Cool, I've been planning on posting the rules myself. This sounds right, Buaka, good job.

The numbers of letters hint is basically useless, as you can write in the # of letters and words already.

The attributes hint isn't much of a help most of the time, if the word is difficult to guess.

The best clue to use really is the 1st letter hint. This come up after 30 seconds, which gives enough time for the person drawing to try to illustrate the given words as best they can. There are many players who enjoy watching the drawing come alive on it's own, before any hints are given at all. It is more of a challenge this way.

In the past, the hieroglyphs didn't have much use here. Over the past year it's use has increased, and some of the older players frowned on it at first. I think they are best used as a last result, when the timer is ticking down, and no one has guessed the draw right. Overuse, or relying on them to show the word instead of actually drawing it out, I don't think should be as acceptable.

:)

As hieroglyphs were Egyptian letters, I believe they violate the rules and definitely the spirit of the game. Otherwise, I will get a friend and learn Hebrew and play ;P

1.You're not allowed to use letters, numbers or symbols.

Letters = not OK - Letters or Words are not permitted. (However) If you hint and give the 1st letter you can write that on the board ONLY IF YOU USE THAT HINT. You can not write the letter then say there is 4 words. You can not write out the 1st letter of a 3nd word. The only letter EVER to be wrote out is the only one that is HINTED.

Numbers = OK - A while back Ryan said that using numbers was ok, for beginners. That's those who are like 200 points. I am not the best out there but I will never use a number. It's too cheap. I would hope that most of you out there would not either, unless there is not anyway to draw your answer.

Symbols = depends on definition of symbols. I don't mind seeing ! or & or # some times it's needed just don't abuse it. :)

I agree with most of the above. However would just like to say a few things.

Because its in the rules not to write LETTERS, and it is a DRAWING game, I think our better players should not write any at all. I'm sure once the first letter has been hinted in-game, that's enough. However if newer players feel they need to write the first letter in AFTER they have hinted it, that's ok. I personally have made a New Year's Resolution not to write the first letter in anymore. Its too confusing for new players who don't realise the hint must be given first.

Regarding numbers and symbols, when Ryan changed the rules to prohibit this, it was unreasonable, given that many words required to to draw these. E.g "number" "swear" "even", "exclamation mark", "question mark". To prohibit the use of numbers/symbols would require many words having to be removed. This is frankly unreasonable.
Players have been trying to get Ryan to remove these two lines in the rules for some months now, with no success.

I hope this thread comes to player's attention, and also Ryan's, because the Rules are unclear and contradicted by tradition. Many players are flouting them, and quite frankly I and other veteran players are fed up with explaining over and over and putting up with those players that choose to flout the rules and abuse those players trying to correct them. If the game Rules are not edited and clarified, the game will suffer as players get fed up and leave.

To summarise, Ryan bought in game rules that contradicted the gameplay as it had stood for a long time. This has caused nothing but problems since. Ryan, you need to remove the lines prohibiting the use of numbers and symbols, and edit the rules so they are clearer and reflect the accepted standard of gameplay. It would take 10 minutes. If you can't fix the tables yet, at least fix this.

And just to clarify, Ryan has stated in the past that using dashes _ _ _ _ or _____+______ is okay. However as you improve in the game, most of the time you shouldn't need them. Our better players can draw and guess the majority of words without using dashes.

I agree with Lei here. As for the dashes as word/letter indicators, they are very helpful after the drawing appears, but I don't think they should be given out right away. I'd much rather try to guess the picture being drawn, then playing by 'word recognition', which kinda takes a bit of the fun away.
However having said this, there are times when it is needed, with the more difficult words and phrases (Especially all the new, or crazy phrases in the game). I just don't think it should be done straight off, it kinda dampens the excitement of the draw.

As for the numbers, it has always been a part of sketch. When Ryan updated the rules stating no numbers or letters, we all talked about it, and agreed that it basically went against the way we've always played... I think using numbers (or symbols) in the picture itself, or as a help with the dashes is ok, and best used as a last resort, if the players get stuck.

It really would be nice to see more players embrace these rules, and the old standards of gameplay, and try at first to illustrate as best they can, the words given.
This is a drawing game after all, and that really is the most important thing to do, before using all of these hints right away.

:)

I agree with all of the above. Lol.

What really bugs me is that, players(even top players) draws symbol for each letter. Example apple indicates letter A, lamp=L and so on. I have argued with a player once, about this. It is true that this rule is not in the rules section. Perhaps, it's similar to the 3rd rule. Maybe it wasn't clear for some people,
so I hope this thread clarifies that this method is not allowed in here. Also, the use of symbol ! for i, 3 for E and so on.

Some interesting points raised, my intentions here were the same as Lei has stated.

To have the written rules match the rules that have been accepted by the more veteran players.

It's tough to expect newcomers to follow rules that differ from those on the rules page.

It seems from the posts that followed mine that consensus here is;

- if you are able to freely write in dashes for letters / words what is the purpose of the number of letters hint?
This has no / extremely limited purpose.

- are hieroglyphs an acceptable form of play?
No

So perhaps the rules could be extended to;
1. Xsketch is a game sketches, please draw - don't write!

2. Refrain from sketches which contain excessive nudity, violence or any hate symbols.

3. No letters are permitted except for the first letter of the first word AFTER the associated hint has been given in game.

4. Numbers are permitted as are symbols, but not where either are used as direct substitutions for letters.

5. Drawing a picture for individual letters AKA hieroglyphs is not permitted.

Thoughts?

Ryan should replace current rules with this one. Buaka SHOULD replace Ryan! Bahahah.
Ok. Joking. Good points.

If I remember correctly, the use of hieroglyphs really came about last year some time, when the newer players started using them. The problem was that sometimes players use them strictly for 'spelling' out the word, without actually trying to draw the picture.

The more vet players felt it was a bit unnecessary, because if you could get the idea across well, and you used the right hints, most words could be guessed. Of course, the few thousand words at the time were recycled, we knew a lot them, and the draws for them could be easily recognizeable.

My thoughts about this have changed a bit, mostly due to the addition of the thousands of new words and phrases. You have to admit, some of them are really out there and undrawable.
I think if a player has done their best to illustrate the word and use the hints available, and the word is still not guessed, a hieroglyph or two doesn't hurt.
Relying on them strictly to indicate the word should be frowned upon however.

And the number of letters hint is useless now.

Also, we've always used symbols in our hints and draws, things like & $ % #, etc. and I don't really think this should be changed.

But that's just my two cents. ;)