Taunt the Mutant

Taunt the Mutant (frequently abbreviated as TTM) is a game show event in which three contestants face off in an attempt to win cash (Linden dollars) and prizes. It is based on the classic American game show Press Your Luck. The event takes place most Saturdays at 1PM SLT at the Chaoseum in the Great Fissure and is hosted by Giuseppe Spicoli.

Overview

The game is played in two rounds, each consisting of two subrounds. The first part of each round is a Question subround in which constestants answer multiple choice trivia questions to earn spins. The second part of each round is a Big Board subround in which constestants use their spins on the Big Board to win cash and prizes. At the end of the game, only the player with the highest score wins what he or she has accumulated.

Question Round

In the question round, the host will ask the contestants four multiple choice questions. When a question is asked, the contestants will have roughly 5 seconds to buzz in early, before the multiple choice answers are presented. If someone buzzes in early, the host will prompt that person to answer the question. If the contestant takes too long to answer, he or she forfeits the chance to answer that question. Otherwise, the host will then prompt the other two contestants in turn with 3 multiple choice answers, including the early buzzer's answer. If no one buzzes in early, the host will simply present 3 multiple choice answers to all contestants in turn. Again, anyone who takes too long to answer forfeits the opportunity. Correct early answers are worth 3 earned spins each. Correct multiple choice answers are worth 1 earned spin each. Incorrect answers are worth nothing. Contestants should always remember not to answer until prompted by the host.

The following is a chat log example to clarify these rules. The host is Harry. The three contestants are Alice, Bob, and Cindy.

Harry: Question 1

Harry: CATEGORY: Entertainment

Harry: QUESTION: With what instrument did Sid Caesar make his living prior to comedy?

Bob buzzes in.

Harry: Bob?

Bob: accordion

Harry: A. Accordion B. Saxophone C. Flute

Harry: Alice?

Alice: A

Harry: Cindy?

Cindy: B

Harry: The answer is... B. Saxophone

Harry: Cindy wins one spin, no spin for anyone else!

Harry: Question 2

Harry: CATEGORY: Sports

Harry: QUESTION: What Florida city is home to the Fishing Hall of Fame?

[...5 seconds pass...]

Harry: A. Ft. Lauderdale B. Miami C. Tampa

Harry: Alice?

Alice: B

Harry: Bob?

Bob: C

Harry: Cindy?

Cindy: C

Harry: The answer is... C. Tampa.

Harry: Bob and Cindy win 1 spin each!

Big Board Round

In the Big Board round, contestants use their earned spins to try to win cash and prizes. The Big Board consists of 18 squares which randomly alternate between cash amounts, prizes, special instructions, and Barries. Barry is the titular mutant being taunted by the contestants. When it is a contestant's turn on the Big Board, he or she normally has two choices: spin or pass.

If a contestant chooses to spin, the Big Board begins changing randomly as a lit cursor jumps around from square to square. The contestant can hit the buzzer or say "stop" to make the board and cursor freeze. Whatever square the cursor stops on determines what the contestant gets. Usually this will be a cash value which is simply added to the contestant's score. Sometimes it will be a prize, in which case a representative cash value is added to the player's score. Occasionally it will be a special square which moves the cursor or gives the contestant some kind of choice. But if the contestant is unlucky, the cursor may land on a Barry. In this case, the contestant will lose all accumulated cash and prizes, having his or her score reset to $0, and a Barry token will pop up next to his or her buzzer. If a single contestant manages to collect four Barries, that contestant is removed from the game entirely, losing any remaining spins.

If a contestant is afraid to taunt the mutant, the other option is to pass. In this case, all of that contestant's earned spins are given to the opponent with the highest score. If both opponents have the same score, the passer may choose who gets the spins, but they may not be split up. Passed spins MUST be used by the contestant who receives them. If a contestant has any passed spins, he or she may not pass to another contestant until they are all used. The exception is that if a contestant lands on a Barry, all of that contestant's passed spins become earned spins. Passing is a strategic move. If a contestant has 1 or 2 earned spins left but has a hefty cash lead on the opponent in second place, it might be wise not to risk hitting a Barry and just pass those remaining spins. This is obviously a judgment call left to the player's discretion, but the host will always ask the contestant whether he or she wants to play or pass. In the rare case that both opponents have been eliminated from the game, a contestant may choose to "pass to no one" and win the game with their current score.

Turn order is determined by total score, from lowest to highest, with ties broken by number of spins, from least to most. Therefore, scoring highest in the first round gives you the strategic advantage of going last in the second.

Ending the Game

At the end of the game, only the contestant with the highest cash score wins. This contestant will receive any prizes they have accumulated and cash (linden dollars) for the remainder of their score. The other contestants receive nothing, even if they have accumulated cash or prizes. The winning contestant will also be asked to return to compete in the next show, to a maximum of five consecutive appearances. If a contestant does not show up for a return appearance, the opportunity is forfeited. In the case of a two-way or three-way tie, all tied contestants will win, but none will be invited for a return appearance. It is also possible that no contestant wins, if everyone manages to accumulate four Barries. Again in this case, no one will be invited to return.