Types of Theme Packets

Old college threads.
Locked
User avatar
... and the chaos of Mexican modernity
Rikku
Posts: 378
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:30 pm
Location: Orlando, Fl

Types of Theme Packets

Post by ... and the chaos of Mexican modernity »

So I happened to look at the TTGT11 packet, and I really enjoy theme packets. However I noticed with some packets that are themed, they still seem "general" such as a video games packet instead of a packet about Mass Effect per say. I was just wondering if there will be any tournaments that will occur in the 2009-2010 season in which packets are "specific" themes?
Zach Foster
North Myrtle Beach High School class of 2009
George Mason University class of 2013
User avatar
Cheynem
Sin
Posts: 7220
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 11:19 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Cheynem »

I think Ike Jose may have written all Final Fantasy VII (VI?) packet at some point.
Mike Cheyne
Formerly U of Minnesota

"You killed HSAPQ"--Matt Bollinger
User avatar
dtaylor4
Auron
Posts: 3733
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:43 am

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by dtaylor4 »

Given that TTGT11 was the only notable tournament to do this, I would say no.
User avatar
Broad-tailed Grassbird
Tidus
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: Somewhere nice.

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Broad-tailed Grassbird »

Is TGT11 going to make a return in 2009-2010?
Nalin
Scranton Middle School (2000-2003)
Brighton High School (2003-2007)
Michigan State University (2007-2011)
Semi-Retired (2012-present)
User avatar
OctagonJoe
Tidus
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:51 am
Location: Zenith, Winnemac

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by OctagonJoe »

I'm pretty sure that tournament is dead and buried, as Paul Drube has said multiple times. Hopefully he's right.
Carsten Gehring
Wayzata HS '08 | Carleton College '12 | Denver Publishing Institute '12
User avatar
Mike Bentley
Sin
Posts: 6461
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:03 pm
Location: Bellevue, WA
Contact:

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Mike Bentley »

The ASS trash tournaments I worked on were themed, although they will not be continuing in the future.

I think one of the UTC trash tournaments still does "light themes".

Many side tournaments are essentially subject-theme packets turned into several rounds of play. Tournaments on niche subjects like vidoegames, Asian literature and comic books come to mind. I'm sure there will be plenty more of these tournaments in the near future.

GUERRILLA, being played at this year's ICT (and, who knows, maybe next year's), consists of academic packets with standard distributions but with themes.
Mike Bentley
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
User avatar
Matt Weiner
Sin
Posts: 8145
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2003 8:34 pm
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Matt Weiner »

Closing this thread because Zach Foster is not a new collegiate team and should not be posting in this area of the board.
Matt Weiner
Advisor to Quizbowl at Virginia Commonwealth University / Founder of hsquizbowl.org
User avatar
AKKOLADE
Sin
Posts: 15782
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2003 8:08 am

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by AKKOLADE »

Unlocking this thread and moving it to the proper forum because it's a legitimate area of discussion, regardless of whose handle appears in the Author field.
Fred Morlan
University of Kentucky CoP, 2017
International Quiz Bowl Tournaments, CEO, co-owner
former PACE member, president, etc.
former hsqbrank manager, former NAQT writer & subject editor, former hsqb Administrator/Chief Administrator
User avatar
Jeaton1
Wakka
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 12:24 am

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Jeaton1 »

Does anyone want to write that Mass Effect packet?
Jeremy Eaton
Maryland Academic Quiz Team
User avatar
Ike
Auron
Posts: 1063
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:01 pm

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Ike »

I think Ike Jose may have written all Final Fantasy VII (VI?) packet at some point.
Affirm.
Ike
UIUC 13
User avatar
... and the chaos of Mexican modernity
Rikku
Posts: 378
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:30 pm
Location: Orlando, Fl

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by ... and the chaos of Mexican modernity »

Would you ever post that Final Fantasy VII packet at any time Ike?
Zach Foster
North Myrtle Beach High School class of 2009
George Mason University class of 2013
User avatar
Skepticism and Animal Feed
Auron
Posts: 3238
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Skepticism and Animal Feed »

After I finish EuroFest, I am strongly considering making my next project a collection of 10-12 theme packets, each of which is about a specific field of history or RMP.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
User avatar
... and the chaos of Mexican modernity
Rikku
Posts: 378
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:30 pm
Location: Orlando, Fl

