[Read also the Game Instructions]
To be read with a pinch of salt but taken seriously!
Please note that the Quizmaster reserves the right to change these rules at his discretion depending on the location and number of participants. In such a case, the Quizmaster will do his best to inform the participants by all electronic means at his disposal, as early as possible before the event.
Rule 1: Only fun can be infectious
Players are only allowed to infect others with fun but not with viruses or any other ills of this world. The Quizmaster will surely miss you but if you think you’re ill, better play it safe and stay away.
Rule 2: One for all and all for one
Teams may be comprised of no more than six physically present individuals. No other person besides the team members can be at your table. The Quizmaster does not want to hear any of that “They’re just going to sit here and not play” crap. There is no minimum team size. Therefore, if you think you have the chops to take on teams of four, five or six persons by yourself, then giddy up. Having said that, exceptions to this rule could be made where one or more participants in a team are under the age of 18.
When building your team, go for the widest variety of subjects covered possible.
If you are participating as a team, choose a name for your team. Individual participants can play with their real names or choose a nickname. Humorous names are more than welcome, but the Quizmaster reserves the right to draw a line if he deems that a name is either too indecent or too insensitive in matters of religion, politics, sex and race.
Rule 3: Big Brother is watching you
No outside help for questions, and no inanimate team members. The Quizmaster does not care if your smartphone can talk and has more personality than the rest of your team combined. Therefore, for the respect of the game and of all your fellow participants, you are required to switch completely off any device. If you think that the temptation to make use of any communication device will overwhelm you, you can leave your mobile with the Quizmaster.
The Quizmaster reserves the right to apply penalties of five points for every infraction of this rule. As a participant, you can bring to the attention of the Quizmaster, anyone observed breaching this rule. You or your team can get up to four penalties (a total of 20 points less). The fifth penalty consists of disqualification from the game without a refund.
Rule 4: Silence of the Lambs
The Quizmaster will read out each question only once (refer to Game Instructions for details). So you are required to keep your decibel count as low as possible and dedicate your attention to your Quizmaster!
Rule 5: No returns policy
At the end of each round (refer to the Game Instructions for details), you will turn in your answer sheets to the Quizmaster, who will grade them and then make fun of your scores! Please note that once an answer sheet is handed to the Quizmaster, it is no longer possible to review your answers.
Rule 6: Top of the game
When the rounds are over, the scores will be summed up and the correct answers will be read out. The winning team (the one with the highest score points) will be rewarded with a prize donated by our sponsors.
In the unlikely event that there of a tie, a Sudden Death Round is used to decide the winner. In this round, the Quizmaster will present a set of timed questions only once and the team that gets the highest number of correct questions wins.
If all else fails, the Quizmaster will probably just share the symbolic award among all the participants or the ones he likes most. Life is unfair that way, sometimes.
Rule 7: English is the lingua franca
The quiz is conducted entirely in English. However, if necessary the Quizmaster can explain certain issues in his mother tongue or some other European language of his knowledge.
Rule 8: Dictatorship is a virtue
Any rule not included herein may be created on the spot by the Quizmaster and enforced with brutal abandon. The Quizmaster is the final arbiter of truth, beauty, fashion, justice and all questions and other matters of quiz trivia policy. Even if the results appear unfair, inaccurate, rude or obscenely biological, do not argue. It will not help. The Quizmaster never wrong!*
*At this point, you must have exhausted that saltshaker!
Rule 9: It’s all for a good cause
Players will be requested to pay a participation fee at the start of each quiz event. All proceeds will go in aid of the GuateMalta Foundation whose aim is to support the mission in Guatemala of Fr Anton Grech.