I set it up with 17-16. I thought the list pick actually may create even more of a problem, as after thinking about it picking a list and going last is probably worth a ton... but, we can change it before we play.

We can discuss it in the echo/foxtrot game thread before we start.

I think the one extra for red is probably OK most of the time. Picking the "harder list" on a long game takes quite a bit of thought for most lists imo.

I suggested adopting the mechanic in the Duet game wherein you can always guess until you miss, regardless of the number said by the spymaster.

I think this would be good for this game. The previous game where EB was spymaster felt like a real slog with the constant zeors and unlimited clues. Allowing the duet mechanic would have made that game more pleasurable for all parties, imo.

People ignored and/or didn't like the idea when I first posted it, and that might still be the case. Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in once more on the idea.

I would say this.... in any situation where it is very obvious within a couple minutes which list is harder, the best practice would be to re-rand and get more balanced lists. Taking an obviously easier list is a huge advantage. It probably just determines the game from the start, making the whole enterprise a waste of time.

I opened the new game thread and we can discuss and agree on any changes before we start. Probably better to discuss there.

The biggest problem I had was that every good connection I could see had significant blockers that were either red or assassin, so I was trying to play as safe as I could until enough words were gone that I could give bigger clues.

Benching - bar/drop/press/pole - nailed it

Cold - Moscow/draft - said Olympus before draft, but no biggie

Cobwebs - spider/litter - spider and litter were both **** words that I was having trouble linking to anything, so I came up with this hare-brained idea to link them together the best way I could. The worst part is that I put a lot of thought into wording it so that you would avoid saying string, so when you guys went straight for it, it was pretty disheartening. I wasn't really surprised tho, but never in a million years did I think pumpkin would come into the equation. I guess it's just one of those clues that seems obvious in your head, but just doesn't work out the way you planned it.

Metal - copper/bugle/server/racket - Yeah, not great, but I was kind of forced into a corner at this point. I knew needle would get said at some stage, but was just hoping you could get it in 2. I did have a reason for saying metal over metallic which I've since forgotten, but I doubt it would've made a whole lot of difference.

Feta - Greece/olive/honey - almost but not quite. Unfortunately, you guys were so deadset on saying pumpkin that there was just no way any clue here would work.

In the end, I think if you could decipher the cobwebs clue first time round, we would have had a pretty decent chance of winning imo.

GG all, was fun.

And I must say there is nothing more frustrating as spymaster than watching your teammates talk themselves out of every correct word and into all the wrong ones. Like, "ENOUGH WITH THE ****ING PUMPKIN ALREADY, HOLY ****!"

I thought you guys had a decent chance at the end. All the clued words had been said at some point. Insanity (I think) posted earlier that cobwebs must be litter. Not sure where that idea went.

And spurs was trolling litter as our pick on something. I think it was just to get you off litter.

I was thinking cobwebs was used specifically for spider + non-spider dust bunnies and lint and dust, etc and thought litter was the only thing that might fit..

haha so true

That's what was so frustrating! Pumpkin seemingly just came out of nowhere and then all of a sudden everyone fell in love with it.

Yeah, that's how it worked in my mind. Could've used you on our team!

If spurs was trolling, jokes on me. His projectile list was near perfect in that case

Nah... after press and bar I would have pushed hard for log.. lol

shoulda went with my heart that you would have just said halloween for spider/pumpkin and that litter/spider were just two very hard words to connect

oh well

don't think we were ever not guessing one of charge/glass