Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

This match is a Tolkien based trivia challenge consisting of five rounds. Each round is a one hour (rl time) or 100 questions (whichever is reached first) speed round. The rounds, along with their times and dates shall be as follows (unless I get too many complaints about a particular time slot):
The questions shall be difficult enough that you should have the book handy, but not so difficult that anyone familiar with the books could not find it in the book with the same amount of speed as someone searching for the answer on the internet. For example: When is Frodo's birthday?



This is an RP Scavenger hunt in which you will have to post in various different threads as you retrieve specific items while performing specific tasks. You will have two RL weeks to retrieve seven items for Queen Arwen. You are awarded points based on your RP - the highest score wins. I have managed to develop a completely impartial, and completely idiotic, method of valuing your posts. You will not be informed of how points are earned until the is over, at which point I will post exactly how you earned the points. When I do so, everyone will be terribly upset, because, as stated previously, my method of rewarding those points will be extremely idiotic and unpredictable by you the contenders, but also completely impartial. This contest will be run simultaneously with The High Warden's Match due to the length of time and because it will not require much time from yours truly to maintain.



Prince Faramir is holding a steeplechase in honor of his beloved wife. This is a dice based race. The dice will determine how many furlongs you run with each turn and whether you clear the fence or not. An extra furlong each turn will be rewarded to those who include a detailed fact about horse care or riding in their previous RP roll. (Think skunk racing except I never figured out what 18 sided dice are). The derby will begin after the Queen's Quest has ended.



(More details to come on this later, plans still in progress. Expect something along the lines of a tournament of arms on the fields of Pelennor. The King's Challenge will begin after the end of Dernhelm's Derby.)



(Again, more details to come on this later, plans still in progress. Expect having to RP completing completely ridiculous tasks, such as water sliding down the circles of Minas Tirith.)


Each of these events will be run as an individual event and a team event (kinda like they do gymnastics in the Olympics). If you chose to compete as individual, you may enter (SIGN UP) for as many of the events as you like. If you enter multiple events, your scores will be combined from each event for the chance to become Gondor's Individual Champion! You may also chose to join the team event. By joining a team, your score will be combined with your teammates in order to determine the winning team of each event, as well as the combined score of your team in all events to determine Gondor's Team Champions. However.... if you chose to be on a team, you will not get to pick your teammates....I will do that via an impartial method (probably letting my horse draw names out of a hat). The reason is because I have a slightly sadistic side....muwhahaha. (And because shyer members may want to be on a team but hesitate because all the others on the team are close friends. Y'all have been around the plaza enough to work with whomever you get assigned to.) Of course, this will unfortunately dampen enthusiasm for teams, so if not enough member chose to be on a team, I will eliminate the teams entirely.

Sign up here for which events you'd like to compete in and whether as an individual or as a team. It is open to all kingdoms, however, you must RP in all events as a Gondorian (break out your NPCs you heathens from other lands).
P.S. Sorry for the wicked sarcasm and sense of humor. I'm in a mood, but want to get the games up and running.

Ooooh, games. Signing up as Cadil for all events (though not sure how much I will be able to keep up with it all) - gladly would participate in a team, but individually if there are no teams. :D

Upon seeing a flyer for The Gondorian Games, something fiercely competitive awakened in Kaylin's very core!
She immediately located the sign up sheet, and noticing the option to compete as part of a team, she nodded eagerly and wrote her name down in the right column. Of course - should there be no team events after all, she'd still like to compete as an individual.

Signing up with Unalmis for all events please ! Exciting !

EDIT : Forgot to say, team and/or individual is all good. Thanks

It seems that the timing of the first trivia game (the Hobbit) is a challenge, so I am changing the date of that one to Saturday, June 13 @ 5 pm EST.

Yay! Then I can participate :D 11 pm Brussels time! And so I'll be able to lose face like a pro.

The Queen's Quest is up and running! At the moment, we are going to stick to individuals, and not teams, but since there is no time limit on sign-ups, that is subject to change as we go along.

Hi @Durien Please can I join up as Ellisiva? I'm happy to be team.

Awesome, welcome to challenge, muwhahaha!

We need just one more to sign up to add teams into the mix! Sign ups are very much ongoing, so feel free to join at any time. I am editing the opening posts to reflect the ongoing Roster! Feel free to make your way To The Queen's Quest at any time.

Sign me up, chief! For the High Warden’s Memorial Match, Dernhelm’s Derby, and the King’s Challenge and Steward’s Cup when they become available. Abrazimir is bringing the…belt, trophy, medallion home to Dol Amroth!

I'm opening to joining any teams looking for one more?

I am interested in the Trivia Challenge, but is the Return of the King really at 4:00 AM EST? Or is that a typo?