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by ... and the chaos of Mexican modernity »

Whig's Boson wrote:After I finish EuroFest, I am strongly considering making my next project a collection of 10-12 theme packets, each of which is about a specific field of history.
Fixed. No seriously though Bruce that would be completely awesome, and writing 25 packets on certain themes of history would be better :lol:.
Zach Foster
North Myrtle Beach High School class of 2009
George Mason University class of 2013
User avatar
rylltraka
Tidus
Posts: 568
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:55 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by rylltraka »

What sorts of themes would those be, Bruce?
Mik Larsen
USC '08, UCLA '14
User avatar
TheCzarMan
Tidus
Posts: 587
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:29 pm
Location: Bloomfield, New Jersey

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by TheCzarMan »

Whig's Boson wrote:After I finish EuroFest, I am strongly considering making my next project a collection of 10-12 theme packets, each of which is about a specific field of history or RMP.
Oh god I would play that in a heartbeat, no matter the site.
Nick Petrilli
Bloomfield High School 2009
Freelance/Mercenary Moderator, TD, Player, and Reader
User avatar
Skepticism and Animal Feed
Auron
Posts: 3238
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Skepticism and Animal Feed »

rylltraka wrote:What sorts of themes would those be, Bruce?
Themes might include things such as:

"American politics from 1900 - 1950"
"Chinese rebellions and uprisings"
"The Jacksonian Era"
"History of Italy"
"Mesopotamian Myth"
"Zoroastrianism"
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
User avatar
Ike
Auron
Posts: 1063
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:01 pm

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Ike »

Um, I guess I could post it, I mean where would be the question. You probably should just email me at [email protected]

I just want to point out that writing theme packets is different in that you have to treat clue usage differently. For example, one of my leadins (I'm going off memory) mentioned how this city has a building with a purple roof, and while in "real QB" that's not an acceptable clue, it is in this case because you have to pretend you are living in the FF7 world, where insofar, only one building has a purple roof. And then there's that whole problem with transparency, I know I spent more time determining the acceptability of clues rather than just finding clues, and I believe I let a few non uniquely identifying clues through.

The bigger problem is your target audience. Aside from more than 30 people give or take, the amount of people who have seen (enjoyed?) the audience is slim. Its just one of those things (especially in the pop culture world) where you target a very small audience. I personally think if you just write an all "FPS" packet, it will be more entertaining in that your target audience is now greater, and more importantly, you can reign in new material that is probably more entertaining, (For example, you could tossup / bonus a relatively unknown FPS that would make someone want to play it, whereas one of my third bonus parts in the FF7 packet was to name Sunken Gelnika, which isn't really all that cool in terms of "knowledge enlightenment," and you probably don't want to play FF7 more for knowing that fact)

I don't know how I feel about Bruce's idea of theme packets. I personally think that Bruce should take the Gunpei Yokio route more, and just integrate the themes he wants to write on, as you will encompass more people playing more packets. While I do not know too much about Zoroastrianism, I wouldn't mind playing it, I think I would rather hear a tossup on Vohu Mana then one on popes named Pelagius, rather than hearing them in isolation. This would remove some transparency problems, and would make the answer selection relatively relaxed, because there isn't a transparency issue as large. (You probably don't want to tossup towers of silence in a Zoroastrian packet, but if you just integrated all of your packets, it would be fine, especially if visual arts was one of your categories, or you use historical clues on towers of silence when writing history.)
Ike
UIUC 13
User avatar
Skepticism and Animal Feed
Auron
Posts: 3238
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Skepticism and Animal Feed »

I enjoyed many things about Gunpei (including writing for it), but I must say that completely random side events like Gunpei violate my sense of quizbowl aesthetics. There is something unseemly to me about a packet whose distributions basically represent the whim of the author, and that same discomfort I do not feel about theme packets that have a very specific (FF7, Italy) or very general (history, literature, etc.) distro.

I will not go forth and condemn and persecute people who produce such tournaments, but I will not produce them myself.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
User avatar
Cheynem
Sin
Posts: 7220
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 11:19 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Cheynem »

I eagerly look forward to your American Politics and Jacksonian Era packets.
Mike Cheyne
Formerly U of Minnesota

"You killed HSAPQ"--Matt Bollinger
User avatar
naturalistic phallacy
Auron
Posts: 1490
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 12:03 am
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact:

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by naturalistic phallacy »

Whig's Boson wrote:I enjoyed many things about Gunpei (including writing for it), but I must say that completely random side events like Gunpei violate my sense of quizbowl aesthetics. There is something unseemly to me about a packet whose distributions basically represent the whim of the author, and that same discomfort I do not feel about theme packets that have a very specific (FF7, Italy) or very general (history, literature, etc.) distro.

