, C-3PO, THG2TG, any time travelers, Carmen SanDiego, or witches. But if you didn't know that, I'd be surprised.


There. Post any questions you have about the format, as well as if you'd like to play. Registering is optional but gives me warm and fuzzies.

Edit: and please don't suggest inventions to include, as I've yet to etch my list in stone, and it just feels an icky boundary cross of player and mod.

[referee]

So, there is no penalty for a wrong answer? (As opposed to no answer whatsoever)
_________________
Jan 21st, 2008: The pillaging continues.
Mar 4th, 2008: Rest in Peace, Gary Gygax. May your dice always roll a natural 20 wherever you are.

Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!

[lexprod]

Nope, simply 1 point per correct answer. Missing a day is 0 points, getting one wrong is 0 points. Obviously only send in one answer per day.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

My Inventions are set, and the game gets going in about 4 hours
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

DING DING DING

That's the opening bell on TIMELINE. To start us off, I've placed the first invention in the timeline, the PHONOGRAPH.







Invented in 1877, the phonograph allowed users to record and playback audio.

The next invention will be .... MARGARINE. If you believe Margarine was invented before the Phonograph pick slot A, if you think Margarine came after the phonograph then pick slot B.

Also anyone having issues with the images in this post let me know.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

One hour to deadline, lots of entries so far.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was A, Margarine (or oleo) was invented in 1869 though it didn't gain popularity until after the second world war.

Here's the timeline as it stands:









And for the next invention we have...the PIANO! A for before both the others, B for in between them, and C for after both. You see how this works. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was A, the Piano was invented in 1700! The clear early bird so far.

Here's the timeline as it stands:













And for the next invention we have...CELLOPHANE! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

Five hours left...
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was D, Cellophane was invented in 1912! First commonly used to wrap candies, unsurprisingly.

Here's the timeline as it stands:














And for the next invention we have...THE GAME OF BASKETBALL! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[Zag]

Hmmm. I haven't been following this thread, but I would have gotten all three correct, confidently. I'm less sure on this one, though.

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was D, Basketball was invented in 1891! A gym teacher wanted an athletic game that his students could play indoors when it was raining.

Here's the timeline as it stands:
















And for the next invention we have...THE GUILLOTINE! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was B, Guillotine was invented in 1792! It was created as a more humane death punishment than beatings or quartering or crushing, the good ole days of execution.

Here's the timeline as it stands:

















And for the next invention we have...the WINDSHIELD WIPER! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was F, Windshield Wiper was invented in 1903!


Here's the timeline as it stands:


















And for the next invention we have...SACCHARIN! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was E, Saccharin was invented in 1878! Created in a coal tar lab, one day the technician noticed his hand had a sweet taste to it after coming home from work.

Here's the timeline as it stands:




















And for the next invention we have... VACUUM FLASK! Commonly called a Thermos. The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

Real talk: I've been busy with work lately and these graphics, simple as they are, can be a past in the ass to put in every post so I'm switching to just text with minor formatting. Hope you can deal.

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was G, the Vacuum Flask was invented in 1892!

Here's the timeline as it stands:

PAST
A
1700 - PIANO
B
1792 - GUILLOTINE
C
1869 - MARGARINE
D
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
E
1878 - SACCHARIN
F
1891 - BASKETBALL
G
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
H
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
I
1912 - CELLOPHANE
J
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have... LSD! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was J, LSD was invented in 1938!

Here's the timeline as it stands:

PAST
A
1700 - PIANO
B
1792 - GUILLOTINE
C
1869 - MARGARINE
D
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
E
1878 - SACCHARIN
F
1891 - BASKETBALL
G
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
H
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
I
1912 - CELLOPHANE
J
1938 - LSD
K
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have...The Vespa Scooter ! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was K, the VESPA was invented in 1946!

Here's the timeline as it stands:
PAST
A
1700 - PIANO
B
1792 - GUILLOTINE
C
1869 - MARGARINE
D
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
E
1878 - SACCHARIN
F
1891 - BASKETBALL
G
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
H
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
I
1912 - CELLOPHANE
J
1938 - LSD
K
1946 - VESPA
L
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have...Scotch Whiskey! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.

I know this is early, but I almost forgot entirely to post it, so .... better early than never.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

Woof, having family over for a weekend that's also right before a big presentation at work tends to throw life into chaos. Game will resume, probably tonight...
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was A, SCOTCH WHISKY was invented in 1494!

