TT2-Mods' October Challenge for BAPs: Halloween READ-A-THON (4th - 19th)

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

It's read-a-thon time! And since we all love books and reading challenges, this one is a mix between a regular Read-a-Thon and a Treasure Hunt, Nothing But Reading Challenges style.

◈ Duration: October 4th BST 4:00 PM to October 19th BST 4:00 PM

*start time in all time zones:Click Here
*countdown:Click Here

◈ Teams can choose from two types of events:

Event #1: Reading like a Banshee - a "read-as-much-as-you-can" event
Event #2: Halloween Book Hunt - a mini-challenge event

◈ Book advantage: Each event will have a book advantage awarding, as follows:

EVENT #1:

1st Place:10 BAP's
2nd Place:8 BAP's
3rd Place:6 BAP's
4th Place:4 BAP's
5th Place:2 BAP's

In case of a tie, the full amount of book points will be granted to the tied teams.

EVENT #2:

Tasks 1 to 5: 1 BAP per task completed
Final task: 5 BAP's

Each team participating in the read-a-thon will receive 5 BAP's - and yes, it's cummulative


◈ Events are not exclusive. That means teams can choose to do event #1, or event #2 or both.

-Greedy Goblin: Does that mean that I can win 25 BAP's?
-Me:If your team wins 1st place on both events, yes.
-Greedy Goblin:Oh goody. Wait? I can have 2 different places?
-Me:Yes. A team can rank 2nd on event #1 and 3rd on event #2. As a result, the BAP awarded would be 8+6+5 = 19 BAP's.
-Greedy Goblin:Excellent *evil laugh*

◈ Keep us updated on your progress! Every few hours (as long as it doesn't interfere with your reading), post a status update on how the reading is going. A thread will be provided for this.

◈ The winners of the Read-a-Thon will be announced on October 20th.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

◈ Event #1: Reading like a Banshee

-Wailing Banshee:Banshees do not read. Banshees wail.
-Me:Wail?
-Wailing Banshee: Yes, wail. We wail till children cry and dogs howl. Till cats scream and people tremble on their sleeping places. Banshees wail and wail and wail till they voices fail and cannot continue wailing.
-Me: OK, banshees wail. And what happens when you stop wailing?
-Wailing Banshee:
*confused look*
We wail some more.
-Me: So, suppose that if instead of wailing, banshees read, what would you do?
-Wailing Banshee: I would read till my eyes hurt and my hands couldn't not turn pages anymore. Then I will grab and eReader till it break. Finally I would listen to audio books till my ears fall off. And then I would read some more. I would read like a banshee.


◈ How to Read Like a Banshee

Step #1: Set a personal goal and let us know about it- this one is just for fun. It wouldn't be a read-a-thon without some goal, right?

Step #2:Find your team's read-a-thon goal - This is as simple as the sum of the book goals from each participant in the read-a-thon.

Step #3:Keep us posted from your process on the provided thread- this one is very important.

Step #4:Read. Read. Read.
Grab your books. Tell the world to stop during 2 weeks. Tell the kids you will be busy reading. Grab your favorite snacks. Find your favorite reading nook and read like a Banshee.

◈ How to keep track
We will provide a thread for this. After you finish the reading for the day. Or you are changing books. Or you need a break. Whatever. Just go to the thread and say which book you are reading and the amount of pages you read from said book.

You can use something on the lines:
MANGO TANGO UPDATE OCT 5:
Karla has read 235 pages in [book] by [author]
Steven has read 400 pages in [book] by [author]
Barb completed [book] by [author], 522 pages.



