Achievements and Accomplishments Thread

[Brisul]

Well, I may have gotten bumped out of the top three in the 5x5 average score competition now that FastEddieB has qualified, but at least I've got a hold on the #2 spot in all time average score for 5x5 Kind of like Rogers Hornsby.

[Brisul]

Any tips?

You're being way too kind, but thank you. It's really a game of memory and pattern recognition. I don't find long words, but I tend to find a lot of ultra-rare category words which help my scores. I also only play boards that have tons of words. Once you figure out the root words from the ultra-rare category, look for the plural and past tense versions. It probably doesn't sound like any mind blowing advice, but that's because I'm not one of the real superstars on this site. That would be players like FastEddieB, RussDNails, Estive, ThunderRock, MegaWord, etc...I just know this; once you get the taste of scoring really high on games, it becomes very addictive

[jbud1980]

I haven't played 4x4 in over 5 years, but I remember how great it felt to finally hit 700. Awesome work!

Thank you Brisul. I also play 5X5 and you are a phenomenal player. Any tips?

[crazykate]

I just found HETEROCHROMATINIZATION for 45 points. I didn't know that was a word. The board just looked promising with lots of puzzle pieces that seemed like they could be part of a long word, and I tried several combinations before stumbling on this one.

[Brisul]

Finally scored over 700 playing 4X4. I was beginning to think it would always elude me by one point.

Total points: 714 New record!
Total words: 118 (35 common,20 wide,10 rare,53 ultra rare) New record!
Best word: DINKERS (13 pts.)
Longest word: CLINKERS (8 letters)

Happy Holidays everyone, and happy playing.

I haven't played 4x4 in over 5 years, but I remember how great it felt to finally hit 700. Awesome work!

[bwt1213]

I thought I might as well pick up some digital hardware if it's available. I thought I'd euthanize 2 avian creatures with 1 projectile of a mineral substance, although in real life I have difficulty conceiving how that could ever happen w/o gunpowder being involved.

I used to hunt with rocks (and spears, but that's another story), and I can assure you that it is indeed possible without gunpowder if a flat stone is used. When I was 15 or 16 or so, I could throw a flat rock on level ground well over 600 feet and did so a number of times to prove it (I think my best was a little more than 800 feet, and I'll bet there were a lot of similarly gifted young men). I was also accurate enough to hunt with rocks successfully, but a sling greatly increases velocity and accuracy. I remember watching a TV program featuring a champion slinger, and the kinetic energy imparted to his throwing stones was about the same as that of a .45 caliber handgun load. Goliath may not have stood a chance. Birds? A slinger might get a lot more than two with one stone. I have no idea if they did, but I assume they would have hunted that way. Yes, I hunted for food, and my family was happy I did; money was tight.

[jbud1980]

Finally scored over 700 playing 4X4. I was beginning to think it would always elude me by one point.

Total points: 714 New record!
Total words: 118 (35 common,20 wide,10 rare,53 ultra rare) New record!
Best word: DINKERS (13 pts.)
Longest word: CLINKERS (8 letters)

Happy Holidays everyone, and happy playing.

[lalatan]

As for the avians, the rule says nothing about the size of the stone. Ayers rock could kill not only a couple of birds but an entire downtown--if dropped on them.

Nor about the temperature. Hot enough rock dropped into a small pond might just boil every duck floating.

loopholes.

LOL, I just don't have enough imagination. Great stuff. Loved the loopholes ending.

[Naboka]

Oh yeah, I found a few long words in some games that were played 40-50 times. Some others like Spike and crazykate have too. Now I only play those games if the stats tell me there's a strong possibility there's something worth more pts. Also, if the word I found isn't worth enough pts and will drag down my APPW I will dump the game. For the word "simultaneously" I wouldn't even play the word if I saw it since the pt value is too low. Most long word players would skip it as well, which may account for some of these words being unplayed. Just my theory but I think we all have blind spots for certain words. I took me 5-6 times before I played REPETITIOUSNESSES while the timer was running. Previously I'd examine the board afterward because I knew something worthwhile was there. And there it would be; I'd missed it again... irritating.

A few days ago, I decided to play only plurals of words I find. I thought I'd advise you so when you play a board where I have the record you won't have to wonder if the singular was valid or not. I want to raise my APPW for the month. I had a good avg because I was finding mostly words in the 28-33 pt range. I thought I might as well pick up some digital hardware if it's available. I thought I'd euthanize 2 avian creatures with 1 projectile of a mineral substance, although in real life I have difficulty conceiving how that could ever happen w/o gunpowder being involved.

I was curious all this year if I could get a winning APPW and the required 51 games all in 1 day. I was pretty sure I could but didn't try because it would bum out the other competitors. It turned out that it happened w/o me noticing the first day I played 4x4 this month. Oops, oh well, I can cross off that on the "I wonder" list.

dumping games has become a cleansing ritual. almost a sweat lodge dripping unwanted words.

The s is a very weird letter here.

played a longest word the other day. forgot which one. but adding an s actually reduced the point value of its singular. by about 5 points--?.

Crazy how an s can turn a 3 point word into an 8 pointer or turn a 6 pointer into a 3 pointer.

As for the avians, the rule says nothing about the size of the stone. Ayers rock could kill not only a couple of birds but an entire downtown--if dropped on them.

Nor about the temperature. Hot enough rock dropped into a small pond might just boil every duck floating.

loopholes.

