A Visit from St. Grim

 

Twas the night before Grim-mas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring except for my mouse
Time was a-ticking and I knew I should rest,
But I’d now been afflicted with OMCS!

The evening grew dim while my screen remained bright,
I kept telling myself I should stop for the night!
I on my desktop, with the cat in my lap,
Who had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

Then out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
The cat gave a hiss, he was not very pleased
To be rudely awoken and dropped from my knees.

A spooky full moon with an unsettling shine
Caused a shiver to run down the back of my spine.
I saw not a sleigh with the jingle of bells,
But a dark hooded figure in a tangle of cells.

“Now STARBURST Now RETINA Now BP Now SYNAPSE,
On DENDRITE on BOUTON on AXON and AUTAPSE.
To the top of the menu, to the active cells section,
Now dash away, dash away, without objection!”

And what should I see right in front of my face,
But a new bunch of cells, just for me to trace.
“I see that you like those” ole Grimmy-Claus laughed,
“And they all can be yours, but first, a few tasks.”

I turned around quickly, my focus refreshed,
He stood there before me, well, not quite in the flesh.
He was cloaked all in black, from his head to his toes,
And I couldn’t quite make out his eyes, mouth nor nose.

“I thought you’d be bored by the usual fare,
New books, clothes and gadgets, they haven’t much flair.
I’ve got something much better, I think you’ll enjoy,
Some holiday challenges with a lot of fun toys!”

“Up first there is something you should find quite fun
As someone who stays up long after the sun.
A quaint little challenge for those with no fear,
Be happy my friend, the Witching Hour is here!”

Accuracy HH

Session 1 – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Friday 12/8
Session 2 – 10:00 PM to 11:59 PM on Friday 12/8

Swag: Most accurate player completing at least 20 cubes wins 1 t-shirt!

Bonuses:
1st Place Accuracy – 10,000 points
2nd Place Accuracy – 8,000 points
3rd Place Accuracy – 6,000 points
Achieve 95% Accuracy – 5,000 points
Achieve 90% Accuracy – 3,000 points
Achieve 80% Accuracy – 2,000 points
1,000 points for anyone under 80% who still plays at least 20 cubes in either slot.
(These bonus thresholds are non-cumulative, i.e. they will not combine. If you earn 3rd place, for instance, and presumably got over 95% accuracy, you still earn a 6,000 point bonus, not 11,000.)

“Now next is a present you’d not want to lose,
My most daring game, it’s called Evil Cubes.
A sport that takes cunning, intelligence, wit,
But beware, for your accuracy may take a hit.”

Evil Cubes

12:01 AM on Saturday 12/9 -12:00 PM on Thursday 12/14

Swag: 1 mug will be raffled among the top 5 players!

Bonuses:
1st Place Accuracy – 8,000 points
2nd Place Accuracy – 5,000 points
3rd Place Accuracy – 3,000 points
1,000 points for anyone under 80% accuracy who still plays all 12 cubes.
(These bonus thresholds are non-cumulative, i.e. they will not combine. If you earn 3rd place, for instance, and presumably got over 80% accuracy, you still earn a 3,000 point bonus, not 4,000.)

“And then there is something for those who are bored
With gizmos and doodads, this might strike a chord.
I’ve plenty of questions for good minions of late
Answer correctly, the points will be great!”

Trivia

11:00 AM on Sunday 12/10 – 11:00 AM on Tuesday 12/12
Finishes with Power Hour from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Tuesday 12/12

Swag: The top player will win 1 mug!

Bonuses:
For every question —
1st to answer – 300 points
2nd to answer – 200 points
3rd to answer – 100 points

“Following that I’ve another addition,
We’ll spend a whole day in grand competition.
Two winter sports you must now be rating
Which do you prefer, sledding or skating?”

VS

11:00 AM on Tuesday 12/12 – 11:00 AM on Wednesday 12/13

Swag: 1 shirt and 1 mug will be raffled among the top 50% of players on the winning team!

Bonuses:
Earn 5,000 points – 2,500 bonus
Earn 15,000 points – 5,000 bonus
Earn 25,000 points – 10,000 bonus
Every additional 25,000 points – 5,000 bonus
Winning team – 10,000 bonus
Team winner – 5,000 bonus
#1 overall score – 10,000 bonus
#2 overall score – 5,000 bonus
#3 overall score – 2,500 bonus

“Last but not least, we’ve a whole holiday for
Growing one cell by our scouts, scythes and players
A magical span of just twenty-four hours,
After you’ll find you may gain some new powers.”

Marathon

8:00 AM on Wednesday 12/13 – 8:00 AM on Thursday 12/14

Swag: 1 shirt, 1 mug, and 1 poster will be raffled among the top 25% of participating players!

Bonuses:
Complete 20 cubes – 2,000 point bonus
Complete 50 cubes – 5,000 point bonus
Complete 150 cubes – 20,000 point bonus
Complete 300 cubes – 40,000 point bonus
For every 150 cubes above 300 cubes – 2,500 points

If the cell is completed within 24 hrs, those mappers who:

• Complete at least 50 cubes will win rights to vote on a new name for the marathon cell.
• Complete at least 200 cubes will win rights to nominate a new name for the marathon cell.

“This will be a year in which you may get,
Points, swag, and promotions you won’t soon forget.
So while HQ is busy at work in the lab,
Sign up by clicking the ‘Challenges’ tab!”

Closing Ceremony

4:00 PM on Friday 12/15

Come celebrate the end of this competition, where admins will recognize everyone’s achievements. As always, we will include a round of promotions for Scouts, Scythes, Moderators, and Mentors, and now promotions for Mystics! If you’d like a promotion, you can request them here.

And with that he just vanished in front of my eyes,
With his whole neuron cluster, he took to the skies.
He’d one last thing to say since we’d made our alliance,
“Happy Grim-mas to all, and now do it, FOR SCIENCE!”

Art by Daniela Gamba
Swag generously funded by player @susi. For science!