Feb 17 - The Rules of Reaching

#1. Team Unity:
One of the most important aspects of Reach is working together as a team and using each member's strengths to the team's advantage. Therefore, unifying a team as a whole is a critical factor when playing Reach.

Good sportsmanship and having a positive attitude should not only be modelled by the team captain, but also by each of the team members. There's nothing that makes a team crumble at the foundations more easily than exhibiting poor sportsmanship or having a bad attitude during a game.

Keeping up morale throughout a game is key to an enjoyable experience for everyone and often leads to victory. This makes cooperation and respect among team members both on and off the game necessary.

For example: if you don't get a question right, or someone on your team blows an answer for the team, don't have a meltdown and call them out (especially on television). Not only does it make you look bad in front of your peers and makes you come across as unprofessional, is also has a negative effect on the team as a whole.

#2. Consult, Consult, and (you guessed it) Consult:

In situations, such as when the opposing team has blown their chance at an answer or for team questions, a preferred strategy is to consult with your team members.

Wait until the question has been fully read out loud and then consult with your team members briefly to determine what is the best answer. Don't take forever to decide who's going to answer or to argue who has the correct answer because you have a very limited time.

#3. When in Doubt, Guess:

Simply put, after discussing with you teammates and there are no answers, make an educated (or if you can't a humorous) guess. A guess is always better than no answer at all. There's always the odd chance that your guess might be the correct or at least something humorous could break the ice in a tense game (just don't get carried away).

#4. Be Brief:

Reach for the Top is a fact-paced game. As such, your answers should be brief and to the point.

Don't waste your breath by saying "I think it's...." or "that would have to be..." and especially don't answer with "well it's not..."

Answer with certainty that you possess the correct response, because you have a very limited amount of time to say your answer.

#5. Remember, It's Just a Game:

When all is said and done, Reach is just another game. Whether you win or lose, the important thing to remember is that you want to have an enjoyable experience. Having the chance to test your knowledge, hang out or meet new friends, and perhaps have some bragging rights is all a part of the experience.

So what if you or a teammate blew an answer... so what if someone else "took your answer"... It's a game, it's something that unites people with similar interests, and it is best experienced by letting the petty things go and enjoying yourself.