-Reading Pixie:Wait. Wait. Wait. What do you mean? Just write the pages read? Like that?
-Me:See the page you are before starting and the page you are when you stop the reading. Post the difference.
-Reading Pixie:How about eBooks? Or audio?
-Me: What about it?
-Reading Pixie:How do I know the pages?
-Me:You can use percentages. If you need help with the page numbers ask Countess Paige.
-Reading Pixie: But what if I started it before?
-Me:You can start before. However, you will only count the pages you read during the read-a-thon

Need help with the percentage calculation? Vicky from Pewter Blue does it all the time, is like this:

Using Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Total Length: 8 hours 11 minutes
Current Position: 4 hours 33 minutes
Percentage Read: 56%
Page Numbers: 289 (Mass Market Paperback)

56% of 289 Pages = 161 Pages "Read"

It could also work for percentages of ebooks read. It wouldn't work for audiobooks or eBooks that don't have a page number information. Here's when Countess Paige help will be precious.

I don't care which edition it is. Or how you do it. I need a number. Is that number that I'm going to put on a spreadsheet to get your total of pages read.

◈ How to find the winner
First sum the pages read by your team (A). Grab your team's Tower Team Goal (B)
A/B = read-a-thon ratio.

Example: Team Moonstoon only has 3 members participating on the read-a-thon.
book goals are:

Member book goal
Chris 100
Rebecca 150
Vi 213

Total book goal:100+150+213 = 463

Now add the number of pages read during the RaT

Member pages read
Chris 1000
Rebecca 2000
Vi 3000

Total of pages read = 1000+2000+3000 = 6000

Moonstoon Points for the Reading Like a Banshee option:
(6000/463)*100 = 1295,896

The event winner will be the team with a bigger read-a-thon ratio.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Option 2: Halloween Book Hunt

-Pirate Ghost: A book hunt? Book hunt? Don't you mean Treasure?
-Me:For a reader, a book is the most precious of treasures
-Pirate Ghost:Arrrrrr.
We shall steal all the books!
The treasure is ours!

◈ How to Beat the Pirate Ghost and Catch the Treasure

For this event, each team will have to complete 5 tasks or steps. Each task has to be posted on the correct order. Plus, they are cumulative - which means read one book for task #1, two books for task #2 and so on.

Step #1: Choose the themes from the options below, and decide which one you will do for each task. You can't choose the same theme more than once. Don't forget you have to post them in the correct order.
For example, if you choose Theme #7 for Task 1, Theme #4 for Task 2, and Theme #10 for Task 3, you must post them in that order: 7, 4, 10.

Step #2: Grab the Clues. For each completed task, we're going to give you a clue. After you collect all clues, you can start working on your final task. Without this one you can't compete for the final BAPs, so plan carefully.

◈ Book Hunt Themes

Theme #1:Classic Horror
Read classic horror books like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or Bran Stoker’s Dracula. Or, you can choose the modern revamp of old classics like Pride, Prejudice and zombies.


Theme #2:Masters of Horror and Fantastic
Read a book from a master of horror and Fantastic like Stephen King or Dean Koontz, or if you prefer a more lighter approach, like Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratcher.


Theme #3:Samhain (**)
Read a book that focus on Celtic/Gaelic traditions like Beltane, Samhain or other rituals, or somehow fit the meaning of Samhain (see spoiler for info)
(view spoiler)[
Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Most commonly it is held on 31 October – 1 November, or halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.

It was the time when cattle were brought back down from the summer pastures and when livestock were slaughtered for the winter. In much of the Gaelic world, bonfires were lit and there were rituals involving them. People and their livestock would often walk between two bonfires as a cleansing ritual, and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames.

Samhain (like Beltane) was seen as a time when the "door" to the Otherworld opened enough for the souls of the dead, and other beings, to come into our world.
Feasts were had, at which the souls of dead kin were beckoned to attend and a place set at the table for them. It has thus been likened to a festival of the dead.
(hide spoiler)]
People also took steps to protect themselves from harmful spirits, which is thought to have led to the custom of guising. Divination was also done at Samhain.


Theme #4:Trick or Treat (*)
Let your inner child on the loose in a trick or treat spell-it-out challenge. Suggestions: the perfect costume, the sweets, the pranks, the kind neighbor, the scary one. Surprise us.
T - Tangled Threads
W - Wallbanger
I - Ilona Andrews - Magic Burns
Z - Zeke from The Immortal Rules
Z - Zevin, Gabrielle - All These Things I've Done
L - The Last Olympian
E - Etiquette & Espionage
R - Robert Galbraith - The Cuckoo's Calling
S - Sarah Dresden - Just Listen

Theme #5:Face your Fears (**)
Read books about things that scary you - urban legends, ghost stories, spiders, spider webs, murders, even elevators or planes, is all about your fears.