I will not go forth and condemn and persecute people who produce such tournaments, but I will not produce them myself.
I personally prefer broader themes such as "American History" or "African Literature" simply because there is a wider answer space for such themes that would reduce lateral thinking/transparency/insert bad quizbowl buzzword here. In regards to themes like "Zoroatrianism," I wonder if there is enough answer space for such a theme that wouldn't lead to multiple dead questions or really obvious answers.
Bernadette Spencer
University of Minnesota, MCTC
Member, NAQT
Member, ACF
Member Emeritus, PACE
User avatar
Skepticism and Animal Feed
Auron
Posts: 3238
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Skepticism and Animal Feed »

One should not look too deeply into the examples I gave. I made them up to give examples of the types of things that I could write. Obviously, if I pick an idea that turns out to be untenable, I will abort it.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
User avatar
naturalistic phallacy
Auron
Posts: 1490
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 12:03 am
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact:

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by naturalistic phallacy »

Whig's Boson wrote:One should not look too deeply into the examples I gave. I made them up to give examples of the types of things that I could write. Obviously, if I pick an idea that turns out to be untenable, I will abort it.
Sweet. Still write that packet on American Politics, though. I want to play that.
Bernadette Spencer
University of Minnesota, MCTC
Member, NAQT
Member, ACF
Member Emeritus, PACE
User avatar
Skepticism and Animal Feed
Auron
Posts: 3238
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Skepticism and Animal Feed »

BTW, my least favorite logical fallacy is "attack specific examples [that were given to illustrate a point] instead of the broader point being made". Like, I actually get visibly angry when people try to do that.

EDIT: not accusing anyone in this thread of it, just pointing it out for future reference
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
User avatar
naturalistic phallacy
Auron
Posts: 1490
Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 12:03 am
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact:

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by naturalistic phallacy »

Whig's Boson wrote:BTW, my least favorite logical fallacy is "attack specific examples [that were given to illustrate a point] instead of the broader point being made". Like, I actually get visibly angry when people try to do that.

EDIT: not accusing anyone in this thread of it, just pointing it out for future reference
I understand. I think you do make a good argument for theme packets vs. themed on a whim tournaments.
Bernadette Spencer
University of Minnesota, MCTC
Member, NAQT
Member, ACF
Member Emeritus, PACE
User avatar
Captain Sinico
Auron
Posts: 2675
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
Location: Champaign, Illinois

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Captain Sinico »

Whig's Boson wrote:BTW, my least favorite logical fallacy is "attack specific examples [that were given to illustrate a point] instead of the broader point being made".
That's not a fallacy. If the examples selected do illustrate the point and the point is valid, then they shouldn't be vulnerable to attack.

MaS
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
User avatar
Skepticism and Animal Feed
Auron
Posts: 3238
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by Skepticism and Animal Feed »

Well, the main place where this comes up is a faulty example. Like, say I mistakenly think that the example illustrates the point, but in fact it does not. And then people make like 5 different posts about how why this example does not illustrate it, and therefore my point is somehow wrong. I think that's fairly fallacious.

For instance, say my argument is that all Russians have beards, and I point out that Ivan has a beard as an example. And then somebody says that I am wrong because Ivan is in fact Ukranian. I find that annoying. I remember this came up in a Westbrook thread where he used a certain female artist as an example of something that "always comes up", and then everyone attacked him because that clue does not in fact always come up. But his argument (something like "telling people that they need to learn clues that come up is OK and not mean") was not affected by whether or not that particular example was in fact a thing that came up.

In any event, we're completely off topic by this point.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
User avatar
... and the chaos of Mexican modernity
Rikku
Posts: 378
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:30 pm
Location: Orlando, Fl

Re: Types of Theme Packets

Post by ... and the chaos of Mexican modernity »

Ike, my e-mail is located below in my signature box. Please send me the FF7 packet.
Zach Foster
North Myrtle Beach High School class of 2009
George Mason University class of 2013
Locked