User:CommonGroundTG/sandbox

What is Common Ground?
It is a game and a puzzle based on the challenge to find two or more consecutive and sequential letters shared by discrete items from two distinct categories. The two categories are provided along with an item from the first category and it is up to the player to think of a response from the second category that contains an identical string of letters. The longer the string, the higher the score.

That probably sounds more complicated than it needs to be so here is an example: PRESIDENTS:LINCOLN / GIRL FIRST NAMES:_________?

If the first category is PRESIDENTS with the item given being LINCOLN, and the second category is GIRL FIRST NAMES, some responses might be LISA (LI), CINDY (IN), NANCY (NC), CONNIE (CO), or OLGA (OL). All letters in parentheses are contained in LINCOLN and are consecutive and in sequence within LINCOLN. Those responses would each score 2 points. However, LINDA (LIN) and COLLEEN (COL) would be better responses and score 3 points. Just remember that only one response per item given is permitted, so always try to find longer sequences. The items supplied and the responses given can be a word or words. For scoring purposes, spaces between words, and characters other than letters are ignored. Only letters are in play. More detailed rules can be found below.

The definition can be applied across several game and puzzle formats, namely: a board game, a mobile app, puzzle books, and a free, daily, online, interactive version that can be found at the Common Ground web site. Copyright 2012 COMMONGROUNDTHEGAME, LLC All rights reserved.

Complete Rules and Acceptability Guidelines

 * For each item in the first category try to come up with an item in the second category that contains an identical sequence of letters.
 * The minimum matching sequence is two consecutive letters.
 * Sequences of matching letters can appear anywhere within the word or words.
 * Cannot use same full word in a response. Ex.: (Artists) Georgia O'Keefe  / (U.S. States) Georgia scores zero.
 * Cannot add an “s” or “es” to pluralize words for extra points. Responses naturally containing “s” or “es” are fine.
 * Matching letters are not required to match case. Example: (Authors) Shakespeare  /  (Fish) shark  Sha / sha is fine.
 * Consecutive letters may span spaces. Example: (Sports Figures) Babe Ruth  / (Countries) Liberia be R / ber is fine.
 * Ignore numbers, symbols and spaces. Example: Spanish-American War (Events) /  ham (Foods) h-Am / ham is fine.
 * In situations where multiple items are provided, all responses must be different.
 * Daily online puzzle has three scoring levels: GOOD, GREAT and SUPERB.  To reach the SUPERB level you will need to come up with five responses that each have a matching sequence of three or more letters.
 * The SUPERB Solution for the daily online puzzle is only a suggested solution. Many other solutions are often possible.