Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

This read-a-thon is all about quests. Some of the best quests happen with friends but sometimes we have to go it alone.

The Hero
Novel Kingdom is a small kingdom on the edge of Lake Lexicon. It is ruled by the benevolent Queen Skye. Queen Skye is having some trouble enforcing laws in her kingdom after the death of her husband King Forest. You are a new recruit in the kingdom of Novel. Prove your worth to the kingdom and obtain glory for Her Majesty (with some of your own personal glory thrown in).

A newly minted hero starts nothing but 10 health. Add to your health by completing challenges. Earn enough points to win in the final battle to defend Queen Skye.

Book Reserve
The best part about Novel Kingdom is their fabulous research department. They've constructed a Tote of Infinite Books and handed them out to all the new recruits. This allows you to store up any books you've read until you're ready to use them. Just keep them listed at the bottom of your adventure log until they're applied to a task.

The Final Battle
The member with the most points (health, skill, and weapon level) will earn a special badge at the end of even for winning the final battle. But don't fret, all recruits will earn a little something for their bravery and valor in entering into battle.

------------------------ Weapons -------------------------
In order to win in the final battle, you will need at least one weapon. Improve the power of your weapon by completing additional tasks.

Magic Staff
(view spoiler)[Gain levels for your magic staff by creating taller pyramids of series reads.
- Earn the magic staff by reading a stand-a-lone book
- Read 1 book that's #1 in the series to gain level 1 magic staff.
- Read #2 in a series to upgrade to level 2
- Add a #3 to upgrade to level 3
Note: books do not have to be part of the same series (hide spoiler)]

Sword
(view spoiler)[Gain levels by reading more pages
Level 1 - 100 pages
Level 2 - 300 pages
Level 3 - 500 pages
Level 4 - 750 pages
Level 5 - 1,000 pages (hide spoiler)]

--------------------------- Quests ---------------------------
You start the quest as a brand new recruit which means you do not have the health or skills to win in a large battle. Improve your health by completing quests.

Gather Berries - 10 health
(view spoiler)[The innkeeper asks you to pick some berries to help with her famous triple berry pie. You gladly agree in hopes of reaping some berry good rewards.

Read a book that starts with a letter found in one of the following words: YUM, BLUE, RASP, STRAW. (hide spoiler)]

Gather Bones - 50 health
(view spoiler)[The local necromancer is looking to ply his trade. He offers good coin for any spare bones you happen to have lying around.

Read a book with a title that mentions bones, has bones on the cover or is in the horror or paranormal genre. (hide spoiler)]

Rare Gems - 75 health
(view spoiler)[A trader wanders into town at dusk. He hops off his mighty stead and ties the horse to a nearby tree. He sees you eyeing the quest board with a vaguely disgusted look on your face. He saunters up to you looking eager for news of the realm. "Tell me your rumors and stories! I've been away for too many years!" He cries.

"I wish to hear your juiciest and most rare gossip." he whispers. You wink at him and say, "I have just the stories for you..."

Read at least one "Rare Story" book. Rare Story books must have less than 500 ratings.
One Greater Rare Story book may be read that has less than 10 ratings which can count for +100 Health (hide spoiler)]

Timewalker - 10 health
(view spoiler)[You're sitting in a tavern sipping ale and listening to the mumbled conversation around you. A woman sits down across from you. "I need your help! My name is Diana Bishop and I desperately need help recovering a variety of historical manuscripts." You agree to help her.... for the right price, and set your course towards discovering old texts.

Read a book first published in each of the following years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. [Each year completed will earn +10 Health] (hide spoiler)]

Gift of Love - 50 health
(view spoiler)[A man runs up to you and screams, "I must find a book she will love! One everyone loves! How else can I show her how much she means to me." You try to calm the man down and then tell him that you're available to help shop.

Read an award winning book or a book that someone in the group rated 5 stars (hide spoiler)]

-------------------------- Monsters ---------------------------
You may venture out into the surrounding regions of the kingdom to fight monsters and hone your combat skills. Killing monsters will let you gain experience/skills.

Goblin - 10 skill points
(view spoiler)[A green little angry fellow that likes to stab weary (and unweary) travelers with sharp pointy sticks.

