First off, the Test format is like that that our ancestors faced, though a number of beautiful new projects are available.
(Some really stunning ones, along with those that were my previous favorites.)
Question about "I've heard that this Test drove people away from Egypt - is this true?
Yes, more than any other Test.
[And I'll say this out of character:]
[This Test demands a certain toughness of the *player*, not the character. Friends may betray you, or lie to you. This Test is - for many people - not something that is "fun".]
[However, I have always said that if I could play any one Test in ATITD, it would be the Test of the Covered Cartouche.]
Ok, back to questions about the Test.
A player may participate as often as he/she would like in Level-1 contests - certificates accumulate.
Question about "quick game" rounds...
In Tale 1 we had one(? someone correct me if I'm wrong) running that was 60 RL minutes per round - a marathon 6+ hour event.
To start with, the traditional 24 hours/round events will be scheduled...
I heard a fair amount of complaining that the "quick game" event made it unfair to those that did the full timescale events.
I really don't see it as unfair, but for now we'll use the 24 hour rounds, and consider fast ones, maybe as a special weekend event. I'm really unsure about it.
Build materials are not returned when tearing down a project.
Scheduling for Cartouche is unique:
Any University of Leadership has a copy of "The Schedule", which is done in real-time. This means, no such thing as "TeppyTime" If it says a contest will start in 36 hours, then it will.
For instance, right now there's a single location on the schedule - RSO's University of Leadership will open signups about a day from now.
If 11 people sign up, there won't be any groups...
If 12 people sign up, there will be one group of 12.
If 23 people sign up, there will be one group of 12, and 11 people who can't play right then. (But they can sign up at the next one.)
The U Leadership will say how many people have already signed up, so a last minute effort to reach the next multiple of 12 can be a good idea.
"Who can play" is random...
It may give slightly higher weight to those that didn't make it previously.
The University in question will say how long until signups close...
Normally signups last 24 hours, so that every time zone is treated fairly.
(That is one valid reason for avoiding the lgithning round contests, actually.)
The reason this Test isn't self-scheduled is because part of the challenge (stress!) is being put in with people you don't know.
Suggestion that I play anonymously...
I may.
I'd have to think about a fair way to get the goods to play.
In T1 I played as Pharaoh in a final level-3 "All Star Cartouche", and put up some fairly significant prizes (a $100 developer shirt, and a few other things.)...
But I was so busy at the time (getting the Beta for T2 going, coding the monuments, and I think that's about when my son was born also.)
If multiple players all fail to complete any project at all, then all of them are eliminated. That's the one case where more than one person is eliminated in a round.
So, you should *always* build at least a size-1 project.
If no votes are cast, then the whole contest aborts. Avoid that situation, obviously.
Ah, yes - I have the ability to pop in to the group's chat channel - it's announced in red when I do - and I will often do that.
There are at least 8 new projects - some will be Round-1 projects, some Round-2, and I'll keep 1 or 2 in case we do something special for a Round-3 Cartouche.
Ok, I think I got to all questions - any final ones?
Question about materials...
Most cartouche projects don't requite super high-tech items, but they do go beyond bricks and boards...
In T1 some required Raeli tiles for instance.