@Mojo I did have the RoTK scheduled for 4 am EST. It was an attempt at trying to vary the times to include plaza members in unique time zones. If the overall consensus is that a particular time doesn’t work, I’ll move it, but I was aiming to try and accommodate every plaza time zone with at least one trivia round.

@Lantaelen I will add you to the roster! The only one open so far is the Queens Quest, which I am assuming you do not wish to join, but the Memorial Match will soon be up and the trivia will go as planned.

I will start sorting teams in a day or so, for those who wish to be a part of one!

@Durien Can i post in Queen's Quest?

Er, fellow elves? No? Anyone? Ah well...

I'm interested in FOTR trivia (I'll probably be asleep for the rest of them ) and all the other games as they come up. I'll have a name for a Gondorian NPC by the time I post in Queen's Quest, if that's alright. And I'd love to be part of a team!

(first ever Gondor post maybe??)

@Queen Nerwen Yep, you’re all set!

@Aerlinn Oh, yay! Welcome to Gondor, muwhahaha! Feel free to start the Queen’s Quest whenever you are ready.

I will update the roster and start creating teams later tonight. If you have posted or post signing up here, feel free to start the Queens Quest whenever you are ready!

I don't think I will be able to commit to specific times for an hour here or there for trivia, but I would like to sign up for the other events. They all sound fun to me! I will start thinking up a Gondorian NPC. Maybe Nearamir? (jk I'll think about it)

This looks excellent! I'll start by just signing myself up for the Queen's Games. Does one need to do all events to be a part of a team? I'd love to be on a team, but am also glad to do it individually if not.

Signing up my character Zev!

--once I've posted here can I just go ahead and post in it? I'll wait to hear.

@KingODuckingham I’ll add you to the roster when I update it tonight, but you’re all set if you’d like to start the Queens Quest.

@Lucifer Awesome! I believe I can add you to a team! I will update the roster and sort teams later tonight but feel free to join the Queen’s Quest whenever you are ready!

@Durien Thanks for the quick response-- I'll probably join in the posting tomorrow!

I forgot to mention it but I'll be represented by my Gondorian character Abrazimir in this. Apologies.

@Lantaelen No Worries! Updated info accordingly.

I started creating teams, but we need a few more bodies for the third team! @Aerlinn & @KingODuckingham I have started putting a team together for you both, but your team is short members. Ideally, there will be three members competing in each event, which means four or five members to a team depending on how many of the events everyone would like to participate in.

@Lucifer I added you to a team based on signing up for one event. If you enjoy the Games, and would like to participate in more, I will either switch you to another team or you may end up competing for different teams in each event

Everyone who is participating in the Queen's Quest may head there at your convenience!

Thanks Durien! Haha, sorry to make it complicated. I appreciate your flexibility. XD I'll update you here if I decide to hop into more of the games!

EDIT: I forgot to say, I'll be playing as my character, Zev, for maximum mischief.

@Durien Am I supposed to RP both my character and the healer from whom I receive the medicine, or is someone else in the house of healers supposed to RP giving me the instructions and the medicine?

@KingODuckingham
No, you don't have to RP the healer. I recommend posting in the reception area and one of the healers will be with you. Any one of the healers can and may respond, and if there is not a timely response, I'll break out my character or an NPC and respond. There is no time limit on the Queens Quest, so no rush to accomplish each task.

Note to all: Many of the tasks/items you are to complete/find involve rp-ing with others who may not playing the game. For example, in the marketplace, you can visit any one of the shops (you don't have to find my shop, although I do have one) or in the Old Guesthouse, you can find anyone to taste your food...it doesn't have to be me. I know I'm lurking somewhere in most of the threads you'll be posting in.

I love the idea of the QQ and TSC, although the timing couldn't be worse as I am insanely busy right now. I think I'll sign up and hope I can get it all done in a week sometime. *crosses eyes*

Ivor, a metalsmith working in Gondor.

I'd like to sign up my NPC Kaylyn for everything except the Trivia please - I can't commit to the times. Happy to join team C if they don't mind a late addition?

@Lirimaer Fortunately, you picked two very non-rushed games! I have currently assigned you to a non-existent Team D because I am still figuring that out, but I'll get you in on one. Please feel free to start posting while I work on that!

@Fairy Nuff Welcome to Team C!

All of the Games are still open to newcomers! Round 1 of the The High Warden's Match is over, but there are still four rounds left, but the Queen's Quest has barely started and the other games have not yet begun.

Team A, the Fellowship of the Ring Trivia contest is a bit early for me, like 7am, so I won't be in on that one. Good luck, y'all!

Lovely! Thank you!

@Fairy Nuff Thanks for boosting our ranks!

Looking forward to trivia madness in a few hours, @Durien! (Team C probably shouldn't have too much faith in me, but I'll do my best. ) I may be able to make Return of the King next weekend, too.

