The weekly newsletter for Fed2 by ibgames

EARTHDATE: March 11, 2007

Event Reports - page 4

FED PHRASE GAME (Early Edition)

Wednesday 7 March
by Gwaptiva

This week the Phrase Game Roadshow was kindly given access to the store that sells everything you ever want for that special event, Valentino's on Magellan. The organizers wish hereby to deny categorically that any bribes were paid or received by anybody or anything.

There was a big turnout this week: Supermayman and Occy were already eagerly awaiting the arrival of the host and his wheel, soon joined by Kblackdragon, and, just as the game got underway, by Oddball and Desaxman. Of course, despite their tardiness, they were still welcome.

Kblackdragon got the first game underway, trying to discover a four word event (or was it a place), but after spinning up a bankrupt suddenly was called away and did not manage to return again for the rest of the game. There is no veracity, however, to the rumors that he mislaid an egg. Mayman found a consonant, then turned over to Occy. Not even a free spin could get him to the solution, so it was Oddball's turn. And early indications were that this was going to be his night: three spins of 1000 points in a row (obviously followed by an investigation of the mechanics of the wheel), led him to the solution of Pickwick Bros Grand Tour and the early lead.

Mayman showed that spinning 1000s is easy business, or at least, that's what he thought initially, as he went in search for a three-word place. He did not manage to convert the good spinning into good points as the F was not in the phrase. Occy added a few letters before bankrupting, Oddball just bankrupted straight away, Desaxman lost 500 points on a bankrupt, and now suddenly the wheel was considered to be not so nice indeed. Control of the game shifted around the group of players, with Desaxman finally managing to score a few points and solve the phrase as "Magellan's Travelers' Lodge", scoring 1550 points to take second place.

Occy's phrase was another place, this time consisting of four words, but he couldn't get anything going. Oddball found one letter, then bankrupted, Desaxman found another, and so it went on. Losses of turn, guessing letters not there, control kept moving around the players, until Oddball got on something resembling a roll [how appropriate for an odd ball - ed.] before letting Desaxman in. Judicious use of a free spin allowed Desaxman to solve the puzzle, but for rather few points. The phrase "an enormous smiley face" only netted him the minimum 750 points and despite brining him closer still left him in second place behind Oddball.

Round four saw the players go in search of an Institution of four words, and early on it became clear that Oddball had had enough of bankrupts and turn losses as without hesitation he went straight for the solution. We can only assume he is, like your host, a great fan of the products of Hon's Alluring Brownies, Inc. as he solved it in no time whatsoever, raising his total to 5250 points, almost 3000 more than Desaxman.

However, earlier results had shown that 3000 points is not an entirely insurmountable score, and, theoretically at least, even 5300 points isn't completely impossible, but unfortunately for Desaxman he was unable to mount a serious challenge. An early bankrupt put paid to his chances, especially as Supermayman did his utmost to take third place over Occy. His chances of a win disappeared rapidly as he kept spinning low amounts, and then completely evaporated when he bankrupted right before the end. Occy had no trouble to find that the four-word phrase was clearly visible right in front of them all night, and solved "a robertson tartan kilt" to score 750 points and secure third place.

So, the final results were that Oddball was the overall winner, Desaxman was the runner-up with Occy in third. Supermayman, not too despondent, vowed to try again next week, and so can every one of you, by joining me at 5.00pm eastern on Wednesday for another Fed Phrase Game Roadshow. Hope to see you then.

(Note that the time is indeed 5pm eastern/9pm UK time/22:00 CET due to daylight saving changes).


Fed2 Star index Previous issues Fed 2 home page