(Reverse) Sheep is a game that is part Family Feud, part trivia game. The object of the game is to outwit other players through a series of questions that are usually united in theme. There are two types of questions.

The first, Sheep, is one where you try to think like everyone else and match their answers. The more people you match, the better you do. Let's say we have a game of six players (A through F). A Sheep question might be something like "Name a great color." Sheep questions never have right or wrong answers. Let's say our five players answered like this:

Players A, C, and E said "Blue"
Players B and D said "Green"
Player F said "Chartreuse"

Scoring in Sheep games is like golf: the lower your score, the better. The "Blue" players get -3 points (and the best answer). The "Green" players get -2 points. Player F did not match anyone and gets 0 points.

The second type of question, Reverse Sheep, is the exaxt opposite. You want to avoid matching other players. A Reverse Sheep question might be something like "Name a state of the Atlantic Coast." Reverse Sheep questions always have right or wrong answers. Let's say our players answered like this:

Players D and E said "Delaware"
Players F and B said "Maine"
Player C said "Texas"
Player A said "South Carolina"

The "Delaware" players get +2 points (a penalty, since you want to have a low score). The "Maine" players also get +2 points. Player C's answer might be debated among the players to see if it is considered correct or not. Wrong answers always score above the most common answer. You're always better off going for something obvious than for something obviously wrong.

That's the gist of it. Each person running a game adds little rules here and there but those are the basics.

"These things are the most fun way to waste time at work since GemCraft." - maxfisher

"This is the most stirring display of gallantry and sportsmanship since Mountbatten gave India back to the Punjabs." - wishbone

"These have been really fun." - Tracer Bullet

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Bus for quite possibly the funniest commentary of any of the sheep games." - orangecrush18

• The object of the game is to out-think everyone by picking answers to questions that are the most common (Sheep) or least common (Reverse Sheep), but still correct.
  
• Example Sheep question: "Name a professional golfer." A good answer might be Tiger Woods and a bad answer might be Chichi Rodriguez.
  
• Example Reverse Sheep question: "Name a play by Shakespeare." Romeo & Juliet might be a bad answer, but Two Gentlemen of Verona might be a good answer. (Unless everyone is trying to go as obscure as possible).
  
• Scores are tallied according to the number of players answering that question. Sheep answers are tallied as negative. Reverse Sheep answers are tallied as positive. The lowest score wins.
  
• There is no such thing as wrong answer for a Sheep question. Wrong answers in Reverse Sheep are scored two points above the most common answer. This penalty is multiplied by the Lightning Round Multiplier.
  
• Certain rounds are considered Lightning Rounds (designated by a multiplier, such as ×2). In these rounds, scores are adjusted by the number on the multiplier. A wrong answer still gets a +4 penalty in a ×2 round and a +6 penalty in a ×3 round, and so on. In a sheep round, a wrong answer scores normally.
  
• You may not cheat by using Google, Wikipedia, etc. Use only what's in your head, with the exception of questions followed by a √ Check. (Not always in every game). (See more in the Sets section below).
  
• Please send in your answers to me via PM. Place only one answer per line, without numbers, set info, or the question itself. Add {sd} to the end of the answer, not the beginning. Those who do not do this will be penalized 10 points right off the bat.
  
• Note: Be creative with your answers, but don't be stupid.
  
• Sheep questions are marked by an S:, Reverse Sheep questions are marked by an R:.
  

• Unless specifically mentioned in the question, all answers are about this year (2009). Imagine that the phrase "of this year" or "in 2009" is included in each question, and keep that in mind for your answers.
  
• Question spreadsheets for your convenience: Excel | Google Docs
  
• Unique Bonus: Reverse Sheep questions will generate additional bonus (negative) points according to the following:
  1 Unique is awarded -25
  2 Uniques are awarded -15 each
  3 Uniques are awarded -10 each
  4 Uniques are awarded -5 each
  5+ Uniques are awarded -1 each
  
• Slam Ducks {sd} Players have the power of multipliers in their hands. Each player is given five (5) Slam Ducks ({sd}s) which they use by adding {sd} to the end of their answer. Slam Dunks have different effects depending on the question you use them in:
  
  • In Sheep questions, the {sd} adds 1 to the Multiplier. There is no limit to how many {sd}s you use.
    
  • In Reverse Sheep questions, you can use a single {sd} to add +1 to everyone else's Multiplier (who has the same answer as you). If your answer is unique, it will add +2 to the Multiplier for your Unique Bonus. However, if your answer is wrong, it does nothing. There is no benefit to using more than one {sd} for each R: question.
    
  • NEW! You may now use a Slam Duck to cover for any gaps in your knowledge. Answering a question simply with an {sd} (and nothing else) means you automagically get the second best score for that question, not counting any Multipliers, Unique Bonuses, etc.
  
  
• Sets The game will be broken up into different sets. This game, there's seven sets, with various questions in each. They affect the game in two ways:
  
  • You may choose one set and do as much research as you wish on those questions. This means you can use Google, Wikipedia, Pharoh's sons, JasonF's wife, etc. to figure out your answer. Rockmjd23, I guess for you that means you can go above and beyond and call Bob Costas himself and ask him to review your questions. I don't know.
    
  • NEW! Up to the top three players of each set get to affect the game, depending on what they choose to play as their Role. Declare this at the time you submit your answers.
    
    • Libertarians get a -7 point bonus.
      
    • Republicans give everyone ranking below them a +1 penalty. Half of that total amount (rounded up) becomes their bonus. If JasonF has 10 people below him, he would give them each +1 and then get a -5.
      
    • Democrats give everyone ranking above them a +2 penalty. Half of that total amount (rounded up) becomes their bonus. If orangecrush has 40 people ahead of him, they each get +2 and he gets -20.
      
    • Assassins give the top three players +15, +10, and +5. If they are currently in the top 3 overall, they avoid that penalty and get -15 as well.
      
    • You have to choose the same Role for the entire game. The Role bonuses are all calculated simultaneously at the end of each Set.