urysohn
07-22-2004, 08:03 AM
ROUND 2, CHALLENGE 1: The Marketplace
Today, you will be going to the market. The commodity, and the currency, is INFORMATION.
I have created a 15-digit number abcdefghijklmno. You just need to let me know what this code is. Heck, I'm even going to give you more than half the code!
The catch? I will be giving each team a different portion of the code, specifically 8 digits of the code.
Of the 15 digits in the code:
(a) 1 will be given to all 4 teams
(b) 4 will be given to 3 teams
(c) 6 will be given to 2 teams
(d) 4 will be given to 1 team
Stated another way, each team will possess:
(a) 1 digit which all 4 teams have
(b) 3 digits, each of which 2 other teams also have
(c) 3 digits, each of which 1 other team also has
(d) 1 digit which no other team has
These will represent all the combinatoric possibilities -- so looking at category (b), there will be one number owned by teams 1, 2, and 3; one owned by 1,2,4; one owned by 2,3,4; and one owned by 2,3,4.
You will know only what your digits are (and which position they correspond to). You will NOT know how many or which other teams have each of those numbers. Obviously, the digit which only your team has is worth far more than the digit every team has.
I will also give each team a unique order in which to post their results, so that they may be publicly posted without giving away all the solution. For example, I might tell one team to post the code in the order lbdehagcominfjk. This code will also be contained in the private message each team member receives, described in the next paragraph.
I will start a new thread titled "Survivor: R2C1 - The Marketplace". Solutions may be posted in this thread. You may also use this thread for any public dealing you choose to do. At 11:00a ET, I will post "BEGIN CHALLENGE" in that thread. At the same time, I will send each of you a list of your team's digits and the encryption code to be used for your solution. I will send this message from the "Trading Desk" ID I have created.
Here is a sample of the PM you will receive
These are your team's codes for Round 2, Challenge 1: The Marketplace
a=2
b=6
d=1
f=7
i=0
l=4
m=3
o=9
Please post your code in this format:
kjneohdlgaifcbm
Once you have managed to bargain with other teams for their piece of the puzzle, post the code, using your team's unique format, in the thread I will start titled "Survivor: R2C1 - The Marketplace". For example, our solution post should look like
Teamname
372698143207563
No edits allowed or the post is disqualified, and considering you would have already given away valuable information, this would be a very bad thing for your team.
You may barter however you wish for the other team's information. Your may deal in misinformation. You MAY deceive another team about how many, and whose, pieces you have. You may NOT commit to swapping digits if you do not actually have them, and you may NOT give false digits (e.g. tell them g=1 when actually g=3). To enforce this, I have set up a "Trading Desk" ID. All transactions must go through that ID. Once you have finalized a transaction, each party should send a note to the "Trading Desk" ID, describing their side of the transaction and to which individual they wish to pass that information. For example, Will Durant could send a note saying
Give h to Jables; I get a back
I would expect a similar note from Jables. Depending on your deal, there might not be an equal swap, or any swap at all. A player might make a side deal, and give away info with nothing in exchange
Give h to Jables
I will not question any transactions. Nor will the details of a trade be made public until the end of the game. This will include the team, individual, and information involved.
Note that information is traded between individuals, not teams. What information you share with your teammates is at your discretion, including both information you have received and information you have disseminated. I will NOT confirm to a player any transactions in which they were not involved.
You may bypass the Trading Desk if you wish, but you do so at your own risk. The Trading Desk is the only verified source of information. Doing your own "direct-party" trading could be faster, but has its risks as well.
When you wish to do so, post the portion of the code which you know. Results should be posting in the "Survivor: R2C1 - The Marketplace" thread I create. Scoring will be based on #correct digits, followed by order of posting. There will be no penalty for incorrect digits, so as with the actuarial exams (maybe just on the SOA side?), guess if you need to do so. Both individuals and teams may make multiple posts. This would allow you to update your solution if you get new information (extra information beats speed in the tiebreaking category). You may, of course, post only when you have the entire code, should you wish. Only the most recent solution posted by a team member before the challenge ends will be counted. Solutions will NOT be confirmed prior the challenge ending. Any team failing to post a solution at all will score 0 points.
I will answer any questions on this challenge either by PM or public post. If you have a question you feel may give you a strategic edge, please ask by PM - my response may either be by PM or public post, depending on the nature of the question and response.
