RULES:
HOW TO JOIN THE GAME
Just post /in to join the queue for the first game. After 120 hours or two /ins, whichever comes latest, two players will be randomly selected to play the first game. The remaining players are put into the contestant pool.
THE BASICS
Two players, one of which is normally a returning champion, compete. Both players will play the game through PM; thusly, each player will be unaware of the other's progress throughout the game.
The challenger (or the winner of the coin toss, in the case of there being no champion) starts each round. At the start of a round, the player is given a category. The player then chooses a point value between 1 and 11 points based on their knowledge and confidence in the category. The more points the question is worth, the harder the question is:
- 1-6 points: one correct answer from three choices
7-10 points: one correct answer from four choices ("None of the above" will always be an option on a 10 point question)
11 point: two correct answers from five choices
If a player chooses the correct answer(s), they earn the amount of points associated with the question. If they get a question wrong, they earn a strike. Three strikes take a player out of the game.
Both players get a question in each category; this means that both players may opt for the same question.
THE SECOND CHANCE
Before a player begins their first game, they must select another member of the forum to be their "Second Chance." Each player may opt to bring out their "Second Chance" once per game for help on a question. The Second Chance is held to the same standards as the contestants (so no looking up answers!). A correct answer after consultation with the "Second Chance" earns the usual points; an incorrect answer, however, is worth two strikes.
STOPPING THE GAME
After two categories, the host will talk to both players at the same time, and ask if either of them would like to stop the game (neither player will know the other player's score). If one of the players chooses to do so, the game will end immediately, and whoever is ahead will be the winner. Otherwise, the game proceeds as normal.
HOW THE GAME CAN END
If a player scores 21 points, the game will end once both players have had a chance to select a question. If the challenger is the first to get to 21, they will be allowed to see what their opponent does - the opponent will receive one last chance to tie the game (but they will not be told their opponent has scored 21 until after they select a question). If their opponent picks a question that does not give them enough points to tie, the game will end immediately.
If one player strikes out, the other player will win the game automatically, unless they have two strikes, in which case they must answer the question correctly to win the game. If both players strike out, nobody wins, and two new players will be selected for the next game.
Otherwise, the higher score after five categories will win the game.
The winning player will receive $5,000 for each point that separates their score from their opponent's (example: if the final score is 21-17, the winner will earn $20,000).
TIES
If contestants are tied when a game ends, a new game is played. For each game between the same players that ends in a 21-21 tie, the aforementioned $5,000 figure will increase by $5,000 (that is to say, one 21-21 tie would make the next game worth $10,000 a point).
PERFECT 21
The winning player is given the chance to win some guaranteed money in the Perfect 21 bonus round.
The player is given a category, and then given up to six true or false questions on that category. The first question is worth one point, with each question worth one point more than the last. Each point is worth $1,000, so a perfect round earns $21,000 in guaranteed money. The player can quit after any question, as an incorrect answer loses any money accumulated during the round.
THE CHAMPION'S CHOICE
The champion then faces a decision: take their money and run, or face a new opponent (who will be chosen after a contestant decides to play on). There is a risk to playing again: if the challenger wins, then their first winnings are taken from the champion's earnings (however, Perfect 21 money is safe once it has been earned).
If the champion decides to play on, one player will be randomly chosen from the contestant pool. If the champion leaves, two players will be randomly chosen from the pool.
DEADLINES
Deadlines will be 24 hours, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
In addition to the usual three strikes, if a player misses any three deadlines (picking points, answering a question, stopping the game, etc.), they will automatically lose the game.
A missed deadline in choosing points will result in a 1-point question.
WANT TO WATCH THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENS?
Transcripts of games will be posted on the thread as they finish; however, if you'd like to watch the action unfold roughly as it happens, just send me a PM with the subject line "Twenty-One Audience Request," or something along those lines. I'll then send you transcripts of the games as each round finishes. If, for some reason, you no longer want to receive transcripts, just send me a PM with the subject line "Twenty-One Audience Cancellation" (or thereabouts) and I will stop sending you PMs.
THE CONTESTANT POOL:
StrangerCoug
NoWhammies11
Papi Bear
Tatsuya Kaname
CareyHammer
Mac
Telo
JDGA
LEADERBOARD
1. diginova: $206,000 ($21,000 guaranteed, $25,000 lost in final game) (3 games played, 2 games won)
2. Save the Dragons: $25,000 so far (1 game played, 1 game won)
3. RedCoyote: $1,000 (1 game played)
3. ForWhomTheJellyRolls: $1,000 (1 game played)
Diet Coke's second place among the five, so the right answer would have been 
That helped me last time when I did that analysis...