semicynical

Hold steady, the world will catch up...

Hehe...Now that's a good word...

Okay, so here's the general idea of the game, which is called GHOST. You can play it with any number of people, though I've found that starting with 5 or 6 is ideal for full word-buiding potential. The basic premise of the game is to take turns going clockwise in a circle building words a letter at a time...and the goal is to not be the player that finishes spelling a word....which means the word can go off into any possible direction as it's being built one letter at time. Just when you the think it's building into a particular word, the next person could add a letter that totally changes where it's going. Each time you end up being the one that finishes a word, you lose that round and take a letter in the word GHOST(first time yoiu lose a round you take a G, second time an H, etc). Once you spell GHOST you're out of the game.
You're allowed to challenge people if you think they're not really spelling an actual word...and likewise you can try to bluff your way through it if you think you can.Lots of opportunity for defensive strategy, as far as choosing your letters and words goes.

Not sure if I'm explaining it well enough(as there are a few wee stipulations involved), in which case I've found you this more thorough explanation of it for you at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_(game)

Anyway, if you enjoy wordin' it up (and I believe that you do) and have a few likeminded friends that enjoy getting a good game on, it can get be a real hoot - as well as educational! Hooray!
When we get into it at work sometimes it can really bring out the competitive edge in people and we often draw a crowd when it gets down and dirty....sometimes ruthless. As competitors one by one drop away from the game and it gets down to the last two vying for GHOST supremecy it can get pretty gol-darned intense.


So give it a shot when you have an opportunity and let me know how it goes. If you're like me you'll find yourself quckly addicted.