- Read a book with a simple or unattractive cover (hide spoiler)]

Sewer Rat - 5 skill points
(view spoiler)[The bane of all young hero's, the iconic sewer rat. Biting at ankles, he makes his presence known one nip and nibble at a time.

- Read a short story (hide spoiler)]

Omnibus Troll - 50 skill points
(view spoiler)[The Omnibus Troll is the perfect mix of all trolls in one.

- Read a genre mash-up (a book that fits into multiple genres) (hide spoiler)]

Lexicon Ness Monster - 50 skill points
(view spoiler)[The Lexicon Ness Monster is a close cousin of another more popular lake dwelling creature. It spends its days frolicking in the water, making bubbles and eating unsuspecting boaters.

Read a book related to water [on the cover, blue, setting, etc.] (hide spoiler)]

Great Red Dragon - 50 skill points
(view spoiler)[A flaming fiery beast with one molten eye that gleams with the fires of.... well, you know.

- Read a book related to fire [on cover, red, title, storyline, etc.] (hide spoiler)]

Great Green Dragon - 50 skill points
(view spoiler)[This earth dragon lives deep under a tall mountain.

- Read a book related to earth day [Ideas: /topic/show/...] (hide spoiler)]

Ahhhhhhh this is AMAZING. Holy cow, mods, you have really outdone yourselves here.

A couple of questions: the goal here is just to accumulate the most points, right? We don't spend points on anything? And the final battle that is mentioned is just us trying to get the most points? Or is that something that will be added later?

EMILY'S INDIVIDUAL QUEST PROGRESS

WEAPONS ACCRUED

Magical Staff - Level 0
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (Standalone)

Sword - Level 5
1107 Pages

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 60

Gift of Love - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson Read 9/9/2019
Printz Award Winner

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 110

Lock Ness Monster - The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager Read 9/7/2019
Blue cover; Lake plays a large role

Great Red Dragon - Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pierce Read 9/14/2019
Emmy works for the fire brigade in London

Goblin - Chemistry by Weike Wang Read 9/15/2019


----------------------

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager - 315 Pages
9/8: A Court of Thorns and Roses - 25 Pages; I'll Give You the Sun - 90 Pages
9/9: I'll Give You the Sun - 280 Pages; Dear Mrs. Bird - 33 Pages
9/10: Dear Mrs. Bird - 42 Pages
9/11: A Court of Thorns and Roses - 25 Pages
9/12: Dear Mrs. Bird - 42 Pages
9/13: Dear Mrs. Bird - 13 Pages
9/14: Dear Mrs. Bird - 144 Pages; Chemistry - 98 Pages
9/15: Chemistry - 113 Pages
TOTAL: 1220 Pages

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pierce
Chemistry by Weike Wang

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
None Yet!

BOOKS IN PROGRESS
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal 카지노싸이트 by Charles Wheelen
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

BOOKS UP NEXT
Chemistry by Weike Wang
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Karissa's Adventure Log

Stats Health: 155 - Skill Points: 225 - Weapons: Sword Level 5 & Magic Staff Level 2

------------------------ Weapons -------------------------
Magic Staff
Level 0 - Stand Alone book: New Erotica for Feminists: Satirical Fantasies of Love, Lust, and Equal Pay
Level 1 - #1 in Series: My Name Is Lucy Barton
Level 2 - #2 in Series: The Testaments

Sword
Level 5 - 2,145 pages read

-------------------------- Quests --------------------------
Gather Berries - 10 health
STRAW - The Dinner List
YUM - My Name Is Lucy Barton

Rare Gems - 75 health
Home Remedies - 384 ratings

Gift of Love - 50 health
Award winning book - The Poet X ( Carnegie Medal, National Book Award for Young People's Literature, Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction)

------------------------ Monsters -------------------------
Sewer Rat - 5 skill points
Sing to It: New Stories - A collection of 15 short stories (75 skill points)

Lexicon Ness Monster - 50 skill points
The Testaments - Blue cover. Also 2 girls drown and 2 of the main characters go on a journey that takes them on a ferry/boat/raft on a river and ocean.

