I was thinking about another kind of word game that might be worth trying
on-line here in the grex language conference.  The idea is to respond with
another word that differs from the previous word according to these rules:

-change just one letter
-remove one of the letters (minimum word length = 4 letters)
-insert/append a letter (maximum word length = ? letters)

Example sequence:  bold -> cold -> scold -> scald -> scale -> sale ...

If this were a parlor game with a set number of players, I'd envision that
each player able to offer another word would get a point, or have to pass,
and the player coming up with a word that no one could follow would get 5
points and get to pick the next word.  On-line, we can't control order of
players or awarding points, so your reward for stumping others would be to
get to pick the next word.

Why don't we give it a try, and if it sux, this item will die a natural death.
Let's stick to words that can be found in an "American" English dictionary,
similarly as for the 5- and 6-letter word games.  If you have suggestions for
better on-line rules, by all means offer them!  :-)  I'll start the game in
response #1.

263 responses total.

game

lame

lime

clime

climb

limb

limbo

bimbo

Main Entry: bilbo   Function: noun   Inflected Form(s): plural bilboes
Etymology: perhaps from Bilboa, Spain   Date: 1557
: a long bar of iron with sliding shackles used to confine the feet of
  prisoners especially on shipboard 


BTW, another rule is that you can't use (repeat) a word that's already 
been used in the same "round".

<dave contemplates saying "Bilbo" & sneaks away>

Assuming bilbo has been tendered, then

bilbos

May we be risque? If so, I'll substitute d for the first b in bilbos.

Admittedly the system was very slow, but how albaugh slipped in **3 minutes**
ahead of me I can't imagine.  His resp wasn't there when I read prior to
entering #10 ... & I was assuming that proper nouns were out.

Re: #11:  dictionary said plural is bilboes (es), so can't use
Re: #12:  don't know what a dilbo is  :-)

oops, my dirty mind was racing ahead. ;-)

bimbo

sorry davel, bimbo was already used this "round" in #8.  

I found 1 more word stemming from bilbo which can itself be extended...

OK - for the sake of proceeding....though the winning strategy in this
game is to work out what's possible, and then jump in at just the 
right moment......which this is not for me as far as I have figured.

bilboa  (a variant of bilbo = sword)

balboa  (nope, not the proper name, unit of money in Panama)

balboas?

bilboas  (leaves 1 other word I know of now... ;-)

This game needs a files of words used, too....

bilboes

OK, I'm convinced there are no words that can be derived from bilboes that
haven't already been used.  So rcurl, your turn to pick a new word!

If that is agreeable to all, I'll pick.... bilboes! No, but it is a thought
- how the game backs out of the dead end it gets into and then finds another.
Instead, lets proceed from

plane

planet

plant

slant

scant

secant

decant

decane

decade

decode

Main Entry: decane   Function: noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary deca-
Date: circa 1875 : any of several isomeric liquid alkanes C10H22

decide

I have created a file of the successive words offered in this game, in
/a/r/c/rcurl/lcgame  (stands for "letter change game").

deride

derive

drive

driven

riven

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss