Grouplets RPS

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Quick NOTE from Chris: This is a very parenthetical post – bear with me!

For years I’ve been interested in the idea of, “knowing what games you’re in,” “knowing what games you want to play,” and “understanding the rules” of the games and deciding how you want to play. This metaphorical idea comes from thought leaders like Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, and James P. Carse, who noted, “A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing to play.” (This quote is spot on to a possible outcome of Grouplets RPS.)

One of my favorite activities to explore the behaviors related to the question, “How did you play the game?” is Ubuntu (or Spot It) Steal. Participants learn the rules, play the game, and explore the question. We reflect on the behaviors experienced and observed, and dive into why particular choices were made. In short, the purpose is to share preferences and some reasoning behind them. (Do we keep our preferences right where they are, or maybe think about trying on something different? Kolb, ‘Abstract Conceptualisation’.)

Recently, I formulated an idea (meaning, the idea emerged in my brain and I thought about it until it took hold of my curiosity and then I played it out in my head until some structure occurred). Now I can use some help exploring (playing) the idea (game).

It’s a version of Rock, Paper, Scissors with a group of 20 to 40 people. (So far my thinking tells me we won’t get the dynamics with less people and the reflection might get watered down with more than 40. Exploration might prove otherwise.) 

You can certainly play this without props (participants track points on their brain score card), but I’m thinking a score card or tokens (e.g., plastic chips, pennies, or beads) - you’ll need a lot of tokens, but I think the ‘reward’ aspect will be significant for some, even if it’s marking a score card. (With a score card you don’t need a pen. If everyone is given an index card, they will make a small tear in the card - along one side of the card - to indicate a win. Write on the card during quiet self-reflection after the game(s) and then share thoughts with the group. Option: Make 'tick' marks on a white board to keep score.

RPS Groups: Let’s Play

First we need to explore prior knowledge - does everyone know how to play RPS. (It amazes me to this day how many people know how to play RPS. I just wonder why?) Training and practice is needed if there are some people who’ve never played. Then, whether or not training occurred, play a few RPS rounds with everyone as a good warm up. The idea is to get everyone ‘on the same page’ (know the rules of the game) about the RPS expectations. Then, before the official experience, how will we know (confirm) everyone is on the same page? For example, do a few RPS calls simultaneously with everyone as you watch (check) for understanding.

NOTE: The Rock, the Paper, and the Scissors are the only signs allowed in this game. (You may or may not add this information into the instructions. In either case, there will be some things to talk about.)

We’ve confirmed. We’re confident everyone knows. (Can we ever be sure?) Let’s play the game (anyway).

When a player is ready to ‘face off’ with a partner (or a grouplet, more on this in a moment), they raise up a hand. This is an invitation to play.

Two things can happen when single players face off:

• When player wins they get a point - they collect a token or mark their score card. No consequence for the losing player, other than ‘losing’ which could lead to something. (Thinking: The losing player would have to give back a token - what dynamic would this create?)
• When a pair of single players ‘tie’ - they show the same sign - they form a ‘grouplet’. They are now a team and stay together.

As grouplets begin to form, two types of ‘players’ emerge - the single player and the grouplet player - gouplets are considered a single organism. A single player can play against another single player or a grouplet (everyone in the grouplet is holding up a hand to invite another ‘player’ to play) and visa versa. In other words, a grouplet can accept a challenge from a single player or another grouplet.

IMPORTANT: Before a grouplet invites or accepts an invitation to play, the people in the grouplet get together and agree on the sign they will use for their next game - everyone in the grouplet must show the same sign (think Giants, Wizards & Elves).

Four things can happen when a grouplet is in play:

• When a grouplet plays a single player and wins, nothing happens. Both the grouplet and the single player go off to play another game. (Each person in the grouplet gets a point.)
• When a grouplet plays a single player or another grouplet and ties – both showing the same sign – they merge, becoming a new grouplet. (No points awarded.) 
• When a grouplet plays a single player or another grouplet and loses, that grouplet is dissolved – all the players from the losing grouplet become single players again. (Each 'winner' gets a point.)
• If someone in a grouplet shows a different sign then the rest of the grouplet, that grouplet is dissolved – nothing happens to the single player or grouplet they are playing. (No points awarded.) 

These are the basics we have (right now).

“How Does It End?” 

A Grouplet RPS game is played for 8.5 minutes, or when there are no more invitations to play. 

(I’m envisioning grouplets, in some cases, will continue to play until they all end up on the same team. In other cases, individuals or grouplets will stop inviting people to play – hold a hand up – because they don’t want to lose or break up a group. Another case might be that two or three grouplets form and then stop inviting games so they no longer stress about losing – breaking up. It might be an all-group consensus to stop the game, feeling satisfied with their current status.) ​

I will program time for two games of Grouplet RPS. I want to explore how the second games is played after processing the first game. Will participants play the game differently after some insight? 

Possible Reflection Questions:

• What was your original mindset going into the game – in other words, what was your self-talk, the conversation you were having with yourself when starting? Did this mindset change over time? Why? Or why not?
• What was your mindset going into the second game? Why did you choose this mindset to play?
• Think about the behaviors that surfaced for you – the things you did and said – as you chose the way to play the game? Share one of these behaviors that stand out to you?
• What behaviors did you notice about others in the game? Which ones did you like? Which ones did you dislike? How did these behaviors influence the way you played your game?
• How did collecting points influence the way you played the game?
• After you ‘tied’ with a single person or a grouplet what feelings or ‘self-talk’ surfaced in your head? For example, did you feel excited to join the person or group, or were you bummed you  lost – didn’t get a point?
• After you beat a person or group what feelings or ‘self-talk’ surfaced in your head?
• Did any of you add another sign to the game? What was your reasoning for adding the sign? How did adding a sign change the game for you? For others?
• Did anyone think about adding another sign to the game? Why did you choose not to?
• Was it against the ‘rules’ to add another sign? What are your thoughts about this related to everyday life? How do we add rules in life? How do we change rules in life? How do we question rules in life? What stops us from doing these things?
• Did anyone ask the person or grouplet you were about to play what sign they were going to show? Why did you ask? Why didn’t you ask? Was it against the rules to ask?
• Let’s summarise together the different ways we played the game – what are the possible ways to play? How does this concept – ways of playing – relate to our everyday lives?
• Did anyone choose NOT to invite anyone to play? What was your reasoning for playing the game in this way?
• How do we learn about the rules of the ‘games’ we want to play in life?
• What are some of the ‘games’ we are playing right now in our lives? (Using a positive lens.) What are some important reasons for understanding how someone is ‘playing a game’?

• What do you think will stick with you the longest after playing this game?

This could be something?! Let us know what you find out. Leave a Comment below. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.