Great Green Dragon - 50 skill points
This Is How You Lose the Time War - This book is based in different threads of earth that are dying. There are two factions battling it out in a nature vs technology fight.
Losing Earth: A Recent History - This book is the history of the lack of climate change regulation.

------------------------ Book Reserve ------------------------

I won’t lie, I sort of ‘stole’ the idea from another group and modified it to fit ;)

But yes, for the sake of simplicity and the length of the event, we won’t be spending the points. And the battle is just between the participants, for the one with the most points.

I also have some questions. Can a book only be used once or once in each category (aka used to level up a weapon and to complete a quest)? Also can a book used for page count to level up the Sword be used to also complete another task as well?

Also, can we repeat tasks (slay multiple sewer rats, for example)? And do we need to get a weapon before we can slay monsters?

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Staff

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 10
None Yet!

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 0
None Yet!

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
None Yet!

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
All Systems Red

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7:
9/8: 144
9/9:
9/10:
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL:

You must earn a weapon before you can battle a monster but a book you use to earn the weapon can also be used to slay a monster.

The weapon books can overlap with any other task since they are more general. But the others cannot (I.e. a quest task can’t overlap with a monster task)

You can slay as many monsters as you like.

Can books count both towards the group quest and the individual quest?

Chinook wrote: "Can books count both towards the group quest and the individual quest?"

Yes, of course :)

I assumed, otherwise we all should have signed up for speed reading courses first, but I wasn’t sure. 🤣

For the short story - if you read a book of short stories, you’d count each story?

Chinook wrote: "For the short story - if you read a book of short stories, you’d count each story?"

Yep, that’s why it’s worth fewer points.

INDIVIDUAL QUEST PROGRESS

WEAPONS ACCRUED


QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 10


MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 0


BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED


BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
The Mother-in-Law
Love and Death Among the Cheetahs

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: The Mother-in-Law 156pgs
9/8: Love and Death Among the Cheetahs 265 pgs
9/9:
9/10:
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL: 421pgs

May I say that I LOVE how the mods snuck the Earth Day prompt way down there at the bottom? That does seem like a dragon that we just can not slay, one way or the other!

Wow! This is amazing! So fun.

GENERAL STATS
Health: 90
Skill Points: 155
Weapons: Level 5 Sword, Magic Staff

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Sword: Level 5 (1000+ p)
Magic Staff: Standalone - A Monster Calls

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 90
Gift of Love: Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance (British Book Award for the Best Biography, 50pts)
Gather Berries: The Ensemble (starts with letter in BLUE, 10pts)
Timewalker: Beneath the Lion's Gaze (2010, 10 pts); Britt-Marie Was Here (2014, 10 pts)

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 155
Omnibus Troll: A Monster Calls (YA and fantasy and horror(?), 50 pts)
Sewer Rats (9): The Dew Breaker (9 short stories, 45 pts)
Lexicon Ness Monster: It's Okay to Laugh (blue cover with rain/tears, 50 pts)
Goblin: The Trespasser (10 pts)

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
A Monster Calls
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
The Ensemble
Beneath the Lion's Gaze
The Dew Breaker (so many options for this one, but I want to slay sewer rats!)
It's Okay to Laugh
Britt-Marie Was Here
The Trespasser

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED

PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 500
9/8: 384
9/9: 333
9/10: 124
9/11: 217
9/12: 221
9/13: 272
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL: 1779

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Sword Level 5

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 130
Gift of Love: Quiver
Gather Berries: Textrovert
Gift of Love: A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy
Gather Berries: That's Not What Happened

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 50
Great Red Dragon: Darius the Great Is Not Okay

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
Quiver - Assigned to Gift of Love for 50 Health Points (this book is a Lambda Award winner)

Darius the Great Is Not Okay - Assigned to Great Red Dragon for 50 Skill Points (the cover is a reddish/orange colour, which seems fire-y enough to me)

Textrovert - Assigned to Gather Berries for 10 Health Points (starts with the letter T which is in the word Straw)

A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy - Assigned to Gift of Love for 50 Health (rated 5 stars by Manda)

That's Not What Happened - Assigned to Gather Berries for 10 Health

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
Spinning Silver - Begun before the read-a-thon, but finished the last 100 pages on Day 1. I saw the rule of needing 125 pages to count for the team challenge but not here, so I assume it counts?

