Pattern of Choices

How to play

1. 1

   Pattern of Choices supports 3–12 players and lasts exactly one round per participant. The server shuffles the order once, so everyone is Author exactly once and a Reader in every other round.

2. 2

   Everyone sees an original, low-pressure prompt and 6 different tiles. The card contains no prepared correct answer: the Author creates the secret pattern during that round.

3. 3

   The Author has 35 seconds to privately sort all tiles into three zones of exactly two: Pick first, Keep in reserve, and Pass. The draft may change until a separate confirmation locks the pattern.

4. 4

   When confirming, the Author selects one Pick first tile as the anchor. The anchor becomes public and stays locked in that zone; every other part of the Author’s pattern remains hidden until reveal.

5. 5

   Each Reader has 40 seconds to independently rebuild the full 2/2/2 pattern. A local draft may be rearranged, but a confirmed prediction is accepted only once and remains private until reveal.

6. 6

   The anchor is not scored. A Reader earns 60 points for each of the other five tiles placed in the correct zone, plus a 100-point bonus for a perfect 5 of 5, for a maximum of 400.

7. 7

   The Author receives the median of all Reader awards, including zeroes for missing predictions. With an even number of Readers, the two middle values are averaged, rewarding a pattern that is readable without being obvious.

8. 8

   If the Author does not confirm within 35 seconds, the round ends immediately with no points. When Reader time expires, accepted predictions score and every missing Reader receives 0; spectators receive no secret data and cannot affect play.

9. 9

   Reveal lasts up to 15 seconds and the host may continue after 4. It shows the Author pattern, anchor, every prediction, matches, missing players, and every award; server-held timers and confirmations survive reconnects without scoring twice.

10. 10

    No free-form clues are allowed before reveal: the Author must not explain the choice by voice, gesture, or outside the app. After the final round, the highest personal total wins and tied leaders share the victory.