Today, you will be going to the market. The commodity, and the currency, is INFORMATION.
I have created a 15-digit number abcdefghijklmno. You just need to let me know what this code is. Heck, I'm even going to give you more than half the code!
The catch? I will be giving each team a different portion of the code, specifically 8 digits of the code.
Of the 15 digits in the code:
(a) 1 will be given to all 4 teams
(b) 4 will be given to 3 teams
(c) 6 will be given to 2 teams
(d) 4 will be given to 1 team
Stated another way, each team will possess:
(a) 1 digit which all 4 teams have
(b) 3 digits, each of which 2 other teams also have
(c) 3 digits, each of which 1 other team also has
(d) 1 digit which no other team has
These will represent all the combinatoric possibilities -- so looking at category (b), there will be one number owned by teams 1, 2, and 3; one owned by 1,2,4; one owned by 2,3,4; and one owned by 2,3,4.
You will know only what your digits are (and which position they correspond to). You will NOT know how many or which other teams have each of those numbers. Obviously, the digit which only your team has is worth far more than the digit every team has.
I will also give each team a unique order in which to post their results, so that they may be publicly posted without giving away all the solution. For example, I might tell one team to post the code in the order lbdehagcominfjk. This code will also be contained in the private message each team member receives, described in the next paragraph.
I will start a new thread titled "Survivor: R2C1 - The Marketplace". Solutions may be posted in this thread. You may also use this thread for any public dealing you choose to do. At 11:00a ET, I will post "BEGIN CHALLENGE" in that thread. At the same time, I will send each of you a list of your team's digits and the encryption code to be used for your solution. I will send this message from the "Trading Desk" ID I have created.
Here is a sample of the PM you will receive
These are your team's codes for Round 2, Challenge 1: The Marketplace
a=2
b=6
d=1
f=7
i=0
l=4
m=3
o=9
Please post your code in this format:
kjneohdlgaifcbm
Once you have managed to bargain with other teams for their piece of the puzzle, post the code, using your team's unique format, in the thread I will start titled "Survivor: R2C1 - The Marketplace". For example, our solution post should look like
Teamname
372698143207563
No edits allowed or the post is disqualified, and considering you would have already given away valuable information, this would be a very bad thing for your team.
You may barter however you wish for the other team's information. Your may deal in misinformation. You MAY deceive another team about how many, and whose, pieces you have. You may NOT commit to swapping digits if you do not actually have them, and you may NOT give false digits (e.g. tell them g=1 when actually g=3). To enforce this, I have set up a "Trading Desk" ID. All transactions must go through that ID. Once you have finalized a transaction, each party should send a note to the "Trading Desk" ID, describing their side of the transaction and to which individual they wish to pass that information. For example, Will Durant could send a note saying
Give h to Jables; I get a back
I would expect a similar note from Jables. Depending on your deal, there might not be an equal swap, or any swap at all. A player might make a side deal, and give away info with nothing in exchange
Give h to Jables
I will not question any transactions. Nor will the details of a trade be made public until the end of the game. This will include the team, individual, and information involved.
Note that information is traded between individuals, not teams. What information you share with your teammates is at your discretion, including both information you have received and information you have disseminated. I will NOT confirm to a player any transactions in which they were not involved.
You may bypass the Trading Desk if you wish, but you do so at your own risk. The Trading Desk is the only verified source of information. Doing your own "direct-party" trading could be faster, but has its risks as well.
When you wish to do so, post the portion of the code which you know. Results should be posting in the "Survivor: R2C1 - The Marketplace" thread I create. Scoring will be based on #correct digits, followed by order of posting. There will be no penalty for incorrect digits, so as with the actuarial exams (maybe just on the SOA side?), guess if you need to do so. Both individuals and teams may make multiple posts. This would allow you to update your solution if you get new information (extra information beats speed in the tiebreaking category). You may, of course, post only when you have the entire code, should you wish. Only the most recent solution posted by a team member before the challenge ends will be counted. Solutions will NOT be confirmed prior the challenge ending. Any team failing to post a solution at all will score 0 points.
I will answer any questions on this challenge either by PM or public post. If you have a question you feel may give you a strategic edge, please ask by PM - my response may either be by PM or public post, depending on the nature of the question and response.