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 184
9/8: 389
9/9: 520
9/10: 705
9/11: 825
9/12: 991 (excluding the 20 pages of preface to a book)
9/13: 1103 (excluding the 20 pages of preface to a book)
9/14: 1299 (excluding the 20 pages of preface to a book)
9/15: 1619 (excluding the 20 pages of preface to a book)
TOTAL: 1619

This may be a weird question, but what if I read a book that's number 2 in a series, but no books that are number 1 in a series? I would assume I'd have to upgrade the staff sequentially...

GENERAL STATS
Health: 120
Skill Points: 100
Weapons: Magic staff level 1 + Sword level 5


WEAPONS ACCRUED
Magic staff
Earned - The Fourth Protocol
Level 1 - Rendezvous with Rama

Sword
Level 1 - September 07
Level 2 - September 07
Level 3 - September 09
Level 4 - September 11
Level 5 - September 13

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 120
Gift of Love
- Rendezvous with Rama
- Matilda
Gather Berries
STRAW - The Fourth Protocol

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 100
Sewer Rat
10 short stories from the book: Cuentos de amor, de locura y de muerte
Great Green Dragon
- Rising Storm

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
- Rendezvous with Rama
- The Fourth Protocol
- Matilda
- Rising Storm

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 309 pages
9/8: 86 pages
9/9: 178 pages
9/10: 71 pages
9/11: 123 pages
9/12: 201 pages
9/13: 129 pages
9/14: 69 pages
9/15: 117 pages
TOTAL: 1283 pages

How fun!

JILL’S iNDIVIDUAL QUEST

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Magic staff - Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way -stand alone

Sword - Level 1 (212 pages)
Level 2 (447 pages total)
Level 3 (592 pages total)

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total health points: 20
Timewalker - Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way - published 2010

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total skill,points: 0
None yet

BOOKS COMPLETED,AND ASSIGNED
Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
Dear Martin


BOOK IN PROGRESS
Me Talk Pretty One Day
Affaire Royale
Connections in Death

Running page total:
9/7 - 212
9/8 - 235
9/9 - 145
9/10 -
9/11 -
9/12 -
9/13 -
9/14 -
9/15 -
TOTAL; 592

As usual I have no idea what's going on, but hope to figure this out!
GENERAL STATS
Health: 70

Skill Points: 50


WEAPONS ACCRUED
Weapons: Sword: level 4

QUESTS COMPLETED
Gift of Love - 50 health
Nimona Award Winner, 5 star mod
TimeWalker The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son On Life, Love, and Loss 2016

MONSTERS SLAYED
Omnibus Troll - 50 skill points
[The Omnibus Troll is the perfect mix of all trolls in one.
[book:The Book of Strange New Things|20697435] Sci Fi and Religion
Total Skill Points: 50
None Yet!

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
The Book of Strange New Things
Nimona

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
None Yet!

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 119
9/8: +210=329
9/9:256+329= 585
9/10: 585+ 320=905
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL:

Fee's Quest
-

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Weapon: Sword
Level 1 - 100 pages
(Total Pages Read: 125)

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 10


MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 0


BOOKS COMPLETED


TOTE OF INFINITE BOOKS

GENERAL STATS
Health: 10
Skill Points: 0
Weapons:

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Magic staff - level 3
✔️ Earn the magic staff by reading a stand-a-lone book
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
✔️ Read 1 book that's #1 in the series to gain level 1 magic staff.
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
✔️ Read #2 in a series to upgrade to level 2
The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie
✔️ Add a #3 to upgrade to level 3
Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton

Sword - level 3
✔️ Level 1 - 100 pages
✔️ Level 2 - 300 pages
✔️ Level 3 - 500 pages
✔️ Level 4 - 750 pages
✔️ Level 5 - 1,000 pages

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 10
None Yet!

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 0
None Yet!

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
None Yet!

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 50
9/8: 174 + 120 = 294
9/9: 130
9/10: 101
9/11: 34 + 128 + 50
9/12: 254
9/13: 97
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL: 1138

Rachel wrote: "This may be a weird question, but what if I read a book that's number 2 in a series, but no books that are number 1 in a series? I would assume I'd have to upgrade the staff sequentially..."

