The Challenge Factory discussion

🗂 The Reference Desk

“No question is forbidden…”
“…only unanswered.”

Welcome, scholars, to the Reference Desk.

If the Library is vast—and it is—then this is where you come when the path becomes unclear.

📚 What This Thread Is For

Use the Reference Desk for:
⭐Clarification on prompts or class tasks
⭐Questions about Trials or scoring
⭐Help with interpretations
⭐General rules and gameplay questions
If you’re unsure about something… ask.

🧠 A Note on Interpretation
Many prompts within the Library allow for flexibility and personal interpretation.

If you can reasonably explain how your book fits a prompt or path, it will be considered.

When in doubt:
👉 Ask here before logging your book.


⚖️ Official Rulings
Responses given at the Reference Desk are considered official rulings for the challenge.

If a question comes up more than once, it may be clarified here for all scholars to see.

🪶 Final Words
“Even the greatest scholars once asked questions…”
“…the difference is that they sought the answers.”

Ask freely.

The Library is listening.

Official Rulings (Q/A)
Q: In The Grand Curriculum, for each study would you be required to do all the tasks? Or just one of the three?
A: You are NOT required to do a minimum of any of the tasks. You are however competing against your partner. You will get 5 points per completed book in month 1 & 2. It is possible to tie with your partner during these two months. Month 3, it is NOT possible to tie. There will be a clear winner who will get the bonus points. This could change the trajectory of the game. Good Luck!

Q: Can we do them in any order? And do we need to complete our each assigned discipline before we do THE GRAND ARCHIVES?
A: You can do the tasks in any order. The Grand Archives can be alongside your assigned discipline. There are no minimum or maximum number of tasks you need to complete. Just remember you are competing against your partner.

Q: Does the word it title have to be exact or can it be plural like Rule, can it be Rules?
A: I always allow plurals

Can we pick our own partners?

I usually read 2-3 books a week, so should I select slow reader or moderate reader?
I'll either be on the high end of slow or the low end of moderate :P

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Can we pick our own partners?"

Not this time

Charlotte wrote: "I usually read 2-3 books a week, so should I select slow reader or moderate reader?
I'll either be on the high end of slow or the low end of moderate :P"

you can choose either. You are on the border of the two. Do you track your books on GR? I will be doubechecking your stats when I pair you up. If not, put that in the last question.

Donna wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "I usually read 2-3 books a week, so should I select slow reader or moderate reader?
I'll either be on the high end of slow or the low end of moderate :P"

you can choose either. ..."

Yes, I track my books on GR, thanks!

How many books a month are expected. I usually read between 4-6 books a month.

Hi. When and where will we get to know who we are partnered with?
Also, could you please confirm if my signup went through? Thanks.

In The Grand Curriculum, for each study would you be required to do all the tasks? Or just one of the three?

Joyce wrote: "How many books a month are expected. I usually read between 4-6 books a month."

Whatever books you read will get 5 points each for the 1st two months. The 3rd month is page count based.

Preeti wrote: "Hi. When and where will we get to know who we are partnered with?
Also, could you please confirm if my signup went through? Thanks."

I am working on partners now.

Preeti wrote: "Hi. When and where will we get to know who we are partnered with?
Also, could you please confirm if my signup went through? Thanks."

yes it did

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "In The Grand Curriculum, for each study would you be required to do all the tasks? Or just one of the three?"

No, you complete as many tasks as you can. You are trying to get more points than your partner. You are directly competing against your partner.

Sorry folks, I just realized that my notification was turned off for this thread.

Can we do them in any order? And do we need to complete our each assigned discipline before we do THE GRAND ARCHIVES?

Does the word it title have to be exact or can it be plural like Rule, can it be Rules?

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Can we do them in any order? And do we need to complete our each assigned discipline before we do THE GRAND ARCHIVES?"

You can do the tasks in any order. The Grand Archives can be alongside your assigned discipline. There are no minimum or maximum number of tasks you need to complete. Just remember you are competing against your partner.

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Does the word it title have to be exact or can it be plural like Rule, can it be Rules?"

I always allow plurals

Those of you who played The School for Good and Evil (it was based on the book) should feel a bit of deja vu. This is the exact same concept. In fact, I took that challenge and revamped it with a completely made-up school to create this challenge.

Thanks Donna 🙂

Each task can be done only once?

☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Each task can be done only once?"

Yep

Donna wrote: "☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Each task can be done only once?"

Yep" Ok! Got it.

Another Q: what should this task 'Read a book where a character chooses preservation over personal gain' involve? Like, I would think that preservation is one of the types of personal gain but looks like there's something else meant in here.

☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Donna wrote: "☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Each task can be done only once?"

Yep" Ok! Got it.

Another Q: what should this task 'Read a book where a character chooses preservation over personal gain' in..."

For this task, preservation means choosing to protect or save something rather than pursuing something that would personally benefit the character.

The character should have something to gain—money, power, status, freedom, an opportunity, a valuable resource, etc.—but chooses preservation instead.

For example, a character might refuse to sell or exploit protected land even though they would profit from it, protect important knowledge rather than use it for their own advantage, or save an artifact instead of taking/selling it for personal benefit.

The important part is that there is a choice between preserving something and benefiting themselves, and they choose preservation.

Donna wrote: "☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Donna wrote: "☘Misericordia☘ wrote: "Each task can be done only once?"

Yep" Ok! Got it.

Another Q: what should this task 'Read a book where a character chooses preservation..."Ah! I get it now! Thank you!

Awesome, glad I could help. Sometimes, my brain is so far ahead of me that I forget the rest of the world isn’t inside my head. I have to slow down and make sure that I make my intentions clear.

Hi Donna! I'm on pair 5 - The Inferno Wing, and our roles in your first post are different than on the spreadsheet. I am listed as Keeper in the thread and seeker on the spreadsheet. Would you stop by and clarify who is doing which role? Thank you!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Questions

#1 are you going by only finish dates? Or do start dates count also?

#2 what do we do if our 'partner' hasn't shown up in our thread yet?

So for read a book with a character who resists transformation or disguise, if a character kills themself so they don't turn into a creature does that count?

Kassandra wrote: "So for read a book with a character who resists transformation or disguise, if a character kills themself so they don't turn into a creature does that count?"

That sounds like they are resisting pretty hard. I would have to accept that.

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Questions

#1 are you going by only finish dates? Or do start dates count also?

#2 what do we do if our 'partner' hasn't shown up in our thread yet?"

1) Books should be started after the challenge begins (you may plan them now).

2) Please let me know in this thread. Has your partner still not shown up?

Donna wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Questions

#1 are you going by only finish dates? Or do start dates count also?

#2 what do we do if our 'partner' hasn't shown up in our thread yet?"

1) Books should b..."

No. I'm on team The Kindled Tomes & partnered with Lucy

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Donna wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Questions

#1 are you going by only finish dates? Or do start dates count also?

#2 what do we do if our 'partner' hasn't shown up in our thread yet?"

1) ..."

Email sent. Let me know if you don't hear anything after 48 hours.

Donna wrote: "Kassandra wrote: "So for read a book with a character who resists transformation or disguise, if a character kills themself so they don't turn into a creature does that count?"

That sounds like th..."

LOL! You have the best responses <3

As far as I can tell, my partner (Gabby - The Ember Stacks) hasn't shown up yet.

My partner, Joyce from The Ashen Shelves, hasn't shown up yet either.

My partner, Joyce from The Ashen Shelves, hasn't shown up yet either.

Same with my partner, Marty (The Blazing Index).

Nvm, mine just checked in :)

I am checking now.

Looks like everyone checked in. I will leave you to it.

FYI :My partner - the whispering tomes has not checked in yet

Donna wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Donna wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Questions

#1 are you going by only finish dates? Or do start dates count also?

#2 what do we do if our 'partner' hasn't shown..."

Still nothing from Lucy

Hi. My partner from The Shadow Stacks, Lori, has not checked in yet.

Question - If I'm a seeker I can only read for the prompts defined under seeker and archive correct?
And I can read for any number of prompts but each one only once?

Priya wrote: "Question - If I'm a seeker I can only read for the prompts defined under seeker and archive correct?
And I can read for any number of prompts but each one only once?"

Month 1, you will only read for seeker tasks and Grand archive tasks.
Month 2: you will read keeper tasks and Grand Archive tasks
Month 3: Test month. You will complete the tests and finsh up any grand archive tasks that you want to complete. This is the make or break month.

Tasks can only be read once.

Preeti wrote: "Hi. My partner from The Shadow Stacks, Lori, has not checked in yet."

Hi. Can I start the challenge without my partner?

Of course. I emailed your partner so hopefully they will arrive soon.

Donna wrote: "Of course. I emailed your partner so hopefully they will arrive soon."

Thanks, Donna!

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Donna wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Donna wrote: "Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Questions

#1 are you going by only finish dates? Or do start dates count also?

#2 what do we do if our 'partner..."

I did receive an email from Lucy the 1st time you told me. She was on her way to work at the time. She may have forgotten in between. I sent her a second reminder to check in.