Theme #6:Hallow Places (**)
For this option, is all about the setting - Cemeteries, dark forest, haunted house, the asylum, Dracula's Castle


Theme #7:Halloween Party – a Spell-it-Out challenge (*)
Use your imagination to create the perfect party item: the beverages, the food, the decorations, the theme, the music
P - Prodigy
O - The Ocean at the End of the Lane
T - Tolliver from Grave Sight
I - Ilona Andrews - Magic Strikes
O - The Orphan Master's Son
N - Neil Gaiman - The Graveyard Book

Theme #8:Supernatural Creatures
The title is self explanatory, read a book that has witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, zombie, ghosts, spirits, poltergeist, anything counts.


Theme #9:Halloween Cover Hunt
Read books with covers matching Halloween colors - black, orange, red - or Halloween themes - pumpkins, skulls, etc.


Theme #10:Special Abilities
Read books with characters with special abilities - fire power, magical powers, sending the dead, flying, weather manipulation, visions, time traveling, etc.


(*) For spell-it-outs: use the first letter in the book's title or series name (if the book starts with 'the', 'a', 'an', etc, you may use the first letter in the second word of the title or series name), the first letter of an author's first or last name, or the first letter of a character's first, last or nick name.

(**)For this theme, it all depends on the reader's interpretation - it can be book concept, settings, cover or title.

Example:
Cadet Blue decides that the order for the five tasks will be:
◈step #1 - Theme #10:Special Abilities
read one book where a character has a special ability
◈step #2 - Theme #2:Masters of Horror and Fantastic
read two books written by a master of horror or fantastic
◈step #3 - Theme #6:Hallow Places
read three books that have a scary place
◈step #4 - Theme #8:Supernatural Creatures
read four books with a supernatural being
◈step #5 - Theme #7:Halloween Party - spell-it-out choice: Zombie Walk
Read 5 books from the spell-it-out option


Getting the clues:
Since Cadet Blue chose a 4 step hunt, for each finished step, they get a clue - for example:
◈Clue #1: It can be one of three
◈Clue #2: Is a member's choice
◈Clue #3: It generates great discussions
◈Clue #4: Is a monthly occurrence
◈Clue #5: Participation is not mandatory

Treasure: For your final task, read a current or past BOM.
Note:The clues and treasure displayed are just an example. Final task is still to uncover

-Pirate Ghost:what is this final task you speak off.
-Me:After you collect all the clues you will know.
-Pirate Ghost:Argrrr. You are trying to fool me so your teams can win it!
-Me:Don't worry. I will post the final task on the 14th, so you can start planning. However, you have to collect all the clues before you post your results of the final task.
-Pirate Ghost:I don't like this. Everybody can plan things ahead of time. You shall change it to my liking.
-Me:You can't tell me to change it. I'm all the mods combined and we demand r...
-Pirate Ghost:Argrrrr. CHANGE THIS!
Or you will walk the plank and be fed to the sharks! Argrrrr.
-Me:*glup*
OK. OK. I'm changing it. Jezzzzz
-Pirate Ghost:I shall grab the treasure.


◈ Clues and Final Task
To keep things even - and to avoid the Pirate's Wrath - we're going to use the following awarding system:

For each task marked as complete, the team will be awarded 1 BAP.

Final task has no reading included, and will by posted on the 14th or as soon as ALL teams complete all tasks from 1 to 5.
Each team has to complete all 5 tasks to a chance of participating on final task.

Final task is worth 5 BAP's.

The teams can only starting posting their completed tasks on October 5th, Midnight BST - Eight Hours after the read-a-thon start

For event #2 ALL teams can win up to 10 BAP's

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

FAQs, Rules and Guidelines



◈ Only books following the Tower Team Reading Challenge rules can apply.

