VSS LETTERS & GUESS

"The evolution of a simple game to encourage engagement and have some Vocal fun." Babs Iverson

When planning a social gathering, besides food, what else comes to mind? Did you guess games? If you did, you are correct! We love to play games. Incidentally, we just played a quick guessing game. Games can be used as a learning experience, as an ice breaker, or as a facilitator of engagement. Watching sporting games, we cheer for our favorite team. With the ubiquitous game shows, we sit on the couch and play along. My point is we love to play games. Perhaps, your family has a designated night to play games.

If you read POTHOLDERS, one of my stories, you are aware of some of the games that were played outdoors in my youth. When we couldn't play outdoors, we played some of our favorite old-school indoor games. There were many indoor games that we played, such as scrabble, charades, the paper-and-pencil game. It was the paper-and-pencil game that stands out from all the other games.

In January, the Vocal Social Society selected me as their VSS Champion because of my support and engagement with fellow "vocalites." It was an honor to have a weekend with my name on the Vocal Social Society's banner and a link to my profile. Giving me the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, my free rein to solo post; and if I so desired, engage others with a game of my choice.

When thinking about games to encourage engagement, it was natural that the old-school game of my youth came to mind. However, everyone knows that old-school game paper-and-pencil as the "Wheel Of Fortune."

On the 15th & 16th of January, my introductory VSS version of "Wheel of Fortune" was played. Saturday and Sunday, we played seven puzzles and a winner's circle round for the eighth puzzle each day. Winners of the seven puzzles played the final round or the Winner's Circle Round. Playing the VSS version "Wheel Of Fortune" was a win-win, as a host, my interacting with my fellow writers was fun and my fellow creators, had fun reading my stories and guessing the letter or solving the puzzle. Please keep in mind there were no prizes. Just the bragging right of winning!

Suggesting that the winner host the game came from Eugenette Morin who won that very first game. Wednesday was designated as Game Day! With that, the game evolved from eight puzzles to four puzzles. The first round consists of three puzzles. The second round, "Winner's Circle Round, was played by the winners from the first three puzzles.

On the 26th of January, Eugenette Morin was the host. The game was on! Mike Singleton - MikeyDred was the winner that Wednesday. Mike hosted the 2nd of February game. Jason Morton and Julie Smith played in the Winner's Circle Round. Julie Smith won Wednesday's game, relinquishing to Jason Morton which was very appropriate.

Some background, Jason Morton won that second game that was played on Sunday, 16th of January. Remember! At that time, he only had bragging rights. Jason hosted the 9th of February's VSS version of "Wheel of Fortune." Jason Morton's message after the game, "Thank you. This was a ton of fun. I enjoyed this almost as much as playing." His heartwarming message gave me an enormous amount of joy.

For me, it's the fun and comradery while the reads were secondary. This was a message that was shared with one of the players, you know who you are? Paula Shablo!

However, things were evolving, we strive to be inclusive. Listening to our "vocalites," because of employment commitments, Wednesdays weren't working for them. Understandably, one has to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. Needs have to be maintained!

Adding a Saturday game to the schedule, the games would be held every other week. With the schedule being set in writing not stone, you are probably wondering how to play? Before we get to that, the name of the game has evolved to "VSS Letters & Guess." Currently, there are no changes in how to play. In fact, it is quite easy. The players read the host's stories. Entering the title read into the comments of the puzzle post, the player sends a PM to the host with either their letter or guess to solve the puzzle.

How do you become a host of "VSS Letters & Guess?" To become a host, you have to win at least one of the three puzzles. Winning one of the three puzzles, you are going against the other winners. If you are the Winner of the second round or what is referred to as the Winner's Circle Round, you play host for the next scheduled game. If you win a Wednesday game, you will be the host for the Wednesday game. Likewise, with Saturday, winning Saturday's game, you will play host to Saturday's game.

Rule: Winner's will not be able to change their host date.

As a host, you create your own puzzles to solve. Posting a graphic of your choice, you provide the information regarding the puzzle in the post. The host gives the number of words in their puzzle and the number of letters in each word. For example, the first puzzle is a movie title with four words. The 1st word has four letters; 2nd word has four letters; the 3rd has three letters, and the 4th has four letters. Can you guess the movie title? In this case, the answer was Gone With The Wind. This was for example purposes. The host doesn't give the answer! It's the players who try to solve/answer the puzzle. Got it?

Note: Reminder, the host enters their profile as the first comment in the puzzle game post.

Receiving a PM from the player, the host responds to the player's letter or guess. If the letter isn't found in the puzzle, the host responds with that information. However, if the letter is in the puzzle, the host gives the number of times the letter is found and the location of the letters in the puzzle. For example, in puzzle #1 is there a G. The host would answer the player that there is 1 G first letter of the first word.

Rule: one letter or guess per story read. If the player reads multiple stories, the player receives that number of letters or guesses.

Rule: if a player has read all of the host's Vocal stories, the host can allow reads from another of the host's writing platforms. This is at the host's discretion.

Watch for Wednesday's and Saturday's games on Vocal Social Society, we will be playing every other week. If you would like to play, please join us.

Let's have some Vocal fun! Game On!

VSS Letters & Guess Re-imagined! Julie Smith suggested cutting one round and just having two finalists. Fantastic idea! We will still play every other Saturday! Starting Saturday the 7th of May, the game will consist of two puzzles. Ran this by Mike Singleton - MikeyDred, who suggested calling the third puzzle the Final Face-off. Brilliant! Game on!

Writer's notes: Thank you for reading. You are appreciated. Hope you can join us. It's time for some FUN!