<Game> Pokemon BrainStrain v.2 (approved by Lady Vulpix)

[Shadow Wolf]

Pokemon BrainStrain

Version 2

Admin Approved by Lady Vulpix

Workers: Knight of Time, Shadow Wolf

This game is similar in ways to Pokemon Hangman, The Riddle Game, and Lingo. However, it has some differences. To play this game, you are given the name of a Pokemon, but only the first letter. You are not given the number of letters in the Pokemon's name though, so to figure a puzzle out, you have to use a bit of logic. Basically, you have to guess Pokemon names that start with the same letter as the one being done (unlike in Pokemon Hangman, you cannot guess letters, you have to find at least one more of their positions through the guesses made, besides the first letter). The thing is, each time a guess is made, the one whose turn it is has to indicate how many letters the guess has in common with the Pokemon being done, if any (aka the same letter(s) in the same place(s) the guess has with the correct Pokemon, for example, if the Pokemon is Breloom, and someone guesses Bronzor, you'd post Br???o*, where the question marks each represent a single letter, and the asterisk represents at least one letter (hence why the asterisk is on the end when applicable). If someone correctly guesses the Pokemon, they will win a figurine of the Pokemon, and can now make their own logic Pokemon puzzle for everyone else to figure out.

When a puzzle is being done, individuals can make a max of 5 guesses each per puzzle, and there is a max of 12 incorrect guesses allowed on a puzzle, if a 13th incorrect guess occurs on a particular puzzle, the Pokemon that was being done is revealed, but nobody wins the figurine, and either me or Knight of Time will do the next puzzle (it's similar to what happens if the man hangs in Pokemon Hangman; a worker has to do the next puzzle if a "hanging" here happens).

A note on legendaries- even though they can come up here, only workers can give out legendary Pokemon figurines.

We'll keep track of what figurines have been awarded here.

Figurine Winners:

Blademaster- Alomomola

DarkestLight- Taillow, Ekans

Knight of Time- Stantler, Muk, Alomomola, Wailord, Gorebyss, Probopass, Crustle, Pichu, Arbok, Dialga, Kingler, Cranidos, Kecleon, Garbodor, Emolga, Roselia, Medicham, Litwick, Probopass, Raichu, Yanma, Shuckle, Infernape, Dugtrio, Kingler

Lady Vulpix- Crustle, Gulpin, Wooper, Caterpie, Garbodor, Solosis, Murkrow, Eelektrik, Alakazam, Lickilicky

mr_pikachu- Whimsicott, Boldore, Pignite, Entei, Patrat, Minun, Nosepass, Terrakion, Beheeyem, Volcarona, Fearow, Cloyster, Loudred

Oslo- Chingling, Slowking, Wigglytuff, Machoke, Delcatty, Lugia, Politoed, Ledian, Togetic, Pawniard, Lairon, Clefairy, Aggron, Nidoqueen, Vulpix, Milotic, Growlithe

Shadow Wolf- Regirock, Lopunny, Herdier, Typhlosion, Farfetch'd, Simisage, Karrablast, Slowbro, Axew, Jynx, Wailmer, Shellos (east), Scolipede, Stunfisk, Conkeldurr

____________________

Alright! It's Oslo's turn to post the new puzzle! Give your best everyone!

[Oslo]

Huzzah!

This next puzzle will begin with an M.

[Knight of Time]

Machamp?

[Oslo]

No sirree.

Machamp: M*

[Shadow Wolf]

How about Meganium?

[mr_pikachu]

I'll add Misdreavus to that.

[Oslo]

Between these two guesses, I imagine you should have it figured out.

Meganium: M???n
Misdreavus: Mi*

[mr_pikachu]

I'll bet this is a Minun.

[Oslo]

You'd win that bet. *awards figurine*

[mr_pikachu]

Awesome! Thanks, Oslo.

The next one starts with a C.

Guesses Remaining: 13

[Shadow Wolf]

Let's begin with Charizard.

[Oslo]

Cofagrigus?

[Knight of Time]

Hmm, Crawdaunt maybe?

[mr_pikachu]

Wow, some major information came from those guesses!

Charizard: C?a?i*
Cofagrigus: C*
Crawdaunt: Cra*

Guesses Remaining: 10

[Knight of Time]

Hmm, Cranidos?

[mr_pikachu]

That's the one! The Cranidos is yours, Kyle. Nicely done!

[Knight of Time]

Thanks Brian!

Alright, the next one begins with an N.

