Official rules
Rules and regulations
These rules apply to all What? Where? When? Intellectual Club games and question submissions. If anything here is unclear, email us before the game rather than during it.
Match Structure and Setup
- The number of participating teams and roster sizes can be adjusted for solo play, duels, or large groups.
- Discussion timers can be customized to suit the game's pacing, rather than strictly adhering to a standard 90-second limit.
- Win conditions are flexible, allowing games to end after a set time limit or number of rounds instead of stopping when the first side reaches five points.
Points and Rewards System
- Teams earn points for correct answers, while incorrect answers can optionally award points to opponents, result in deductions, or simply yield zero points.
- Point values can be static or scale dynamically based on question difficulty, round progression, or strategic wagering mechanics.
- Prizes should match the competitive level of the event, scaling from casual bragging rights up to tangible rewards like gift cards or merchandise.
Question Sourcing and Types
- Questions can be submitted by community members, curated by a committee, or provided directly by the host.
- All submissions must adhere to quality standards; spam, irrelevant, or inappropriate submissions are grounds for rejection or sanctions.
- Hosts can utilize and mix various challenge types, including standard written questions, rapid-fire Blitz rounds, or interactive Mystery Object challenges.
Lifelines and Fair Play
- Teams may earn or be granted lifelines, such as an Extra Minute for discussion, to use strategically during critical moments in the game.
- Any external hints, including gestures that reveal whether an answer is correct before the host announces it, are strictly prohibited.
- Rule violations result in scalable penalties depending on the mode's seriousness, ranging from a simple warning to the loss of answering rights, point forfeiture, or temporary removal from future games.
