TRMN:BlackSphinxCup:Gunnery

Gunnery Challenge (Reading Challenge)

Overview and Purpose

The Gunnery Challenge is a competition in which the chapters of a fleet strive to read the most combined pages during the three-month challenge period allotted by their fleet commander. These rules are based on the many previous Reading challenges conducted by TRMN fleets in the past in an effort to standardize them for unified competition under the Black Sphinx Cup.

The chapter that has the highest number of pages read, averaged amongst the participating members of the fleet, and correctly submits this information during the challenge period, wins the Gunnery Challenge in their fleet.

The term “Gunnery” is used for fun, suggesting that each page read is a successful “hit on target” by a naval gunnery crew, but there should be no confusion whatsoever that this is a challenge about reading and not actual projectile weapons or target practice. TRMN does not endorse or allow any official activities involving real-life projectile weapons under any circumstances.

Gunnery Challenge Rules

In order to be compliant with the Black Sphinx Cup, the fleet cup’s Gunnery Challenge must adhere to the following rules.

• Audiobooks and eBooks are permitted. Their page value will be equal to the most commonly listed page count of the actual physical book, with final approval given to the challenge director.
• Magazines, comic books, and graphic novels are not permitted.
• Members must finish a text/audiobook before submitting it to their liaison.
• Texts/audiobooks may only be read once by each individual during a challenge.
• TRMN author texts/audiobooks are worth double pages (See TRMN AUTHORS).

Winning the Gunnery Challenge

At the conclusion of the challenge period, the chapter that has submitted a report that indicates they have the highest number of pages read, as averaged by the total number of participating crew members in their fleet, wins the challenge. The average is determined by taking the total number of pages recorded for a chapter and dividing it by the total number of participating fleet members. For example: HMS Example logs 2000 pages and the fleet director announces that a total of 20 members participated in the entire fleet. HMS Example divides 2000 pages by 20 to give them a final average of 100 pages per reader.

In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by comparing the average of pages read per reader at the chapter level with the higher percentage being the winner. This average is determined by dividing the total number of pages read by the total number of chapter participants. For example, both HMS Example and HMS Othership had an average of 100 pages per reader. HMS Example had 11 crew members participate and read 2000 pages. HMS Example divides 2000 by 11 and calculates their average as 181.8 pages per member. HMS Othership read 3000 pages read by 9 members. HMS Othership divides their total pages by participating crewmembers and calculates their average to be 333.3 pages per member. HMS Othership has the higher average and is declared the winner.

Recording & Reporting the Gunnery Challenge

Chapter liaisons are required to create a spreadsheet to record their chapter’s activities in the challenge. This spreadsheet must include:

• A header with:
  • Chapter name
  • CO name and contact information
  • Chapter’s challenge liaison name and contact information
  • The most recent date updated
• Numbered rows.
• Each row represents one text/audiobook submitted by a member. That row must include columns that list:
  • Member name
  • Member TRMN ID number
• Date the text/audiobook was completed
• Name of text/audiobook
• Author of text/audiobook
• ISBN/ASIN number of text/audiobook
• TRMN author? (“Yes” or “No”)
• Page count of text/audiobook
• A footer with the total pages of all text/audiobooks in the spreadsheet’s rows
• A footer with the total number of participating crew

TRMN Authors & Double Page Counts

In order to encourage members of TRMN who write, any published book that complies with all rules listed above and has been written by a TRMN member will have their pages count double towards a member’s total pages read. The works of David Weber ARE INCLUDED and count as double pages. A current list of approved TRMN authors for the Black Sphinx Cup is graciously hosted by 10th Fleet and can be found here: http://tenthfleet.org/talbott-cup/reading-challenge-authors/

Return to Previous Page