Communal Don't Wordle

Version 1.2

PBM by Howard Bishop 2024.

Overview

The rules below assume a basic understanding of the original Wordle game (matching 5-letter words). In this version, players are doing the opposite, i.e. trying NOT to match the target word (as per the online Don't Wordle). There is no limit to the number of players.

Game Set-up

The GM will select 8 words from the Don't Wordle game lexicon. Each of these 8 target words is played in parallel. British English spelling will be used.

Orders

For each of the target words, the players will provide a "guess". They must provide different words for each of their 8 guesses. In the first round a guess can be any word. From round 2 onwards, it must be consistent with the current model word and all previous model words (see below).

If orders are provided early enough the GM will indicate words that aren't in the Don't Wordle lexicon to allow the player to provide an alternative.

You can use words you've used before as long as they are consistent with the model word list.

Adjudication

If a player's guess matches the target word, they score points equal to the round number, but are now finished for that word.

If a player's guess is invalid; either it is not in the Don't Wordle lexicon, or it isn't consistent with the current model word (and previous model words), they score points equal to the current round number minus 1, and are finished for that word.

The GM then collates the remaining words and adjudicates them against the target word using the standard Wordle rules. The word with the least number of coloured squares is selected as the current model word. If there are multiple different words that meet that condition, then of those words, the one(s) with least GREEN letters (i.e. in the right place) will be selected. The final tiebreaker is the word that is first in alphabetical order.

Individual scoring is not provided, so the only direct information is the scoring of the current model word.

Example: We are in round 3 of the game. The correct word is PATIO. There are 8 players left.
The model word list contains GROWN and POLYP (the current model word).

The 8 players provide the following guesses:

• PATIO is correct. Player scores 3 and is eliminated
• PANTO is invalid (N already used). Player scores 2 and is eliminated
• PESOO is invalid (not a real word). Player scores 2 and is eliminated
• Of the remaining words, PIVOT and PITOT would have 4 coloured squares, PESTO 3, and PESOS only 2, so PESOS will be the new model word.

Game End

When all players are eliminated for all words, the player with the highest aggregate score across the 8 words is the winner.

Please avoid using Wordle solvers!

Variants

Note that any combination of these can be played at the same time

1. Limited Player Feedback Variant

In the original game, players don't receive any feedback about how their suggested word matches up against the target word, except if they WORDLE and they can intuit some basic information based on the new model word. In this variant, players are told how many coloured squares their guess has "scored". No information about colours or positions will be provided.

2. Nearly Wordled Bonus Variant

The player whose suggested word most closely matches the target word (without actually WORDLing) receives an extra point.

3. Aardvark Bonus Variant

The player whose suggested word is first in alphabetical order receives an extra point (as long as it hasn't WORDLEd), but it must be a word they haven't used before during the current game, and there must be at least one other player still active in that round for that word.