Rachel, yes, I think it should be upgraded sequentially

This is absolutely the best! Will update stats when I am at a computer.

This is so cool!

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Sword - level 3

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 10

MONSTERS SLAYED
Great Red Dragon - Slayer
Total Skill Points: 50

BOOKS COMPLETED:
Slayer - 404 pages

BOOKS IN PROGRESS:
Finale - 57 pages
See What I Have Done - 245 pages

Ok I was SO confused because on the mobile set, all the quests said "spoiler removed" and I couldn't open them so I had NO idea what all the things people were talking about were! Now that I've had time to get to my computer it makes a lot more sense.

Still need to look more closely to figure out the details, but at least I don't feel crazy anymore.

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Magical Staff: Level 0
-Stand Alone: The Dog Stars

Sword: Level 5 (1,091 pages)

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 20

-Timewalker: The Dog Stars (Published 2012)

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 0
None Yet!

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
The Dog Stars

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
Obsidio

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 309 pages
9/8: 342 pages
9/9: 303 pages
9/10: 137 pages
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL:

Last question, I hope: Can we complete the health quests as often as we like as well? I know you said we can repeat monsters, but I wasn't sure about health points.

I'm not sure I'm understanding this but as Perri I hope to figure it out as we play!

WEAPONS EARNED
Magic Staff: Level 1

🔹️Stand-alone: Unbecoming
🔹️Series #1: Den usynlige vogter

Sword: Level 5

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 170

🔹️Gather berries: Unbecoming
Starts with letter in YUM
🔹️Timewalker: Den usynlige vogter
Pub. 2012
🔹️Rare gems: Treason
58 ratings
🔹️Rare gems: For Milena by Kathrine Assels 13/09/19
16 ratings

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 150

🔹️Lexicon Ness Monster: Det lille bageri på strandpromenaden
Blue cover, set on island and the sea plays a large role
🔹️Lexicon Ness Monster: Love Overboard
Water on cover, set on boat
🔹️Lexicon Ness Monster: En meget fjern kyst by Jenny Colgan 13/09/19
Water on cover

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
Unbecoming by Jenny Downham 09/09/19
Den usynlige vogter Dolores Redondo 07/09/19
Det lille bageri på strandpromenaden by Jenny Colgan 10/09/19
Love Overboard by Janet Evanovich 11/09/19
Treason by Jo MacAuley 12/09/19
For Milena by Kathrine Assels 13/09/19
En meget fjern kyst by Jenny Colgan 13/09/19

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 291
9/8: 183
9/9: 197 + 106
9/10: 318
9/11: 244
9/12: 224
9/13: 300
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL: 1863

Question: Does the reserve a book rule also apply when it comes to weapons? If you haven't earned the magic staff yet but have read a series book #1, 2 or 3 can you then read a standalone book later and still use the series book to upgrade levels?

Ok, this looks fun. I'll give it a go!

WEAPONS EARNED
Magic Staff: Level 0
Stand-alone: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

Sword: Level 5
(1,295 pages read)

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 160

10 (Starting Health)
50 (Gift of Love): Naked (Award-winning)
50 (Gather Bones): A Game of You (Horror genre)
50 (Gift of Love): The Red Pony (5 Stars by group member - Amy)

MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points: 110

50 (Omnibus Troll): Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
10 (Goblin): Heart of Darkness
50 (Omnibus Troll): New Erotica for Feminists: Satirical Fantasies of Love, Lust, and Equal Pay

PLANNED/POSSIBLE BOOKS
The Wasp Factory
Farewell, My Lovely
Girl, Interrupted

BOOKS IN PROGRESS
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Family Matters

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Heart of Darkness
Naked
A Game of You
New Erotica for Feminists: Satirical Fantasies of Love, Lust, and Equal Pay
The Red Pony

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
None Yet!

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
7/9:
8/9: 620
9/9: 211
10/9: 336
11/9: 128
12/9:
13/9:
14/9:
15/9:
TOTAL:

You can hold any book in your reserves, including the ones for the weapons. You just have to earn a weapon before you can slay a monster.

