Rules

What MM Trivia has set, then how trivia is played.

This league's rules

The settings this league's scores and standings are worked out with on this site. The league's own rule sheet may cover more; ask its officers.

Standings: Every point the team scored, added up across finished games. A night's points are the wagers on the questions it got right, 2 for each bonus question, and the Final Question wager added or lost.
Ties in the standings: Teams level on points are separated by most points scored, then most wins, then a coin flip recorded by the league. Head-to-head counts only when the tied teams have all played each other equally.

How trivia is played

A plain-language summary of the way trivia nights are commonly run; trivia has no governing body, so the host's rules decide, written by LeagueBucket. It is not an official rulebook: where they differ, the league's own rules and the governing body's current rulebook apply.

The short version

Score more points than the other teams.

No phones, no searching, no asking other teams.
Answers go in before the host's deadline; late sheets are not marked.
The host's answer is final.
Spelling does not have to be perfect, but the answer has to be clear.
One answer per question: two guesses on the line is a wrong answer.
Keep answers to yourselves until the round has been marked.

1TeamsWho plays.

1.1Team size

The host or league sets the largest team allowed. A team over the limit usually splits or takes a points penalty.

1.2Team names and rosters

A team plays under one name. In a league the same team plays all season, and the league decides whether substitutes and guests are allowed.

1.3Arriving late

A team that arrives late joins from the next round and scores nothing for the rounds it missed.

2The NightRounds and how questions are asked.

2.1Rounds

A night is a set number of rounds, each with a set number of questions, often on a theme. The host reads each question, usually twice, and teams write one answer.

2.2Handing in answers

Answer sheets are handed in when the round ends or when the host calls time. An answer changed after it is handed in does not count.

2.3Special rounds

Picture, music and other special rounds follow the host's instructions for that round, which override the usual rules.

3ScoringPoints, wagers and bonuses.

3.1Points

Each correct answer scores the points the host announced for it. The score sheet the host keeps is the official record.

3.2Multi-part answers

For a question with several parts the host says in advance whether each part scores or all must be right.

3.3What counts as correct

The host decides. A misspelling that is clearly the right answer is normally accepted; a surname alone is normally enough for a person unless the question asks for more.

3.4Jokers and doubling

Some hosts let a team double its points on one round, chosen before that round starts.

3.5Final question

Some formats end with a question teams wager points on. The wager is written down before the question is read.

4Fair PlayWhat is not allowed.

4.1No devices

Phones, watches and anything else that can look things up stay away during a round. A team caught looking up an answer loses the round or is disqualified, as the host decides.

4.2No shouting out

Calling out an answer, right or wrong, spoils the question; the host may void it for the team or for everyone.

4.3Challenging an answer

A team that thinks the host's answer is wrong raises it with the host quietly, before the next round's scores are announced. The host's ruling is final.

5Winning & TiesThe night's result.

5.1Winning the night

The team with the most points wins.

5.2Tied teams

A tie for a place is usually broken by a tiebreak question where the closest answer wins.

6League PlayWhat the league, not the rulebook, decides.

6.1Standings

The rulebook decides a match; the league decides what a result is worth in its standings.

In this league: Every point the team scored, added up across finished games. A night's points are the wagers on the questions it got right, 2 for each bonus question, and the Final Question wager added or lost.

6.2Teams level in the standings

The league also decides how teams level in the standings are separated.

In this league: Teams level on points are separated by most points scored, then most wins, then a coin flip recorded by the league. Head-to-head counts only when the tied teams have all played each other equally.

Fouls and penalties at a glance

Using a device: Looking up an answer during a round. Penalty: Loss of the round or disqualification, at the host's discretion.
Shouting an answer: Calling an answer out loud. Penalty: The question may be voided.
Oversized team: More players than the limit. Penalty: Split the team or take the host's penalty.
Late answers: A sheet handed in after time is called. Penalty: Not marked.

Other ways the game is played

Formats some leagues and events use. They are not this league's rules unless it says so.

Weighted rounds: Harder rounds are worth more per correct answer than easier ones. Used by: Leagues that grade rounds by difficulty.
Wagering formats: Teams assign point values to their answers or bet points on each question, so confidence matters as much as knowledge. Used by: Some hosted formats.
Buzzer quizzes: Players buzz in to answer aloud, and a wrong answer can cost points. Used by: Quiz bowl and head-to-head leagues.
App-run quizzes: Answers are entered on a phone inside the app, with speed sometimes scoring extra. Used by: Venues using a quiz app.
Championship night: The season's leading teams meet on one night that decides the title. Used by: Leagues that end a season with a final.
Dropped nights: A team's lowest one or two nights are left out of its season total. Used by: Season-long leagues.

Words used in the game

Host:: The person who reads the questions, marks the answers and rules on disputes.
Joker:: A one-off chance to double a round's points.
Round:: A group of questions answered and marked together.
Tiebreak question:: A question, usually numerical, where the closest answer wins.
Wager:: Points a team bets on its answer.

Questions that come up

We think the host's answer is wrong. What can we do?: Tell the host quietly before the next scores are read out. The host's ruling stands.
Does spelling count?: Not usually, as long as it is clear what you meant.
Can we have nine people?: Only if the host's team limit allows it. Bigger teams are normally asked to split.
We missed the first round. Can we still play?: Yes, from the next round, with no points for the one you missed.
Can we use our phones between rounds?: Between rounds, yes. Not while a round is open.