My instructions are bad. I mean click on the post number. DONT look at the number after post count. You'll see what I mean.

I knew what you meant

Need a board randed, and to confirm bolt is willing to spymaster right off the bat. Not sure what his/her experience is

My experience is nil, but I'm willing and eager.

Still trying to get a list randed. Sent a PM to gabe. We'll get you the list ASAP.


We should probably get a finalized rule list posted somewhere.

list has been randed, I will forward to the other spymasters now

I had the sadz thinking that this started without me. Then I saw I'm in. Now I'm all

I've been working on a set of rules for POG play. It might be nice to get this added to one of the stickied threads. I'd ask people to take a look and see what they think. I'd be surprised if there aren't any mistakes or typos.

I think the only potential issue is that these rules disallow acronyms. I'm fine with them, but I think best practice is to make very unambiguous clue giving rules.



This is intended to be a summary of the rules for forum play. If necessary, new players are encouraged to seek out the official rules via an internet search for greater clarity. We will follow all official rules. Rules described as “optional” in the official rule set are clarified below.

The game

There are 25 words. Nine are red, eight are blue, seven are neutral, and one is an assassin word. Teams are composed of one spymaster and one or more guessers per team. Only the spymaster from each team knows the color of all the words on the list.

The guessing players will be presented with an alphabetical, uncolored list of the 25 words. The goal is for each spymaster to get their team to guess all of their words without guessing the other team’s words, or without guessing the assassin word. If your team guesses the assassin word, your team automatically loses.

The red team goes first, and teams alternate from that point forward.
See the last section for the link to the word list generator.

Giving clues and taking turns.

Spymasters begin the turn by saying a single word and a number. The number is the number of words the spymaster believes are related to the clue word. It also determines the maximum possible number of guesses before the turn automatically ends.

For example, if a clue-giver wants his team to guess the words "Umbrella", "Glass" and "Gate" he might say "Water 3", indicating 3 words connected to his clue. The rest of his team make individual guesses in the game thread until they are incorrect, they pass, or they reach the maximum guesses for that turn. In this case, the team could guess up to four words.

Once a team wishes to make a guess, they should write the guess in bold or write “official guess:” before their choice. Rules about researching of guesses can be found below.

A team may often wish to pass before their maximum number of guesses. The team must write the word pass in bold or write “official pass” to end their turn, unless they have guessed the maximum number of times.
The color of the word is always revealed after an official guess. It is possible for a team to guess an opposing team’s word, or to guess the assassin word and end the game.

Important rules regarding clues and spymaster play

Absolutely no information should be conveyed by the spymaster except the clues themselves and the color of the guessed words. Saying something like “this is a stretch, but water – 3 is absolutely forbidden. Saying something like “we should probably pass now” is also forbidden.

Only one word is allowed as a clue. No hyphenated words. No acronyms. Proper nouns are allowed as long as they are only one word long.

Words must be real words and must be in English.

The clue word given by the spymaster must be related to the target words by its meaning. No rhyming clues, no alternate spellings, no clues related to the physical position of the word on the list.

Clue words can't be any of the unrevealed words on the word list, even words the spymaster is not trying to clue for. You can't cay a part of an unrevealed word on the board. "Break" as a clue is illegal if "breakdown" is on the board, for instance. This is the easiest rule to accidentally violate.

You CAN say a word on the board as a clue if it has been revealed.

Spymasters CAN research whatever they wish. However, guessers CAN’T research proper nouns. It IS allowed to look up the meaning of words other than proper nouns in an online or physical dictionary.

Advanced clues

There are a couple of advanced options for cluing, generally only used in desperate endgame situations.

A spymaster can say “clue – unlimited” By this, the spymaster communicates that at least some, but not necessarily all, of the remaining words relate to the clue word. In this case, the spymaster’s team can guess as many times as they keep getting correct words. This tactic can be used to help the guessers find a few extra words while also cleaning up unguessed words from previous rounds.