Here's the timeline as it stands:
PAST
A
1494 - SCOTCH WHISKY
B
1700 - PIANO
C
1792 - GUILLOTINE
D
1869 - MARGARINE
E
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
F
1878 - SACCHARIN
G
1891 - BASKETBALL
H
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
I
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
J
1912 - CELLOPHANE
K
1938 - LSD
L
1946 - VESPA
M
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have...BASIC the coding language! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was M, BASIC was invented in 1964!

Here's the timeline as it stands:
PAST
A
1494 - SCOTCH WHISKY
B
1700 - PIANO
C
1792 - GUILLOTINE
D
1869 - MARGARINE
E
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
F
1878 - SACCHARIN
G
1891 - BASKETBALL
H
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
I
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
J
1912 - CELLOPHANE
K
1938 - LSD
L
1946 - VESPA
M
1964 - BASIC
N
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have...FROZEN FOOD! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

will update tomorrow at midnight, you get an extra day
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was K, FROZEN FOODS, as developed by Birdseye, was invented in 1925!

Here's the timeline as it stands:
PAST
A
1494 - SCOTCH WHISKY
B
1700 - PIANO
C
1792 - GUILLOTINE
D
1869 - MARGARINE
E
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
F
1878 - SACCHARIN
G
1891 - BASKETBALL
H
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
I
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
J
1912 - CELLOPHANE
K
1925 - FROZEN FOOD
L
1938 - LSD
M
1946 - VESPA
N
1964 - BASIC
O
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have...THE LIGHTNING ROD! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

I missed midnight and didn't update the thread title so everybody gets until midnight tonight for lightning rod. Then One last card to go! Again sorry for screwing up the schedule towards the end, juggling a daily game and work just is not a thing I can do apparently Live and learn.
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was C the LIGHTNING ROD was invented in 1749!

Here's the timeline as it stands:
PAST
A
1494 - SCOTCH WHISKY
B
1700 - PIANO
C
1749 - LIGHTNING ROD
D
1792 - GUILLOTINE
E
1869 - MARGARINE
F
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
G
1878 - SACCHARIN
H
1891 - BASKETBALL
I
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
J
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
K
1912 - CELLOPHANE
L
1925 - FROZEN FOOD
M
1938 - LSD
N
1946 - VESPA
O
1964 - BASIC
P
FUTURE

And for the next invention we have...THE BALLPOINT PEN! The diagram should explain things, please PM your selection. Entries due by midnight tomorrow PST. This is the final entry
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

Bump for finalness
_________________
I'll have a P please...

[lexprod]

And now I can reveal that the correct placement was H the BALLPOINT PEN was invented in 1888!

Here's the timeline as it ends:
PAST
1494 - SCOTCH WHISKY
1700 - PIANO
1749 - LIGHTNING ROD
1792 - GUILLOTINE
1869 - MARGARINE
1877 - PHONOGRAPH
1878 - SACCHARIN
1888 - BALLPOINT PEN
1891 - BASKETBALL
1892 - VACUUM FLASK
1903 - WINDSHIELD WIPER
1912 - CELLOPHANE
1925 - FROZEN FOOD
1938 - LSD
1946 - VESPA
1964 - BASIC
FUTURE

And here's the scores....

[Scurra]

Woot! Or, possibly, how sad am I to check in every day for this one?
I did have a couple of lucky guesses and one or two total surprises.
But in general this is the sort of game that suits me - an absurd breadth of trivia but no actual depth... Also, it doesn't require absolute precision, which means that quite a lot of them were informed guesses.
Thanks for running it.
_________________
_{still Quiz Olympiad champion. Must get a life.
New definitions: COFFEE - someone who is coughed upon}

[Jedo the Jedi]

If you've ever played a game called Wits and Wagers, the strategy here is the same: have a ballpark of where it goes, then pick the largest gap to give yourself the greatest odds. If I thought an invention was in the 1800s and I had a choice between 1799-1868 or 1869-1882, I chose the former.

Well-played, Scurra, though is anyone really surprised?
_________________
Paragon Tally: 18 mafia, 3 SKs (1 twice), 1 cultist, numerous chat scum...and counting.

[DF*]

[referee]

Woot, second best non pro, pretty good. I thought I would be doing bad, but I also thought there were more people playing.
_________________
Jan 21st, 2008: The pillaging continues.
Mar 4th, 2008: Rest in Peace, Gary Gygax. May your dice always roll a natural 20 wherever you are.

Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!

[bgg1996]

[Jedo the Jedi]