[mr_pikachu]

Let's start the round with Nidoqueen.

[Knight of Time]

Nidoqueen: N*

[mr_pikachu]

How about Nosepass?

So, apparently there are only 14 Pokemon that start with the letter N. That means the only ways for us to lose would be 1) systematically guessing every N-Pokemon other than the correct one, 2) guessing Pokemon whose names don't start with N, or 3) guessing things that aren't Pokemon at all. (No one guess copper!)

[mymyilikepie]

Joining this game and going with Nuzleaf

[Shadow Wolf]

mr_pikachu: It is indeed interesting your point (Imagine if the puzzle would begin with a Y, only three guesses... or with an X, it will be a matter of timing and speed). But there are many challenging letters for this game. Of course, depending on how the game difficulty goes, it would be a good idea to consider reducing the guesses in the future. :O

Anyways, I'll go with Natu.

[Oslo]

Perhaps Noctowl?

[Knight of Time]

This one was a Nosepass, congratulations Brian!

'hands you the figurine'

Go for it.

[mr_pikachu]

Awesome! Thanks, Kyle.

The next one starts with a K!

Guesses Remaining: 13

mr_pikachu: It is indeed interesting your point (Imagine if the puzzle would begin with a Y, only three guesses... or with an X, it will be a matter of timing and speed). But there are many challenging letters for this game. Of course, depending on how the game difficulty goes, it would be a good idea to consider reducing the guesses in the future. :O

You're correct that some starting letters are much more difficult than others. For instance, while only 14 Pokemon begin with the letter N, a whopping 94 start with S, more than any other letter. However, I did some quick calculations and found that there are two S-Pokemon with letters that match 44 other Pokemon. In other words, if either "Sharpedo" or "Swadloon" return an answer of "S*" then you can immediately rule out the guessed Pokemon and 44 others; any other response will be a clue that would rule out even more Pokemon.

In fact, I've played out one possible chain... if the guesses of Sharpedo, Sceptile, Spinarak, and Samurott don't reveal any letters, then there will be only 4 S-Pokemon remaining, so a maximum of four additional (and intelligent) guesses will solve the puzzle. Since we can speculate that, in virtually any scenario, you're likely to rule out more Pokemon by getting a clue than by not uncovering any information, you should be able to solve any S puzzle within eight or fewer guesses. Now, that's not to say that every guess will always be optimized for maximum efficiency in actual gameplay, but considering that there are more S-Pokemon than Pokemon of any other letter, that's still a pretty fast solution chain when the limit is 13 guesses.

Anyway, I just figured I'd share that with you guys. Use the information however you like. *shrugs*

[Shadow Wolf]

Hehe, as always, your logic calculations and insight thought are impeccable. (Take it as a compliment)

Let's begin with Kabutops.

[mr_pikachu]

Aww! Thanks, Louis. =^_^=

Kabutops: Ka*

Guesses Remaining: 12

[Shadow Wolf]

Hmm... how about Kangaskhan?

BTW, in a way, your signature cancels mine.

[mymyilikepie]

gunna go with kakuna

[mr_pikachu]

Louis: Ha! I didn't even think about that! Nice.

Kangaskhan: Ka??a*
Kakuna: Ka*

Guesses Remaining: 10

[Shadow Wolf]

Hehe, just some random thoughts... (I better think about a new quote. Who knows, maybe something that makes me laugh will appear soon)

Anyway, I think this one's a Karrablast, right?

[mr_pikachu]

Bingo! The Karrablast is yours, Louis. Nice deduction!

[Shadow Wolf]

Thanks Brian!

Alright there will be a T party here.

[mr_pikachu]

I'll start with a Torterra.

[Shadow Wolf]

Hmm... a boost start here!

mr_pikachu: T?r*

[mr_pikachu]

Well, there was a 61.8% chance of getting a clue from that one, so I went for it.

Three possibilities remain, so I'll take a shot at Terrakion.

[Shadow Wolf]

Greedy eh?

...
...
...

Well, he who asks, receives! Congratulations Brian! (You know, I think this has been one of the fastest puzzles done, and what a reward)

*hands over the figurine*

I'll take an..... wait... never mind! Your turn!

[mr_pikachu]

Hehe! Thanks, Louis! Wow, another legendary... awesome!

The next one starts with a K. Hey, that's the second straight K that I've randomized!

Guesses Remaining: 13

[Oslo]

Kakuna?

[Shadow Wolf]

I'll go with Kingdra.