Could someone clarify the rules for the room "Tandem"? Here they are as posted on the iSketch web page:

Tandem:
Two artists draw a phrase simultaneously and cooperatively. The ways this can be achieved are:
1. Using the sequence the artists' names are displayed on the game window, artist 1 draws the first word on the left side of the board and artist 2 takes the other word on the right side.
2. Both artists decide to create a "big picture". In this case, the artists can communicate by writing "BP?" on the board. Do not vote to skip the artists.

As I understand this, this means that the artists can only write "BP" on the board and nothing else, for example, filling up the board with written gibberish. Letters (besides "BP?") are still prohibited on this room for the artists, are they not?

I have been chastised by an administrator who tells me that I shouldn't report users in this room for writing words. I don't understand this administrator's line of reasoning. The written rules are quite clear, in my opinion. "Letters: Never use letters." Am I missing something here? I've written to the feedback of iSketch and they haven't told me anything other than an automated reply.

Thanks,
Mindraker

I'd say they could still write other things such as "yes" or "no" etc as a response to the BP offer (rather than just a tick or cross); and asking to swap words by writing "swap?" should be fine too.

But yes, if they're having a proper convo then they should probably be skipped, and if they're using letters to give clues then definitely.

Tandem is one of the biggest cesspits on iSketch anyway.

I'd say they could still write other things such as "yes" or "no" etc as a response to the BP offer (rather than just a tick or cross); and asking to swap words by writing "swap?" should be fine too.

But yes, if they're having a proper convo then they should probably be skipped, and if they're using letters to give clues then definitely.

Tandem is one of the biggest cesspits on iSketch anyway.

Thank you for your response. I agree, that is fair. I don't worry about the use of "yes"/"no", as opposed to a check or cross, either. Those are still related to the "BP" question.

I don't fret about the "swap?" word either. Like "BP?", that word is usually used within the first few seconds of the game and it isn't intended to shock or distract anyone. I'd probably consider that a legitimate "in-game word or term", even though it isn't mentioned in the rules.

Personally I would say that the following words may be written in Tandem at the start of each draw:


BP?
yes
no
skip?
swap?
and these words during the draw:


hint?
help or help?
skip?
yes or no (provided a question has been asked by one of the artists)

In my opinion, everything else not in the lists above would be voteable provided that the secret word isn't one of the listed words above.

When voting in Tandem it is best to be patient; don't vote as soon as you see letters, as one of these words above may be written. Make sure you are 100% positive your vote is legal before casting it.

I think we all seem to be pretty much on the same page here. There are common sense things in writing for this room that are for the game that "belong" and things that do not belong.

Thanks for your reply.

EDIT: I have received a friendly reply from Isketch folks on this matter. Here is the reply:

Hi, and thanks for writing.

The design of the Tandem room - two artists cooperating in a draw - requires that the two artists find a way to work on a draw together. The artists are allowed some latitude to communicate "on screen" by writing out certain letters to coordinate their draw. As you have noted, writing out "BP" is allowed, as well as other things like "switch?", "yes", "no", "hint", "skip" and so on - obviously terms that revolve around drawing the picture together. However, writing out anything that is a direct hint to the players about the answer (rather than communicating with the other artist about rendering the draw) is not permitted.

The rules for the Tandem room have to be a little lenient, so it is best to be patient before voting when letters are used.

Regards,

Betsy Shaver
http://www.isketch.net

Cool, thanks for posting that Mindraker, it's nice to know I have the same view as the official one :)