You can complete the health quests as many times as you want.

Just to clarify - I want to hold All Systems Red in reserve for the staff, once I read a standalone.

But it’s 144 pages, so does that mean I have a level one sword?

And if so, then I could use All Systems Red to kill a monster? Or for health.

Basically I guess I’m asking if books can count towards both weapons or just one.

Books can count toward both weapons.

Edie's Individual Quest. I SO do not need another quest to keep track of... and this is too cool to pass up.

GENERAL STATS
Health: 20
Skill Points: 50
Weapons:
Magic Staff
Level 3 Sword (738 pages)

WEAPONS ACCRUED
Magic Staff: Completed The Fault in Our Stars
Sword: Level 2 (312 p)
Sword: Level 3 (738 p)

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points: 10
Time Walker: The Fault in Our Stars published 2012
The Moment of LIft

MONSTERS SLAYED
Lexicon Mess Monster - completed The Fault in Our Stars blue cover
Total Skill Points: 50
Lexicon Mess Monster - completed The Moment of Life: How Empowering Women Changes the World blue cover
Total Skill Points: 50

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
The Fault in Our Stars
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: 312
9/8:
9/9:
9/10:
9/11:
9/12:
9/13: 426
9/14:
9/15:
TOTAL:

Rule Clarification:

Books must be at least 125 pages, including those started before the read-a-thon. This goes for all tasks, except the short story-specific rat task.

Question: In the Gift of Love does the 5 star rating come from someone in the Individual Quest or the ATY group?

Laura wrote: "Rule Clarification:

Books must be at least 125 pages, including those started before the read-a-thon. This goes for all tasks, except the short story-specific rat task."

Oh, that's disappointing. I guess that means my 100 pages of Spinning Silver won't count as a completed book. Oh well, at least it counts toward total page count.

Laura wrote: "Rule Clarification:

Books must be at least 125 pages, including those started before the read-a-thon. This goes for all tasks, except the short story-specific rat task."

Ugh, that kills my entire reading plan for the week. Nothing I read last night or today counts for anything. I wasn't working toward winning the badge anyway but still, disappointing. Generally speaking things like this are why I only do individual challenges and not group challenges, because then I can decide what counts and what doesn't and nobody else cares {usually). Maybe the individual challenge shouldn't have this competitive piece? Or maybe it should and I just shouldn't participate? I don't know, I have to think about it I guess.

Since the rule was added late, I would be open to hearing thoughts. If people want it to be totally open to any length, then I wouldn't have an issue with that.

OK - going to give it a try!

WEAPONS ACCRUED:

Magic staff - The Overstory -stand-alone book

Sword - Level 4 - 750 pages

Total health points: 70
QUESTS COMPLETED:

Gift of Love (50) -The Overstory - Pulitzer Prize
Gather Berries (10) - Sabrina

Total skill points: 50 points
MONSTERS SLAYED

Great Red Dragon - Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town - blue cover?


BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
The Overstory
Sabrina
Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
None yet

Running page total:
9/7 - 203
9/8 -+196 = 399
9/9 - +211 = 610
9/10 - +261 = 871
9/11 -
9/12 -
9/13 -
9/14 -
9/15 -
TOTAL:

°~Amy~° wrote: "Laura wrote: "Rule Clarification:

Books must be at least 125 pages, including those started before the read-a-thon. This goes for all tasks, except the short story-specific rat task."

Ugh, that k..."

I can't speak for everyone, but I think it would make more sense to leave it open. It wasn't specified upfront (at least not in this thread), and some of us made our plans or plugged books we'd read in assuming there was more flexibility.

Of course, that's partially for selfish reasons since I don't want everything I read yesterday to be a write-off and waste a day!

