Codenames 26

[Mardoc]

Looks like BOOT SOLDIER to me.  

I think historically the term referred to someone who was basically a soldier, but not a nobleman - the people who guarded the manor, went with the lord to collect taxes, went with the lord to war. Later on they morphed into a bouncer/guard/receptionist type person, low enough in the hierarchy of servants that they might be conscripted by the butler or valet for whatever else needed doing (carry this, lift that, go tell so-and-so) - but even there the guard role was still present. The people lining the doors at a ball were footmen, once nobility became more about palaces than castles.

I do think footmen rode on coaches, so WHIP isn't out of the question, but I don't think they typically drove the coach - they were there more as security/muscle.

[JR4]

Well, BOOT is obvious. I also feel good about SOLDIER as the second guess.

BUGLE and WHIP are both somewhat related to Footman but I think we should definitely go for SOLDIER first.

[Azoth]

Well, we all agree on:

Point to BOOT

I am conflicted about the second word.

WHIP - out of the question, Leather is the much more obvious clue
TIE - ditto, you would clue it as Accessories
SOLDIER - possible, but I agree that Infantry or even Army would have been stronger clues: "BOOTs on the ground" and all that

BUGLE - Did footmen travel ahead to announce the arrival of their lords? Or pass messages between them?
Footman is also an old-fashioned word, like BUGLE.

I think I lean BUGLE. Maybe I am outvoted by the team, but that is okay.

Also, thinking ahead: if we get these 2 right, then we have 3 words remaining. We probably have to go for the win next round, so you would have expected the 3-word clue first. If we only get a 2-word clue next, then going by what Mardoc said earlier, do we guess MINT as our +1?

[El Grillo]

BOOT is blue.

[shallow_thought]

I think I prefer SOLDIER - I just don't see a really direct Footman -> BUGLE connection.

I find the arguments against WHIP and TIE convincing.

[Mardoc]

BUGLE - Did footmen travel ahead to announce the arrival of their lords? Or pass messages between them?
Footman is also an old-fashioned word, like BUGLE.

Yes, I think so.  And the footmen were probably the ones with bugles playing fanfares.  At least - if that ever happened in reality - it might just be a Disney thing.  Although I suppose for the purpose of Codenames, Disney is just as valid as history.

I have to admit, I can see alternate clues pretty easily for BOOT/SOLDIER, BOOT/TIE, BOOT/WHIP, but not so much for BOOT/BUGLE. So that's a strong push in the direction of BUGLE.

Also, thinking ahead: if we get these 2 right, then we have 3 words remaining. We probably have to go for the win next round, so you would have expected the 3-word clue first. If we only get a 2-word clue next, then going by what Mardoc said earlier, do we guess MINT as our +1?

I'm a little spooked by Whale, Beach and Pool all being Red even though they were plausible Expensive words, but I'm still tempted to try to guess it this round. Anything likely enough to say 'I will guess' is probably worth guessing immediately.

I think I'm now leaning BUGLE but SOLDIER is a close second. I do think both are more likely than MINT, which makes planning for next round double difficult.

[Azoth]

And the footmen were probably the ones with bugles playing fanfares.  At least - if that ever happened in reality - it might just be a Disney thing.  Although I suppose for the purpose of Codenames, Disney is just as valid as history.

This is exactly the image I had in mind.

I'm a little spooked by Whale, Beach and Pool all being Red even though they were plausible Expensive words, but I'm still tempted to try to guess it this round.  Anything likely enough to say 'I will guess' is probably worth guessing immediately.

I think I'm now leaning BUGLE but SOLDIER is a close second.  I do think both are more likely than MINT, which makes planning for next round double difficult.

To be clear, there is no advantage to guessing MINT this round. We have to guess perfectly to win next round anyway, so we can always add MINT as our +1. Waiting a round allows El Grillo to tip us off about whether we are on the right track with MINT, by giving us either a 2-word or a 3-word clue next.

And I doubt both BUGLE and SOLDIER are blue, or we would have been given Footman 3.

[shallow_thought]

And the footmen were probably the ones with bugles playing fanfares.  At least - if that ever happened in reality - it might just be a Disney thing.  Although I suppose for the purpose of Codenames, Disney is just as valid as history.

This is exactly the image I had in mind.

...

To be clear, there is no advantage to guessing MINT this round. We have to guess perfectly to win next round anyway, so we can always add MINT as our +1. Waiting a round allows El Grillo to tip us off about whether we are on the right track with MINT, by giving us either a 2-word or a 3-word clue next.

And I doubt both BUGLE and SOLDIER are blue, or we would have been given Footman 3.

Now, this is why teams should have odd numbers of players .

I agree with the analysis, it's the premise that there is a link Footman ->BUGLE I'm still struggling with. It's possible that I've been over-exposed to historical novels and films that have more "accurate" use of the word "footman", but I find the "Disney-style" link a stretch. For one thing, when I play those scenes in my mind they tend to have straight instruments (cornets?) not the distinctive BUGLE loop shape.

I associate BUGLE most strongly with the military - it's the instrument used to play the "Last Post" at remembrance services. To me the logic seems more likely to be "I want to clue SOLDIER, BOOT, but avoid BUGLE, so let's try the (slightly non-soldiery) 'Footman' to really push BOOT".

I have no idea how to break this deadlock (not with Bob's example from the previous round still haunting the game ).

[JR4]

I agree that BUGLE makes sense as it`s significantly harder to clue than SOLDIER. I still prefer SOLDIER as the more clear-cut military connection, though.

So - should we flip a coin?

[Azoth]

Nah, let's go with the team's first impressions/gut instinct:

Point to SOLDIER