Difference between revisions of "Powers"

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Tossups with '''power''' have a set of clues at the beginning where a buzz with the correct answer is worth extra points. Powers serve to reward deep knowledge of a subject more than more basic knowledge. All [[NAQT]] invitational sets use tossups with powers, which allow the tossup to be worth 15 points rather than 10; it is believed that NAQT pioneered the practice to distinguish itself from competitors. Other events, such as [[HSAPQ]] Tournament sets, have chosen to use them as well. Since 2010 all tossups at the [[PACE NSC]] have had powers and are worth 20 points before the power mark.
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Tossups with '''power''' begin with clues where a buzz with the correct answer is worth extra points. Powers serve to reward deep knowledge of a subject more than basic knowledge.
  
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In tournaments with powers, the text which is worth extra points is usually bolded. In NAQT and some other sets, a small mark is inserted in the text to further indicate the end of power visually; NAQT's mark looks as follows: (*)
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==Appearance==
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The extent of power in a tossup is usually indicated by bolding all of the text until the '''power mark''': <code>(*)</code>.
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The power mark is the location at which the tossup decreases in point value.
  
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An example of a tossup with a power-mark occurs below. This tossup is from HSAPQ Tournament-22, where all the text in bold is worth 15 points and all the text afterward is worth 10:
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In this example tossup (from [[HSAPQ]] Tournament-22), all the text in bold is worth 15 points and all the text afterward is worth 10 points:
  
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'''This figure’s sister relieves her boredom by taking a Latin course by correspondence in a friend's name. Elizabeth, or “Bep,” brings this figure books from the library every Saturday. This figure has a crush on Peter Schiff, but later transposes that affection onto Peter van Daan. She lives in the''' (*) “Secret Annex” with her father Otto, but their location is betrayed in August, 1944. For 10 points, name this Jewish girl whose Diary of a Young Girl was published as a Holocaust narrative.<br>
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<blockquote style="font-family: serif;">
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ANSWER: Anne '''<u>Frank</u>''' [or '''<u>Anne Frank</u>''']
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'''This figure’s sister relieves her boredom by taking a Latin course by correspondence in a friend’s name. Elizabeth, or “Bep,” brings this figure books from the library every Saturday. This figure has a crush on Peter Schiff, but later transposes that affection onto Peter van Daan. She lives in the (*)''' “Secret Annex” with her father Otto, but their location is betrayed in August, 1944. For 10 points, name this Jewish girl whose Diary of a Young Girl was published as a Holocaust narrative.
  
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Answering a tossup correctly within power can be referred to with the verb "to power;" e.g. "He just powered that tossup on Anne Frank."
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ANSWER: Anne '''<u>Frank</u>'''
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</blockquote>
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The verb "'''to power'''" means to answer a tossup correctly within power. For example, "He just powered that tossup on Anne Frank."
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During the production of question sets, '''power-marking''' is the editorial process of deciding where to place power marks in tossups.
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 +
A question set whose tossups contain powers is called '''power-marked'''.
 +
 
 +
==Theory==
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Power theory varies and is not well developed.
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 +
Power marks are usually placed around halfway into a tossup.
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In some implementations, powers may be intended to reward approximately the top quartile or quintile of players.
 +
 
 +
Power marks are not placed entirely arbitrarily;
 +
they are usually placed directly before substantially new information (usually a noun, title, etc.) that is a step easier than previous information.
 +
 
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In most formats with powers, they are usually worth 15 points. (In some formats, they are worth 20 points.)
 +
 
 +
==Incidence==
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All of [[ACF]]'s question sets do not use powers.
 +
 
 +
All [[NAQT]] invitational sets use tossups with 15-point powers. NAQT may have pioneered the practice to distinguish itself from competitors.
 +
 
 +
Since 2010, all tossups at the [[PACE NSC]] have had powers, which are worth 20 points.
  
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
 +
===Super-powers===
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Some formats have both powers and '''super-powers''' (or '''superpowers'''), which form a second tier of rewarding early correct buzzes, and are usually worth 20 points.
  
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Occasionally, '''super-powers''' are used prior to the initial power mark, bringing a question's total value to 20 points on a sufficiently early buzz. The final quarter of a round of [[National History Bowl]] features tossups with three tiers -- 30-point superpowers, 20-point powers, and 10-point regular clues. [[The Experiment]] experimental tournaments pioneered the use of super-powers. They have also appeared in various other side events like [[Gaddis]] and [[CANONEXPANSION]].
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[[The Experiment]] pioneered the use of super-powers. They have also appeared in various other side events like [[Gaddis]] and [[CANONEXPANSION]].
  