The spymaster can also say “clue – 0” This should indicate to the players that none of the remaining words relate to the clue word. Again, in this case their team can guess as many words as they wish, as long as they keep getting correct answers. This tactic can be used if the spymaster desperately needs the team to guess a few remaining words that can’t be linked by other means.

Generating the word list

A Google sheet has been made for forum play, and can be found at this link. Decisions around exactly who will generate the randomized list and which team will play red and blue should be agreed upon by the players in advance.

Invalid clues

Invalid clues are penalized by the immediate loss of turn and the reveal of one of the opposite team’s words, as chosen by the opposing spymaster.

This rule set is designed to make the legal / illegal clue line as clear as possible. However, spymasters are encouraged to PM the opposing spymaster before posting any questionable clues. If the clue is agreed to be valid, it can then be posted.

I know that homographs are ok, but what about homophones?

I would be inclined to say that homophones shouldn't be allowed.

I'll also suggest that we remove and replace "pass" from the master list of words. It's awkward, for the simple reason that it's the word that we use to end a turn.

Player 1:pass
Player 2: Hang on, are you guessing the word "pass" or are you indicating that you're done guessing?

Homographs - you could say "bow" to clue for ship and arrow, sure.



Homophones - The real game is oral, so yes you could say "knight" to clue for both armor and darkness. I think in the written form "knight" is going to pretty much restrict you to the dude in armor meaning.

I agree the word pass should be removed, or the the list should be re-randed if it pops up

Pass is a good word though. I like it in there personally.

Not sure if anyone else has an issue with this but...

if a spymaster gives a clue "Hawk 2" it should not be added to the list as "hawk 2" or vice versa.

rant over

Don't spit at me.

I don't think pass is bad for the reasons listed. It does have potential for accidents but whenever anyone sees it on the list the conventions should change to pass our turn, official guess pass / pass (word), etc. and context is also a thing that helps people understand when it's a guess.

I have slight trouble perceiving pass as a real word on the list but that's a me thing and would probably fix if I played with it again. I think other than its resemblance to a game mechanic it's a good word with lots of cluing potential. But I wouldn't be upset if somebody reranded a pass board.

edit: oh and nice work Carl!

Oh, I have no problem with homophobes as described here.

I would have a problem with using the clue "night" to describe the word "knight".

Carl, et al.

I know there is a clear rule about spymasters not giving extra info to the players, but how about the other way around in 2 versus 2 games? I have seen a few times payers post..."Oh, I think I now know what the 3rd word was for XXXX." In such a case they are not communicating with a teammate, because they have no teammates So, such a statement is only meant to influence their spymaster.

Is this type of tip to the spymaster ok in 2 versus 2, or should we discourage such non subtle tips to the spymaster?

I mean I don't mind the thinking out loud part where someone says I think it is one of A, B or C, and then makes a pick. But if you are posting that you now have a word that you missed before, then your spymaster knows that he/she can move on and that you will just pick that word up as an extra word the next go. Do we want this occurring in 2 vrs 2?

I am not worried either way, but we should be consistent with respect to clues/tips/info from player to spymaster. I think it is only a problem in 2 versus 2, because it would be a minefield to try and limit the way teammates communicate in 3 versus 3, even though we know some messages sent are meant for the spymaster...

This discussion has taken an interesting twist!

I'm guilty of this, and have been unsure if its angleshooting. I figure in a forum environment I might as well spew my thoughts anyway to make things interesting.

Personally, I'm against homophobes in all POG games.

AK - I was thinking about this exact thing today.

Spymastering is pretty hard. I don't necessarily mind the spymaster's partner spewing a bit.

If we want to limit it, the only choice is to allow absolutely no communication in 2 v 2 other than clues, guesses, and answer revealing. Even the "thinking out loud" example you give communicates something, and there would be no way to say for sure when some line had been crossed.

Personally, I'm fine with talking with the spymaster in 2 v 2 - but I'd hear arguments otherwise. The alternative seems a bit too nitty to me.

i like talking things out sometimes in 2v2

more fun than just clues/answers/board updates imo

and i'm a big fan of spurs talking to the other team too

Yes, your example pretty clearly violates the no rhyming rule.