Copycat King

Overview

In Copycat King the whole room receives the same text and has to type it into the writing field. Each player is a small character moving along a track as they progress, so a glance at the others shows right away who is ahead.

It is a race of speed and accuracy, suited to people who love a keyboard but also to anyone who wants a short match with no rules to learn. You can also play alone, to beat your own time.

How a round goes

1. The host picks the text length (short, medium or long), the available time and the content language.
2. The text appears: everyone sees the same one and starts copying it.
3. While you type correctly, your character advances along the track; the other characters show how your rivals are doing.
4. The match goes on until everyone has finished or the time runs out.
5. The first to complete the correct text gets 100 points, the second 80, the third 60 and so on, 20 less per place, with a minimum of 25.

Tips to win

• Accuracy matters as much as speed: fixing a mistake halfway through the text costs more time than typing calmly.
• Read a few words ahead of the one you are typing; it is the simplest way to type without pauses.
• Do not look at your opponents' characters while typing: each glance costs you a fraction of a second.
• On a phone, open the keyboard in advance and keep the text clearly visible: the time lost looking for it cannot be recovered.

For the host: settings and tips

• Short text and 60 seconds for a quick race or to warm up the group; long text and 120 seconds when you want an endurance challenge.
• If some players are on phones, prefer a medium text and 90 seconds so they are not penalized too much compared with a computer keyboard.
• Pick the content language to suit the group: typing in a language you do not speak well is much slower.