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There are two types of power: '''blind powers''', in which the point at which the question decreases in value is unknown to any player on either team, or '''open powers''', in which the point at which the question decreases in value is known to all players. Most tournaments with powers use "blind" powers. However, at least one tournament format has used questions where the end of power is known to the player as they hear the question. The old [[PACE]] NSC format used powers in the "stretch round", during which power always ended as the words "For 10 points" were being read; this meant that any player who buzzed correctly before the giveaway of a stretch round tossup would knowingly receive 20 points for their buzz. More recently, [[The World As It Is]] employed this same format.
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The final quarter of a round of [[National History Bowl]] features tossups with three tiers: 30-point superpowers, 20-point powers, and 10-point regular clues.  
  
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Formats with power lend themselves to the [[Power-vulch]]. In the power-vulch, immediately after the opposition [[negs]], a player buzzes in with the correct answer in the hopes of getting the full 15 points, despite the fact that in standard formats it is looked down upon to not wait for the end of the question after a neg. Power-vulching is usually a sign of a player [[padding]] their PPG. There are some narrow situations where power-vulching becomes strategically favorable without being dubious (e.g.: trying to make a comeback when few points are left in the game, playing fast on the clock).
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===Blind and open powers===
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There are two types of power:
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* '''blind powers''', in which the power mark is unknown to any player on either team
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* '''open powers''', in which the power mark is known to all players
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Most tournaments with powers use "blind" powers.
 +
 
 +
The "stretch round" of the [[old PACE format]] used 20-point open powers, in which power always ends as the words "For 10 points" are read (before the [[giveaway]]).
 +
In 2021, [[The World As It Is]] used this same format.
 +
 
 +
==Power vulch==
 +
Powers create a particular [[vulching]] opportunity called a [[power vulch]], in which a player buzzes in immediately after the opposing team [[negs]], in the hopes of getting the additional reward.
 +
 
 +
As with any [[vulching]], it is looked down upon to not wait until the end of a tossup after a neg. Power-vulching is usually a sign of a player [[padding]] their PPG. There are some narrow situations where power-vulching becomes strategically favorable without being dubious (e.g.: trying to make a comeback when few points are left in the game, playing fast on the clock).
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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According to posts on the [[A Brief History of Quizbowl Communication on the Internet | Usenet group]], the idea for the power tossup was proposed by [[Tom Waters]] at some point possibly as far back as 1989. (In a [https://www.facebook.com/2300357336743103 comment] on a Facebook post by [[Patrick Matthews]], Waters attributed the idea to an unknown [[Emory]] team member circa 1979.) At its first implementation, the [[1996 SCT]], only certain tossups had power marks available; others were only worth 10 points throughout. This idea was abandoned, possibly as early as the [[1997 ICT]], and the use of standardized powers for the entire set became expected in tournaments which chose to use powers.
 
According to posts on the [[A Brief History of Quizbowl Communication on the Internet | Usenet group]], the idea for the power tossup was proposed by [[Tom Waters]] at some point possibly as far back as 1989. (In a [https://www.facebook.com/2300357336743103 comment] on a Facebook post by [[Patrick Matthews]], Waters attributed the idea to an unknown [[Emory]] team member circa 1979.) At its first implementation, the [[1996 SCT]], only certain tossups had power marks available; others were only worth 10 points throughout. This idea was abandoned, possibly as early as the [[1997 ICT]], and the use of standardized powers for the entire set became expected in tournaments which chose to use powers.
  
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==FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!==
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==="FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!"===
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When reading tournaments with incredibly famous clues still in power, it was once traditional for jerks to sarcastically say or type "FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!" when a player buzzes on such clues and earns power. This is now strongly frowned upon and makes the utterer look bad.
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It was once common for jerks to sarcastically say "FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!" when a player earns power for buzzing on a famous clue. This is now strongly frowned upon and makes the utterer look bad.
  
 
This was invented at [[Michigan]] practices around 2005 and quickly spread to other teams. Audience member [[Leo Wolpert]]'s announcements of "FIFTEEEENNN!" were audible whenever a question was powered in the [[2006 ICT]] finals. [[Ian Eppler]] can be heard shouting it during the 2008 HSNCT playoffs at [http://www.fraughtmachine.com/HSNCT2008/HSNCT2008-21.mp3 this recording]. Oddly, [[Guy Tabachnick]], who did exactly the same thing at the same time, cannot be heard.
 