I looked at the trivia thread on my mobile last night after I got back from dinner, and good Lord you people type super fast! :o Well done all!

BTW @Durien I wanted to ask would it be OK to RP members of the crowd in the Queen's Quest even if I'm not participating? Like a choir in Greek plays who comment what's going on. I thought it would be amusing playing elderly ladies commenting on tasks and participants, cheering they favourites ans so on... But if you think it would be too distracting for everyone involved or silly let me know and I'll scrap the idea. :-)

Are latecomers allowed to join the High Warden's match? (I'm aware I've missed two of the sessions ...but I love trivia, so would be glad to join in the last few if I'm allowed!)

@Nessa Saelind I may do a lot of copying and pasting from my question list in order to keep up with those crazy fast typers. However, every time we end up on a new page, I miss it, lol. YES! All crowds and cheering squads are welcome!! I like the idea!

@Almarëa Mordollwen Definitely YES! I seem to have accidentally put two speedy trivia fiends on the same team, so the other teams can use all the help they can get!! I am adding you to Team C!

Durien wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2020 2:42 pmI like this method, but I realize it is frustrating and disheartening for those with slow internet connections. The problem with the old drill formats was while they were time friendly, it also meant the questions had to be very difficult or obscure in order to be challenging enough to not always end in a tie. I have also thought of the idea of creating a list of 100 questions, post it and the contestants have one hour. (for example, say I posted 100 questions at 9:00 am, then at exactly 10:00 am, everyone must post their answers. A minute early or late would result in disqualification - to avoid cheating.) Then tally the totals. But it lacks interaction. I might try that idea out if I do a future game but for now, I'll stick to this format.

@Durien I didn't want to clutter up your game thread but I wanted to tell you that the alternate version sounds like fun too! My own internet isn't always the most reliable so I definitely sympathize with the connection problem. It would take some balancing of time/number of questions/difficulty, but if people could work over a big list of questions in pairs or small teams, I can see that being very fun and competitive. Of course, that might necessitate more questions which is more work for you (or another GM)! I loved Drill, but definitely remember the frustration of trying to come up with good questions. And the shorter time commitment on behalf of the players makes this sort of speed format appealing too. Anyways, sorry to ramble! Just want to encourage any future trivia games! :smiley8:

Edit: Yaaaaaaaaaay, we get @Almarëa Mordollwen!

@Aerlinn Oh, I have plenty of questions! I thought I'd prepare 100 questions for each round just in case, but with the time it takes to constantly post/refresh/figure out if we're still on the same page, it appears the average amout of questions we go through in an hour is/will be 40-50. I love trivia games myself and would be a contestant if I wasn't running it, lol, and I do hope to do some in the future, but there really isn't an easy method. I thought also about doing a long list of questions and giving 24 hrs to complete, but that would be a huge undertaking to do enough questions for a team to answer in 24 hrs which would difficult enough that there could be enough point difference for a winner. I also toyed with the idea of a 24 hr marathon, where you had to join a team and so many questions would drop every hour or something like that.

I also really like the idea of a non-speed rambling trivia thread like a cross between the riddle threads and PAM - answer a question and you have to ask the next immediately - so it just keeps going on and on.

Hi! Is it too late to join the Queen's Quest? Because if it isn't, I would like to sign up, please! I'm also interested in the Steward's Cup.

@Nen
It is not too late! Feel free to make your way over to the Queen’s Quest whenever you are ready! I will update the roster when I get a chance.

Great! Thanks! ^_^

Just to let you know I *am* still doing this, just waiting for a response ... a short conversation has taken over two weeks now!

@Lirimaer We Gondorians aren't known for our speedy responses. Only one person has made it to the third item so far, and very few have made it to the second item. I did not expect this to be a quick contest. There are two items which will take longer than the others and you're working on one of them. So no worries!

Okay *breathes* - thank you!

(And I did wonder how you all wrote epic poems and long essays every post!!) It is comforting to know you are human!

Hello fellow Queen's Questers - do we know if @Durien is away atm? Or a possible return date?

Hmm, not that sure - maybe she is lost at work.

That could be true. Work is very terrible and eats up time and energy. I still have a mind to continue this quest though - want to swap tasks with me IC, Pele?

Hmm. Perhaps we should wait just a bit longer? :) And then see what can de done.

I know it's been a while, but I think during one part of the trivia match Durien mentioned that her internet was wonky... I don't know if it was a one time thing or it turned into a bigger issue.

Ahh. Fair enough. We all know those woes.

I’m curious about signing up for the Kings Challenge; is there any more information about this? Would I be able to sign up as my Rohir Allacan (ex-cavalry Marshal, Campwisa, experiences warrior)?

Hmm, I don't know, Alla. It seems that Durien has not been present for a long while, so not sure what's happening with these games. Still waiting and hoping for her return though.