20 Questions (Round 587)

[Hominidae]

RULES:

0. The purpose of this game is for ye Question Master (QM) to select an entity to be guessed, and for the contestants to deduce the identity of this entity by asking a series of questions.

1. Only binary (yes/no) questions may be asked. Conditional questions are allowed, but conditional guesses are NOT allowed.

2. If the QM cannot determine with reasonable certainty whether the answer to a particular question is "Yes." or "No.", they will simply reply with "Pass". Questions that are answered in this way will not count towards the twenty-question limit, but all other binary questions will count towards the limit. Re-asking passed questions verbatim is not allowed, but contestants are welcome to rephrase passed questions and ask those. The QM is permitted to use discretion to pass certain questions on principle, but must be transparent about this.

3. Before the twentieth question is answered, one free guess per contestant does not count against the total twenty questions, but additional guesses by the same contestant do.

4. After all twenty questions are answered, there are no more free guesses, and five total guesses (combined among the contestants) shall be allowed.

5. No player shalt ask more than two consecutive questions, where a guess (free or unfree) counts as a question. EG: If Player A asks a question; and Player B makes a guess; Player A may go next with up to two questions. This means you cannot ask 2 questions and then follow it up with a guess. This rule INCLUDES conditional questions.

6. The Question Master may choose entities real or fictional that are not horribly obscure, so long as they are not repeats.

7. Whoever guesses correctly takes over from the previous question master; if they do not want to do it, they may choose someone else provided they are willing.

8. In the unlikely event the question master remains undefeated three times in a row they must choose someone else to be the next QM (provided they are willing).

9. If terminology in a question is undefined, the QM defines it however they think is most reasonable (or may ask the questioner to clarify or re-phrase the question). Questions regarding the methodology used do not count towards the 20 questions and best come with an example figure.

10. A contestant can "scratch" their own question or guess before it is answered. Scratched questions and guesses do not count as questions or guesses for the purposes of the total count, or the two consecutive questions/guesses rule.

11. If someone guesseth a character who hath already been a correct answer in 20 Questions before, that guess shalt not be counted as a guess.

12. The use of artificial intelligence in the solving process, aside from the AI answers that automatically come up on search results, is not permitted. Divine intervention, however, is not only permitted, it is also encouraged.

For game history, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uXCl7ynaYyUH86zL98dIx8Bbo9WEJCqFnFFsfGg8vz4/edit?usp=sharing

Well, I can't guarantee this will be easy, but the subject is definitely not obscure.

[yavuzovic]

Real human?

[Hominidae]

Real human?

1. Yes.

[Greg_the_republican]

Was this person born before January 1, 1900?

[Hominidae]

Was this person born before January 1, 1900?

Welcome to the game!

2. Yes.

[damo666]

dead male human born in Northern Hemisphere?

If yes, first language English?

If no, female?

[Jamiet99uk]

Lived for over 75 years?

[Hominidae]

dead male human born in Northern Hemisphere?

3. Yes.

If yes, first language English?

4. No.

Lived for over 75 years?

5. Yes.

[damo666]

born in Europe?

[Hominidae]

born in Europe?

6. Yes.

[DreamTrawler]

Primarily known for the arts, politics, or military?

[Hominidae]

Primarily known for the arts, politics, or military?

7. No.

[Greg_the_republican]

Was he a scientist?

[Hominidae]

Was he a scientist?

8. Yes.

[yavuzovic]

Native speaker of a Germanic language or Hungarian?

[Jamiet99uk]

Was he a physicist?

[Hominidae]

Native speaker of a Germanic language or Hungarian?

9. Yes.

Was he a physicist

10. No, except in the sense that all science is just applied physics.

[DreamTrawler]

I’ll make an early free guess - Gregor Mendel?

[Hominidae]

I’ll make an early free guess - Gregor Mendel?

Not Gregor Mendel.

[Aristocrat]

Born in what is now Hungary, Austria, or the Netherlands?