This was invented at [[Michigan]] practices around 2005 and quickly spread to other teams. Audience member [[Leo Wolpert]]'s announcements of "FIFTEEEENNN!" were audible whenever a question was powered in the [[2006 ICT]] finals. [[Ian Eppler]] can be heard shouting it during the 2008 HSNCT playoffs at [http://www.fraughtmachine.com/HSNCT2008/HSNCT2008-21.mp3 this recording]. Oddly, [[Guy Tabachnick]], who did exactly the same thing at the same time, cannot be heard.

Revision as of 18:44, 23 April 2021

Tossups with power begin with clues where a buzz with the correct answer is worth extra points. Powers serve to reward deep knowledge of a subject more than basic knowledge.

Appearance

The extent of power in a tossup is usually indicated by bolding all of the text until the power mark: (*). The power mark is the location at which the tossup decreases in point value.

In this example tossup (from HSAPQ Tournament-22), all the text in bold is worth 15 points and all the text afterward is worth 10 points:

This figure’s sister relieves her boredom by taking a Latin course by correspondence in a friend’s name. Elizabeth, or “Bep,” brings this figure books from the library every Saturday. This figure has a crush on Peter Schiff, but later transposes that affection onto Peter van Daan. She lives in the (*) “Secret Annex” with her father Otto, but their location is betrayed in August, 1944. For 10 points, name this Jewish girl whose Diary of a Young Girl was published as a Holocaust narrative.

ANSWER: Anne Frank

The verb "to power" means to answer a tossup correctly within power. For example, "He just powered that tossup on Anne Frank."

During the production of question sets, power-marking is the editorial process of deciding where to place power marks in tossups.

A question set whose tossups contain powers is called power-marked.

Theory

Power theory varies and is not well developed.

Power marks are usually placed around halfway into a tossup. In some implementations, powers may be intended to reward approximately the top quartile or quintile of players.

Power marks are not placed entirely arbitrarily; they are usually placed directly before substantially new information (usually a noun, title, etc.) that is a step easier than previous information.

In most formats with powers, they are usually worth 15 points. (In some formats, they are worth 20 points.)

Incidence

All of ACF's question sets do not use powers.

All NAQT invitational sets use tossups with 15-point powers. NAQT may have pioneered the practice to distinguish itself from competitors.

Since 2010, all tossups at the PACE NSC have had powers, which are worth 20 points.

Variants

Super-powers

Some formats have both powers and super-powers (or superpowers), which form a second tier of rewarding early correct buzzes, and are usually worth 20 points.

The Experiment pioneered the use of super-powers. They have also appeared in various other side events like Gaddis and CANONEXPANSION.

The final quarter of a round of National History Bowl features tossups with three tiers: 30-point superpowers, 20-point powers, and 10-point regular clues.

Blind and open powers

There are two types of power:

  • blind powers, in which the power mark is unknown to any player on either team
  • open powers, in which the power mark is known to all players

Most tournaments with powers use "blind" powers.

The "stretch round" of the old PACE format used 20-point open powers, in which power always ends as the words "For 10 points" are read (before the giveaway). In 2021, The World As It Is used this same format.

Power vulch

Powers create a particular vulching opportunity called a power vulch, in which a player buzzes in immediately after the opposing team negs, in the hopes of getting the additional reward.

As with any vulching, it is looked down upon to not wait until the end of a tossup after a neg. Power-vulching is usually a sign of a player padding their PPG. There are some narrow situations where power-vulching becomes strategically favorable without being dubious (e.g.: trying to make a comeback when few points are left in the game, playing fast on the clock).

History

According to posts on the Usenet group, the idea for the power tossup was proposed by Tom Waters at some point possibly as far back as 1989. (In a comment on a Facebook post by Patrick Matthews, Waters attributed the idea to an unknown Emory team member circa 1979.) At its first implementation, the 1996 SCT, only certain tossups had power marks available; others were only worth 10 points throughout. This idea was abandoned, possibly as early as the 1997 ICT, and the use of standardized powers for the entire set became expected in tournaments which chose to use powers.

"FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!"

It was once common for jerks to sarcastically say "FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!" when a player earns power for buzzing on a famous clue. This is now strongly frowned upon and makes the utterer look bad.

This was invented at Michigan practices around 2005 and quickly spread to other teams. Audience member Leo Wolpert's announcements of "FIFTEEEENNN!" were audible whenever a question was powered in the 2006 ICT finals. Ian Eppler can be heard shouting it during the 2008 HSNCT playoffs at this recording. Oddly, Guy Tabachnick, who did exactly the same thing at the same time, cannot be heard.

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