Mutating Scrabble

Byward Market produce, Ottawa

As it stands, I think that Scrabble favours spatial and numerical abilities a bit too strongly, while not doing as much as it could to highlight and exhibit vocabulary and anagramming skill. In response, I propose two minor rule changes, one fairly trivial and one much more game-changing.

First, when a player has a word challenged, it is necessary that they be able to provide a correct definition for it, as well. If the word is in the chosen dictionary and they are right about what it means, it remains on the board and the challenger misses a turn. If the word placer fails either test, they must take back the tiles and forfeit their turn.

Secondly, double and triple word and letter scores are disregarded. This makes creating long words with rare letters more valued than normal.

A fair bit of experimentation will be required to determine whether these rules actually improve the game in the manner desired. Thankfully, there should be a fair bit of scope for that, since Emily and I are now equipped with a board.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

8 thoughts on “Mutating Scrabble”

  1. Desperately trying to conjure a post of the day at 1:30am does not always produce top quality.

    I will fix the error when I get home.

  2. Thankfully, there should be a fair bit of scope for that, since Emily and I are not now equipped with a board.

  3. The bonus squares definitely test vocabulary and anagram skills.

    Being able to find a word with a K or a Q or an X in a specific spot requires more word knowledge.

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