◈ Changes to events, themes and participants are allowed till October 14th.

◈ The number of letters required to the spell-it-out options from event #2 are equal to the correspondent step.
For example,
Task #5: Theme #7 - spelling WITCH FINGERS - can be marked as complete when 5 letters out of 12 are done.

◈ Your team can be working on all the tasks at same time, however, they can only be marked as complete by the correct order.

◈ After a task is marked as finished, it will receive the correspondent clue and can't be changed. So be sure that all the books are correct when you post it.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

1

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

To all the ones that helped on the creation of this fun fun challenge. It wouldn't be the same without all your precious help. THANK YOU.

~S

[Barb]

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post these questions. I don't know where else to ask.


◈ Your team can be working on all the tasks at same time, however, they can only be marked as complete by the correct order.

Does this mean that teams have to complete and report Step #1 before completing/reporting Step #2, etc?


For each task marked as complete, the team will be awarded some points, according with the posting order as follows:
1st team to post task:10 points

So the 1st team to post each step as complete will get 10 points?

[Steven]

Barb,

The teams have to turn in each task in order, but we can work on them all at the same time. So in essence, by the time someone reading ONE book for task one finishes, other people on the team can have read the TWO for task two, etc and turn them in one after the other :)

And yes, the first few teams to post each step will get points as listed in the chart above. So there's potential for the first 5 teams in each task to get a good number of points.

[Steven]

Oh and those points earned are points to win the event, not BAPs.

The BAPs will be awarded to the highest five teams with the best point totals!

[Steven]

Wait strike that last bit. I think it's just the top team for the Hunt event. Sorry! X)

[Sonia]

Thanks for the help Steven.

Yes, the points earn by each task in the event is to determine the teams positions.

So how the BAP's will be granted?

Participation wins 5 BAP's. So, if your team decides to participate, 5 BAP's are automatically yours.

Then, the 5 top teams for each even win BAP's according to their positions.

[Barb]

Thanks for the responses, it helps!

[Mary X]

Would this count as a take-off of a classic for theme #1?

[Sonia]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "

Would this count as a take-off of a classic for theme #1?"

Yes

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Read-a-Thon Duration: October 4th BST 4:00 PM to October 19th BST 4:00 PM

We decided to use the Greenwich hour for two reasons:

1.Is the "zero" hour. All time zones relate to it
2.Daylight saving time change will only occur on October 27th, so it won't interfere with read-a-thon timings.

[Nairabell]

Would Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters count as supernatural creatures? Essentially in the series you have soulless immortal warriors, soul sucking daimons, near-immortals who are either animals who change into people or vice versa, and dream gods. Just wanted to double check :)

[Sonia]

Nairabell wrote: "Would Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters count as supernatural creatures? Essentially in the series you have soulless immortal warriors, soul sucking daimons, near-immortals who are either animals who..."

Yes, they will count. Any mythical or non-totally "human" being will count.

[SandyC]

For the read-a-thon, on the thread you are going to provide, do you want just one post per team per day?

[Steven]

How much of the book needs to have been read within the time frame to count for either event?

I'm thinking of reading Stephen King's Salem's Lot (not sure which edition I'll get a hold of yet) in October, and was planning on starting it on the 1st. It's a decently long book and will take a few days, so if I finish it on the 4th, will that count as a book towards event 2 treasure hunt? And will the pages I read ON the 4th count?

[Nairabell]

Sonia wrote: "Nairabell wrote: "Would Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters count as supernatural creatures? Essentially in the series you have soulless immortal warriors, soul sucking daimons, near-immortals who are ..."

Awesome thanks :)

[Steven]

The Grimm Reaper is definitely a supernatural/mythical creature, so based off Sonia's previous answer... YES! :D

[Sonia]

@Sandy:One post per team, each time is easier to track. It doesn't have every day. Each 2-3 days will suffice.

@Steven: let me think it better, I'll get back to you.

