20 Questions

Wavelength Questions to Ask

Fun and engaging questions to ask during Wavelength games, helping you guess the target word and score points with your team.

1

What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of this concept?

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Why this works

Gets immediate, unfiltered responses while revealing their first association with the target concept.

2

How would you describe this to someone who has never heard of it?

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Why this works

Reveals their understanding while providing simple, clear explanations that can help narrow down the target.

3

What's the opposite of this concept?

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Why this works

Helps establish boundaries while revealing what the concept is NOT, which can be just as helpful as what it IS.

4

What color would this concept be?

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Why this works

Uses visual associations while revealing their emotional or conceptual connection to the target concept.

5

What animal does this remind you of?

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Why this works

Creates metaphorical connections while revealing their understanding through animal characteristics and behaviors.

6

How would you explain this to a child?

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Why this works

Forces simple explanations while revealing their core understanding of the concept in basic terms.

7

What's the most important thing about this concept?

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Why this works

Reveals their priorities while showing what they consider the most essential aspect of the target concept.

8

What's something that's similar to this but not quite the same?

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Why this works

Helps establish boundaries while revealing related concepts that can provide clues about the target.

9

How would you use this in a sentence?

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Why this works

Shows practical application while revealing how they would naturally use the concept in conversation.

10

What's the first thing you think of when you hear this word?

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Why this works

Gets immediate associations while revealing their first mental connection to the target concept.

11

What's the most common way people interact with this?

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Why this works

Reveals typical usage while showing how people commonly engage with or experience the concept.

12

What's the most surprising thing about this concept?

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Why this works

Reveals unexpected aspects while showing what they find most interesting or unusual about the target.

13

How would you describe this in one word?

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Why this works

Forces concise responses while revealing their single most important association with the concept.

14

What's the most important thing to know about this?

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Why this works

Reveals their priorities while showing what they consider the most essential knowledge about the concept.

15

What's the most common misconception about this?

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Why this works

Reveals what it's NOT while showing common misunderstandings that can help clarify the target.

16

How would you explain this to someone from another culture?

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Why this works

Forces universal explanations while revealing their understanding of the concept across cultural boundaries.

17

What's the most important thing to remember about this?

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Why this works

Reveals their priorities while showing what they consider the most memorable or significant aspect.

18

What's the most common way people learn about this?

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Why this works

Reveals typical exposure while showing how people commonly encounter or discover the concept.

19

What's the most important thing to understand about this?

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Why this works

Reveals their priorities while showing what they consider the most essential understanding of the concept.

20

What's the most important thing to know about this concept?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Reveals their priorities while showing what they consider the most essential knowledge about the target.

Best Practices for Wavelength Questions

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Use questions that encourage detailed responses rather than yes/no answers to get more information.

Focus on Associations and Connections

Ask about related concepts, opposites, and similar items to build a web of understanding around the target.

Use Multiple Question Types

Mix different types of questions to get various perspectives and build a comprehensive understanding.

Question Sequences

The Association Focus

1
What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of this concept?
2
What's the first thing you think of when you hear this word?
3
What's the most important thing about this concept?
4
What's the most important thing to know about this?

The Boundary Setting

1
What's the opposite of this concept?
2
What's something that's similar to this but not quite the same?
3
What's the most common misconception about this?
4
How would you describe this to someone who has never heard of it?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Ask Yes/No Questions

Avoid questions that can be answered with just yes or no, as they don't provide enough information to guess the target.

Avoid Leading Questions

Don't ask questions that suggest the answer or give away clues about what the target might be.

Don't Focus Only on One Aspect

Ask about different aspects of the concept to build a comprehensive understanding rather than focusing on just one angle.

Question Templates

The Association Builder

1
Step 1: Start with: "What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of this concept?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "What's the most important thing about this concept?"
3
Step 3: Explore with: "What's the most important thing to know about this?"

The Boundary Setter

1
Step 1: Begin with: "What's the opposite of this concept?"
2
Step 2: Probe with: "What's something that's similar to this but not quite the same?"
3
Step 3: Clarify with: "What's the most common misconception about this?"

Further Reading

"Wavelength: The Game" by Wolfgang Warsch
"The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell
"Board Game Design" by Daniel Solis

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