Kathy's Individual Quest

General Stats
Health: 195
Skill Points: 200
Weapons: Sword Level 5, Magic Staff Level 1

Weapons accrued
Sword - Level 5 (1400 pages)
Magic Staff -
Convenience Store Woman - Stand-alone
Level 1 (read The Library at the Edge of the World, 1st book in series Finfarran)

------------------------ Weapons -------------------------
Magic Staff
✅Earn the magic staff by reading a stand-a-lone book
✅Read 1 book that's #1 in the series to gain level 1 magic staff.
- Read #2 in a series to upgrade to level 2
- Add a #3 to upgrade to level 3
Note: books do not have to be part of the same series

Sword
Gain levels by reading more pages
✅Level 1 - 100 pages
✅Level 2 - 300 pages
✅Level 3 - 500 pages
✅Level 4 - 750 pages
✅Level 5 - 1,000 pages


--------------------------- Quests ---------------------------
Gather Berries - 10 health
✅✅Read a book that starts with a letter found in one of the following words: YUM, BLUE, RASP, STRAW.
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
What We Lose

Gather Bones - 50 health
✅Read a book with a title that mentions bones, has bones on the cover or is in the horror or paranormal genre.
Broken Bone China

Rare Gems - 75 health
✅Read at least one "Rare Story" book. Rare Story books must have less than 500 ratings.
One Greater Rare Story book may be read that has less than 10 ratings which can count for +100 Health
Wobble 87 ratings

Timewalker - 10 health
Read a book first published in each of the following years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. [Each year completed will earn +10 Health]

✅Gift of Love - 50 health
Read an award winning book or a book that someone in the group rated 5 stars
American Born Chinese Printz Award

-------------------------- Monsters ---------------------------
Goblin - 10 skill points
Read a book with a simple or unattractive cover

Sewer Rat - 5 skill points
Read a short story

Omnibus Troll - 50 skill points
Read a genre mash-up (a book that fits into multiple genres)

Lexicon Ness Monster - 50 skill points
✅✅Read a book related to water [on the cover, blue, setting, etc.]
(blue on cover)
(water on cover)

Great Red Dragon - 50 skill points
✅✅Read a book related to fire [on cover, red, title, storyline, etc.]
The White Cottage Mystery (red blood on cover)

Invitation to the Waltz (red on cover)


Great Green Dragon - 50 skill points
Read a book related to earth day [Ideas: /topic/show/...]

Books Completed and Assigned
Broken Bone China
Comet in Moominland
The Library at the Edge of the World
Wobble
Convenience Store Woman
American Born Chinese Gene Luen Yang
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
The White Cottage Mystery
Peter Pan
What We Lose
Invitation to the Waltz

Books Completed to be Assigned

Running Page Total
9/7: 85
9/8: 261
9/9: 478
9/10: 288
9/11: 288
9/12: 436
9/13: 322
9/14: 269
9/15: 232
Total: 2669

Joan's Individual Quest

General Stats
Health: 50
Skill Points: 0
Weapons: Magical Staff, Sword Level 3



Weapons accrued
Magical Staff - Read the Thorn Birds - stand alone book
Sword - Level 3

Quests Completed
Total Health Points:
The Prince and the Dressmaker - Award winning graphic novel

Monsters Slayed
Total Skill Points: 0
None yet

Books Completed and Assigned
The Prince and the Dressmaker
The Thorn Birds

Books Completed to be Assigned


Running Page Total
9/7: 49 The Thorn Birds
9/8: 40 The Thorn Birds
9/9:
9/10:
9/11:
9/12:
9/13:
9/14: 265 The Thorn Birds
9/15: 277 The Prince and the Dressmaker 106 Atonement
Total: 737

OK - I'm with Perri and Marina and working this out as I go!! Such a brilliant idea, mods!!

WEAPONS ACCRUED

Magical Staff - Level 0
The Library of Shadows (Standalone)

Sword - Level 4 (804 pages)
(view spoiler)[
Level 1 - 100 pages
Level 2 - 300 pages
Level 3 - 500 pages
Level 4 - 750 pages
Level 5 - 1,000 pages (hide spoiler)]

QUESTS COMPLETED
Total Health Points:
70

(view spoiler)[
10 health - Gather berries - Read a book that starts with a letter found in one of the following words: YUM, BLUE, RASP, STRAW.
"P" in RASP - The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester

50 health - Gather Bones - Read a book with a title that mentions bones, has bones on the cover or is in the horror or paranormal genre.