Sorry guys, I was down for most of the day with a migraine, so the threads are not up yet. They'll have to wait a little longer, I'm going back to bed is 11 pm around here and my pain meds will knock me out soon.

[Sarah]

Steven- I had already asked this question and was told yes you could have already started a book for the treasure hunt. I would think if you at least had 160 pages left to read - it would count - they allow books that are that long to count for a whole book? Also this would need to be consistent for everybody so once again I am still confused?

[Sarah]

Steven - for the RaT challenge you can count any pages you read on the fourth starting at the right time in your time zone. My time zone is Seattle so I can start at 8 in the morning. The challenge rules have a place to check your time.

[Steven]

And where did you see this info? :P

[Sarah]

At the top of the page there is a click button to check your time zone in the first thread. Did you find it?

[Barb]

Sarah wrote: "I had already asked this question and was told yes you could have already started a book for the treasure hunt. I would think if you at least had 160 pages left to read - it would count - they allow books that are that long to count for a whole book? Also this would need to be consistent for everybody so once again I am still confused? "

In the past, we've been able to count a book even if we only read 10 pages on the day the RaT starts, which is why we need to know if the rules are different this time around. In the interest of fairness, it might be best to DISallow any books started before the appropriate time on October 4.

[Kate S]

Barb wrote: "In the interest of fairness, it might be best to DISallow any books started before the appropriate time on October 4. "

I strongly agree with this statement, especially in regards to the treasure hunt part of this challenge.

[Steven]

I meant about the "at least 160 pages left to read" part. Sorry, shoulda been more clear!

[Steven]

And, I just reread your post for the 50th time and NOW I see that you said "I *would think*" and not that you saw it anywhere. MY BAD!

I'll wait for Sonia's official decision. LOL!

[Barb]

Kate S wrote: "Barb wrote: "In the interest of fairness, it might be best to DISallow any books started before the appropriate time on October 4. "

I strongly agree with this statement, especially in regards to the treasure hunt part of this challenge."

Yes, that's what I meant, thanks Kate :) For the read-like-a-banshee part, since we're only counting pages read, there really wouldn't be an advantage to having started the book before the official start day/time. So in that, it really wouldn't matter, as long as we keep track of how many pages we'd read before then and do NOT count them in our totals.

[Steven]

I'm in agreement with Barb... for event two/treasure hunt, I think it's in the interest of fairness that only books started AFTER the official start time should count.

As for event one, I think it's fair to count any pages read within the time frame. :)

[Sarah]

Except that I already asked this question and was told otherwise. She said she did not define that in the rules so it was not necessary - I personally tend to read large books and thought at least if they were started early then maybe at least leave 160 pages because that counts as a book - but my books tend to be two or three times that. I think that would be equally fair. Because it is equally the same as people who read small books while others read much longer books.

[Steven]

Normally, on previous challenges, I'd be inclined to agree with you and would read large sections before the start date. But I feel this case is different - this is the first of the mod challenges to reward more points to those teams that finish the event tasks first. Because of this, and the already imbalanced nature of this part of the event (event one is balanced by math and proportions thanks to the ratio, but event two is skewed to those teams who have faster readers AND those who have more members participating), it seems to provide more balance to put all the teams at the very least at the same position as of start time, as those two skewing factors are already putting some teams at disadvantages. Since those disadvantages are unavoidable, due to the nature of the team setups, it only seems fair to avoid things that will skew it further if they are avoidable.

That's my stance, and since I've not seen an official answer to this question in the rules or the FAQs and am thus unclear, so I will just wait until we got mod clarification before I report back to my team with how to prepare! :)

[Sarah]

Yeah I think this was only maybe brought up on my teams page where I had originally asked the same question you did.

[Steven]

Must have been, because I didn't see it anywhere, and there's no way I have time to go through every post on every team's multiple threads! :p

But never fear, dear Sonia shall provide an answer and a final ruling once her annoying migraine goes away. (Sonia, you have got to stop staying up til 1am or later every night and get some rest, silly!!!)