[lalatan]

Oh yeah, I found a few long words in some games that were played 40-50 times. Some others like Spike and crazykate have too. Now I only play those games if the stats tell me there's a strong possibility there's something worth more pts. Also, if the word I found isn't worth enough pts and will drag down my APPW I will dump the game. For the word "simultaneously" I wouldn't even play the word if I saw it since the pt value is too low. Most long word players would skip it as well, which may account for some of these words being unplayed. Just my theory but I think we all have blind spots for certain words. I took me 5-6 times before I played REPETITIOUSNESSES while the timer was running. Previously I'd examine the board afterward because I knew something worthwhile was there. And there it would be; I'd missed it again... irritating.

A few days ago, I decided to play only plurals of words I find. I thought I'd advise you so when you play a board where I have the record you won't have to wonder if the singular was valid or not. I want to raise my APPW for the month. I had a good avg because I was finding mostly words in the 28-33 pt range. I thought I might as well pick up some digital hardware if it's available. I thought I'd euthanize 2 avian creatures with 1 projectile of a mineral substance, although in real life I have difficulty conceiving how that could ever happen w/o gunpowder being involved.

I was curious all this year if I could get a winning APPW and the required 51 games all in 1 day. I was pretty sure I could but didn't try because it would bum out the other competitors. It turned out that it happened w/o me noticing the first day I played 4x4 this month. Oops, oh well, I can cross off that on the "I wonder" list.

[lalatan]

On another note, do you ever run into games that have been played almost 4o times by good players and scratch your head wondering how they missed such an obvious word?

Just played one where "simultaneously" was flashing like a motel vacancy sign in the Ozarks. Because it's a long common word, I generally wouldn't have played it because the points are poor per effort-- Except the board stats had the longest played word at 8 letters.

But, considering the ridiculously difficult/estoteric words that get found in 3 plays, seeing something that easy missed for so long...

You ever wonder?

Oh yeah, I found a few long words in some games that were played 40-50 times. Some others like Spike and crazykate have too. Now I only play those games if the stats tell me there's a strong possibility there's something worth more pts. Also, if the word I found isn't worth enough pts and will drag down my APPW I will dump the game. For the word "simultaneously" I wouldn't even play the word if I saw it since the pt value is too low. Most long word players would skip it as well, which may account for some of these words being unplayed. Just my theory but I think we all have blind spots for certain words. I took me 5-6 times before I played REPETITIOUSNESSES while the timer was running. Previously I'd examine the board afterward because I knew something worthwhile was there. And there it would be; I'd missed it again... irritating.

A few days ago, I decided to play only plurals of words I find. I thought I'd advise you so when you play a board where I have the record you won't have to wonder if the singular was valid or not. I want to raise my APPW for the month. I had a good avg because I was finding mostly words in the 28-33 pt range. I thought I might as well pick up some digital hardware if it's available. I thought I'd euthanize 2 avian creatures with 1 projectile of a mineral substance, although in real life I have difficulty conceiving how that could ever happen w/o gunpowder being involved.

I was curious all this year if I could get a winning APPW and the required 51 games all in 1 day. I was pretty sure I could but didn't try because it would bum out the other competitors. It turned out that it happened w/o me noticing the first day I played 4x4 this month. Oops, oh well, I can cross off that on the "I wonder" list.

[Naboka]

Thanks, Naboka. Yes, I agree with what you said. I still love the challenge of this game and the playing of it. I told my wife about what happened and she expressed dismay that she may be losing me to this game again. lol, yet another perspective. I admit I can get obsessive but haven't been pushing too hard since I surpassed MegaWord's total best/longest word records total and the subsequent nonevent response.

Oh, yes, the wife.

Certainly part of the equation. Part of the opportunity cost.

The better half here has lost all interest in her husband wasting so much time playing this game. Though, it does provide the social coin to go party with her friends with clear conscience.

On another note, do you ever run into games that have been played almost 4o times by good players and scratch your head wondering how they missed such an obvious word?

Just played one where "simultaneously" was flashing like a motel vacancy sign in the Ozarks. Because it's a long common word, I generally wouldn't have played it because the points are poor per effort-- Except the board stats had the longest played word at 8 letters.

But, considering the ridiculously difficult/estoteric words that get found in 3 plays, seeing something that easy missed for so long...

You ever wonder?

[lalatan]

Double wowzer!

Supercongratulationnesses on the records. 153 is mindboggling.

You were definitely In The Zone. It's a state of mind that's meaningless to anyone who hasn't experienced it.

So happy that your post expressing such disappointment trying to find something new and worthwhile on 5x5 didn't dissuade you from playing 4x4.

In so many ways, this is a lonely game. The successes are mostly for one's self. Reminds me of the Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. In the end, you're not doing any of this for anyone else. It's just the challenge and the personal reward.

Thanks, Naboka. Yes, I agree with what you said. I still love the challenge of this game and the playing of it. I told my wife about what happened and she expressed dismay that she may be losing me to this game again. lol, yet another perspective. I admit I can get obsessive but haven't been pushing too hard since I surpassed MegaWord's total best/longest word records total and the subsequent nonevent response.

[Brisul]

Like just now I played a game where the longest word was "appreciativeness", and I found "evanesces" and "hieratics" on the same board. I really like the fact that these words are quite different and unrelated, it's somehow more satisfying than finding five words derived from the same root.

I love how unique a group of people this is here. I've loved words and language my whole life since before I was in kindergarten. To see it come to fruition on a site like this is pretty neat

[crazykate]

I don't know whether my games have been affected more by the update or by my more relaxed playing style, but I'm definitely finding more interesting words.
I'm also not chasing records right now (which is why I'm no longer ruling out games that lalatan has played), and I'm finding very interesting medium-length words that other people missed, which gives me a sense of accomplishment on a non-record breaking scale.
Like just now I played a game where the longest word was "appreciativeness", and I found "evanesces" and "hieratics" on the same board. I really like the fact that these words are quite different and unrelated, it's somehow more satisfying than finding five words derived from the same root.