75 health - Rare Gems - Read at least one "Rare Story" book. Rare Story books must have less than 500 ratings.
One Greater Rare Story book may be read that has less than 10 ratings which can count for +100 Health

10 health - Timewalker - Read a book first published in each of the following years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. (Each year completed will earn +10 Health)
2007 - The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard

50 health - Gift of Love - Read an award winning book or a book that someone in the group rated 5 stars
The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do - winner of The Indie Book of the Year Award 2011, winner of the 2011 ABIA Book of the Year, and winner of the Booksellers' Choice Award. (hide spoiler)]


MONSTERS SLAYED
Total Skill Points:
None yet
(view spoiler)[
Goblin - 10 skill points
- Read a book with a simple or unattractive cover

Sewer Rat - 5 skill points
- Read a short story

Omnibus Troll - 50 skill points
- Read a genre mash-up (a book that fits into multiple genres)

Lexicon Ness Monster - 50 skill points
Read a book related to water [on the cover, blue, setting, etc.]

Great Red Dragon - 50 skill points
- Read a book related to fire [on cover, red, title, storyline, etc.]

Great Green Dragon - 50 skill points
- Read a book related to earth day (hide spoiler)]

----------------------

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
7/9: 149 pages -> 29 pages from The Paris Seamstress, 120 pages from The Library of Shadows
8/9:149 + 298 pages -> 188 pages to finish The Library of Shadows, 98 pages to finish The Paris Seamstress, 12 pages to start The Happiest Refugee = 447 pages
9/9: 447 + 266 pages -> 219 pages to finish The Happiest Refugee, started The Mother-in-Law with 47 pages = 713 pages
10/9: 713 + 91 pages -> 52 pages from The Mother-in-Law, 62 pages to start The Beautiful Miscellaneous = 827 pages
11/9: 827 + x pages -> 52 pages from The Mother-in-Law, =
12/9:
13/9:
14/9:
15/9:
TOTAL: Pages

BOOKS COMPLETED AND ASSIGNED
The Library of Shadows
The Paris Seamstress
The Happiest Refugee

BOOKS COMPLETED TO BE ASSIGNED
None Yet!

BOOKS IN PROGRESS
The Mother-in-Law
The Beautiful Miscellaneous

BOOKS UP NEXT

WEAPONS

Magical Staff - Level 2
Achtste-groepers huilen niet (Stand-alone)
Witch and Wizard (#1 in series)
An Echo of Things to Come (#2 in series)

Sword - Level 5
Pages: 1372

QUESTS

Total Health Points: 120

Gather Berries - 10 health
Ragnarök

Rare Gems - 100 health
Zee van Verbeelding (< 10 ratings)

MONSTERS

Total Skill Points: 150

Lexicon Ness Monster - 50 skill points
An Echo of Things to come (blue on cover)
Achtste-groepers huilen niet (huilen = crying = water)

Great Red Dragon - 50 skill points
Witch & Wizard (fire on cover)

----------------------

RUNNING PAGE TOTAL
9/7: An Echo of Things to come - 191 Pages
9/8: Achtste-groepers huilen niet - 176 pages
9/9: Ragnarök - 156 pages
9/10: Ragnarök - 36 pages, Zee van Verbeelding - 102 pages
9/11: Zee van Verbeelding - 165 pages
9/12: Witch & Wizard - 335 pages
9/13: The Death Cure - 179 pages
9/14: The Death Cure - 32 pages
9/15: 0 pages
TOTAL: 1372 Pages


Books completed
An Echo of Things to Come (#2 in series)
Achtste-groepers huilen niet
Ragnarök: De ondergang van de goden
Zee van verbeelding (less then 10 ratings)
Witch and Wizard (#1 in series, fire on cover)

Books in progress
The Death Cure (#3 in series)

Books up next (possibilities)
Pure Fantasy Jaarbundel 2005 (< 500 ratings)
Tsitsikamma (< 500 ratings)

How about a compromise where if you want to “compete” against others then the 125 page rule applies, whereas if you just want to play for your own enjoyment then you can count any books regardless of length?

I can’t see a way to make a “competition” fair without some sort of page requirement for books. I mean, I’ve read at least six picture books already today and it’s only lunch time (my two little ones love books!) so if I counted those I could easily complete every task in the game within a day, which doesn’t seem fair to people who are reading books of ‘normal’ length.