[Sonia]

Steven wrote: "Sonia, you have got to stop staying up til 1am or later every night and get some rest, silly!!!"

But.. but.. is so hard to let go with all of you here...

*pouts*

[Sonia]

Sarah is right, I only answered in pewter's blue thread. This subject is one of the reasons I still haven't made it "official" because I keep changing it on my mind to see what to do.

However, for the first read-a-thon the books started before were allowed. And for the TTRC round II, books started before are allowed, so it doesn't seem right to go against the rules.

However, as it was said, this time posting speed counts.

So, I'm inclined to put some posting rules/times. For example Step #1 can only be posted on day 5, step #2 on day 7... I still have to think the days. That will keep early starts somehow diluted and it will make tracking/ clues posting easier - at least for the mods.

Don't worry, if I opt for that solution - I'll think it better during the day. I'll set the time zones clocks/counters, so anyone is at same pace around the globe.

Time to go for a team meeting. Back soon.

[Mary X]

My only problem with that is if a bunch of teams are done when it comes time to posting the final task, then those where the time zone falls at a inconvenient time for their captains are screwed. A team that's done first could lose out simply because the official posting time came when their captain is at work or it's the middle of the night for them and then they're in last place only because the official posting time came convenient for the other teams and not theirs.

I know there's no time of day that's perfect for everyone. But if the posting time were to say fall at 6am my time zone, I'd most likely have a big advantage over people where it's only 3am in their time zones. I'd grumble about having to get up 30 min early to get it posted but I'd do it. But how many people are up at 3am in any time zone unless they are working or have an infant?

Does that make any sense?

[Sonia]

It does... And you are right. It can't be fair to everyone. That's why we are using the middle of the afternoon of the "zero hour". And that's why there is no need to be the captain to post the updates. It can be anyone. If the captain is sleeping during that time, is a matter of assigning that task to other member.

[Nairabell]

Would work for the classic horror theme? In the description it says Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. so it might fit under the modern revamp definition.

[Sonia]

Nairabell wrote: "Would work for the classic horror theme? In the description it says Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his n..."

Yes. I came across that book the other day and wanted to add it to the theme#1.

Books like & also count as "revamps"

[Nairabell]

Sonia wrote: "Nairabell wrote: "Would work for the classic horror theme? In the description it says Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through ..."

Awesome :) Thanks for the super fast reply!

[Rebecca NJ]

Hi Sonia!

I had a quick clarification about audiobooks. You said "I don't care which edition it is. Or how you do it. I need a number. Is that number that I'm going to put on a spreadsheet to get your total of pages read.

So if I decided to use the most popular edition to determine the page numbers for my audiobooks, that will be okay?

Thanks!

[Sonia]

Rebecca wrote: "Hi Sonia!

I had a quick clarification about audiobooks. You said "I don't care which edition it is. Or how you do it. I need a number. Is that number that I'm going to put on a spreadsheet to get..."

Yes, that is OK.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Read-a-Thon Threads created in the sister group:

FAQs, Rules and Guidelines: HERE
Event #1 Tracking: HERE
Event #2 Tracking: HERE

Mote to come.

[Amanda]

Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges (All the Mods) wrote: " The number of letters required to the spell-it-out options from event #2 are equal to the correspondent step.
For example,
Task #5: Theme #7 - spelling WITCH FINGERS - can be marked as complete when 5 letters out of 12 are done.
"

For the spell-it-out, do the letters used have to be consecutive or can the members just pick and choose the letters they want to use?
I think it's been done both ways before and I just want to be sure :).

[Sonia]

Amanda wrote: "Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges (All the Mods) wrote: " The number of letters required to the spell-it-out options from event #2 are equal to the correspondent step.
For example,
Task..."

Just pick and choose the one you want to use :)

[Kari]

Will books started before Oct 4, but finished after Oct 4 by allowed for part 2? Or do we need to wait and only include books began after Oct 4?

[Sonia]

Kari wrote: "Will books started before Oct 4, but finished after Oct 4 by allowed for part 2? Or do we need to wait and only include books began after Oct 4?"

We're allowing them.