Welcome to WordDe

WordDe Challenge: Game Rules & Instructions

Overview

WordDe Challenge is an international espionage-themed word game where players act as intelligence agencies. Each agency is represented by a set of agents (letters), and the goal is to correctly deduce which three master agents have gone rogue and to identify other players’ agents. Points are earned for correct deductions, and the player with the highest score wins.

Concept

• Agents & Rogue Spies:
• There are 26 master intelligence agents (letters A–Z).
• Out of these, 3 agents have gone rogue.
• Player Role:
• Each player represents an international intelligence agency.
• Each agency is assigned a set of agents:
• 3 players: 7 agents per player
• 4 players: 5 agents per player
• 5 players: 4 agents per player
• Clue System:
• Players use five-letter word clues to deduce both the rogue agents and the agents assigned to other players.
• Clues are given to specific players, and the application reveals the number of matching letters with that player’s agent set.

Setup

1. Player Count:
   Gather 3 to 5 players.
2. Creating a Room:
• Ensure the backing API status is Healthy . If not, click on the button. Repeat until the status is health. Wait around 30 seconds before trying again.
  

Figure 1 Click on the API Health button until Healthy

Figure 2 Example of Healthy API Status

• One player creates a unique room:
  a. Navigate to https://wordde.azurewebsites.net
  b. Enter your name (max 20 characters)
  c. Enter a unique room name (max 10 characters)
  d. Click on Create Room

Figure 3 Click on the Create Room. If room already exists, adjust the room name

• After creation, the room creator is redirected to the game page.

Figure 4 Note the Sharable Link, this ensures that the Room Name is consistent

3. Joining a Room:
• Other players join by:
  a. Entering their name (unique within the room)
  b. Using the same room name created earlier
  c. Clicking on Join Room
• Tip: The room creator can copy the shareable link to invite others.

Figure 5 Once Room has been created, click on Join Room

4. Starting the Game:
• Once all players have joined, any player can click the Start Game button to begin.

Figure 6 Note: Start Game button only appears when there are at least 3 players in the room

Gameplay

1. Initial Setup

• Agent Assignment:
• The application randomly selects 3 rogue agents (letters).
• Each player is randomly assigned their set of agents according to the number of players.

2. Initial Clue Round

• Clue Submission:
• Each player must submit a five-letter word clue.
• Important: The clue must include at least one letter from the player's assigned agents.
• Example:
• Reena’s Agents: B, F, H, O, R, T, Y

Figure 7 Reena's screen.
The top section is the player board. The bottom section shows the individual player's Clue board

• Invalid Clue: A word that does not include any of Reena’s letters or contains repeating letters.
  

Figure 8 "SLICE" is invalid since it does not have any of Reena's Agents (letters)

• Valid Clue: A five-letter word that includes at least one of Reena’s letters without repeats.

Figure 9 "BADGE" is valid since it contains at least one of Reena's Agents ("B")

3. Player Clue Rounds (Rounds 1 to 6)

• Turn Order:
• Clue rounds proceed in turns.
• The starting player is determined at the beginning of the game.
• During Each Turn:

1.                 Select a Target Agency:

• The active player chooses another player (agency) to interrogate.

Figure 10 In this example, it is Reena's turn and she can select either Mark or Noel by clicking on the “Select for Query” button

2.                 Submit a Clue:

• Enter a unique five-letter clue.
• Note: You may not reuse a previous clue with the same set of letters.

Figure 11 Reena selects Mark and types "TIGHT" as her clue

3.                 Response:

• The application reveals the number of letters from the clue that match the targeted player's agents.
• Players can use the provided clue board and main player board to track and deduce agent identities.

Figure 12 After submitting, the application will indicate how many letters match with Mark's agents.
In this case, there are no matches. Since Reena’s agents include “T” and “H”, she can deduce that “I” and “G” are not part of Mark’s Agents. Clicking on the letters will cycle through indicator icons. She can click on “I” and “G” to mark them with “x” icons.

4.                 Marking Clue Letters:

• Click letters on the board to cycle through icons (e.g., marking letters that are not part of a given agency).

Figure 13 Example of board after Reena marks "i" and "G" with "x" icons

• Automatic Letter Reveals:
• At the beginning of rounds 2, 3, and 4 (for 4- or 5-player games), a letter is revealed that is not part of the 3 letters that have gone rouge. The player boards are marked accordingly.

Figure 14 Example of an Agent (letter) revealed not to be part of the rouge agents

4. End-of-Round Agent Guesses

• During the end of rounds 4, 5, and 6:
• Players submit guesses for the three rogue agents.
• Points are awarded based on which round the guess is made:
• Round 4: 4 points per correct guess
• Round 5: 7 points per correct guess
• Round 6: 10 points per correct guess
• How to Submit:
• Adjust your Clue board for the “Rouge Agents”
• Click on Enter End of Round Answer.
• Use your player board to help decide which letters might be rogue.

Figure 15 Click on the "Enter End of Round Answers" button.
Tip: make your icon markings on the “Rouge Agent” row

Figure 16 Example of selecting the Rouge Agents

5. Final Scoring

• Additional Deductions:
• At the end of round 6, players also guess the agents of the other players.
• Each correctly identified agent earns an extra 2 points.

Figure 17 Click the buttons to enter Player's Agents

• Winner:
• The player with the highest total score wins the game.

Figure 18 Example of Final Scores

Additional Tips

• Strategy:
• Choose clues that reveal as little as possible about your own agents while effectively narrowing down possibilities for your opponents.
• Keep track of clues and responses on your clue board; visual organization is key to deducing the correct letters.
• Room Management:
• Ensure that all players have unique names and that the room name is shared accurately.
• If you encounter any issues, use the in-game messaging system to notify the host. (not yet implemented)
• If all else fails, go back to the lobby page and rejoin the room – making sure you use the same user name