Tag: hosting

My best friend and favorite person in the whole world has a new tradition that was started a few short months ago. While he is at work, he posts a question on Instagram which people answer, and he posts throughout his work day. He has a variety of cool questions that he asks of people.

I love getting to know people. Once I have decided that I want to be friends with someone, I want to truly get to know them. My friend says that his favorite question is: What are 3 stories you have that really define who you are? It is such a deep question that I could spend hours trying to think about. But, asking questions is really the most simple way of getting to know others.

Whether your next game night is virtual or in person, asking questions of each other will make it not only fun, but meaningful. Do you know what is better? It is so easy to do and requires no set-up. And, there are so many ways to mix it up so that it looks different each and every time. This has happened a few times, and each time, I have felt that those have been the most successful game nights that I have ever gone to. Check out my post for how to host a great game night.

In college, a close friend introduced us to this truly magical book. It is called The Complete Book of Questions (Gary Poole). The book contains 1001 engaging questions to get to know the people who you are with. It starts off simple with easy questions that you can answer without much thought. Every time you reach the next 100, it starts a new, deeper category of questions. Before you know it, you are asking each other questions which require in-depth thought. You really get to know the people around you. If you are interested in purchasing the book, I will leave it linked below.

how does this game work?

It will be slightly different if you are having an in-person game night as opposed to a virtual game night. If you are virtual, you will just have the person who owns the book ask all of the questions whereas those having game nights in person can pass the book. It does not matter how big or small the group, this works wonders. It can be as small as 2 or as large as 40. This will be a hit.

People can join in at any time. Many other games, you have to wait for a round to finish or something of the sort. This is so easy to have people enter and leave when it is convenient. You can also do this while doing other things. When you are hosting an event, sometimes you are preparing food while company is present. Even while preparing food or setting up, you can answer questions when it is your turn. Let’s look at a few different ways to play the game.

variation 1

Let’s make up some imaginary players: Atticus, Brynn, Cruz, Darcy, Everett, and Fallon. Atticus starts with asking Brynn what number she chooses. Brynn picks a number between 1 and 1001. Brynn choose number 327. Atticus searches the book to go to question 327, and he asks her the question. Once Brynn answers, she gets the book (if in person), and she chooses who she wants to call on next to answer a question. She chooses Fallon. Fallon chooses number 757 and gets asked that question. Then, Fallon chooses the next person to answer a question.

This can go on for as long or short as you want it. Typically, you will not want to ask anyone a second question until everyone has gone at least once. So, no one can call on Brynn until everyone else has answered at least once. This way, everyone in the group has an equal chance to share. Sometimes, people re-ask the same number by mistake (even with 1001 numbers, you would be surprised how often it happens even for short games). In those cases, tell the person to pick a different number.

variation 2

This is very similar to the first variation, but with this one, you go around in a circle (or predetermined order). We have done this at retreats where there are many more people. I was once in a circle with probably around 30 other people. Instead of people randomly picking, everyone gets a chance to answer when it is their turn. So, Atticus would go first. Next, Brynn goes. Afterwards, Cruz, Darcy, Everett, and Fallon go in that order. Then, Atticus will go again.

This way, you will not have to keep track of whose turn it is. Everyone will know when they are going based on the predisposed order. This is perfect for a Zoom or Google Meets where you can go in order. You may not get the random surprise of not knowing when you will be called on, but it makes it so easy for people to know when they are going to go making it easier than trying to remember who has and has not answered questions.

variation 3

One day in class where we had a lot of students absent, we did this variation. Atticus picks a number. He choses number 804. Everyone will have to answer that question going around the circle or video call. Once Atticus answers, then Brynn, Cruz, Darcy, Everett, and Fallon are all expected to answer question 804. Then, the next person (Brynn) will pick a number that everyone in the circle has to answer.

When a question is asked, sometimes I want to answer that question to. It can be really cool to compare answers to see what you have in common with others. I love doing this with groups who do not know each other as well. You all can find commonalities or differences in the group when answering the same question.

variation 4

If you have a group that knows each other pretty well, this variation will really test your knowledge. You can quiz each other on making guesses on what the other person would say. In your circle or Zoom Room, know who is before you and who is after you. Atticus picks a number (401). Brynn has to try to come up with what she thinks Atticus would say as his answer for the question. Then, Brynn picks a number (202), and Cruz has to guess Brynn’s answer to the question. This can really see how much your friends really know about each other. You could even change up this rule in a few ways.

• Brynn could pick the number/question and guess how Atticus would answer.
• Atticus could pick the number/question, and Brynn has to guess how Cruz will answer.
• Atticus could pick a number, and everyone in the group has to guess his answer. Points go to the people who guess the answer correctly.

Mix it up. Find ways to be creative with this one. There are so many possibilities with this one. I can tell you that I will be doing the third one for the next game night that I host. This friendship competition will really make things intense.

variation 5

I only recommend this in a group where everyone feels safe, but this is perfect if you think there is someone who would only stick to the lower numbers. With this variation, Atticus would choose a number. The person with the book would say the question. Then, Atticus chooses Darcy to answer. This is a version that requires being comfortable with one another because someone else hears the question before choosing who will answer. But in other variations, you already do not know the question that you will be asked. The only difference is that this one is slightly targeted.

You can put parameters around this variation such as having a number ceiling (where people cannot ask numbers above a certain level for a while) or having question skips if people do not want to answer. But, this is a good way to really get to know people and prevent some people from only picking small numbers.

variation 6

This version requires a little more set up. In advanced, you need to have slips of paper or notecards for people to write on! Atticus will find a question he wants everyone to answer. Everyone, except Atticus, will answer the questions on the slips of paper. They will compile their answers and shuffle them. Atticus, then, will have to try to figure out who gave which answer.

This may be difficult as it relates to people learning each other’s handwriting, so you can have a computer where people type in their answers. They just have to make sure that their answers are not chronological, or Atticus is in another room while they are typing their answers. Atticus will get points based on how many he gets right. After Atticus, Brynn will go, and everyone will rotate until everyone has gone a certain number of times. The member with the highest points wins.

variation 7

Variation 7 is very similar to variation 6, but with a bit more set-up. In this variation, Atticus is not the only one guessing who said what. Instead, everyone is trying to guess who gave what answer. Hopefully, everyone will get at least one point per round (their own answer). But, this will require another sheet for people to write who they think said each one.

Once everyone has written or typed their answer, number them. You would write 1 on the first answer you pulled out, 2 for the second answer you pulled out, and so forth. After all of them have been read aloud and numbered, people will write the name beside the number that they think gave that answer. If the first one pulled out was Darcy’s answer, everyone who wrote Darcy for number 1 would get it correct.

You can use free websites like Swift if you have people with distinctive handwriting. This allows people to just text in their answers without having their name attached necessarily. Plus, you could project it on a screen for easy access to easily see the answers instead of having them on a small sheet of paper.

final thoughts

Regardless of the variation that you choose, this needs to be a game added to your arsenal. It only requires one book. If you go to any store and see the price of games, this is so cheap in comparison. Not only do you have an engaging game that allows people to talk about themselves, but you have a chance for people to get a better understanding of each other. You can really get to know each other well by doing just one simple variation of this game.

Even if you are not using it for a game, it is a great tool for introspection. For those looking for icebreakers for groups, journal prompts, or using it as a teaching tool? This book has a great use and needs a place in your home.

Let me hear your thoughts. What are games you love to play during game nights? Is there a creative variation that you can think of that would go well with the question book? Make sure to write all of those in the comments. I can’t wait to read them.

Buy your own question book here.

until next time,

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