WORDPODGE!
by Neal Harder
INSTRUCTIONS:
The object of wordpodge is to make as many words as possible out of the given letters within the time limit.
When the game begins, a set of letters will be displayed. Type words on the keyboard and press enter to try
them. If you have entered a valid word it will appear in the solution grid and your score will be updated.
Continue entering words until you have found them all or time has expired.
CONTROLS:
[A-Z] | Add letter to attempt if available |
[Backspace] | Remove last letter from attempt |
[Enter] | Try Current Attempt |
[Space] | Rescramble Letters |
SCORING:
Points are awarded for each valid word entered. The scoring table can be modified by users for their own
matches, but the default scoring table is as follows:
Word Length: | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Score Award: | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 16 |
A bonus is given for words of the maximum length. The default bonus is 10 points.
A penalty can be applied for trying invalid words. By default the penalty is 0.
Getting all of the words in a round is called a Bingo. Bonus points can be awarded
for time remaining after a Bingo, in points per second. Default is no Bingo bonus.
LEXICONS:
There are three dictionaries to choose from:
STD | Approximates a standard college dictionary and has the fewest bizarre words. |
OWL2 | Official Word List 2, the current lexicon approved by the official scrabble players association for american play. |
OSPD4 | Official Scrabble Players Dictionary 4, this is the OWL2 with foul language removed- safe for children and the faint of heart! |
MODIFIABLE PARAMETERS:
Game Time | Sets the number of seconds for each round of the game |
Word Length | Sets the number of letters to use |
Dictionary | Choose from STD, OWL2, or OSPD4 lexicons |
Scoring Table | Sets the score awarded for words of each length |
Bonus Amount | Sets the bonus awarded for words of the maximum length |
Bingo Time Bonus | Specified in points per second, for time remaining after Bingo |
Penalty Amount | Sets the score subtracted if an attempted word is invalid |
Number of Rounds | Sets the number of rounds to be played in the match |
FORFEIT POLICY:
If any player in a match does not play the first round in 2 weeks, the entire match is dropped with no
statistics kept; it is as if the match was never created. An email reminder is sent after 1 week and
after 2 weeks, then the match is dropped. This is called a 'challenge refusal'.
If any player in a match has accepted a challenge (by playing the first round) then they can leave the
match idle for no more than 7 days between each round. An email reminder will be sent after 3 days and
6 days and then the match will be forfeited after 7 days. This is called a 'match forfeit'.
In a match forfeit, the empty portion of the forfeiting player's score grid is filled in with zeros.
All other players in the match must still complete all of the rounds to end the match, or they will also
end up with a match forfeit. When the match ends, either by the last player forfeiting or by the last
player completing all of the rounds, the player with the most points wins. Note that this means a player
that forfeits can still win the match if they end up with the most points when the match ends.
MATCH DROPPING:
In the event of a server failure or other unavoidable catastrophe, you may request that a match be
dropped. This is done from the Match-Mode page, by clicking the 'X' by your name in the match that
you wish to drop. Your row in the table will turn bright red to alert other players that you have
requested a drop. All other players in the match must agree to the drop by clicking the 'X' by
their name, which will turn their row bright red as well. When the last player clicks their 'X',
the match is immediately expunged from the server and cannot be retrieved. Do not request a drop
if you have a bad game. The edicate surrounding this feature dictates that it be used only when
the poor performance was truly out of your control, like in the event of an earthquake or power
outage. Please respect your fellow players and do not request drops when they are not called for.